A Knight Perhaps

EPILOGUE

"Kuya? Are you there?"

Napaangat ang tingin ko sa may pintuan ng kwarto nang may biglang kumatok doon. I was about to stand up to open it when she suddenly open the door, looked around and gave me a serious face.

Hay... here we go again.

"Umiinom ka nanaman." agad na bungad sa'kin ni Claudette at nilapitan ako na tahimik lang na nakaupo sa harap ng bintana.

She stand up infront of me and even crossed her arms with a serious look. Hindi nalang ako kumibo. Sa ganyan palang nya, alam ko na kaagad ang kasunod e.

"Kuya Jack naman. Ilang beses pa ba kitang sasabihan na tumigil ka na sa kakainom mo? Look at you! You looked so wasted and pale. Magkakasakit ka na sa ginagawa mo e. Hanggang kailan ka ba magiging ganyan?"

"Edi magkasakit. Who cares? " walang pakialam na sagot ko at nagsalin nalang ulit ng alak sa baso. "Alam mo, Claudette. Kung pumunta ka lang dito para sermunan nanaman ako, umalis ka nalang. Don't stress yourself."

"Then stop stressing me out!" inis na sagot naman nya sabay hablot ng baso ko. "It's been a year now, kuya. Ganito ka nalang ba talaga palagi? Last week, you messed up the band audition your band was preparing for. The other day, Xenon told me that you almost lost your architect license because of a failed project sa Cebu. Tapos kanina, nabalitaan kong nahuli ka daw ng mga pulis na nagmamaneho ng lasing kagabi?! Gosh. Have you really lost your mind, kuya?!" 

"Tsk." napangiwi nalang ako sa panenermon nya, "Are you done?"

"You're so unbelievable."

Napakibit-balikat naman ako dahil don. "I already told you, Claud. Just let me be. I already had enough for this day. Pagod ako." inis na sabi ko nalang at tinalikuran na sya pagkatapos.

I heard her scoffed. "Wow. Pagod ka? Really? How come? Eh wala ka namang ginawa kundi—"

"Oo, pagod ako! Pagod na pagod na ako!" I shouted, cutting her off. "I'm tired of failing everything and disappointing everyone around me. I'm tired of this life, to myself and losing everything I love. So yes, I'm tired Claudette. I'm fucking tired!" inis na sigaw ko na syang ikinatahimik naman nya.

"K-kuya, I just want to—"

"Kung wala ka nang ibang sasabihin, umalis ka na. Baka hinahanap ka na ng fiance mo. Di ko maintindihan sayo kung bakit punta ka parin ng punta dito eh wala ka namang mapapala. Sinasayang mo lang oras mo. Tsk." sabi ko nalang nang hindi sya tiningnan. 

"Ano bang sinasabi mo dyan? I'm visiting my brother. Masama ba yon?"

"Hindi mo kailangan."

"Pero gusto ko." pakikipagtalo parin nya. "You know what? Just shut up. I didn't came here to fight."