The Monsters Under the Sea [THE MORGUE RETREAT HOUSE 2]

Two. The Night City

"Ma! Nasaan ba ang water bottle ko?!" Sigaw ni Reah sa kanyang Inay, "Hindi ko alam, diba ikaw yung' may-ari noon'? Bakit ako ang tinatawagan mo?" Wika sa kanyang Ina. "Opo, nay, ako pala ang may-ari ng water bottle na yun'."

"Okay, I'm glad you understand, nak. Ang pagod pala ng buhay ko."

"Pero mas pagod ang aking buhay, may marami pang essay kailan naking gagawa." Sagot ni Reah. Sa moment na iyun, ang phone ni Reah ay nag-vibrate, at tinignan nya ang pagalan sa kanyang ama that flashed sa screen. Ini-answer nya nito at sa ibang linya ay marinig nya ang boses ng kanyang ama.

"Nak, kailan mo po ako apasin sa siyudad. May ipakilala po 'ko sayo." Sabi nya sa linya.

"Ano, pa? At kung a-apasin kita doon, ano ang aking pelete patungu sa siyudad."

"Mag wi-withdraw sa ATM, alam mo na ang aking PIN sa aking account, at alam mo pala kung saan aking tinago yung' card."
"How many days will I stay there?" Tanong ko.

"Depende mo, lang, nak. I only need a little quarter of your time."

"Okay, pa."

At tinapos nya ang kanilang call. "Kailan mo pumunta sa siyudad?" Tanong sa kanyang inay. "Opo, nay."

"Now?"

"Opo, kailan kong ma-catch ko yung' next na trip sa Bus."

"You better pack up your things as fast as you can, ang sunod na trip ng Bus ay 3pm pala." Sabi sa kanyang Inay. "Okay, ma. I will go to my room." Reply ni Reah at pumunta sa kanyang kuwarto without saying one word sa kanyang inay.

______

Nag-hihintay si Reah sa waiting shed para sa Bus, noon may tumapad sa kanyang gilid na babae, same age ni Reah, at maganda pala. At later, may tumapad na lalaki na parang hubug. "Hi, miss." Sabi nito, at inilagay din nya ang kanyang kamay sa legs ni Reah. This made Reah really uncomfortable. Ew! Ang pervert pala ng katabi ko! Ewww! Ang thoughts ni Reah. She moved away from the pervert, but he'd keep coming back.

"Sir, alam mo ba ang word na 'decency'?" Reah asked.

"Ano?"

"Ang sabi ko ay, DON'T GO THROWING YOUR DIRTY HANDS AT INNOCENT WOMEN!" Sumigaw sya' and threw a rock to his head, he was angry and began to chase after her.

The bus was already in the road, at dinala sya ng babae na katabi nya patugu sa loob ng bus, away from the pervert. "Let's go, girl!" Sabi nya, noong' inalagay nya ang kanyang mga kamay sa kanyang mga balikat.

When they arrived inside Reah felt relieved, "Salamat talaga, ate." Sabi nya sa babae na kanyang katabi.

"No need to thank me, I was just helping, girl-to-girl, right?" Sabi nya.

"Right." Reah replied. "Nicole." Sabi nya. Reaching out her hands to shake. "Reah, po. At your service." She said, shaking her hands with Nicole. "I feel like were gonna be great friends."

______

Jude was looking at the rack of books attached to the wall.

"Anything you like?" His friend asked.

"Nothing, I'm just looking for some cheap hard-covers." He replied.

"Where'd you wanna' go?" He asks her.

"I want to pick a dress,"

"Well, what are you waiting for?" He asks and held his hand out to her. She grabbed his hand and ran out of the bookstore.

The women section wasn't far away from where they were. A lot of women flocked around.

"Does this look good on me?" She asks.