Sampu silang umalis, sampu rin silang bumalik. Ang hindi nila alam, isa sa kanila ang naiwan. Sino ang nagbabalatkayo? Sino ang hunyango? (Watty Awards Winner 2019 under Horror category)
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"Good Morning po," bati ko kay Mrs. Doromal, ang librarian ng University. Kung tutuusin, para ko na rin siyang boss.
"Ba't ganyan ka maglakad?" she blurted out with her usual Motherly ranting tone. Mrs. Doromal rants a lot but her voice is surprisingly low and a little gentle, I don't know if it's because of her old age or if it's because she's been a librarian for decades.
"Nadulas po kasi ako sa trail ng Mt. Torryn." I answered like it wasn't a big deal. I'm trying my best to walk normally but I just can't bear the pain. Nakaka-dalawang inom na ako ng painkiller sa umagang ito kaso sobrang sakit pa rin ng mga paa ko. I'd love to take a third but I don't want to risk being a drug addict like my Dad.
Lumapit ako scanner at idinaan rito ang ID ko para makapagsimula na sa trabaho. My shift as a student assistant in the library start at 8 and end by 5, while my classes start by 6 and end at 10. Most people wouldn't like this schedule but I feel the exact opposite. Being away from home and not seeing my Dad treat my Mom like a piece of crap is enough of a motivation for to me to work and stay away from home.
"Savanna, magsabi ka nga sa akin nang totoo." Mrs. Doromal approached me in a discreet voice. She leaned a little closer as if she doesn't want anyone to hear us.
"T-tungkol saan po?" Kinabahan ako bigla.
"Sinaktan ka na naman ba ng Papa mo?" she asked like a worried Mother.
It's unfair how the world works sometimes. 'Yung mga mababait na tao gaya ni Mrs. Doromal ay hindi nabiyayaan ng anak samantalang ang mga gaya ni Papa... Hay, kung pwede lang talagang makapili ng magulang.
Umiling ako at ngumiti. "Not this time, Ma'am."
"Are you sure?" she asked like she interrogating me.
I chucked and nodded. In a way, I guess people were still right to call me lucky Savi. Minalas man ako sa mga magulang ko, maswerte naman ako dahil sa mga taong nagmamalasakit sa amin ni Eddie.
"How about Burnard? Hindi ka ba niya ginugulo?" bulong pa ni Mrs. Doromal kaya nakunot ang noo ko. Naguguluhan man, umiling na lang ako.
"So why is he here, looking at you from afar?" sabi pa ni Mrs. Doromal kaya naman mabilis akong napalingon.
Hanggang sa library, sinundan pa rin pala ako ni Burn. Nakaupo lang siya sa sofa ng Visitor's area habang nakatingin sa akin. Nang magtama ang mga tingin namin, mabilis siyang lumingon sa kaliwa't-kanan na para bang naguguluhan. Tumingin siyang muli sa akin at tinuro ang sarili niya.
Bago pa man ako makapag react, ngumiti siya na para bang nahihiya at kumaway sa akin.
"Ano bang problema ng patong 'to?" Wala sa sarili kong bulalas.
****
I pulled my Beanie lower to hide the scratches near my brows. I tried to work like my feet weren't bothering me but the pain was just too overwhelming. Still, I continued picking up opened books from the table and returning them back to the shelves according to order. Thanks a lot Melvil Dewey.
