EMILY

03: Sneak. Peek. Boom. Riot!

Track 03: Sneak. Peek. Riot!

"Please don't do this Ysh."

I heard his voice. Kahit na halos 24 hours pa lang simula nang marinig ko ang speaking voice niya, I knew then that it was Mikkos.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero biglang kumirot ang puso ko. His voice was pleading and sounded really hurt.

I saw his back. Nakatungo siya at nakaupo sa isa sa mga couch. Nakatuon sa tuhod niya ang siko nya habang ang mga kaliwang kamay ay nasa bandang ulo niya. May basag ding bote ng beer sa tabi niya. I heard a sniff and muffled voice, his shoulders are moving up and down while he has his phone on his ear. Is he crying?

"I still love you. I love you so much it fucking hurts." He said, his voice breaking.

I gasped with what I've heard but I instantly covered my mouth. I wasn't that near, not even far kaya baka marinig niya ako.

After a while, he became silent and then all of a sudden, I heard a sob. Confirmed! Umiiyak siya.

Mikkos is crying! Yung nakangiti at sobrang sayang tao kanina, umiiyak! At mukhang babae pa ang dahilan.

Did I just hear something I shouldn't? Am I invading a very very very private moment? Yes? Okay.

So I should not be here right? Dapat umaalis na ako. But why I couldn't move my feet? At sa halip, the tsismosa side of me wants to stay. At bakit ako naiiyak?

'Sino kaya yung babaeng iniiyakan niya? At grabe naman yung girl na yun talagang natiis niya na ganito si Mikkos habang kausap niya sa phone?'

'Ssssh. That's very wrong Eimee. Personal life niya yan. '

'Hey, I'm just curious.'

'No, pagiging tsismosa at mahadera yan.'

'Tse.'

I shook my head. Ano ba yan pati sarili ko kinakausap at inaaway ko na. I breathed deeply. I think I should leave.

Dahan-dahan akong naglakad paatras trying to not make any noise but do you know what happens when you do your best not to? You end up making noises. A loud one, even.

Naapakan ko lang naman ang isa sa mga beer in can at muntik na akong madulas.

"Sino yan?!" Mikkos asked in a cold tone. Napapikit ako habang yung puso ko sobrang lakas ng kabog.

Agad akong umupo at nagtago sa likod ng isang road case. Ohmygaskajdsanaklk!

I couldn't decide if tatayo ako or what. I was about to stand up pero agad din akong umupo. Teka, anong gagawin ko? Pero tumayo man ako or not, eventually makikita niya rin naman ako. Anong sasabihin ko pag nakita niya ako?

Naramdaman kong nagsimulang maglakad si Mikkos. I can even hear his every step on the carpeted floor. It was heavy.

Alam mo yung bawat hakbang niya parang bawat segundo ng timer? Timer ng bomba. Mabagal ang pagtakbo pero mabigat sa dibdib.

His steps, the tick of the clock, and the beat of my heart, they are all in sync.

"Who are you?" Boom. Huli!

My heart stopped beating and I held my breath without opening my eyes. I'm doomed.

I waited for him to drag me or maybe yell at me but nothing. Then I heard another voice.

"Sorry boss. May hinahanap lang po." A man answered.

I opened my eyes, still holding my breath. Isang matandang lalaki ang kausap ni Mikkos sa may pintuan. Prolly around 30's. He's wearing a black fitted t-shirt and black slacks, yung muscles niya sobrang laki. Holy frak. Bouncer!