“I’m Shaina, tumirik ang sasakyan namin.”
Humakbang ako paharap patungo sa kaniya at inilahad ang aking kamay, ramdam ko ang tensyon sa paligid lalo na nang kapitan ni Kleo ang aking balikat at pilit akong hinihila pabalik.
The man looked at my hands before awkwardly laughing and showing me his hand.
“Nagkatay ako ng manok para sa pagpupulong bukas, marumi ang aking kamay eh,” aniya habang sinusubukang ipahid ang kamay sa suot na itim na apron.
I smiled and nodded at him, nakangiti niyang pinagmasdan ang aming itsura at nahinto ito kay Aliyah. He suddenly stepped forward while squinting his eyes at Aliyah.
“Kilala kita, Ikaw ba si Aliyah?” saad nito.
Mabilis na tumango si Aliyah ngunit kita sa kaniyang mukha ang takot at pagaalinlangan. Ngumiti ang lalaki na tila ba nagagalak makita si Aliyah.
“Tumirik ang sasakyan niyo sa tamang lugar, naroon ang iyong magulang,” sambit niya at may itinuro sa hindi kalayuan.
My forehead knitted and looked at Aliyah in pure shocked. Aliyah suddenly squinted her eyes and slowly, it went wider and she jumped in joy.
“Oh my God! Mang Kito!” she shouted.
We all looked at her annoyed when she jumped into the man and hugged him. Tinulungan kami ng lalaking pumunta sa bahay nila Aliyah at totoo ngang kakilala ni Aliyah ang lalaki.
“Naku! Natakot pa kayo, pasensya na ha? Itong batang ito, makakalimutin!” ani Mama ni Aliyah.
I looked at the man who's standing in their doorway and was watching us while smiling, he was nodding to every word Aliyah's mother has said. I was looking at him thoroughly when his eyes landed on mine, his smile faded.
His eyes slowly went darker as he looked at me. I stared at him for a long time until a smile slowly crept into my lips. I know if someone is hiding a secret, you can not hide anything with this eyes.
“Kailangan niyo na ba agad umuwi? You can stay here!”
Mabilis kong inalis ang aking paningin sa lalaki ng marinig ang boses ni Aliyah. Kleo looked at me with a questioning looked, I sighed.
“Aliyah, I have drafts to write. I can commute if you guys wanna stay here,” sambit ko at nginitian sila.
Kleo’s eyes delighted with joy but Mira shooked her head and looked at his brother with annoyance. Sa huli, ay hinatid rin kami ng ama ni Aliyah patungo sa sakayan sa bayan at ipakukuha nalang ang sasakyan ni Kleo.
Pagkauwi ay ramdam ko ang pananakit ng aking ulo dahil siguro sa mahabang byahe, ramdam ko rin ang antok ngunit papasok pa lamang ako ng bahay ay rinig ko na ang isang malakas na tunog galing sa kapitbahay.
I sighed and went into my neighbour’s door and knocked. Ngunit dahil sa lakas ng kanilang patugtog ay mukhang hindi ako nito narinig. Alas dose na ng gabi ngunit ganito sila kaingay.
I went straight to my room and changed into more comfortable clothes, as I finished refreshing I sat in front of my computer and started rumbling into my files. After re-reading my previous chapters and reviewing my outline I wore my reading glasses and closed my eyes to get prepared.
I was typing when a loud sound echoed around the neighborhood, inis akong sumilip sa bintana at nakitang mayroon nang neon lights na nalabas sa loob ng bahay ng aming kapitbahay. I sighed and closed my eyes tightly before grabbing my earphones and played a mellow music.
After an hour of typing, I felt my eyes were about to close so I stood up and headed into my kitchen. I was sipping on my coffee when another loud sound echoed again. I put down my coffee and closed my eyes tightly before heaving a sigh.
BINABASA MO ANG
One, Two, Three | Published Under PaperInk Imprints
Mystery / Thriller#4 | WICKED WRITERS SERIES | A COLLABORATION. A book wherein all characters have vanished in real life, who's next? One, Two, Three, a book that was published on some site, that book is all about woman with their names who suffers from depression an...
