Drives Under Nightlights

Chapter 31

Simula noon, gaya ng aming usapan, naging malimit ang pag-uusap namin. Wala pang kabuluhan. Bumibisita siya sa bahay at kinakausap ang mga bata.

Gumaan ang pamumuhay namin sa kadahilanang siya na lahat gumastos. Mula sa mga maliit na bayarin hanggang sa bills, pati pag-aaral ni Jed.

Everything he offered to me had been turned down. Consistent ako ro'n sa isiping gusto kong sundin ang pinapangaral sa'kin ng utak ko: ang talagang iwasan siya. That's why when he found out that I bought a new phone myself and asked for my new contact number, I refused giving it to him.

When Hiruki notified me about her departure and requested to fetch her to the airport, I nodded at her. Until now, I haven't heard her talk about her family relations. Ang alam ko lang ay may guardian siyang nagtatrabaho doon sa lilipatan niyang bansa.

She added that she'll be working for their company under a definite contract. It's one reason she couldn't issue her return herself.

"Aalis ka pa lang, pagbabalik na agad nasa isip mo. Halatang tamad ka."

She laughed and grabbed her phone. "Ito dams," she presented the screen to my face.

I frowned upon seeing a guy's face. Talagang hindi nauubusan ng lalaki 'to! Hinablot ko ang phone niya at tiningnan ang maliit na text sa ibaba.

Stalin Wolfe.

"'Yan pala 'yong nabigay ni Mon, dams." Hiruki chuckled and winked at me. "Sa'yo na."

Lalong bumaba ang kilay ko habang tinitigan ang lalaki. "Italian na naman?"

"British, dams!" she smirked. "Habilin ko na lang sa'yo since aalis din naman ako. Pwede mong pang-ganti sa bf mo. Nga pala, hiniwalayan mo na ba?"

I scoffed. "Pakialamera ka." I picked on the fries she bought from the airport's food court to eat.

"Ba't 'di mo iwanan?"

My chewing paused. Akmang sasagot ako pero sumabat siya, "Alam ko na. Mahal mo pa kaya 'di mo maiwan-iwan," napapitik siya dahilan para matameme pa ako lalo.

I sighed.

"Whoever you are possessing my friend, please come out of her body," I shook my head and sipped on the juice.

Kahit naka-plain face siya ay gumuhit ang ngiti sa kanyang labi. She leaned on the table. "Umayos ka, dams. 'Wag maging bobo sa pagmamahal. Partial lang naman ang alam ko sa sitwasyon mo so shh lang ang mouth ko whatever ang decision mo. Basta nandito naman ako, susuportahan kita."

Is this the Hiruki I know?

"Sa Japan pala, lilipad ako," pagtatama niya at natawa.

It made me roll my eyes. There she is.

Though regardless of the distance, I know for a fact that I'll still have her as my friend. I can't deny na mamimiss ko ang mga bastos niyang biro. Those greenish wits and absurd remarks. And now that she'll be leaving, I definitely won't be hearing them anymore. I'd miss it all for real.

Hindi kami nagtagal doon dahil pinapatawag na sila para sa flight.

Napasimangot si Hiruki, kunwari naiirita. She rose from her seat before carelessly grabbing the luggage standing on the tiled floor.

Napatayo na rin ako at binalik ang phone niya.

"May video call button naman, Ruki." She must have sensed the sadness in my voice because her smile tightened.

It kind of saddens me that we're actually going apart. Siya lang kasi ang kasama kong nakakausap nang magaan eh. And the fact that there's nothing I can do to stop her nor I'm capable to prevent her departure added to my dismay.