In the Midst of the War

Kabanata 36

KABANATA 36.

Baguio.

ANOTHER COLD MORNING in Baguio woke me up. It’s already our fifth day here but I can’t seem to get used to the cold weather. Grabe, hinding-hindi ata ako masasanay sa lamig ng Baguio tuwing January.

The heater on the hotel room’s shower was the only thing that kept me alive in the morning. Hindi naman ako umiinom ng coffee kaya puro tea ang iniinom ko. I’m not even exaggerating when I said that I finished four cups of green tea everyday because of the weather.

Ngayon ngang umaga ay iniinom ko ang tea ko kasama ang co-teachers ko sa restaurant ng hotel. This is the last day of our seminar but we’ll stay here until Sunday, it’s Friday today. Mamayang alas-sinco ng hapon ang tapos ng last seminar naming at pagkatapos ay puwede na kaming mamasyal hanggang Sunday morning.

After eating breakfast with my co-teachers, we prepared for the last day of the seminar. Alas-nuwebe ng umaga nagsimula ang program. Kaunting information slang ang ibinahagi saamin bago mag break. On the afternoon, awarding ceremony naman at kaunting games.

I enjoyed the whole seminar and I know my co-teachers enjoyed it too. Marami kaming natutuhan na puwede naming ma-apply sa pagtuturo at sa pang-araw araw na ginagawa naming. The convention was very informative.

Alas-tres y medya nang hapon nang matapos ang program. Pagod at saya ang nararamdaman ko. Nag-ayang mamasyal ang mga co-teachers ko pero hindi ako sumama. Nagpaiwan nalang ako sa hotel room naming dahil inaantok ako at gusto kong magpahinga.

They tried to convince me but I really declined. Nang matapos akong magbihis ay nahiga ako sa kama. I put out my phone to check emails and texts. Ni-replyan ko ang mga kailangang replyan, including my friends.

I was hoping to see a name to poop-out on my message box but it didn’t happen. Napabuntong-hininga ako at in-off ang phone. He didn’t contacted me on my whole stay here in Baguio and it’s been five days.

Hindi ko alam kung nagiging demanding o clingy ba ako, I just want to check him out. Kahit isang kumusta ay wala. Hindi man ba siya saakin nag-alala nab aka kung napano na ako rito sa Baguio? Nakakainis.

I rolled on my bed. Nakaka-frustrate isipin dahil hindi naman kami pero ganito ako mag-isip. Pakiramdam ko kasi ay may karapatan naman akong maramdaman ‘to. I was hoping that he’ll text me when I arrived in Baguio or even check if I’m doing well. Pero kahit isa ay wala.

Dati naman noong college kami ay palagi niya akong kinukumusta.

Shit.

Hindi ko na nga pala siya jowa. Gusto kong kutusan ang sarili ko. Shit naman, si mommy kasi, kung ano-anong pinapasok na ideya sa isip ko, ‘yan tuloy!

Mariin kong ipinikit ang mga mata ko at pinilit ang sarili kong matulog. I succeded though. Nakatulog ako sa sobrang frustration sa sarili ko. when I woke up, it’s already dark and there’s someone pushing the doorbell.

I groaned while standing up. Ang lamig! Anong oras na kaya? At sino naman kaya ang nagd-doorbell? Room service? Pero wala pa naman ‘yong room mate ko ngayon.

Ipinulupot ko sa katawan ko ang comforter bago naglakad papunta sa pinto nang nakayapak. Malamig ang sahig pero ininda ko iyon. I opened the door without even looking at the peephole to see who is the person behind the door.

And shit, halos mabitawan ko na ang comforter nang makita kung sino ang nasa doorstep. Napaawang ang labi ko kasabay ng pagbilis ng tibok ng puso ko. It is cold but I can feel my heart’s warmth.

Vale Sison is handsomely standing on my hotel room’s doorstep. Dashing on his black leather jacket, white under shirt and black jeans. His a bit long hair is pushed back, revealing his forehead na mas maganda pa ata sa kinabukasan ko.