The Calm and the Storm

24

24

Maybe it was fate. Or it was like the universe knew what I was planning to do. 

Maybe the timing was just great. A coincidence?

But was it?

Ala singko pa lamang ng umaga ay nagpaalam na ako kay Aida upang umuwi na. We drank, cried, laughed, and talked for hours. It was relieving to have my friend distract me from the realities of life.

But adulting is all about that: distractions. Because as much as we want to run away, we do no have the choice but to face the reality. My problems will always haunt me. It will never stop. It will always haunt me.

Nakaakyat na ang araw nang nakarating ako sa parking lot ng aking condo building. Ngunit parang tatalon yata ang puso ko palabas ng aking katawan nang makita si Ate Therese na nasa kabilang kanto. Her car was parked. She was pacing back and forth, with her heels and corporate attire which suited her so much; as if she was meant to wear that in her life.

Ako ba ang pinunta niya rito? Baka may kakilala lang siya na nakatira dito.

But when she noticed my car, Ate Therese adjusted her posture. Ako nga ang pinunta niya.

I took a deep breath. Nanlamig kaagad ang kamay ko. Pinatay ko ang makina ng sasakyan at lumabas na. Kaagad kaming nagkatitigan.

Naka-pajama pa rin ako. My hair was a mess. But that was the least of my concern. My sister was waiting for me. And we were not okay. That's something I should be worry for.

"Hi," she greeted when I stopped in front of her.

Anong gagawin ko? Should I wave? Naalala ko tuloy 'yung naging sagutan namin.

"It's a nice building," dagdag niya nang napansin na hindi ko alam kung ano ang sasabihin.

"Bakit ka nandito? May kakilala k ba rito?"

Ate Therese was uncomfortable with the way her thumb and index finger was rubbing the material of her coat. "I came here for you."

"Paano mo nalaman ang address ko?"

"I asked your boyfriend."

My lips were pressed into a thin line. Kaba ang bumalot sa buo kong katawan. Of course, sino pa ba ang tinutukoy niya? Of course, they have talked! Mas naging triple ang kaba ko.

Ano kaya ang pinag-usapan nila? Paano sila nagkausap? Did Jeno Emmanuel first reached out? Sa coffee shop ba? Hotel?

"Do you want to come in?" I asked.

She simply nodded. Without a word, I walked towards the elevator. Naramdaman ko naman ang pagsunod niya. Wala na kaming pinag-usapan pa. No, it wasn't awkward. It was nervewracking, knowing that our last moment was an argument.

Pinapasok ko siya sa condo ko. Tumingin kaagad siya sa palibot. Hindi ko natanto na bibisita si Ate sa condo. Ni hindi ko rin natanto na makikita ko siya sa parking lot.

"Coffee?" I offered.

"Actually, I won't be long. May gusto lang naman akong sabihin."

Hindi ako nagsalita. I just stood quietly, waiting for her to say it. Nanginginig ako. 'Di ko alam kung ano ang gagawin.

"If you are wondering, I only texted Jeno Emmanuel to ask kung saan ka nakatira. I asked his number from a friend. And that's all. Hindi na rin ako nag-reply pagkatapos."

Tumingin ako sa sahig. She contacted him. She knew. It was a surprising feeling for my part to have someone to know about my connection with Jeno Emmanuel.