“Where are we going, really?” aburidong tanong ni Porsche.
Hawak-hawak ko siya sa braso at hinihila sa kung saan-saan. Hindi ko masagot ang tanong niya dahil hindi ko rin alam kung saan kami pupunta na hindi naming nakakasalubong sila Ken.
“Ayaw mo ba maglakad kasama ako?” tanong ko, hoping to ease the tension.
“Come on, what are you up to?” seryosong tanong niya.
Umupo ako sa isang Bench na kinakalawang na. Malapit ito sa garden na madalas naming tambayan ni Porsche pero nakita ko si Ken na dumaan don’n kanina kaya naman kailangan kong umiwas para hindi kami magkita-kita nila Miss Anika sa iisang lugar.
Mabuti nalang at umupo rin si Porsche sa tabi ko at nanahimik nalang.
Mahigit thirty minutes na akong naghihintay mag signal si Ken kung nag-iisa na ba si Miss Anika pero wala parin akong natatanggap. Hindi ko na yata kayang tagalan pang libangin si Porsche dahil mukhang nakakahalata na siya.
FLASHBACK
“Hey, Porsche!”
Gulat na binuksan ni Porsche ang pinto ng kwarto nil ani Ken.
“Why?”
Nanliliit ang mga mata niya habang tinitignan ako.
“You wanna go for a walk?” tanong ko.
This is awkward. I need to find a better excuse.
“A walk? At this hour?” tinignan niya ang relo niya. “Tell me the truth.” Dagdag niya.
“I just want to talk to you about something.”
Ilang segundo bago siya tumango at sinara ang pinto sa pagitan namin. Bago pa tuluyang masara ang pintuan ay nakita ko ang mukha ni Ken na tila mangangain ano mang oras ngayon.

“What do you want to say?”
Inaayos niya ang buhok niya habang naglalakad kami papunta sa garden sa likod ng mansion.
Noong makarating kami sa garden ay umupo kami sa madalas naming upuan.
“I just want to thank you properly.” Palusot ko.
“Nagpasalamat ka na saakin.”
“Yeah, but I don’t think that’s enough. You almost got killed.”
I was fighting the urge not to ask why didn’t the guy in black killed him at that time dahil baka magwalk-uot siya dahil sa ayaw niyang sagutin ang tanong.
“It’s nothing.”
The silence crept between us.
We were silent for almost five minutes. Walang nagsalita at nakatingin lang kami sa mapayapang kalangitan.
“My mom died when I was Ten.”
I looked back at him. His gaze glued on the sky above us. I can’t help but feel sorry about him. It must be so hard to grow up without your Mom.
“I’m sorry.” ani ko.
“I was there, in front of her. She killed herself.”
Hindi ako nakapagsalita. Hinintay ko lang ang susunod na sasabihin niya.
“I’m kind of jealous to the people na may mga nanay pa.” He sighed before continuing. “The amount of time I attended Mother’s day event in school without my mother on my side, I was devastated. She cheated on my father because my father was always busy. My father got mad and locked her on her room. I’m the only one she allowed to visit her. If I don’t visit her, she won’t eat. Isang araw, binisita ko siya, with a knife on her hand, she smiled at me for the last time before killing herself.”
I was shocked. All this time I thought he has a happy family considering the time he told me that he’s trying to survive because of his family.
“Do you have a sister?” I asked.
“Oo pero hindi kami ganoon kaclose.”
“You’re so strong.”
I felt really bad for him. Must be hard for him to hide all of this with himself. He was traumatized because of his mother’s death and he has to deal with this all by himself.
“Thank you for telling me.” ani ko.
He smiled.
“I’m sorry foe telling you, masyado akong nadala sa katahimikan.” He laughed.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang mahagip ng mata ko si Ken na naglalakad malapit sa kinaroroonan naming ni Porsche. Agad kong hinila si Porsche at umalis ng garden.
“Why are we running?” hingal na tanong niya.
“Nothing, gusto ko lang magexercise.” I gave him a smile.
Kumunot ang noo niya.
“Anong ginagawa niyo dito?”
Nakasalubong pala naming si Ryu na kagagaling yata magjogging dahil pawis na pawis siya at hinihingal.
“Strolling, come to think of it, hindi pa natin naeexplore ‘tong mansion.” Sabi ko nalang.
I’m a bad liar I know.
“Oh, okay. I’ll go for another lap.”
Tumango-tango ako at pinanood si Ryu na lumayo.

END OF FLASHBACK
“Can we leave now?”
Sakto ng tanong na ‘yon ni Porsche ay ang pagsulpot ni Ken at Miss Alvarado sa likuran ni Porsche. Nanlaki ang mga mata namin ni Ken na nagtagpo.
‘What are you…”
I must be crazy.
Bago pa lumingon si Porsche sa likuran niya ay hinila ko ang mukha niya paharap saakin. With a blink of an eye, our lips touched. Nakapikit ako kaya naman hindi ko makita ang reaksyon niya.
I don’t want to open my eyes not because I am ashamed of Porsche’s reaction but rather afraid of the other person’s reaction behind his back.