Maybe the Night

Entry 3

I setted my alarm earlier than the usual para hindi na ako mapagalitan. Wala na ang ulan ng pagkagising ko, I looked at the rear view mirror to check the guy at wala na siya roon pati ang towel ko. I immidiately opened my car door at nakita ko siyang nakasandal sa puno. The twilight view is mesmerizing. Hindi pa naman umaangat ang araw at madilim pa. I rubbed my arms when the wind blew.
"A-are y-you o-okay now?" I stutter while asking. The guy slowly looked at me. Galing sa maliit na poste sa likod na min.  Hindi ko siya maaninag. Kaya I adjusted para makita siya. The patch on his forehead have a red stain on it. Bumalik ako sa sasakyan at binuksan ang ilaw sa harap ng kotse ko.
Lumapit uli ako sa kaniya.
"Ah eto g-gamot"
He stared for me for a while and travelled my whole face with his stares. Tumitig rin ako pabalik. Nakakunot ang makapal niyang kilay.
His stares lasted for almost a minuite ng may tinuro siya sa parte ng mukha ko
"Did I hurt you last night? " umiling ako at ngumiti.
"Your scar is beautiful"
My scar? I used my concealer last night.. And it rained. Fuck.
Hindi ako nag dalawang isip na sipain siya sa alaga niya at tumakbo pabalik sa sasakyan ko.
I never looked back, bahala na siya.

Bumangon ako ng hapon na. Ang init. The steaky feeling in my neck and forehead. Dumeretso ako sa banyo at naligo. Habang nagpapalit naisip ko yung lalake na iniwan ko kagabi sa cliff. Is he okay now? I can't go out yet kase may araw pa. Anyone could see me hanging out Arround with this stupid scarred face. My stomach ached and I felt the acid spit on my stomach. Bawal akong magutom at malipasan ng gutom but who cares right?
I am combing my hair while walking downstairs when I jeared some muffle hushes and talks in the kitchen. Itinaas ko ang mask ko at tinignan sa bintana ang mukha ko.
My eyes were never been the same, the usual gloom in my eyes lost its happiness.
"Night!"
My cousin appeared just infront of my face when we entered the kitchen.
"Hello Dawn" umatras ako dahil nakangiti pa rin siya sa harapan ko.
"What?" bigla niyang linagay sa tenga ko ang hawak niyang head phones.
The familiar words linger in my jead

Captivated, yea
I'm sorrounded by the walls upon,
I cannot really show this to everyone,
But I'm falling to someone
I just met at the bar

"A-a paano?" nagkibit balikat siya at hinila ako paupo sa dining.
The table is almost filled woth relatives, bad timing, I forgot to apply concealer, because of the thought that we're alone here.
The dining area were filled with gossip as if their subject matter isn't just around.
Hindi ako nag dalawang isip na umatras at tumakbo papunta sa kuwarto ko para mag apply ng concealer.

The lunch isn't that good since I'm around, they cant insult me because I'm here. Infront of them. Knowing when I first had my family Reunion with this scarred face ay nag wala ako. Natatakot sila na maulit uli iyon.
"Ah, Kumusta pala ang pag aaral mo hija?" tanong ng isang tiyahin ko.
"Bakasyon po" natawa si dawn sa sinabi ko na parang katawa tawa. My auntie frowned at her own daughter, who's now grinnig like an idiot. Umubo si mama at nagpigil ng ngiti.
"Ate, ah, kamusta na pala si Shallow?" and the talk went on. In family dining bawal ang tumayo pag hindi pa tapos amg lahat. Though kahit nag dadaldalan sila mabilis naman silang kumakain.
Dawns hand went on top of mine, softly caressing it.

The family members left late than the usual, habang ako hinintay ko muna silang umuwi bago umalis.
"Honey" my mom called on me.
"Yes po?" I answered politely, my hands tightening on my car keys.
"Please be home before sunrise" I nod
"I will"
I found my grandma sitting in a rattan chair. Swinging it back and forth. Dumalo ako sakaniya at nagmano bago umalis.
I reached my destination, and as I control my stirring wheel to the left I found someone sitting on a motorcycle. As my light hitted his back, lumingon siya sa akin. I immediately manuevered my car to reverse at umalis. Pero sa bilis ng atras ko may naatrasan ako sa likod. Bumaba ako sa sasakyan to check.
Am I in trouble again?
I found the guy in motorcycle on the ground. Hindi ba ako ma rarape dito?
Lumingon muna ako sa paligid at inayos ang face mask ko. The guy didnt move ng sinipa ko siya.
"Hey" unti unti akong yumuko at nag kneel sa gilid niya. Yinugyug ko siya.
"Hey, uhm, should I call the ambulance?"
I am about to call 911 ng hinila ng lalake ang cellphone ko
"I'm okay" nagkatitigan kami. He's the guy whom I saved the other night! Nakita niya ako.
"Give my phone back"
"Mayaman ka. Naka Iphone X ka pa ah" umirap ako at tinulungan siyang itayo ang motor niya,it is heavy. May ganito si Dawn. It's a big bike, the new model.

"Ako pala si Nighel"tumingin ako sa kamay niyang nakalahad. My phone on the other hand.
"Night" at nakipagkamayan
"Night? As in gabi? O yung mandrigma? "
People tend to ask me the same question when I was still allowd to go out.
"Night na gabi"
"Hmm. Alam mo bang naghihintay ako dito hanggang umaga pa? You left me after you helped me. I went home and then I came back here"
Nanlaki ang mata kong tumingin sa kaniya.
"So your Name is the same as your situation. Bakit? May sakit ka ba sa balat? Like allergic ka sa init? Gaya nong midnight sun?" naglakad ako papunta sa dulo at umiling.

"I'm just a monster that can't get out of the cave in the morning. Isa akong paniki"