Under Your Skin

UYS 10: Special Friend

"Totoo ba talaga 'yung multo dito?" tanong ni Tiffanie kay Ford habang busy itong mag-drawing ng design. He stopped what he was doing to entertain her question.

"Yup..." He said as he scratched his chin with the tip of his mechanical pencil. "But I wasn't able to see her, kaya parang wala din naman. Hindi rin naman kasi nagpaparamdam sa'kin. Si Marcus lang ang nakakakita. Why? What happened?"

Inunahan na siya ni James na ikwento ang nangyari. Lumapit din ito sa may mesa at naupo ng bahagya duon. He told Ford about the shuffling sound that she heard last night.

"No need to worry, Tif." He patted her shoulder and smiled. "Si Marcus bahala sa'yo. Right, Jamesy?"

Ford winked at him. Napasimangot naman si James nang marinig na ginaya nito si Liberty.

Ngumuso si Tiffanie at napahawak ng mahigpit sa strap ng kanyang backpack. So now she's dependent on this guy's presence? Ayaw niya ng ganuon pero mukhang ganuon na nga ang bagsak niya ngayon.

"Girlfriend lang ni Casper 'yung nandito," sabi ni James.

She didn't laugh at his joke. Pinanliitan niya lang ito ng mata.

"Don't tell me you're planning to look for another bed space?" Ford asked.

Umiling siya. Pag-iisipan pa niya pero ayaw niyang umalis. Hindi na nga mahal, may pagka-convenient pa ang lokasyon. She would just probably leave if the spirit would bother her too much. Alam naman niya kasing ang hirap humanap ng malilipatan na maayos.

Siguro huhupa din naman ang takot niya. Sana. She hated herself for being a scaredy-cat. Pero lumaki na siyang ganuon kaya wala na siyang magagawa kung hindi tanggapin na parte iyon ng kahinaan niya.

She's not afraid to sleep alone, but whenever she watches horror flicks, her imagination scares her to death. Kaya nga madalas na iwas siya sa ganoon lalo na yuong mga palabas at news tuwing undas. She wanted to choke herself for trying to show that she's strong last night. Ayan, nakita rin naman na isa siyang malaking duwag.

"Good. Kasi kung aalis ka, may sobrang malulungkot." He glanced at James who's currently fiddling with his phone.

Kagabi pa ang pasimpleng panunukso ni Ford at Liberty. Even if James' description of his preference fits her, she knew that it doesn't automatically mean that he likes her. Malamang ay parte na naman iyon ng kalokohan nito.

James didn't react. Mukhang busy ito sa phone. Siya naman ay inilabas sa kabilang tenga ang narinig.

"And besides, Tif, you should be afraid of the living, not the dead. Mas matakot ka sa sasamahan mo mamaya sa Bulacan."

James finally stopped what he was doing before he raised his middle finger. Tinawanan lang ito ni Ford.

---

Pagkarating nila Tiffanie sa Cubao ay namili muna sila ng ibabaon sa bus. They decided to get some burgers for take-out before they headed to the bus station.

Pagkasakay nila ay puno na ang mga upuan. Duon tuloy sila sa gitna napunta.

"Let's wait for the next one. Mahihirapan ka dito," James told her.

Umiling siya. "Okay lang naman. Sanay naman ako sa ganito."

Minsan kasi kapag uuwi siya sa kanila ay tinitiis niya na nakatayo lang, kaya sanay na rin siya kahit siksikan pa.