Paper Memories

Chapter 23-III

Chapter 23-III

"Ikaw pa talaga bungad ng umaga ko, Cervantes?"

"Girlfriend ko ang kinakuasap ko, mahirap ba magbigay ng kahit konting respeto?" Percival step forward acting like a knight in shining armor on cue. Halos 4am pa lang nang gustuhin namin isang peaceful na morning walk pero nakasalubong lalakeng nanggulo sa akin dito sa baranggay. It's that man named Kenneth. He lit a cigarette as he leaned his back on the light post." Sheena is already too nice to you, and you talk to her like that?"

"Gregory already apologize for him." I replied, mentioning my driver who's not around to stop his violent friend." Just don't mind him, leave him alone."

Kaso, hinarangan ni Kenneth ang daan. "Diba nagkaayos na kami ng senyoritang 'to?"

"Kung nandito ka para humingi ng tawad o pagsalamat kay Sheena walang problema sa akin." I grunted as both of my hands are pressed on Percival's arm, my boyfriend is too stubborn in defending me. I can see it his eyes that he doesn't want to leave without a fight." Pero kung hindi, makakaalis ka na. Kung pinatawad na kayo ng girlfriend ko huwag niyo siyang abusuhin. Even her driver Gregory just take her for granted, don't make think you're like that too."

I pulled Percival again."Aalis na tayo, sto-------"

"Ang rami mong napapaulol sa pera, Cervantes. Pati yung bobong Gregory na yun."Kenneth narrated, flickering the embers of his cigarette. Pero sa parehong pagkakataon bagot na bagot niya kaming tinitigan." Kaugali mo yung kababata namin dati. Nung tinatayo pa lang ang bahay mo sinabi niya na baka hipokrito ang titira dun. Tama nga siya, santa-santahan yung nandun ngayon."

My eyes widen."...Sino?"

"Sheena, ginugulo niya lang isip mo." Deklara ni Percival.

Kenneth smirked seeing how I'm rattled by his mere words, pero sa huli pinili niyang talikuran na lang kami."Tangina---Baka masaktuhan mo pa nga kung bumalik yun. Pero pwede magkamustahan na lang kayo sa impyerno. Tingnan natin kung saan aabot ang pangalan mo. Gusto mo makilala, Cervantes?"

" Yung kababata mo,nasan na siya ngayon?"

His statement starts to eat me as memories from the past started to flood my head. Nakita ko ang ngisi niya nang lumingon siya sa huling pagkakataon, gusto ko siyang habulin pero pinigilan ako ni Percival." Hon, what's wrong? Stop it, its dangerous. Bakit mo ba siya pinapakinggan?"

"He needs to answer me!"

"Ano bang mahalagang bagay ang masasagot niya?"

"My half burnt sketch..." I whispered as I look at Percival, at the man who claimed to be created by my hands. My painting, Napaurong ang dila ko ayaw ko na magasabi pa sa kanya. I gently push Percival away as I step back on the dark corner of the street." N-No, its nothing. Mauna ka nang umuwi, Percival..."

Percival frowned." Why are you hiding things from me?"

I keep my mouth, saka ko siya nilagpasan para magpag-isa.

And I saw a glimpse on how Percival's soul break...

But for once, Percival finally obeyed me again. He stayed where I left him, he didn't chase after me. Napabuntong hininga na lang ako habang isinuot ko ang kamay ko sa bulsa ng jacket ko. Mas lumalamig na ang kada umaga at mas tumatagal ang dilim ng paligid. Sobrang tahimik ng daan at dati sa gantong oras nag-j-jogging ako nang mag-isa. Pero ngayon gusto ko na lang pabagalin ang lahat, And without my fake boyfriend by my side I'm back to spending this morning walks all alone.

I want to go where I can watch the best view of the sky...

Naging papataas na ang daan at mas nakikita ko na ang kabuuan ng baranggay namin. Matagal pa sisikat ang liwanag ng araw at mahaba pa ang hihintayin ko bago magsimula ang klase ko. But for now, I just need time for myself. I want to delay facing the world, and I need to run away from Percival even just for a moment.

I can't tell Percival who is the person behind my half-burnt sketch...

Hindi niya pwede malaman na dating tagadito lang ang taong yun.

"Ron, gumigising ka nang ganto kaaga? Why are you already out?" Gulat kong tanong nang makasalubong ko si Ronald na pababa mula sa chapel. He seems out of himself, and he wasn't even looking at me properly. Kinabahan ako, agad nanguna naman yung instinct ko na siguraduhin na walang mali sa kanya. Na wala siyang panibagong sugat o galos." What's wrong? Masama ba ang pakiramdam mo?"

Ronald evaded his gaze." Tataas ka, Ate?"

I step forward, grimacing on his eerie passiveness." Ikaw, uuwi ka na ba?"

"Oo, may trabaho pa ako mamaya..." Mahinang saad niya habang nakatitig siya sa kawalan. His brown hair is now horter, he must cut it when I told him to. But because of that I can see how heartbroken he looks. Parang kahit anong segundo mawawasak na lang siya." May tiningnan lang sana ako sa chapel kanina..."

"...May hinihintay ka?" I ask, remembering what he told me before.

"Hindi ko po alam, Ate..." Ronald respond as he passed by me with hollow eyes.

Ronald is not physically hurt this time, no old unhealing bruise or anything. Nothing at all. But today is the only instance I saw him breaking like that. Dahil sa taong kinuwento niyang noon pa niya hinihintay bumalik, pero hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin. Ako ang nagagalit para sa kanya." Ron, kailangan mo pa ba talaga maghintay? Diba sinabi mo naman na kaya mo na ang sarilil mo?"

He turned around, akala ko magagalit siya tulad, kaso hindi. Tanging ang walang kabuhay-buhay na boses niya ang narinig ko." Hindi na rin 'to magtatagal, Ate. Aalis na rin ako dito..."