D.I.C.E.

Chapter 19: Nate

Anthony

"Markus, paki lagay yung mga damit ko sa isang bag. Hindi muna ako uuwi diyan."

"Can I know the reason why?" tanong ng aking butler sa kabilang linya.

"I just need to accompany a friend for a while. He's been in a...situation." sagot ko.

Wait, you made a friend? Well that's news..."

"Just fix my things. Kukunin ko yan mamaya." sabi ko.

"Hindi po sa nagtataka pero, you said that you don't have time for friends ever since...Christine and Chanyel." sabi ni Markus. Napahinga ako ng malalim at tinignan ni Nate sa benches.

"Well, time's changing I guess...Basta pakigawa na lang yung request ko, okay?"

"Masusunod po, Master Anthony." sagot niya.

"Ilang beses ko na ba sasabihin na Anthony na lang i address mo sa akin?" tanong ko.

"Pasensya na, Anthony. Sige gagawin ko na yung pinapagawa mo." sabi niya.

"Thank you, Markus." paalam ko bago ko tinapos amg tawag. Napahinga akong malalim at tinignan si Nate na hindi kumikibo sa kanyang upuan.

The reason I am with Nate because he will help me to prove that she didn't kill herself and I owe him for saving my life back then.

Markus was right..I never had time to make a friend so, why do I starting to care?

Lumapit ako kay Nate at inobserbahan ang kanyang itsura. Hindi siya yung Nate na nakikita ko palagi sa clubroom; The Nate right here now is pale, traumatized and scared.

There is one time I heard him muttering words like, "Wag ninyo ako iwan dito" and "please" which I found out of context for the situation he is in right now.

Nagkaroon ako ng hinala na what if, may nangyaring ganito sa kanya noon pa?

I gently placed my hand on his shoulder. He flinched from the touch and slowly looked at me with his dull eyes.

"Let's go back now. I already call a taxi for a ride." sabi ko at tumango na lang siya.

Inalayan ko siyang tumayo at pumunta sa taxi na naghihintay sa amin. Mahigpit ang paghawak niya sa kumot na binigay ko sa kanya at nanginginig pa rin sa takot kahit tapos na ang nangyari.

Sana mabulok ang kriminal na iyon sa kulungan. His actions are not forgivable.

I began to remember the scene I saw earlier, where the criminal Matthew is dangerously close to the shaking Nate who is tied up and gag, kissing his neck and groping him.

What his did to my friend disgust me. Especially seeing those other victims.

Pinauna ko nang papasukin si Nate sa taxi bago ako. For now, being there for him is the only thing I could do for him and that's what I will do.

*****

Dumating kami sa apartment ni Nate. Papasok na kami nang biglang binati kami ng Landlady,

"Iho? Anong nangyari kay Nate??" Tanong niya, puno ng pag aalala ang kanyang mukha.

I was about to answer when I noticed Nate starting to shake besides me. The landlady noticed this and immediately regret her decision asking,

"P-pasensya na, Nate...Sige hindi ko muna kayo iistorbohin." sabi niya sabay siyang tumabi para papasukin kami.

Tumango na lamang ako sa kanya at nagpatuloy sa pagpunta sa kwarto.
Pumasok kami sa kanyang unit at nagsalita si Nate,

"D-doon lang muna ako sa k-kwarto ko...tawagin mo na lang ako k-kung may kailangan ka..." sabi niya at dali dali siyang pumunta sa kanyang silid.