Safe at Night

33

"Done with your study?" Mommy asked through video call as she compile a lot of papers.

"Not yet po," I said at hinalo ang niluluto ko. Itinapat ko ang camera sa niluluto ko para ipakita sa kanya. "I'm cooking chicken curry," Pagmamayabang ko rito.

"Good thing you can cook," She said and fix her glasses.

Tumango naman ako sa pagsasang-ayon. "Right," I paused bago tinikman ang luto ko. "Anyway, aren't you going home yet? Walang kasama si Dion doon."

"Malapit na," She said. "Anyway, how's Khaos?"

Natigilan ako sa paghahalo dahil hindi ko rin alam ang isasagot ko. Should I lie then?

"He's busy," Tangging sagot ko.

Totoo naman na busy siya, sobra pa nga.

"Right, he's working. Hindi ba siya mag tatake ng board exam?" Mom eyed me in the camera.

I bit my lips because the truth is, he's not talking to me for a few months. Kung mag-uusap man kami ay wala man lang sa sampung minuto at isang beses sa isang linggo lang 'yon.

He didn't tell me anything. Not even a single detail about him.

"Sabi niya po next month," I lied.

Pinatay ko ang kalan at umupo sa dining. Bumuntong hininga ako sa kapaguran ng isip ko.

Tinignan ko si Mommy na inaayos na ang bag nito, naghahanda para umuwi.

I called her. "Mom."

Humarap ito ng may ngiti sa labi. "Hmm?"

I bit my lips, thinking if I should tell her. "Something's wrong, Vani?" She asked with worriedness.

I just shook my head and gave her a small smile. "Nothing, I'll hung up now. Dion's waiting for you at home."

" 'Kay, see you next weekend." She hunged up.

I stared at my screen and sighed heavily. Sinarado ko ang cellphone ko at binitawan sa mesa.

I close my eyes and run my fingers through my hair. Hinilamos ko ang kamay ko sa mukha ko.

Why do I need to lie when I can tell the truth?

Yes, I decided not to tell mom my problem. Walamg gana akong tumayo para kunin ang niluto ko at ilagay sa lalagyanan. Inilapag ko ito sa mesa at kumuha narin ako ng plato para sa sarili ko. Kahit walang gana ay pinilit ko paring umupo at harapin ang pagkain.

Nakatitig lang ako pero walang balak sumandok ng pagkain. Again, I sighed with my heavy heart and rested my back on the chair.

Muli kong kinuha ang phone ko at binuksan iyon. I opened the call logs just to see how many times I tried calling Khaos in a day.

13 calls but he didn't pick up any. Magsimula kaninang umaga, I started messaging him as well.

For the past four months ganito nalang ang nangyayari. I put so much effort for reaching him out but he just kept ignoring me.

For the past four months, The last time I was with him was when I found a lipstick on his sofa. The time I knew he lied to me.

Ang hirap lang paniwalaan dahil hindi naman nag sisinungaling si Khaos. He will never do that but then he did...

Huminga ako ng malalim at naglakas loob ulit na tawagan siya. Ilang ring na ngunit hindi niya parin iyon sinagot. I was about to give up when he finally pick up.

He didn't say anything so I did the first move.

"Hello?" I was hesitant at first, I started biting my lips again.