Ada
I successfully went outside the tennis court to find any trash cans around without anyone noticing. Joke! Hindi talaga ako sure, kasi nakatingin kanina sa akin si Tomagan habang kagat-kagat ang orange flavored twin pops niya.
Hindi ko alam paano niya nagagawa 'yon nang hindi nangingilo. Parang ako pa yata ang nangilo para sa kanya.
Napanguso ako nang wala akong makitang basurahan sa malapit. Ayoko kasing lumayo sa court dahil baka mapansin ni Ajira at magtaka kung nasaan ako or baka tapos na si Nadia sa faculty.
Nasaan na kaya ang trash cans? Bakit wala sila kung kailan may kailangan akong itapon?
Staring at the two popsicle sticks, I subconsciously continued walking until I noticed a black trash can beside the closed indoor pool's door.
My lips formed into a thin line. Mabagal kong hinulog sa basurahan ang sticks na kanina'y may nakatusok na chocolate flavored Nestlé twin pops. Dapat pala ay hinintay ko si Tomagan na matapos kagat-kagatin ang ice cream niya.
Hindi ko alam bakit niya ako binilhan ng twin pops. I can't remember any of our past interactions dahil wala naman talaga kaming interactions.
When Mad Go walked towards me earlier, with his right hand offering the twin pops. I remember Tomagan looking weirdly. Parang nangaasar. Hindi ko alam kung sino ang inaasar niya sa aming dalawa ni Mad pero sa tingin ko ay si Mad . . . dahil sila ang magkaibigan.
Mabilis akong napatingin sa pinto ng indoor pool. I stared quietly and was startled when I heard a thud. Tahimik at maingat akong napaatras.
Sa hindi tamang pagkakataon, naalala ko lang bigla ang isang scene sa Don't Breathe. Hindi ko alam bakit iyon pa ang naalala ko sa dami ng mga thriller movies na napanood ko.
Safe naman ako 'di ba? Hindi naman masyadong malayo mula rito sa indoor pool area ng building ang tennis court kung nasaan sila Aji. I sighed. Pinagmasdan ko ang pinto mula itaas hanggang ibaba.
Tapos na ba ang practice ng swimming team? Bakit ba kasi ang tahimik sa part na ito ng Sports Hall? Napangiwi ako.
"Tangina, sabi ko na na-lock na naman ako e!"
My lips slightly parted and realized that it was a person behind the door and not some creepy blind old man, like the one from the Don't Breathe movie.
"Hello! May tao ba d'yan? Someone who knows how to let me out me of this stupid door?" I heard him sigh.
"Tangina. Kailan ba gagawin 'tong pinto na 'to?" He started laughing on his own and stopped quickly as I awkwardly stand outside, not knowing how to let him out of that stupid door.
"Ada?"
Gulat akong napalingon sa gilid. I sighed in relief when I saw Mad. I cleared my throat and noticed his left hand holding the familiar cup ng fries mula sa canteen pero imbes na fries, dalawang popsicles stick ang laman nito.
"'May na-lock dito, tulong po!"
Pareho kami ni Mad na napalingon sa pinto. I saw him snicker but proceeds on throwing his garbage sa trash can.
"Paano?" I whispered loud enough for him to hear. Lumingon siya sa akin, he stared for a second and looked away.
"Salarzon, atras." He uttered.
Narinig ko ang pag-ubo nito. "Gago, ikaw na naman? May sixth sense ka ba? Palaging ikaw, Mad? Ikaw talaga?"
Marami pa itong sinabi na hindi na namin masyadong narinig. Mad sighed and told him to step back for the second time. Anong gagawin niya? Hala . . . sisipain niya?
He stood straight in front of the locked door and kicked it once. It was strong and loud enough to open it. Napaamang ako. I quietly stared at the door slowly opening, making me see the pool inside and a tall and fit figure looking chill about what happened as I wondered kung gaano ka-strong ang binti ni Mad.
Mas matangkad siya kay Mad. He's wearing the swimming team's varsity shirt and black leggings. His clean cut hair still slightly damp from practice, I think.
Ang gwapo.
Mukhang hindi ito ang unang beses na sinipa ni Mad ang pinto. I assumed from the way he greeted Mad.
"Thanks," matamlay nitong sabi.
Tumango lang si Mad sa kanya na parang walang pakialam at lumingon na sa akin,
"Hinahanap ka ni Ajira . . ."
Napaamang ako at mabilis na tumango. Napatingin ako sa lalaki na nakatingin pala sa akin. Inilipat ko sa kanya ang tingin at maliit na ngumiti.
"Uh . . . Hello?"
He beamed at me making his dimples visible and waved even though we're probably just five feet apart from each other. "Hi! Jaude 'di ba?"
Maliit na tango ang ibinigay ko. Bumaling ang tingin ko kay Mad when I heard him sigh and whispered something that I wasn't able to catch.
Inangat niya ang kanyang tingin papunta sa akin before I was able to look away.
"You should go back na. Ako na ang bahala dito sa shokoy." He said softly before facing the guy.
"Ha? Gago, anong shokoy?"
Napatango na lamang ako at mabilis nang naglakad palayo sa kanila at pabalik sa court.
