Breaking Free From Envy

Kabanata 31

"I want his exact address."
I demanded, direct to the point. He was Sef's bestfriend afterall. He's Asher if I remember it right.

I brought him to Uncle Jess' office. Tinanong ko agad siya matapos i-serve ni Nathalia ang kape na hiningi ko at iwan kami doon. Her cubicle is outside this office.

I offered him the other cup with a tea. Coffee lover ako. Pero hindi ako kailanman nagkaroon ng interes sa tsaa. It tastes eww. Kaya nga nagtataka ako kay Cleofe na ang morning routine ay ang pag-inom ng tsaa in a regular basis.

"He did not tell you?" Confused niyang tanong pagkatapos sumimsim ng tsaa. He's sitting on the single sitter sofa na kulay itim. I occupied the other sofa in front of him. Nasa pagitan namin ang maliit at mababang glass table na may naka-arrange na baby's breath sa mahabang flower vase na nasa gitna nito.

"I won't bother asking you kung alam ko, di ba?"

"Then ask nicely." He smirked. Napataas ang kilay ko.

Ahy, attitude siya, mga bes! Ang sarap hampasin ng vase. Kung hindi ko lang siya kailangan for a piece of information, hindi ako mag-aaksaya ng laway na kausapin siya.

"Ibibigay mo o kailangan mo pang masaktan?" I raised my right hand in a fist.

"Wow! Ang nice naman. I wonder kung anong nagustuhan ni Josef sa'yo?" He teased, his eyes seem playful and amused. Para sa isang Koreano, he speaks in Filipino fluently. Walang halong accent. Maybe he was raised here in Pinas. But nevermind. 

"I wonder kung makakalabas ka pa ng buhay dito or ipapa-deport kita ng Korea in a silver casket." Banta ko. Napakadali namang sagutin ng tanong ko, ah. Alin doon ang mahirap?

"Why would you like to know?"muli niyang tanong. He crossed his leg over his other leg and lean a bit backward to the sofa's armrest.

"Ah, baka kasi gusto lang kitang chikahin tapos wala akong maisip na i-topic, kaya 'yon na lang 'no?" I answered, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

Obvious naman, di ba? Siyempre, gusto kong puntahan. But I don't know where. Ang alam ko lang sa Switzerland. And I can not ask my family's help and connection about it. They will surely find out.

"'Miss mo?"

"Mmh." I nodded and pouted. Sobra. It has been four years since the last time we talked and see each other.

"Miss ka ba?"

"Nang-iinis ka?" I glared at him. He just smiled. "Sasagutin mo ba o hindi?"

"Did you ever thought asking yourself kung bakit hindi niya sinabi sa iyo?"

"I should be the one asking and you're the one who is supposed to answer. Not the other way around!" Reklamo ko. Walang kuwentang source 'tong nabitbit ko. Tsk. Sarap itapon.

"Aga-aga, init ng ulo. Chill." Anya. Ewan kung pinapakalma ako o mas lalo akong iniinis.

"Okay. Will you tell me where Sef is?" Tinitigan niya lang ako as if waiting for something.

"Please." I whisphered. Nilambutan ko pa ang facial expression ko. Kulang na lang magpuppy eyes pa ako.

"As much as I want to tell you, I can not tell you-"

Napatapik ako sa mesa. "You can't?"