Ang Multo sa Manhole 2 - Under revision

Ang Multo sa Manhole 2

Bogart says 1

Eiji's Point of View

Three months ago, Patti, Stephen, Buknoy and I graduated highschool. The day of graduation was unforgetable. Lahat nag-iiyakan nang makuha na ang kani-kanilang diploma, lahat masaya dahil pasado lahat kami ng mga ka-batchmate ko yet at the same time, malungkot kasi that also meant separation.

Ni nagkalat pa nga ako sa aking salutatory address sa stage nang kalahati ng prinepare kong speech ay nabura ng aking luha. Tuloy, kinailangan kong mag-impromptu at magpakatotoo kaya lahat ng mga taong naging parte ng buhay ko - naging kontrabida, supporting actors and actresses o dakilang standby man, I mentioned their names. And for sure, magrereklamo yung impaktong yun kung hindi ko mae-special mention ang name nya. Sya ang bida ko e.

I still remember the day he confessed to me. February 14. The day of hearts. I woke up from my sleep, may nakatutok na spotlight sa akin at sa kanya duon sa entablado kung saan sya tumugtog. He made me cry so on graduation day, I returned the favor. 

Doon ko sinabi, before my batchmates, their parents, faculties and personnel, the reason why were I on that very stage, how did I make the good grade, and ultimately, why were I so happy.

"Hindi ko siguro maaachieve ang lahat ng 'to if it wasn't for this "Awesome" guy named Willer Lacsamana." Pinatayo ko sya from his seat at that time, and he prompted shyly. He was gesturing something at that time na parang "humanda ka sakin mamaya!" pero I just chuckled over the microphone. "For the information of everyone, he is everything to me. And in love, it's only be him and I."

Yun ang end ng speech ko bago ako bumalik sa upuan ko, with my classmates teasing me thereafter. And true enough, pinandigan nga ni Buknoy ang sinabi nyang "humanda ka sakin mamaya" by pulling me out the crowd and kissing me under the moonlight.

"Graduate na tayo, Buknoy." ang sabi ko nun habang nakayakap sa kanya, still hearing the cheers of the distant crowd from there.

"Yup. But not 'us'. Ayokong grumaduate sa pagmamahal ko sayo."

"Corny mo ha!?" I laughed. "Well neither do I. Magcu-cutting class ako para ma-repeat lang to ng ma-repeat."

"'Ta mo!? Mas mais ka sakin hanybee." Tumawa sya sabay patong ng kamay sa'king balikat, pabalik sa mga tao. "Gusto ko parehas tayo ng school sa college and if possible, maging magkaklase tayo. Kahit isang subject lang masaya na ako."

"You're definitely a psychic Buknoy. That's just what I have in mind." tapik ko sa kanya. "And you know what else is in my mind?"

"You. Me. Alone. Tonight." he said suggestively, may pakagat-kagat pa ng labi at pataas-taas pa ng mga kilay ang depungal. "Yun ba ang nasa isip mo?"

"No, try again." ang pang-aasar ko. "It was more of a family dinner actually. But I like the way you think." kinindatan ko sya sabay kumawala nang ma-congratulate ko ang iba kung mga ka-batchmate. Pinagmasdan nya lang ako dun sa pwesto nya, nakangisi na naman na parang aso.

Nagbakasyon kami duon sa Batangas kung saan nabili nila papa sa mga magulang nila Red yung resort. Of course, Red was also there. And after nung incident sa party sa Ortigas, everyone learned to forgive each other. Actually si Red mismo ang lumapit sa amin ni Buknoy one time nung nagpapahinga kami sa isang bongo (nipa hut), kasama nya yung nabuntis nyang babae. Malaki na ang tyan ng babae at ang sabi ni Red, we were cordially invited on their wedding. It was a beach wedding. Kinuha rin nila kaming ninong sa naging baby boy nila.