Amanda

Chapter 6

Ayoko man aminin pero nag enjoy ako kasama si Rei, hindi na kami nakauwi ng gabing iyon pagkatapos namin kumain sa restaurant kasama ang client ni Marga. We checked in a hotel in the city and nothing happened of course, I'm not that kind of guy!

"Oh, Sally! hey.." bungad ko sa dalaga nang nakalabas na kami ng mga kasama ko sa sasakyan ko. She didn't return any of my friendly gesture, what she did was throw an anxious glance kay Rei at Marga.

"Nasaan ka ba nagpunta, Miggy? tinatawagan ka namin simula kahapon pa," may bahid ng pagkadismaya ang tono ni Sally. Napatikhim ako at napasapo sa batok ko. I tried searching for a sensible excuse but it sounded like a joke if I say it out loud but the truth is much more worse, I could only sigh. "Sorry, they beg me to use my car.. since hindi ko naayos yung sasakyan nila."

I could sense Rei and Marga behind me, shifting their weight awkwardly. Alam kong gusto na nilang makuha yung sasakyan nila nang namataan na nila ito. Ramdam ko ang titig ni Sally sa akin, "Aren't you worried sick kay Manuel?" her voice began to waiver. I lowered my gaze and rested on the top of her sneakers.

"I am.. of course." I muttered. "No, you're not Miggy, you are obviously worried free when you're off with them! hindi ka ba marunong umayaw?!" singhal niya. I was appalled, this is the first time I've seen Sally so angry. Her lips quivered, my throat began to tighten.

"I-"

"Patay na si Manuel." she spat, almost menacingly at me. I almost flinched, I don't know why, maybe it's because of this awful news or maybe on how she said it with such force.

"I.. I love you Miggy.. but you've changed.." she whispered and we both knew I heard it too. Iniwan niya akong mag isang nakatulala lang, the early morning light began to creep on the cement ground that I'm staring at.

"Boy, okay ka lang ba?" bumalik ako sa ulirat ko nang tinapik ako ni Marga sa balikat. We're the same height so she could really look at my face and scrutinize my expression. Nangunot ang noo niya. I laughed it off, almost forcefully. I sound like a stranger to myself.

"Ah, sorry.. sorry. Pagod lang sa byahe." I chuckled and rubbed my forearm. "Rei and I are really sorry, naistorbo ka pa talaga namin kahapon." Marga sighed, I only smiled. Yun naman pala eh, sana di niyo ako pinilit.

"Pwede ko na ba kayong maiwan?" tanong ko. I found Rei already in their car. She honked. "Ma! I'm hungry, let's go!" Marga only waved. "Hindi pa diba naayos yan?" nagtataka kong tanong. Marga pat my arm, "May tinawagan ako kahapon so that pag nakabalik na kami rito, it's good to go." I nodded while listening. Great. great.

Usually, on any funeral in movies, madalas ay makulimlim ang langit o kaya nagbabadya nang bumuhos yung ulan pero heto ako ngayon. Nakaitim rin ang kasuotan kasama ang mga pamilya, kamag anak at kaibigan ni Manuel, sa ilalim ng tumitirik na araw. Kulang na lang ng picnic table at handaan kung walang kabaong na inilalagay na sa hukay.

I step forward at ipinatong rito ang dala kong isang puting rosas. I can say that I'm sad but not devastated, do you understand me? maybe you dont. Naging kaibigan ko na si Manuel simula pagkabata pa lang namin but we drifted apart when I went to another city far from here, so the only recent memory I could muster is yung inuman lang namin.. We were supposed to be close again, in a way..

Nilibot ko ang tingin ko sa paligid, may mga nag iiyakan at nagyayakapan. Namataan ko si Sally at ang tatay niya si Teng, nasa harapan sila. I could tell that Sally was crying, dahil sa balikat niyang nguminginig.
I shouldn't stay here any longer, I got paid. Magulang ko na lang ang hinihintay ko.
I ducked away from the crowd, while doing so, nahagip ko ang pigura ni Amanda, although I couldn't really tell if it really was her but my guess became right nang narinig kong tinawag siya ng isang lalaki.

"Amanda? hey.."

"Oh, hi, I didn't know you're going to be here too."

"Well, of course, to pay respect."

Pumwesto ako sa hindi kalayuan, isang malaking puno ang nakaharang sa amin kaya kahit papaano ay naririnig ko sila. The only thing I know is Manuel was found in front of Amanda's house, I don't want to put suspicion on her as much as possible.

"Amanda—"

"Kailangan ko bang sumama sa inyo?" her voice we're soft and low as usual, I couldn't imagine if she killed Manuel. I grimaced at my own thought.

"Uh, yes.. madali lang naman to, we only have few questions." sagot ng baritonong boses. This was followed by the sound of their shoes moving away from where I am.

I decided to follow them. Ngunit wala akong will power na pumasok rin sa precinct dahil hindi ko naman kaano ano si Amanda, sure something happened between us but that's nothing, I can tell that she used me, not that I'm complaining.

Pa minsan minsan ay tumitingin ako sa labas ng precinct habang nakikinig sa music. Aalis na sana ako dahil baka gabihin na naman ako nang nasilayan ko na si Amanda na lumabas ng precinct, mayroon siyang kasamang pulis. They hugged, looks like they are familiar with each other. This guy was different from the guy awhile ago. Nakalimutan kong hindi pala tinted ang aking sasakyan, this guy saw me staring at them. Before I could look away, he shot me a knowing smirk. What the— then he turned around and returned inside.

Si Amanda naman tong lumapit sa kung nasaan ako nakaparke. She knocked on the window, I rolled it down and smiled awkwardly at her. "Uh, hello.. Nakita kasi kita kanina kasama yung pulis, medyo nag alala ako.. pero mukhang ok—"

"Ahh," Amanda gave a hearty laugh. Her porcelain skin shone when the afternoon light hit her cheek. "Thank you, I'm fine.. so, pwede bang makisakay? mahal kasi ng pamasahe." natatawang saad niya.

"Oh right, of course." I opened the door and she made herself comfortable on the seat next to me. She smoothed her long dress.

"Do I look okay? feeling ko ang haggard ko na." Im surprised that she feels conscious about her apperance. Doesn't she know that she's a beauty? "Of course, uh you're good." i want to say pretty or beautiful pero baka she'll be creep out so I kept my thought to myself.

"Are you hungry?" she asked all of a sudden, almost beaming at me. Nakakasilaw yung ngiti niya, god I sound so corny. It's like she's not worried the least bit about being put behind bars.

"Uh well.." I trailed, "Meron kasi akong niluto but it's too much for one person and I don't have anyone else to invite, well with what just happened.." she chuckled, almost like she's nervous? at me? I studied her face. "You don't think I'm the one who killed him, no?" bigla niyang tanong. Napamaang ako sa kanyang pagiging prangka ng wala sa oras.

"No.." I shook my head, I really don't think she did it, not with her thin and delicate arms. I gave this a lot of thought habang nag aabang lang dito sa labas.

"Really?" My breathing came into a pause when she leaned close to me. I could smell the vanilla cologne she's using. "Yes." Pinilit kong ilayo ang mukha ko sa kanya, this would be disrespecting the funeral of Manuel. "Then you wont mind if dun ka sa bahay ko kakain ng dinner?" binalik niya muli ang tanong niya kanina, fine. It's just dinner. "Okay.." I smiled a little. Considering that she's a widow, a companion now and then wouldn't hurt me if I give that to her.