Chapter 25
I stared at the empty bottle in front of me. I looked around the store before landing my gaze on the empty bottle again.
Anong oras na ba? Tiningnan ko ang wristwatch. Tatlong oras na pala ako rito sa Gongcha. Hinilamos ko ang palad sa mukha at humugot ng malalim na hininga. Should I go now? Madilim na sa labas, alam ko.
I inhaled a large amount of breath and stood up. There's no point in going back to the university. It's past 8 in the evening already. Sigurado akong sarado na ang mga room sa Lecaros. I left my bag there and my phone and wallet is inside it. Buti nga at may pera pala ako sa bulsa ng uniform ko.
I feel drained and heedless of my surrounding. My mind is spinning around what happened today and part of it is travelling back to the past. I cannot explain how I feel or maybe I'm just too beat to process it.
Halos makatulog ako sa biyahe pauwi. Si Manong Julius ang nagbukas ng gate para sa akin. Wala pa ang dalawang sasakyan, ibig sabihin hindi pa umuuwi sina Tita.
"Sien, buti naman at nakauwi ka na! Akala ko kung anong nangyari sayo." Bungad ni Ate Caria sa akin.
"Galing akong SM, Ate." Pagod kahit ang boses ko.
"Ha? Gano'n ba? Nasa loob si Axev. Kanina pa naghihintay. Pumunta siya rito ng mga alas syete pagkatapos ay umalis din at kababalik lang ulit. Hinahanap ka, nag-aalala sayo."
Kumunot ang aking noo. Tinuro ni Ate Caria ang living room bago lumabas ng bahay para kausapin si Manong Julius. Mabilis akong nagtungo sa living room at nang makita si Axev ay natigilan din.
Agad siyang tumayo nang makita ako. Salubong ang kilay niya at halata ang pagod sa kaniyang mukha. Hindi ko alam pero mas lalo akong nanghina nang makita ko siya. Nanginig ang labi ko at naramdaman ang panunubig ng mga mata.
Gusto kong takbuhin ang distansya namin at yakapin siya ng mahigpit. Gusto kong sabihin lahat ng nagpapabigat ng loob ko pero umurong ako nang makita ang pagod at antok sa mukha niya. He's carrying with him his drawing tube, T-Square and laptop bag.
"Saan ka galing?" He asked coldly.
Hindi ako agad nagsalita dahil mukhang galit siya. My heart clenched when he walked towards me. His expression was hard but there was a glimpse of worry in his eyes. Tumayo siya sa harapan ko at pinasadahan ng tingin ang buong katawan ko.
"You didn't attend your last class and you left your bag. Saan ka pumunta?" Kumunot ang kaniyang noo.
I opened my mouth to say something but I think even my mouth is tired. Tumingala ako sa kaniya at mas lalong umurong ang luha ko nang makita ang panlalamig niya. He looks so tired and sleepless.
"You left your phone too. Where did you go?" He asked coldly again.
Saglit akong pumikit at nang muling nagmulat ay halos maiyak ako. I don't know, I really don't know how to express what I am feeling inside. And to be questioned by him in this manner is triggering something inside me. My lips trembled and my tears poured without a warning.
"Can't you just ask if I'm okay?" I gasped.
His lips parted. He closed his eyes for a second and heaved a deep breathe. Niyakap niya ako ng walang pasabi. My tears poured on his uniform.
"I'm sorry..." he whispered. "I was just worried. Tinawagan ako ni Tina para ibigay ang bag mo dahil hindi ka raw pumasok sa huling klase niyo. You left everything so I don't know how to reach you."
Hindi ako nagsalita at umiyak lang sa dibdib niya. He was rubbing my back but I still don't feel okay. I want to say so many things but I don't know how to put it in words. Ilang minutong gano'n bago ako humiwalay. I wiped my own tears while he tried to help me.
