15
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I sighed after Sab left. Hindi niya naubos ang pagkain niya. Something tugged my heart when he didn't do what he said. Na ihahatid niya ako. Umasa ako. I, somehow, got reminded of the past. Dapat sanay na ako. Dapat hindi na ako nakakaramdam ng... disappointment. Pero emergency 'yung kailangan niyang puntahan. Anong laban ko roon?
Nawalan ako ng gana kumain dahil wala na ring kasabay kaya lumabas na ako. Pagdating sa parking, I saw my helmet hanging on the handle of my motor. Oh. Nasa sasakyan niya nga pala 'yon kanina. I wore it and left the place to go to another appointment.
At midnight, I exhausted myself working again. Maganda naman ang sweldo ko sa Jameron Printings but I really can't neglect this opportunity to earn more. I'm currently working on a portrait in my room. Abala ako nang umistorbo ang tunog ng cellphone ko dahil sa isang tawag.
Unknown number calling.
"Sino naman 'to?"
Tumigil ako sa ginagawa at sinagot ang tawag. "Hello?"
[Are you home?] Boses lalaki. I heard his slow breathing.
"Sino ka naman?" kumunot ang noo ko.
Narinig ko siyang mahinang tumawa. [So, you did not register me in your contacts, huh?]
"Look, kung sino ka man, wala akong panahon—"
[It's Sab.] He sighed. [Sorry for leaving you alone earlier.]
Nabitin sa ere ang sinasabi ko after niya magpakilala! Si Sab 'to?! Bakit iba boses niya sa tawag?! Boses niya parang mas lalong bumaba!
[My friend was drunk alone in a bar and I had to bring her home safely. I didn't mean to break my words.]
Nakahinga ako ng maluwag. Akala ko talaga kung sino 'to. Iniloud speaker ko ang cellphone at inilagay sa gilid para dumeretso sa ginagawa.
"Nakauwi na 'ko kaninang mga 11. At okay lang. Emergency naman 'yon. Hindi mo na kailangan magpaliwanag." Hindi ko naman kailangan. Anong palagay mo sa akin? Mababaw?
[I am still sorry.]
"Yeah, yeah, apology accepted." Sumuko na ako dahil guilty na guilty siya e hindi naman ako galit na iniwan niya ako.
[What are you doing, hmm?]
His calm breathing and husky tone from the other line serves as the only sound in my room.
It was a whole different silence before at this hour. Sab's voice suddenly echoing in my ears.
Nilingon ko ang cellphone.
"Gumagawa ng portrait."
BINABASA MO ANG
Midnight Sounds
RomanceCelestine Claire Villaverde, an engineering student that has been doing art commissions for how many years. She's good both at digital and traditional art. She's making a living through it but her clients come and go. Not until she met someone, Seb...
