K A T A R I N A (•GXG•)

XXXVIII.

K 

"Huy..."

Pagdilat ko.

Bumalik sa reyalidad ang lahat.

Hindi si Andrea ang nasa harapan ko. Walang Andrea.

It's still him. It's Red.

Tumigil siya sa pagsayaw saakin at tiningnan lang ako. "Bakit parang nakakita ka ng multo eh nakapikit ka naman kanina pa? Nananaginip ka ba ng gising?"

Yes.

I dream about her all the time.

Even when I'm not sleeping, she's all I think about.

May lumapit saamin na server at kumuha ng dalawang glass of wine doon si Red. Inabot niya saakin ang isa na siya namang kinuha ko.

"Thank you."

Tumango lang siya bilang sagot. "Nasaan ang mga kaibigan mo? Gusto mong bumalik na sakanila?"

My eyes roamed around our house and I couldn't see even a trace of my three friends. Maybe it's because people are wearing masks, but I know what they're wearing! Saglit ay napaisip ako. Lahat ng bisita ko, if I'm not mistaken, come from the rich and well- known business socialites in the whole country. I looked at Red and he is still drinking his glass of wine. Sakto naman na tumingin siya saakin saka ako nagbawi ng tingin.

"18th birthday mo ba?" Tanong niya. Umiling ako. "Eh bakit may ganitong selebrasyon?"

"My parents always celebrate my birthday. Last year hindi sila nakauwi from Australia because of our business. I guess, bumabawi sila ngayon." I explained.

Tumangu- tango muli ito. "Bakit wala atang nakasunod sa'yo? Wala ka bang boyfriend na dapat kasama mo ngayong birthday mo?"

I furrowed my eyebrows and shook my head then. "Mukha bang meron?"

"Eh bakit wala?" Tanong niya pa.

"Ano naman kung wala?"

"Eh bakit nga wala?" Tanong niya pa ulit.

God! Why is he so curious anyway!

Nakatingin lang siya saakin habang hinihintay ang sagot ko. Hindi ko alam ang isasagot ko. Do I really have to answer his question? Damn it Red!

"Cause she's waiting for someone."

I stopped on my tracks.

No way. There is no way.

For a moment, I couldn't see anyone else. For a moment, I couldn't hear anything else. For a moment, it was just that. That line that kept echoing inside my head.

Naramdan kong bigla ang pagdaan niya sa gilid ko hanggang sa makalapit siya saamin ni Red. Damn it. Damn it. It's a dream again right? Why the hell dreaming while awake became a habit of mine recently? I pinched my cheeks repeatedly. I even tried to close my eyes numerous times.

Habang pinipilit ko pa rin at paulit- ulit na kinukurot ang pisngi ko maging ang ilong at umiiling- iling upang bumalik sa reyalidad ay biglang may humawak sa mga ito.