Chapter 4
Kagaya ng sinabi ni Kruise, mawawala sila ng ilang araw. Kahapon pa sila bumiyahe para sa death anniversary ng kapatid nila ngayon. I got busy with the final touches of our research. The week after next week will be our finals. I will be graduating as well as Kruise.
"Era..."
Nilingon ko si James habang nagta-type sa aking laptop. Nasa harapan ko siya, kasama ko ang iba naming kaklase sa learning hall.
"I-check mo raw ang phone mo sabi ni... Kruise." Aniya.
Kumunot ang noo ko. Babalewalain ko lang sana ang kaniyang tinuran kaso lang...
"She texted you? You text each other?" It was a quick assumption.
Nakumpirma ko iyon nang umiwas siya ng tingin at tahimik na tumango. Nanliit ang aking mga mata. Hindi siya makatingin sa akin ngayon, inaabala ang sarili sa librong nasa harapan. Oh, well...
Tahimik kong kinuha ang cellphone sa bag. May iilang text do'n, kasama na ang kay Kruise. I opened her message.
Kruise:
How are you? Sa Sabado pa kami babalik. Do you want anything?
I slowly typed my reply while my mind was still pondering on James' remark. I'm not dumb, but I don't want to stick my nose in someone's business.
Ako:
I'm fine. How are you? And your brother?
I didn't send it right away. I was still debating with myself if it was alright to ask the last question. But there's nothing wrong with it, right? Nagtatanong lang naman ako. But why does it feel wrong in another corner of my mind?
Huminga ako ng malalim at nagtipa ng ibang sagot. Nevermind about that.
Ako:
I'm fine, Kruise. Ikaw, kamusta ka?
I put down my phone and contemplated for a bit. Hindi ko talaga maiwasang isipin ang nangyari kay Olzen. I wonder how he's handling it now. Kung si Kruise ay nasasaktan hanggang ngayon, paano pa kaya siya? I shook my head to remove all the thoughts that shouldn't linger in my mind.
I glanced at my phone when it beeped. Sumulyap ako kay James na galing sa cellphone ko ang tingin. Ngumuso ako.
Kruise:
I'm great! Pagkarating namin dito kahapon ay agad na bumisita si Kuya Olzen mag-isa. Ngayon naman ay kagagaling namin sa cemetery buong pamilya pero nagpaiwan siya. He's not talking to anyone of us again but I'm sure he'll be okay.
Pumikit ako ng mariin. Oh, the irony. I didn't ask about her brother but now she's telling me this. Why does it matter anyway? Huminga ako ng malalim at pinilit ang sariling magtipa ng sagot.
Ako:
He'll be fine. Ingat kayo sa pag-uwi.
I tried to make it uninterested as it may seem. Umirap ako sa kawalan.
Kruise:
Love you. See you this Saturday!
Nagdaan ang araw at mas lalo kaming naging abala sa research. We will be defending it next week and we're trying to rehearse. Gabi gabi na rin ang tawag ni Mama sa akin dahil hindi na raw gano'n kahaba ang shift niya.
"Ano nga ulit ang kukunin mo sa college, Era?" Tanong ni Mama isang gabi.
"It's either Finance or Accountancy, Mama." I smiled.
Tumango siya. "Saan ka ba mas interesado? Pero sa tingin ko'y mas maganda ang Accountancy para sa 'yo."
"I'm interested with both, Mama, but yeah maybe, baka mag-accountancy na lang po ako. I want to take Nursing, but my current strand is in line with accountancy."
