Elyse Sierra's life isn't exactly stuck in a rut but for years now, she's been living like a hermit with no dreams to chase and plans for her future. Ito ang kinalabasan ng kanyang plano para hanapin ang kanyang sarili. Kaya't ngayon, ang hangad lan...
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Mabuti na lang at isinuot ko ang aking earplugs bago ako natulog kanina. Just now, when I took it off, the loud noise from next door greeted me like an annoying alarm on snooze. I only had five hours of sleep but that's already enough to refresh me.
Bumaba ako't nagtimpla ng kape. I was expecting several messages or missed calls from Klara and Kuya JJ but for the first time in a while, I had none. It somehow made me feel uneasy.
Hihintayin ko na lang ba na tumawag sila o ako na dapat ang mag-dial? Before I could think any further, I just went ahead and called Kuya JJ. Dumiretso sa voice mail noong una pero sa pangalawa ay sumagot na siya.
"Kagigising mo?" tanong niya. He sounded tired.
"Medyo. Nasa work ka?"
"Yup. I got a new project. A big one. Magiging busy ako kaya hindi siguro kita matatawagan parati. Huwag kang magtampo, ha?" pabiro niyang sabi pero pakiramdam ko'y pilit lang iyon.
"Elyse?" sabi niya nang hindi agad ako makasagot.
"Ah, sorry, I got distracted. May inaayos kasi sila sa kabila. There are several people next door, I think," rason ko. It's half-true though. Nakita ko kasi sa CCTV monitor ang ilang kalalakihan na nagbubuhat ng construction materials.
"Ah! Erex's? Mom told me about yesterday. Ehem, ehem. Wala kang balak magkuwento?" he teased.
"Jeez. I feel left out. Kilala rin siya ng parents natin? How can I not remember one bit about the Monferratos?"
"Ewan ko. Sobrang tagal na kasi? But trust me on this, Elyse."
"Jaren Jace Sierra, bakit hindi mo sinabi na sa'yo pala ang duplex na ito? Sinabi nina Dad sa akin kagabi. You've been saving my rent? What for? And why sell it all of a sudden? Nabanggit din ni Klara na tinawagan mo siya. I'm seriously fine. But how about you? Is there something...wrong?"
Kinakabahan ako na ewan. Lalo na ngayon na medyo natagalan siya sa pagsagot.
"It's my own way of looking out for you."
"I...get that... Thank you, Kuya." I held my phone tightly.
"You're not mad?"
"Hindi. I didn't know you love me that much." Natawa ako konti.
"Hoy ha? Bawal magdrama ngayon. Nasa site ako. Nakakahiya kapag makita nila akong umiiyak."
"Bakit ka kasi iiyak?! And the other questions?" balik ko sa usapan namin.
"About selling it?"
"Uh-huh."
"To tell you the truth, it sounds crazy but two weeks ago, I had a bad dream. You got hurt and no one was there to help you. It scared me, Elyse."
