Paper Memories

Chapter 32-I

Chapter 32-I

"I should have shot you in the head the first time we met."

It's morning again, I felt like I had a long dream. Finals weeks na namin this sem at ngayon pa lang ang sakit na ng ulo ko. Still, I tried to remember all my schedules and plans. Why am I sleeping on the floor? Did I fell from the bed? Naririnig ko ang pagpatak ng ulan sa labas.

Walang kaming test na mga art student, magpapasa lang ng practicum...

Next is our block exhibit and theatre performance.

"Ronald...Ronald! Where the heck are you?" My head is heavy as I tried to remember last night. I'm not in pain, everything is just hazy. Tumingin ako sa salamin; wala akong sugat. Walang discoloration ang bibig ko. Sinulyapan ko ang wrist ko, walang pasa na nakipagtalo ako para depensahan ang sarili ko. Lahat maayos." What the hell just happened last night? Nasan na si Percival? "

Napalayo ako sa salamin, my heart is racing." There got to be something..."

"Anything to prove last night wasn't a dream and that you're the monster, Percival." I bit my nails as I looked around. I spotted my gun. Parang nadulas o nahulog lang yun papailalim ng kama. This time, I could only bit my lip when I realized that is missing one bullet." I did shoot you, I tried to shoot you. Nandito ka kagabi Percival!"

"Nasaan ka na naman?!"

When I was about to leave in my room with my pistol still in my hand, I spotted something strange near the doorway. Dahan-dahan akong humakbang para lapitan ang dingding. It's not made of drywall, my bedroom walls are made of concrete. I grimace as I realize what it is." The bullet just went through here and made a hole..."

But there no's blood, ni isang patak wala." Hindi ka pa ba patay?"

And with accursed thing still on my hand I remember something. Agad kong kinuha ang jacket ko, I wrapped the pistol with it them botled downstairs."Ron, are you still there? Are you awake? Ronald! Nandito ka pa ba?"

"Percival isn't with you, right?"

"Hindi ko na uulitin, I swear its nothing big..." Bulong ko habang yakap-yakap ang jacket ko. Ronald might still be in the guest room, he might know what's up. Kailangan ko lang buksan ang pinto at magtanong. "I won't get you in trouble with those drugs, kaya please---- Ronald, please lang huwag mo na akong galitin..."

Still, its just silence.

The whole house is quiet, and even when the clock is at seven the surroundings is almost pitch black and the sound of the rain is making me feel worse. I was holding my tears back as wait for my friend's answer. I feel like I'm burning as each moment pass. Naiinip na ako sa paghihintay, nag-alala ako. Bakit hindi pa siya nagigising? Ayos lang ba siya? Pero inasikaso naman siya ni Percival...

I made a decision----I push the door open.

"Ah, umuwi ka na yata...H-Hindi mo naman ako iniwan, diba?"

"Tao po! Magandang umaga po! Ma'am?" Sunod-sunod ang tunog ng doorbell mula sa gate, at dahil malapit lang ang guest room sa garden at gate ay dingig na dingig ang pagsigaw ng isang lalake sa labas. It sounds familiar, he was also mumbling something to his female companion." Ms. Cervantes? Kami po 'to! Rumoronda lang po kami!"

"It those police duo..."

They keep ringing the doorbell as if it was the end of the world, all while I tiredly make my way outside. Malakas pa rin ang buhos ng ulan at nakita kong nakasuot ng kapote ang dalawang police officer. Habang ako hindi na ako nakahanap ng payong o susuotin kong sapin sa paa, pero yakap ko ang dala kong jacket." Ma'am! Umuulan pa po! Pasensya na po sa abala."

I sighed, glancing towards them."...Bakit kayo nandito?"

"K-Kasi po, m-may report lang ho samin. Ms. C-Cervantes nababasa ka na po." The police woman stuttered. Akala ko tinubuan lang siya ng hiya pero parang siyang takot na takot. I could barely keep my eyes open as my hair is soaking wet because of the rain." May nagreport lang po kagabi na may nagpaputok ng baril. Kaya po nag-bahay-bahay kami para mag-tanong."

"A gun? Whose house? Or on what street?"

"Wala pa po kaming nalalaman, pero banda daw po dito sa lugar ninyo. Kaya mag-ingat po kayo." The guy spoke again, surveying my whole house. Napapikit siya ng tumatama ang butil ng ulan sa mata niya." Pasensya na pa sa abala, babalik na lang po kami sa ibang oras. Umuulan pa po, mauna na po kayo sa loob."

"At nangbulabog nga lang tayo." Bulong ng policewoman.

"Hindi, ayos lang ako. Kanina pa ako gising hindi ko lang kayo narinig agad." I chuckled them, as I move the wet strands of hair away from my face. Awkward na ngiti na lang din ang naibalik sakin ng dalawa." Ulan lang 'to, kayo nga nag-ttrabaho na ng ganto kaaga."

"Pasensya na po talaga, Ma'am." Sabay nilang sabi.

"Sorry po,parang nasayang ko yung oras niyo dahil wala akong alam. Pero...Thank you sa serbisyo niyo." I called to them when they already turned their back, saka muling napayakap sa nakatagong baril sa jacket ko." Kaya rin po, mag-ingat kayo... Hindi po talaga magandang magtiwala basta-basta, diba?"