Chapter 2: Brightest Star
I was on my bed and ready to rest. I fished the remote in the side table cabinet and pressed down the center button. The ceiling made of glass appeared slowly. Little by little, I saw the stars emitting small lights above and the crescent moon smiled at me. It was calm and serene. I pulled the blanket a little hovering the upper part of my body to lessen the coldness that I felt. I was wearing a pair of socks as well.
I didn't finish reading the book and I asked the librarian if I could take it home. I even brought Claire, but to no avail. I didn't insist and I understood that it was part of her job. She would bear all responsibility if any of the books had been lost or misplaced. She's just being cautious. Pwede ko naman iyong balikan sa ibang araw.
I hailed a taxi to the East Park to bring my car home. Madilim na ang paligid at maliwang na ang bawat streetside nang baybayin ko ang daan.
Maligaya ang mga taong namasyal nang lisanin ko ang East Park. May ilang pinag-usapan ang naganap nang umagang iyon. I slightly hid my face para hindi nila ako mapansin at mamukhaan.
A classical music played which made me more sleepy. Wala na sana akong planong sagutin ang tawag ngunit pang-ikaapat nang beses umulit ang payapang himig. Inabot ko iyon sa sulok ng unan. Ilang segundo ko iyong pinagmasdan bago i-swipe pakanan ang screen.
Hinintay kong magsalita ang nasa kabilang linya. Isang salita palang ang nabigkas niya ay inilayo ko na ang aparato sa aking tainga. I didn't what to break my eardrum.
"Are you finish shouting?" I asked as soon as I heard the line silenced but still kept my phone away.
"Listen to me," kalmado na niyang sabi. "What is the news all about?" Bakas sa boses niya ang pagpigil ng galit.
"I did not inform anyone of my comeback. Unless Claire's mouth a twin of bee," which I'm sure she's not. Wala sa ugali niya ang magkalat ng balita. Marunong siyang gumalang sa pribadong buhay ng mga tao sa paligid niya.
"I'm glad you're here and beyond if you're going to stay. But now it is not my concern!" Tumaas na muli ang boses niya. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin niya makontrol ang sarili at matutong magtimpi.
"Then what?" I grunted.
"Haven't you open the TV and watch the news?!" She shrieked.
Pumikit ako't huminga ng malalim. Hindi pa rin tamang ibaba ko ang tawag kahit wala akong interes sa usapan.
"Why would I bother myself? I have no time." I counted the stars I saw in the sky one by one to loosen up. We can't shout at each other.
"Until now, you have no idea that you are putting us in shame! Since when you've been connected with them? You didn't even tell me that you knew them!" She's getting more furious.
"What do you mean?" I furrowed my forehead.
"Are playing dumb, little Wright?" Mukhang hindi maganda ang tungo ng usapang ito.
"Cut the crap," I didn't understand why she didn't get directly to the point. Bakit kailangan pang pahabain ang usapan kung pwede naman na sa umpisa pa lang ay sabihin na ang kailangan?
"How long have you known the son of Maximillian?"
"Never I met once," I replied sincerely and yawned. Maging ang pangalang binanggit niya ay hindi pamilyar sa akin. Kung may panahong nagtagpo na ang landas namin ay posibleng hindi ko siya nabigyan ng pansin.
"Since when you've become careless?" She asked in disbelief. Kanina ko pang naririnig ang mga yabag niya sa kabilang linya. She must be wearing a five inch glass heels.
