Chapter 15
That night, I couldn't sleep. My mind is heavy from too much worrying and thinking.
Tahimik ang naging biyahe namin pauwi. Maliban sa iilang kuwento ni Lola na tahimik kong pinapakinggan. Hindi rin ako tinanong ni Papa tungkol sa nangyari.
"Era, are you okay?" He asked when we're already inside the house.
Natigil ako sa pag-akyat at nilingon si Papa na pinapanood ako. I smiled and nodded.
"Pagod lang po, Pa." I said faintly.
"Magpahinga ka na kung gano'n." Aniya.
Pagkarating ko sa kwarto ay pinilit ko ang sariling maghugas ng katawan. Nakahiga sa kama at nakatitig sa kisame, nakakabingi ang katahimikan sa buong kwarto.
My heart aches everytime I recall the look in his eyes. My mind wanders on so many things making me frustrated. I should be calm now that I chose to stop it, hindi ba? Putting an end to it would give me peace because I don't need to think about it anymore. But why do I feel the opposite?
Marahas akong bumuga ng hangin at pumikit ng mariin. Tiningnan ko ang cellphone na nasa aking tabi. Kinagat ko ang labi at pinisil ang ilong sa sobrang pagpipigil.
When I heard my phone beeped I almost fell from the bed for jolting suddenly. Kaagad kong tiningnan kung sino 'yon at nang makitang si Kruise ay kaagad kong binuksan ang mensahe.
Kruise:
Era, what happened? Napagalitan sina Kuya Olzen at Kuya Mike but don't worry everything's good now. Okay lang ba kayo ni Kuya?
My heart clenched surprisingly. Hinilot ko ang sentido habang tinititigan ang mensahe. What should I say to her? That I dropped everything already?
I'm sure she'd ask me why and that's my problem. Paano ko sasagutin ang tanong na 'yon? When the reason why I did that is unclear to me now...
Ako:
We had a row. Hayaan mo na.
Ilang minuto rin siya bago nag-reply.
Kruise:
Are you sure? After getting his lesson, he left home. Mom is worried but Daddy talked to her already. Nagpaalam yata si Kuya sa kaniya.
My eyes widened a bit at her reply. My heart palpitated while typing.
Where did Olzen go?
Ako:
Saan siya pumunta?
Kruise:
I don't know either. Hindi ba siya nag-text sayo?
I stared at her text. There is no message from him. At hindi ako mapakali habang iniisip kung nasaan siya ngayon. I feel like my head would blow up anytime soon. Kalaunan ay nagpaalam na si Kruise na matutulog habang ako'y hindi magawang hilain ng antok.
I woke up late the next day and the first thing I did is to check my phone. Nakatulugan ko ang pag-iisip kagabi. I took a deep breath when I saw there was no messages. It's already 11 in the morning, I wonder if he's home...
My goodness, Era! Why are you thinking too much about it? I thought you want to stop already? Then what is this?
Massaging my temple, I got up from my bed and went inside the bathroom to wash my face. I opted to leave my phone in my room so I won't get paranoid by checking it over and over again.
"Good morning, Apo! Kumain ka na," bati ni Lola nang makita akong pababa sa hagdan.
I ate my breakfast in peace. Buong araw ay wala akong natanggap na mensahe mula sa kaniya. I hate to admit it, but I am expecting. And everytime I remember what happened last night, a part of me regretted what I did. But for my own consolation, I'd convince myself it's for the better.
