Love in Bangketa

42

Halos mag gagabi na nang makarating kami sa lugar nina Max. Everything seemed to be so... empty. Nadaanan din namin before ang park where Max and I first met, it brought me so many memories.

But, right now, I exactly didn't know why recalling all those memories hurt me.

"Yuan, park here. May pupuntahan lang ako," I told him, but he only looked at me.

"I thought kukwentuhan mo 'ko? Dalhin mo 'ko don, sama ako,"

"You nosy fu--"

He raised an eyebrow. "Sige, sungitan mo 'ko. Iiwan talaga kita rito," I rolled my eyes at him. Pwede naman akong umuwi naman na mag-isa, but it'd be a lot harder for me to commute at this time. Malayo pa naman ang pabalik ng bahay namin.

I went out of his car, sumama nga siya. I already left my ID inside my bag, but he was still wearing his. While we were walking to Max's house, sumisipol-sipol si Yuan.

"Stop whistling, asshole,"

"Bakit lahat ng ginagawa ko, kinakainisan mo? Ganiyan mo na ba ako kinamumuhian?"

"The fact that we also breathe the same air makes me puke already, Yuan,"

He placed his hand on his heart. Overreacting. "Ouch, that hurts. You're... really rare, Xynnah,"

Nakikita ko pa lang sa malayuan ang bahay nila Max, but it already looked gloomy. This place would always stay happy... vibrant... just like Max's smile.

"You sure this is the house, Xynnah? Parang walang tao," Aniya.

I couldn't disagree with what he said, dahil mukha talagang walang tao. I knocked on their gate multiple times. I even tried to call Max on his phone number, tried to search and see if he was online... pero, wala pa rin.

Ilang minuto pa akong patuloy na kumakatok. Yuan bought his snacks near the convenience store. Walang tao. Walang nagsasalita. Ang dilim ng buong bahay nila.

"Anong kailangan nila?"

Hinarap ko ang nagsalita. A familiar girl looked at me suspiciously. She was... the girl na kasama ni Max noon sa Bangketa. Also, the same girl who escorted Max to his room.

Biglang nangati ang kamay ko para manampal. She still probably remembers me. I am aware of that. But, I didn't think much about it right now dahil hindi naman siya ang sadya ko rito. Si Max ang sadya ko rito.

"Where is Max? Bakit... walang tao dito sa bahay nila?"

Nakapamewang siya ngayon. "Sino ka ba?"

"Xynnah. His girlfriend," Taas-noo kong sabi. She diverted her gaze into something. Nag-iwas tingin agad siya bigla.

"Anong kailangan mo kay Max?"

I sighed. "You think... that question's really necessary? Ano sa tingin mong ginagawa ko rito?"

"Nambubulabog? Ewan. Baka," She shrugged. I wanted to pull her hair! Ngayon na talaga! This bitch!

"Edi kanina ko pa sana sinunog 'tong bahay nila kung pambubulabog lang ang reason ko. Are you in your right mind? Na saan nga sila?"

"Why would I tell you?"

"Because I deserve to know it,"

"Hindi ba sinabi ni Max sa'yo? If you were that important to him, sasabihin niya sa'yo, 'di ba? Kung hindi niya pinaalam, edi dapat una pa lang, alam mong wala siyang intensyong malaman mo!" She exclaimed.

Anong hindi ko alam? Did I miss anything while I wasn't here? Max and I were talking 24/7 at that time! Alam kong wala kaming problema! What the fuck is this girl saying right now?

"Just fucking tell me. Please. Ang tagal ko na siyang hindi nakakausap. Kung ikaw din nasa pwesto ko, you will definitely understand me,"

"Oo, maiintindihan sana kita... kung hindi ka lang naki epal. Kahit anong pagmamakaawa mo, hindi ko sasabihin. Isipin mo na lang kung bakit hindi nagpaalam si Max sa'yo. Baka kasi... hindi ka naman talaga niya mahal? Nadala lang siya sa nararamdaman niya sa'yo? 'Di mo sure,"

I was about to come near her when a motor came! Sinundo siya. That bitch! Nangangalati ang buong katawan ko sa kaniya!

Dahil na rin sa sobrang galit, hindi ko na rin napigilang mapaluha. Wala na ngang inambag 'yung babaeng 'yon sa buhay namin. Max... where are you? Namimiss na kita, sobra.

"Xynnah," A cold voice spoke behind me. I wiped my tears immediately, but no matter how hard I try, they were just continuously falling. Damn it.

"I-I'm okay... Please, don't come near me,"

"What happened to you? Are you crying? Why the fuck are yo--" Hindi na natapos ang sinasabi niya at nilapitan ako. "Let's go home,"

"A-Ayaw ko pa, Yuan. Hindi ko pa nakikita si Max..."

He drank from his water bottle. "You see, walang tao rito, Xynnah. Nakailang bili na ako ng pagkain ko, akala ko, magkakausap kayo, pero madadatnan kitang umiiyak dito? Bumalik ka na lang,"

I continued to knock once again. Kinuha ko ang phone ko, nagpadala ako ng voicemail sa kaniya. "Love... I'm outside your house. I miss you, love. Please, let me see you,"

"Enough of that, Xynnah. Gabing-gabi na. Umuwi na tayo. I promise you... sasamahan kitang bumalik dito,"

Natagpuan ko na lang ang mga paa kong naglalakad pabalik sa kotse ni Yuan. Sobrang nag-aalala na ako. Tingin ko... tingin ko may ibang meaning yung sinabi no'ng babaeng 'yon. She was... close to Max. She probably knows something.

"Xynnah, it's getting colder. Enter the car now," Yuan authoritatively spoke. Wala sa mood akong pumasok at nakatingin sa kawalan.

He placed a handkerchief beside me, together with a paper bag. "Siguradong nagugutom ka na. Kumain ka muna. Huwag kang umiyak, Xynnah. Mukha kang tanga,"

"You took a fucking picture of me, didn't you? Bibigyan na lang kita ng ibang pang blackmail mo sa'kin, just not this one,"

He licked his lower lip. "I am not that shallow to make fun of someone's weakness, Xynnah. Wala akong pakialam kung umiyak ka sa harap ko ngayon. It's your problem,"

Yeah, right. It's my problem. Overreacting lang ba ako? Siguro nga. Hindi dapat ako umiiyak. Hindi dapat.

Pero, si Max 'yon.

"Drink water first,"

"Ayoko," Pero, hindi siya nakinig sa'kin. Inopen niya ang water bottle na binili niya at binigay sa'kin. Dahil sa paulit-ulit niyang pangungulit, napilitan na lang akong tanggapin.

Hindi pa kami umaalis, na kinakataka ko. He was rushing to go home but he didn't even start his engine. "Akala ko ba uuwi na tayo?" He shrugged.

Nang tumigil na ako sa pag-iyak, I felt a warm cloth on my shoulders, as if it would be enough to comfort me.

"You're silly as hell, Xynnah. You're one of a kind. Pero, mas lalong rare kapag nakikita kitang umiiyak,"

"If I were him, I won't lose you," He whispered, but I couldn't comprehend it.

"Did you say anything, Yuan?"

He inhaled. "I like you ever since, Xynnah. And I'm not used to seeing you like this. I'm sorry if... hindi ko na napigilang umamin. But, don't worry, I know my boundaries,"

With Yuan's sudden confession, I couldn't care less Pasok lang sa tenga, labas sa kabila. Ganiyan ako ka pre-occupied kay Max.