The Switch (ViceRylle)

42. Forward

FLASHBACK

“Aww I missed you too Ninong. But back to the business Dr. Henry, yes I’m pretty sure about this. Been thinking about this decision for a year now. And I guess this is the right time. BUT I HAVE A BIG FAVOR.”

“What is it?”

“Look Ninong, I won’t take no as an answer.”

“Let’s see. Spill!”

 

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“Tama yun hijo. Nandito si Karylle but that’s two months ago. Isang buwan lang siyang namalagi dito at bigla na lang nagpaalam na aalis na daw siya. Hindi ko na naman nakuhang magtanong kung saan siya lilipat dahil mukha namang wala siyang balak sabihin. Biglaan lang din yung pag-alis niya hijo.” Pagpapaliwanag ni Manang Flor kay Vice na ngayon ay tulala na at tila sinusubukang iabsorb ang mga sinasabi ng matanda.

His smiling face turned into a long face. Halos panawan ng kulay ang kanyang mukha. Yung excitement niya ng marinig na nandoon si Karylle ay nawala agad pagkatapos sabihin na iyon ay dalawang buwan na ang nakakaraan. Para siyang nakasakay sa Extreme sa Enchanted Kingdom, para siyang nasa roller coaster o di kaya'y para siyang inihulog sa bangin at nasapo ng matigas na kama. Pakiramdam niya ay pinaglalaruan siya ng tadhana. 

That moment all Vice wanted is to just sink. Hindi niya alam how to react or what to say. He was staring blankly at Aling Flor’s face when she stood up. She dashes to their room and grab few sheets of paper on the drawer.

“Baka makatulong sa iyo ‘to hijo.” Sabi pa ni Aling Flor nang maibigay ang mga papel kay Vice. Everything seems blurry to Vice. Ni hindi na nga nya naintindihan ang sinabi sa kanya ng matandang babae or better to say ay hindi na niya inintindi pa ang sinabi ng matandang babae. Wala sa sariling tumayo si Vice at kinuha ang mga papel na bigay ni Aling Flor. He is not into himself that he wasn’t able to say a polite goodbye to Aling Flor and Mang Jun.

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Vice is practically walking dead and took the first public vehicle that passed through him. Walang emosyon niyang sinabi sa driver ang destinasyon niya. Yes, he is going straight to his hotel. Parang kanina lang ay buo na sa isipan niya ang kanyang plano na dadaan muna siya sa tower at sa mga park magbabakasakali na nandoon si Karylle, pero nawalan na siya ng pag-asa.

Paano mo nga naman mahahanap ang isang tao na tila ayaw magpahanap? Vice is sad, really sad. No, that is an understatement. He is depressed, down and upset and miserable.

Vice dove himself to the bed and threw everything on his hand once he entered his unit. He threw the papers handed to him by Aling Flor, even his bag, his phone and by chance nakabasag pa siya ng display sitted on the drawer beside the bed.

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FLASHBACK

“What is it?”

“Look Ninong, I won’t take no as an answer.”

“Let’s see. Spill!”