All Alone

Chapter 24

"Bakit? Saan ka ba pupunta, e gabi na?"

I glanced at my phone after tying my hair. Kinuha ko ang mga inayos na gamit at pati na rin ang cellphone. Siniguro kong walang naiwan na nakasaksak na appliances sa aking condo bago ako umalis.

"Sa school," I answered Ila after a long time. Niyayaya niya akong uminom ngayon pero sinabi kong may pupuntahan pa ako. It was just seven on the evening and she's already drinking. This is new. I don't want to refuse, but I have more important things to do.

I heard her gulped before answering. "School? Why? Hindi pa naman start class mo, ah."

"Why are you drinking? May problema ka ba? Don't you have things to do?" I smiled at the lady in the lift when I came in. Pinindot ko ang floor na bababaan ko at hinintay na magsalita ulit ang pinsan.

"Wala! So, bakit ka nga pupunta sa school? Can't you skip that and come here?"

"No. I only have four days left. I'm running out of time," I replied.

Gumilid ako nang bumukas ulit ang lift. I almost dropped my phone when I saw the first woman who came in. Dalawa silang magkasama pero kahit pamilyar iyong kasama niya ay hindi ko naman talaga kilala.

Napatingin sila sa gawi ko at mukhang mas gulat sila kaysa sa akin. Nanigas ako sa aking kinatatayuan at hindi alam kung ibababa na ba ang tawag o ano.

"I'll give you time! Ano? Maaga pa naman. You can come here after that practice."

Tumingin sa gawi ko iyong kasama ni Tita Emma. Narinig ata na may kausap ako. I suppressed a smile and looked away.

"Hindi ako puwede. I'll try next time."

"Oh, no, no, no! Wala rin sina Lacy kaya wala akong makasama. I'll go to you, okay?"

This time, it was Tita Emma who looked at me. Diniin ko ang sarili ko sa pinakalikod ng lift at halos manalangin na ako na sana'y mawala na lang bigla.

"Ano? What do you think? Pinabalot ko na kina Manang ang mga pagkain."

"It was nice seeing you, hija," ngumiti siya.

I hurriedly hung up on Ila and shove my phone inside my sweatpants.

"I-It was nice seeing you rin po," I croaked.

"This is Rachel, Irina's Mom," pakilala niya roon sa kasama niyang ginang. Nagulat naman ako at agad ngumiti roon sa nanay ni Irina.

"Ah, h-hello po. Siennese," I introduced myself. I shook hands with her because she offered. Ayaw ko sanang makipagkamay dahil marami akong kalyo sa kamay. Ballet and stuff.

"Yeah, yeah. I heard about you. Ikaw iyong kasama niya sa apartment noon, 'di ba?"

"Ah, opo."

The other lady inside the lift looked confused as hell while eyeing us. Nang bumukas ang lift ay lumabas siya kaagad.

"Dito na kami, hija. You look very pretty in person. No wonder my nephew likes you," Tita Rachel blurted that almost made me faint. Lalo na si Tita Emma.