Autumn and Sunset

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Isang araw... Dalawa... Tatlo... Isang linggo... Isang buwan... Isang buwan na ang lumipas nang mangyari ang insidenteng iyon sa buhay ko. Ang insidenteng akala ko hindi mangyayari sa akin. I had a sudden breakdown. Akala ko hindi iyon totoo pero hindi naman ako nagsisi na nanyari sa akin 'yon. Dahil sa bagay na iyon, sa nangyari sa akin. I just got to know myself better.

Napagtanto ko na kaya ko din palang magmahal. Iyong pagmamahal na dapat ipinaparamdam mo sa isang tao na higit pa sa pagkakaibigan. Pagmamahal na pinagsasaluhan ng dalawang taong nagmamahalan. I thought my life should be the only thing I should value, as well as the people I care about. Ngunit tila nag-iba ang ihip ng hangin. All I want now is what my heart wants. Kung ano ang nais nito. My life is important to me but I don't want to deprive my heart of what it wants.

Kakatapos ko lang sa isang naka-schedule sa aking operasyon. Patungo na ako sa aking opisina nang mamataan ang isang grupo ng nga nagtatrabaho sa hospital na nagkukumpulan, na para bang may pinag-uusapan. They suddenly turned to me and fell silent when they saw me. I was suddenly confused by what they did.

Papalapit na ako sa kanila ng bigla silang umalis isa-isa. I frowned. What's the problem with them? I just shook my head and went to my office. I was about to open the door when the nurse receptionist suddenly approached me. Nagtataka naman akong napabaling sa kaniya. She was holding a fancy paper with three books on it. I raised an eyebrow when he handed it to me.

"What is that?"

"May nagpapabigay po Doc." nakangiting sagot ng nurse.

Mas lalo lang lumalim ang gatla sa aking noo. Sino naman ang magbibigay nito sa akin? Nagtataka kong tanong sa aking isipan. I just accepted it and thanked the nurse before finally entering my office.

"Thank you."

She just nodded and turned away. Nang maisara ko ang pinto ay tinungo ko na ang aking mesa at umupo sa aking silya.
I stared at the books. These are books by Jane Austen, an English novelist known primarily for her six major novels which interpret, critique and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Sa katunayan ay may iilang libro na ako na siya rin ang may akda. I suddenly noticed the post-it-note placed there. I picked it up and read what was written there.

~I don't know what flowers you like. So, I just bought books for you.

Basa ko sa nakasulat sa papel. I wonder who gave me the books. Suddenly, I felt my phone vibrated. I picked it up and looked at who the message was from. An unknown number sent a message. I opened and read it.

Unknown number:

Register my number.

Nagtataka man ay ni-reply-an ko nalang ang naghatid ng mensahe.

Ako:

Who is this?

Unknown number:

Autumrius.

Bigla kong nabitawan ang aking cellphone. Napahawak ako sa aking dibdib. I felt my heart beating ang pounding erratically. I took a deep breath one after another. Where did that man get my number? Why does he always surprise me? I picked up my phone that had just fallen on the table. I read his last text again. Tsk. Even when texting he's still cold.