FALLING

SIX

Napamulat ako dahil sa sinag ng araw na tumatama sa aking mukha. I grabbed my phone at tiningnan kung anong oras na. It's already 6:50 in the morning. Mamayang 9:30 pa naman magsisimula first class ko kaya there's no need for me to be hurry. Sinubukan kong tumayo pero may naramdaman akong mabigat na nakapatong sa aking hita. Yumuko ako and it was Felix's head. Nakaunan siya dito habang mahimbing na natutulog. Gusto kong tumayo pero ayokong magising siya. Pero kailangan ko na talagang tumayo kasi nangangawit na 'yung paa ko.

Dahan-dahan kong ini-angat ang kanyang ulo habang ako'y papaalis sa aking kinau-upuan. Luckily, hindi naman siya nagising. He's cute when he's sleeping. Suddenly, my phone rang.

"Hello, pa?" I said as I answered the call.

"Anak, asan ka?"

"I'm at Felix's. Sinamahan ko siya kagabi for some school activities" hindi ko na sinabi sa kanya ang totoong dahilan.

"Bat di ka man lang nag-paalam? We're so worried. Kanina ka pa hinahanap ng mama mo"

"Sorry po, nagmamadali po kasi ako kagabi"

"Sige na, punta ka na dito. We have something for you"

"Okay. I'll be right there"

Binaba ko na ang tawag at nilingon si Felix na tulog mantika pa din. Humihilik pa ang loko. I smiled at tuluyan ng umalis.

*****

"Really?" tanong ko habang nakatingin sa bisekletang binili nila para sakin.

"Yup. The parents group chat talked about the rules of the university last night and one of them is that no services allowed. That's why we bought you this" sagot ni mama.

"Is it really necessary? I mean, I can walk or something"

"Anak, it's for your own good. Tsaka all of them are using their bicycles as their transportation. So, why can't you?"

I released a big sigh because I know for sure that I still don't have a choice.

"You still don't have a choice, Migs" told 'ya.

"You will use it either you like it or not" sabi ni papa. "Sige na. Aalis na kami ng mama mo. We still have work to do"

Tinanguan ko nalang sila at pumasok na sa kotse. As soon as they left, I checked the time and I still have 30 minutes to prepare. Pumasok na ako ng bahay at dumiretso sa banyo upang maligo. After I took a bath, agad akong nagbihis at nagtungo na sa baba.

I went straight to the kitchen table at nakita ang nakahandang sandwich. Hindi rin nagpahuli ang note na nakadikit dito.

'Have a good day'.

Kinahalatian ko ang sandwich at hindi na ako nag-aksaya pa ng oras. I locked all the doors at lumabas na ng bahay. I looked at my bike and sighed.

"Sorry, I can't use you"

Tuluyan na akong lumabas ng gate at nagsimula ng mag-lakad. Yup, napag-isipan kong maglakad nalang to exercise a bit. Maaga pa naman eh, tsaka maganda yung weather ngayon. It's a perfect timing para makapagisip-isip ng malalim.

The cold, freezing wind blew, that made my body felt the wintry air. I really like how it touches my skin. Para lang akong nasa probinsya. A minute of walking, I felt something na parang may sumusunod sakin. It's kinda strange kasi di ko naman siya namalayan kanina.

"Pst"

Fuck.

May sumusunod nga talaga sakin. I started to get nervous. I don't know what am I going to do kung sakaling holdapin ako nito or whatsoever. Wala pa naman akong dalang pepper spray o kahit na anong pang depensa. Sana talaga hindi ko pa time. I can't die.