Cahira (On-Going)

6: Conflicting Areas

Author's Note:
This is it; the real deal where the conflict starts. Thank you for reading kahit natagalan update. You're awesome.

***

"What do you want me to do?" I asked him, projecting my serious facade. Akala niya ba matitinag ako dahil biglang sumeryoso ang aura niya? Diyan siya nagkakamali.

He showed me the black book I threw moments ago. Okay, bakit ako hinu-hunting ng librong 'yan?

"I can't tell you yet. Basahin mo muna 'to."

"What?!" Di ko na maiwasang maitaas at lakasan ang boses ko dahil sa inis, "Anong hindi mo masabi?! Kinukulit mo ako dahil diyan tapos ngayon sasabihin mo di mo muna masasabi sa akin?! Bullshit!"

Ano ako pinagloloko lang niya?!

"Para maintindihan mo, basahin mo 'yung naka-highlight. May bookmark na nakaipit para di ka na mahirapan maghanap," he smiled brightly and, again, a puff of smoke appeared as he vanished into thin air.

Wow. 'Yun na 'yun? Ang galing, grabe, nakaka-amaze! I've been in a lot of trouble because of this book na wala namang magandang dulot sa akin! Natakot-takot pa ako! Everything I did for him was all for naught! Wait, may ginawa ba ako para sa kanya?

Is he really that confident na matutulungan ako ng librong 'to? I skimmed through its contents and there is only one word-or name-that is always mentioned with significance. I've heard enough of this name kaya hindi na ito bago sa akin.

Tinapon ko ang libro sa kung saan man at napaiyak dahil sa frustration. Here I am again. After all those months, I'm finding myself again sobbing at the corner. It felt like all bitterness that I stored in my heart was enveloping me.

If that so-called diving being is true, bakit ako nagkakaganito?

Morning came and akala ko mabubutas na tiyan ko dahil wala akong breakfast but then nagbigay ulit ang napaka-"friendly" na kapitbahay. Iniisip ko tumira na lang ako sa kanila kaso may paepal palang daga.

Actually ilang beses na pala 'tong set-up. This is not the first time. Three days have passed and they continually give me food three times a day. I feel adopted. I should've been ashamed right? But like what I've said, it's the rule of thumb. Choice nila 'yan bahala sila basta ako kakain lang.

"Are you planning to get a job?" tanong ng lalaking nakalimutan ko ang pangalan. Yes, I forgot his name again and again because I was so focused on eating. Gutom ako.

"I don't know," I simply replied and take a sip of my noodle.

I remember mentioning that he looked quite around my age pero may anak na siyang daga-I mean 4 years old yata. He looked young but he had seriously the same aura as my father. Curious tuloy ako kung ilang taon na siya, maybe 25 or above.

After eating, umalis na ako sa unit nila tsaka bumalik sa unit ko. Yup, doon ako kumain dahil ayokong maistorbo ang napakagulo ko nang unit. Buti at tulog ang daga ngayong oras na ito.

For three days, hindi na rin nagpapakita si Castiel. Sabi na, eh. Hallucination ko lang talaga ang kupal na 'yun dahil yata sa pinaamoy sa aking pampatulog noong nasa Manila ako. Nathan was also out of reach for the past three days. Talagang iiwasan na ako.

"TULONG!"

Kalalabas ko pa lang sa vicinity ng condominium nang biglang may matandang lalaki na nagtago sa likod ko. Muntik pa akong mapatili dahil mukhang taong grasa ang matanda. How dare him touch me?!

Naitulak ko ang matanda dahil sa pagkabigla. Sorry but I value my safety first. Paano kung magnanakaw pala siyang nagkukunwaring matandang pulubi or manyakol? May mga ganoon. What if may nakakahawa siyang sakit? I can't risk myself.