Blind Shot (ON-HOLD)

SEVEN

Nakita ni Gabrielle ang pagbaba ni Lana mula sa taxi. She watched as her friend hurried to where they were. 

Judging on Lana's look, hindi mahirap hulaan na nanggaling pa itong trabaho at na wala itong matinong tulog sa nakalipas na mga araw. Bigla tuloy siyang nakonsensiya. 

Wala naman kasi siyang ibang pwedeng tawagan. Ayaw naman niyang mag-alala ang mga magulang at kapatid niya. And Lana's the closest friend she got. 

"What happened? Are you okay?" ani Lana nang makalapit sa kanila. 

Naroroon pa rin sila sa construction site. They were leaning against the architect's car. 

He offered that they wait inside his car earlier; she refused. He tried to start a casual conversation while they waited. But no, she's not in the mood for a casual chitchat. Not that they're gonna be friends after this incident. 

Though kanina pa niya iniisip kung saan niya ito nakita before. He looked kind of familiar. 

"I'm fine, don't worry," aniya sa kaibigan para 'wag itong mag-alala. 

"Hi, I'm Architect Zachary Mendoza," he introduced himself to Lana, offering his hand for a hand shake.

"I'm Doctor Larazabal but you can call me Lana," anang kaibigan habang nakikipagkamay do'n sa architect. "What happened?"

"Is it alright if I talk to you in private?" ang sagot no'ng Architect Mendoza. 

"It's nothing, really," ang agad niyang putol sa usapan ng mga ito. "Nag-tresspasing kasi ako. They called a police pero okay na, naayos na namin. Pinatawad na ako nitong si Architect Mendoza. We're good now." She gave emphasis on the "pinatawad" part, hoping that he gets the hint.

"What? Ba't ka nag-tresspassing? And what are you doing here at this hour?" ang baling ng kaibigan sa kanya. 

"I was just... I was just catching some fresh air," aniya. 

Okay, that was lame.

"In a construction site?" anang kaibigan. 

Bumaling si Gabrielle do'n sa architect. Nagkabikit-balikat lang ito. 

"Were you drunk? Nangangamoy beer ka, ah," Lana noticed.

"Nakainom lang. Konti," aniya. 

"Uminom kang mag-isa?" Lana looked really worried right now. 

"It was really not ---"

"Wait," ang putol ni Lana sa sinasabi niya bago ito bumaling doon sa architect. "What really happened? Tell me."

"I think it's best that we talk in private," he said. 

"Okay, okay! I was drunk and I tried to jump off from that building pero pinigilan niya ako!" ani Gabrielle nang matapos na ang usapan.

"WHAT?! ARE YOU CRAZY?" Lana snapped at her. 

"I was drunk. I wasn't on the right mind," aniya. 

"Oh, god!" anito bago siya hinapit ng yakap. "What the hell were you thinking?" 

"Hey, don't worry. I'm okay now," ang pang-aalo niya sa kaibigan. 

"No, you are not okay. You are not okay," Lana started crying as she hugged her even tighter.

Kumalas siya sa pagkakayakap nito. "Huy, ano ba! Okay na ako," aniya dito. 

Naiiyak na din tuloy siya. 

"Ohmygod, what am I going to do with you?" anang kaibigan habang nagpapahid ng luha. 

"Okay na ako, ano ka ba! It was a mistake. I was drunk. I was not on the right mind. But I realized that it was a huge mistake. Hinding-hindi ko na gagawin ulit 'yon, pramis!" She even raised her right hand as if it will ease Lana's worries away.

"No, we both know that it's not a simple as that. I knew it. I just knew it. Ohmygod, you need some help. Wait, may friend akong psychologist. I'm gonna book you an appointment with her," anito. 

"Alright, alright," she agreed nang matapos na ang usapan. "Pero sa bahay na natin 'yan pag-usapan. Now let's go home nang makapagpahinga ka na. Alam kong pagod ka na." 

Pero sa halip na sagutin siya ay bumaling ito do'n sa architect. 

"Hindi ko alam kung papano kita mapapasalamatan pero sobrang thank you talaga. As in thank you, thank you, thank you so much," anito do'n sa lalaki. 

"It's okay. Kahit naman sino gagawin ang ginawa ko. Nagkataon lang na ako 'yong nandoon. I was just on the right place at the right time," anito. 

"And thank you so much for letting me know. I truly appreciate it," Lana added. 

"You're welcome. I just had to do what I had to do," anito. 

In fairness naman talaga sa Architect Zachary Mendoza na 'to, hindi lang guapo. He looked like a good person, too. 

Oo, inaamin niyang naiinis siya dito kanina. But now that her emotions had died down, na-realize na niya kung gaano kalaki ng utang na loob niya dito. He practically saved her. Bigla tuloy siyang na-guilty sa mga hindi magagandang sinabi niya dito kanina.

She was such in a deep thought that she didn't realize that they were already exchanging numbers --- si Lana at 'yong architect. 

"Wait. Why are you exchanging numbers? Para saan?" aniya sa mga ito. 

"Just in case," ang matipid na sagot ni Lana. 

"Anong just in case?" pangungulit niya. 

Pero sa halip na sagutin siya ay binuksan nito ang passenger's seat no'ng kotse. 

"Get in," anito sa kanya. 

"What? Why?" aniya.

Nakita niyang lumigid na 'yong architect as kabilang side para sumakay sa driver's seat.

"Zachary offered to drive us home," anito. 

Zachary? Close na agad sila? Wow. 

"What? No. Nakakahiya do'n sa tao," aniya. 

"I'm too tired to turn down his offer. Saka on the way naman," ani Lana bago siya iginiyang papasok sa kotse nito.

Wala siyang nagawa kundi ang sumunod na lang. Pagod na rin kasi siya.

Tahimik si Gabrielle sa buong byahe. Lana and that architect were having some casual chitchats. Hindi siya nakikisabat. Maliban sa wala siya sa mood, kanina pa din talaga niya iniisip kung saan niya ito nakita. 

The more she looked at him, the more convinced she was that she saw him somewhere. Hindi lang niya maalala. 

Hanggang sa makarating sila sa condo, iyon pa rin ang gumugulo sa isipan niya. 

Nag-thank you si Lana dito at saka nagpatiuna nang bumaba ng kotse. 

Nag-thank you na din siya at saka sumunod na rin sa kaibigan. 

But before she could slam the car's door close, she had this "eureka moment". Parang may light bulb na biglang umilaw sa ibabaw ng kanyang ulo. Bigla-bigla ay alam na niya ang sagot sa katanungang kanina pa gumugulo sa kanyang isipan. 

"Ohmygod, naalala ko na!" aniya na ikinagulat nito.

"Ang alin?" he asked in surprise.

Inalis nito ang pagkaka-seatbelt nito para malaya itong makalingon sa may likuran kung saan siya naroroon.

Muli niyang ipinasok ang ulo sa loob ng kotse at saka sinabing "Kung saan kita nakita before. Naalala ko din."

Kumunot ang noo nito. "Nagkita na tayo before?" 

"Ohmygod, how can I forget about that! Ilang gabi din kitang iniyakan, pa'no ko ba makakalimutan 'yon?" she said, more to herself.

He looked even more puzzled.