Ludic Selcouth #2: This Song Saved My Life

Chapter 4

“You think it’s your father’s updated mobile number?” Mallory asked as she dipped her fries on the ketchup. Our vacant schedule matched so we were able to hang out in the cafeteria for a while.

“If my hunch happens to be right, yes. I saw it floating after I washed their clothes, so maybe it slipped out from one of the pockets.”

Dumaan ang weekend pero hindi na naalis sa’kin ang numerong nakalagay sa card. I haven't tried to call it yet because to be honest, a part of me is scared to know what I’m going to hear once I dialed that number.

What if it’s really him? If he’s communicating with Tita or Tito, why wouldn’t he contact me first? What if he doesn’t want to talk to me anymore?

“You should call the number, then. You haven’t seen your father for 4 years now,” aniya at pinakatitigan ako.

I sighed and shrugged. “I don’t know, Mal... There’s so many what ifs circulating in my head right now,” I said as I eat the fries on my hand. “If dad wants to talk to me, he will contact me himself,” I added.

“You’re partly right. But, Alec, you are in a tight situation right now. You should try to talk and convince him to get you. I’m afraid that you’ll get seriously injured once you continuously live with your abusive relatives.”

Pumikit ako saglit at hindi nagsalita. Pero paano nga kung ayaw na sa’kin ng tatay ko?

I eventually changed the topic as we go on. I don’t want to stress it right now.

Nang oras na para bumalik sa kaniya-kaniya naming klase ay naghiwalay na rin kami. I was a bit distracted while on the class. Nasa isip ko pa rin si daddy kahit na sabi kong ayoko munang magpakastress don.

Dali-dali akong nag-ayos ng gamit nang matapos ang lahat ng klase ko para sa araw na ’yon. Mallory texted me that her last class will end at 6:30 pm and that I don’t have to wait for her anymore.

I left the school and decided to immediately go home. Para wala nang masabi pa sina Tita Carolina kung naroon na sila.

Ilang saglit pa ay bigla na lang tumigil ang jeep na sinasakyan namin. Kaniya-kaniyang reklamo ang mga pasahero nang bumaba ang driver para i-check ang jeep. Napabuga ako ng hangin at isinandal ang noo sa braso kong nakasabit sa hawakan. Malayo pa kami sa subdivision at walang nagpapasakay sa bandang ’to dahil bawal.

Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas at hindi pa rin umaandar ang jeep. May lumapit nang ibang tao para tulungan si manong driver. Narinig ko pa ang isa na kailangan daw pumunta sa isang vulcanizing shop.

“Mga ma’am, sir, pasensya na. Nasiraan tayo, matatagalan pa ’to at kailangan ko pang magpavulcanize. Ibabalik ko na lang ang mga binayad niyo,” sabi ng driver. Mas lalong nagreklamo ang mga kasama ko sa loob.

Bumaba na lang din ako at tiningnan ang paligid. Can I even book an uber here? How long will I have to wait? Lumapit sa’kin ang driver at akmang ibabalik sa’kin ang binayad ko nang umiling ako. “Wag na po, manong. Idagdag niyo na lang sa pagpapa-ayos niyo yan.” Ngumiti siya at nagpasalamat. Natawa naman ako at umiling, para maliit na pera lang ’yon.

Iniwan ko na ang mga nagrereklamong pasahero ron at nagsimulang maglakad. Wala na kami sa pinaka-abalang kalsada kaya naman wala masyadong sasakyan na dumaraan, kung meron man ay hindi naman magpapasakay.

Ilang minuto ang lumipas ay hindi pa rin ako makahanap ng pwedeng masakyan. Naisip kong tawagan si Mallory pero naalala kong may klase pa pala siya.

I guess I'm going to walk home tonight.

Ilang lakad pa ang ginawa ko nang biglang may bumusina sa aking likuran. Lumingon ako at nakita ang isang Mustang na mabagal ang patakbo. Ibinalik ko na lang ang tingin sa unahan at hindi ’yon pinansin. Binilisan ko rin ang paglalakad dahil baka mamaya nangtitrip ’to. Call me paranoid but I can easily get nervous when I find an unfamiliar car or person behind me, lalo na kapag may kahina-hinalang galaw.