Taming Gray

Chapter 33

Last String

"Anong sabi ni Gray, Amber?" Tanong ni mommy pagbalik ko sa office niya. Nasa desk ang tingin niya kaya hindi nito kita ang nangingilid kong mga luha.

"Wala siya sa office niya mom." My voice cracked at the end of my statement. Dahil doon ay napaangat ng tingin si mommy.

Dali-dali kong dinampot ang bag ko at tumalikod sa kanya.

"Is there anything wrong Amber?" Nag-aalala na niyang tanong ngayon.

Paulit-ulit akong umiling at tinungo ang pinto ng office niya. "Mauuna na ako sa bahay mom. Magtataxi nalang ako."

"Amber, are you–"

Hindi ko na narinig pa ang sinabi niya dahil sinarado ko na ang pinto.

Nagmadali akong lumabas ng building na iyon. Kahit ang nag-aalalang tanong ni Kuya Chard ay hindi ko na pinansin.

Agad kong pinara ang dumaang taxi at agad na sinabi ang address ng bahay.

I breathed out and leaned on the cushioned seat of the public transport vehicle. I close my eyes to calm myself, hoping that it would ease the pain.

Unfortunately, it doesn't help. Not a bit.

Ilang segundo rin akong ganoon nang bigla kong marinig ang ringing tone ng cellphone ko.

Mom's on the screen.

I slid my finger, answering it.

"Mom." I said. I felt guilty with what I did back there. I should not left her worrying.

"Amber." She called my name in relief. "Are you ok? Did you get a safe ride?"

I smiled. "I'm fine mom." I tried to lighten the tone of my voice.

I heard her sighed from the other line.

"Amber." She called once again. "You know you can tell me anything right?"

"Mhh." I hummed.

"You always know that you can share your problems with me right? That I can lend an ear to hear whatever that is bugging you."

"Yes mom, I do." I forced a laugh.

"So? Don't you have something to tell me? How have you been doing this past days?" My mom is not stupid not to noticed the sudden change of my behavior this past few days.

Still, I denied to share whatever things happening to me. "Well, school has always been good mom. There's nothing to be worried about." I forced another laugh.

There was a paused and then she drop it. "How about you and Gray?"

My heart clenched with the sudden mention of his name.

I sucked a deep breath quietly, careful enough not to be heard by mom.

"We're fine." I tasted bitterness in my throat at my obvious lie. "He's kinda busy though, for his trainings and all. But its fine, we were talking once in a while." I pulled another lie.

Sa pagkakabuntong-hininga ni mommy sa kabilang linya, nasiguro kong kahit na kaunti ay hindi siya nakubinsi sa mga sinabi ko.

"I need to drop the call mom. Malapit na ako sa bahay." Kahit na ang totoo ay wala pa sa kalahati ang natatakbo ng taxing sinasakyan ko.

She let out a defeated sigh. "Don't forget to call me when you got home Amber." Iyon na lamang ang nasabi ni mommy.

Tumango ako at pinutol ang tawag. Binalot muli ng katahimikan ang byahe.