The Unsolved Case of Mara Dela Cuesta

Chapter 5

I woke up in the middle of the night because of mosquitoes flying around, biting me. I'm also feeling sticky because I'm sweating so bad. I'm not used to sleeping without ac. Grabe hindi ko man lang napansin na I was so privileged.

Nakahiga ako ngayon sa sahig sa may sala while Mara and Esme was sleeping at her bed. But that was a while ago. Napansin ko kasi na wala sila sa kanilang kinahihigaan.

Sumilip ako konti and saw an orange hue of light illuminating the right corner of her apartment.

Nakasindi and isang lampara while both of them are sitting and talking. Nakatalikod silang dalawa saakin. I can only see a small portion of their body. Both of them were whispering so I really couldn't understand what they were talking about except words and phrases like, 'mapanganib', 'hindi kakilala' at 'napaginipan ko siya'. All of them were from Mara. She sounded very serious.

Pinag uusapan ba nila ako? At kung ako man ang pinag uusapan nila, pano naman ako naging mapanganib?

I was gonna eavesdrop more but they already stood up. Me on the other hand, pretended I was asleep.

Ipinatay na nila ang kanilang lampara at bumalik na sila sa kanilang kinahihigahan.

Nakatulog na rin ako pagkatapos ng mga naganap.

- - - -

Esme woke me up the next day.

"Senior, nakalimutan niyo atang may trabaho tayo ngayon!" she was shaking my whole body like an eager child.

Bumangon kaagad ako. Sumilip ako sa may bintana at nakitang madilim pa sa labas.

"Anong oras ba?" tanong ko.

"Alas quatro na po ng umaga."

Kung nasa present lang ako I would've woken up at 11 in the morning. Nasanay na ako sa ganyang routine.

But now, I have no choice but to go to work para may makain ako at matirhan. This is not the life I'm used to but this will be my life for a couple of days or weeks or months or (I hope not) years.

I looked around at napansin kong wala na si Mara.

"Si Mara?" tanong ko.

Tumawa siya at sinabing, "Bat mo hinahanap aber? Matalik na ba kayong magkaibigan?"

I scratched my head, "hindi naman, nagtataka lang."

"Umuwi na siya kaninang alas tres. Baka mahuli daw ng tatay niya na hindi umuwi."

That makes sense.

"Maligo ka na habang magluluto ako ng almusal."

I just stood up like an idiot in front of her. Hindi naman problema sakin ang pagligo. Ang problema ko ay ang pagbihis. Wala akong damit. Kung ano ang damit ko kahapon, iyon parin ang suot suot ko hanggang ngayon.

"Rapido Yohan!" She shouted. Still, I couldn't move.

"I, uh-" mukhang nabulol na ako.

She sighed and rolled her eyes as she took something out of her cabinet.

She threw a handful of clothes to me.

"Sa kuya ko yan dati. Mukha naman kakasya."

I smiled at her as a sign of gratitude.

Ang jologs ng mukha but I couldn't blame their fashion sense kung ganito ang trend sa panahon ngayon. Ugly looking long sleeves at slacks na sobrang luwang ang fit.