"Recalled something, Liah?"
'Di ko na napigilang magtanong sa 'king kasintahan, no'ng naabutan ko siyang nakatulala pero bigla na lang ngingiti.
She just widened her smile and answered without looking at me, "Eyes on the road, Harold."
I heaved a sigh and followed what she said. I feel like something isn't right or it's just me? Hihintayin ko na lang siguro siyang magsabi sa 'kin.
But the way she smiled awhile ago, it's kinda frightening...
"We're here," I said as we reached the building that she's working at.
We are working at different companies, pero hindi naman gano'n kalayo ang distansiya.
"Daanan na lang kita mam---"
"Huwag na!"
I was surprised when she cut me off. Maging siya ay mukhang nagulat din sa inasta niya.
"A-Ah, I mean nagyayaya kasi sina Gabriel. You know, nag-aaya kasi ang tagal na rin naming 'di nagkita," pagpapaliwanag niya.
"Oh okay, just inform me from time to time. Take care, Liah."
Hindi siya sumagot.
"Is there a problem?" I can't help but to ask.
She shook her head. "N-Nothing."
I nodded and kissed her on her forehead. We exchanged our 'I love yous' before she got out of my car.
She's not hiding something, right? I shoved away those thoughts then turned on the engine.
I made myself busy when I arrived to the office. Hindi ko muna inintindi ang kaunting pagdududa sa girlfriend ko, mapag-uusapan naman namin 'yan mamaya.
After almost eight hours of encoding in my laptop, talking to someone through phone calls, and attended a meeting, tsaka ko lang namalayan na mag-uuwian na pala.
After fixing the things on my table and bidding farewells to my workmates, I stood at the at the front of the elevator waiting for it to open.
Isang babaeng 'di pamilyar ang sumalubong sa 'kin, nang bumukas ang elevator. She timidly smile so I smiled back. Pipindutin ko na sana ang lower ground 2 button nang makitang nakailaw na ito. Then we heard a ting sound after a minute, hudyat na nakarating na kami.
Naunang naglakad palabas ang babae, samantalang ako ay sadiyang nagpahuli dahil ite-text ko pa si Liah. Then I heard something fell but I didn't even took a glance, because I'm busy texting. Once I hit send, do'n ko pa lang tinignan ko ano yong nalaglag.
It is a wallet, and I'm sure this belongs to her. Wala rin naman akong ibang nakasabay kundi siya. Nang makuha ito ay agad akong nag-angat ng tingin, 'di ko na makita ang babae. Did she just walked so fast? I didn't even heard the sound of her car...
Muli akong naglibot ng paningin. Nang wala talagang narinig na paalis na kotse, o kahit man lang nakitang anino niya ay medyo kinilabutan ako.
"Kuya, I'll just leave this wallet of a lady employee to you. Kaaalis lang din po kasi, hindi yata napansin. Baka po sakaling balikan kung magtanong sa inyo." I noticed how the guard furrowed his forehead.
"Eh, Ser... Kanina pang alas-siete y media 'yong huling alis ng isang empleyado." He looked at his wristwatch and continued speaking. "Kayo pa lang ho ang aalis ng ganitong oras," aniya.
It's already 8:00 in the evening, it is obviously impossible for a time to run that fast. This time, I really could feel the creeps.
"Pero may nakasabay po akong babaeng empleyado... Ah, basta po pakibigay na lang 'yan kung sakaling magtanong siya sa inyo. May id naman siguro diyan," sabi ko at tumango na lang siya.
Nagpaalam ako sa guwardiya at bumalik na sa kotse ko.
As I'm on my way, I felt like someone is following me. Nang makaalis ako ng building ay may pulang kotseng nakasunod sa 'kin, hanggang ngayon sa malapit na ako ay nakasunod pa rin!
Don't assume too much, Harold. Maybe you both have the same way.
I just continued driving. I hope he or she would not do something awful.
Liah calling...
"Yes, babe? Nandiyan na kayo?"
"'Di nga kami natuloy, eh. Something came up, next time na lang. Baka makasama ka pa," she said then laughed.
"Oh, I see. Where are you?"
"Condo. Pauwi ka na?"
"Yup."
"Okay, drive safe babe!"
"I will. I love---"
Hindi ko na natuloy ang dapat kong sasabihin, dahil pinatay na niya agad ang tawag.
Minutes after when I arrived at my condo unit. Darkness is what I encoutered when I opened the door.
Nakakapanibago, dahil lagi naman akong nag-iiwan ng isang ilaw na nakabukas kapag aalis ako. Did I really turned off all the lights?
Kakapain ko na sana ang switch nang may marinig akong nabasag. Nagulat ako roon, dahilan ng pagkabagsak ko.
I also heard footsteps near behind me. Horror nights on September, really?
I closed my eyes in a minute, then calmed myself. Pinakiramdaman kung may naririnig pa ulit na hakbang o ano.
Nang wala na ay dahan dahan akong tumayo at kinapa ang switch. But unexpectedly, I felt another hand on the switch. Sa gulat ko ay hinampas ko ang kamay na 'yon at---
"Surprise!"
I heard a group of people shouted, as the lights turned on. Nakataas pa ang isang kamay, nanlaki ang mga mata, at nilibot ko ang paningin.
I saw Liah holding a cake, and my friends holding poppers and balloons.
"Happy birthday, Harold!" Liah exclaimed and walk towards me.
"Pakana mo 'to 'no? That's why you're acting weird a while ago?" I asked as my eyes turned into slits.
"Yes, did you like it?"
"The surprise? Of course! But the scene before the surprise, of course not! Last na 'yon ha?"
Liah just burst into laughter and kissed my cheeks. "I love you!"
-
Ae's Note:
kawawang harold, dalawang beses napag-trip-an HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
