Fantasize (Nostos Algos#1)

CHAPTER 3

Chapter 3

"Bakit hindi mo pa kasama si Brenne?" tanong ni Nanay nang mapansin niyang nakauwi na ako. Kasalukuyan akong nanonood ng telebisyon sa living room.

"Ah, sabi niya susunod na lang daw siya," pagsisinungaling ko.

"Ikaw na ang magsarado ng gate 'pag nakauwi na siya. Matutulog na ako," paalam niya at umakyat na patungo sa kwarto nila ni Tatay.

Tanging maliit na ngiti lamang ang naibigay ko. Kahit kanina pa ako narito at nakatitig sa telebisyon ay wala naman talaga akong maintindihan. Hindi nakatulong na rinig ko ang malalakas na pagpatak ng ulan. Kanina pa bumubuhos ang ulan at wala pa rin nagpapakitang Brenne. 

Sinubukan kong intindihin ang pinapanood ko ngunit isang kulog ay napigtas na ang pagtitimpi ko. 

I went outside with an umbrella to wait for him under the pouring rain. Minutes passed, there's still no sign of him. I took out my phone to check the time - 10:28 pm.

Malakas ang ulan at kahit nakapayong ay nababasa ako. I do not have his number so I tried searching him on Facebook. Maraming resulta, karamihan ay tag ng mga babae. 

I saw an account with thousands of followers. The profile picture is a guy in white shirt and black leather jacker. He's sitting on a dark place and the photo was taken with a flash. On his hand is a small glass with liquor in it. Mukhang nasa bar ito. I clicked on the photo and I was relieved when I confirmed that it was him.

I clicked on the 'send message' button to chat him. The account was active 5 hours ago. Magtatype na sana ako nang nasilaw ako sa paparating na kotse. The SUV stopped in front of our gate and the backseat opened, revealing a guy on flannel. 

"Bye, Brenne! Thanks for today!" a girls voice echoed from the car. It was a different girl.

Brenne just nodded and tapped the car, signaling the driver to go.

Nang mapansin niya ako ay tiningnan niya lamang ako. He just looked at me and proceeded to run towards the stairs of the treehouse. Nang makarating siya sa hagdan ay hinubad niya ang flannel niya at pinagpag.

I was left dumbfounded under the rain.

Imbis na usisain siya ay pinili ko nalang na pumasok sa bahay. I turned the TV off before going upstairs to sleep, trying to remove the questions forming in my head.

Hindi ko napansin na nakatulala lang ako sa kisame ng kwarto ko. I looked at the time. It's already past midnight.

I sighed before turning my lamp on.

I sat down on my study table, trying to fight the urge to open the last layer of my drawers.

It's been months. Magsisinungaling ako kung itatanggi kong hindi ko binuksan ang drawer na 'yan. I opened it several times, trying to fight something inside me.

Just today. 

Deep inside me, I know for a fact that's not true.

***

It was 6 am when I went down to cook my breakfast. Fiesta ngayon kaya wala akong pasok. Si Mama at Papa ay siguradong nasa munisipyo at tumutulong sa pag-aayos.

I was peacefully eating my breakfast when a guy in sweatpants and white tank top entered the kitchen. I tried my best to avoid eye contact with him when he started looking for food on the table.

He went behind me to search the cupboard and all I heard was a disappointed sigh. Nagtataka ako nang napatagal siya sa likod kaya nilingon ko siya. My head stopped when his face appeared beside me.