Mirai

13. The First

Madami na ang nagbago sa akin noong nagkaroon ako ng feelings para kay Lissana and it let her saw my other self. I hate it. Ang pinaka ayoko ay ang makita ng iba na ang Gabriel na kilala nila ay may sira sa ulo. Matatakot sila then later on they'll hate me and leave me. Ayoko ng iniiwan ako lalo na sa mga panahong kailangang-kailangan ko sila.

Lucas is my best friend since we were young. Hindi niya ako iniwan maging sa kurso sa college. But still, I can't forget what happen when we we're in Grade 11.

Naulit nanaman ang nangyari noon, nasaktan ko ang kaibigan ko dahil lang sa isang babae, and now, sa harap pa ng babaeng mahalaga sa akin. Wala na akong mukhang maihaharap kay Lissana.

Matagal ng alam ni Lucas ang kundisyon ko kaya maiintindihan niya ako. Alam ko iyon, sa taon ba naman ng pagkakaibigan namin but now, I don't think he will understand. Masyado nang mababaw ang dahilan ko, una dahil hindi niya alam ang nararamdaman ko para kay Lissana, pangalawa nangako ako na hindi ko na uulitin ang ginawa ko noong Grade 11 kami na dahilan pa ng pagkahospital niya ng dahil sa ginawa ko.

After the last class, we went to a café to have some snacks and drinks before going home with Lucas when we saw a girl standing at the side of the entrance, dumbfounded and starting to cry. Nilapitan siya ni Lucas pero nakatulala lang ang babae sa kalsada.

"Miss, are you okay?" he asked.

"Miss?" ulit niya at kinaway-kaway ang kamay sa harap niya.

Matagal bago sumagot ang babae but I saw some blood on his hands and small cut. I think nadukutan siya at nanlaban kaya nasaktan.

"My bag" she said in small tone. Suminghot siya after sumagot at bigla nalang siyang umiyak. Napaupo siya at yumuko.

"My bag. A thief took my bag. My phone is there and I don't know how to go home without my driver. I can't call him" in between her sobs.

"Shh. It's okay. If you know your address, we will take you home but for now calm yourself okay?" patahan ni Lucas sa babae. Tumingala ang babae sakanya.

I was stunned by her beauty by that time. She was so angelic in face with a milky white skin and rosy cheeks. Hindi ako nakapagsalita sa oras na iyon. Tanging si Lucas lang ang kumakausap sa babae kahit paminsan-minsan ay tumitingin siya sa akin. Akala niya siguro ay pipi ako.

Dinala niya ang babae sa loob ng café. "Let's clean your cut first then we'll eat before you go home" sabi niya.

Tumango lang ang babae at hinayaan si Lucas na pumunta sa counter para humiram ng first aid kit.

Habang nililinisan ni Lucas ang sugat ng babae I took my chance to speak, "Bro, I'll get our food and drinks". He nodded as an answer.

I know what he meant, it's the usual order and triple it for us.

Tumingin lang ang babae sa akin nang paalis na ako. She smile at me timidly though so I smiled back.

Pagkatapos ng ilang minuto, inilapag ko sa mesa ang mga inorder ko. Iniisa isa kong ilapag sa harap nila at nang sa harap na ng babae ay tumingala siya sa akin ng nakangiti and mouthed thank you. I just nodded to her in response.

"What's your name miss?" Lucas asked her.

"Evie" tipid niyang sagot.

"I'm Lucas and this is my friend Gab".

"Thank you for your help. I'm just stunned and don't know what to do because it happened in a flash. Just when I realized that my phone is there when I wanted to call for help from Manong Jerry, my driver. I left him in school's parking lot and went here to buy drinks but then on my way here, someone grabbed my sling bag but I resisted then he grab his knife inside his pocket and point it to me until I feel pain in my hands. That time I loosen my grip on the bag and let him go" as she told us the story, I can sensed the fear in her words and saw her trembling hands at the table.