EHLEIN POV'S
I grab my phone from my bedside table and head towards my apartment door. Binuksan ko ito at naglakad pababa ng building. It's already 1 in the morning. Kinda late to stroll outside but I really in need to eat an ice cream. It doesn't bother me that much knowing na walking distance lang naman ang aking pupuntahan at isa pa ay maliwanag naman ang buong paligid dulot ng mga ilaw na nagmumula sa mga poste.
Matagumpay kong narating ang convenience store at ilang minuto pa ay nakabili narin ako ng ice cream. Nasa kalagitnaan na ako ng aking paglalakad pauwi when I suddenly notice a car that was hit against a concrete wall. Dali-dali akong lumapit sa kinaroroonan nito upang tinggan kung may tao ba sa loob ng sasakyan. I flash my phones flashlight in its window. Unfortunately, the windows are heavily tinted kaya hindi ko maaninag ang looban nito. Without a second thought ay binuksan ko ang driver's seat at napansin ang isang walang malay na lalake. He doesn't have any serious injuries maliban sa sugat nya sa noo. I immediately call an ambulance at muling lumapit sa lalake upang bantayan ito. Ilang sandali pa ay narinig kong umungol ang lalake.
" Hey, can you hear me?", tanong ko.
Hindi sya sumagot sa halip ay ginalaw nito ang kanyang ulo paharap sa aking direksyon.
" Please, wag ka munang gumalaw".
Napansin kong bumilis ang pag-agos ng dugo sa kanyang noo kaya nag-panic ako at dali-daling kinuha ang aking panyo. I press it against his wound to apply some pressure. Sa ginawa kong iyon ay panandalian nyang binuksan ang kanyang mga mata. After ng ilang mga minuto ay narinig ko na ang siren ng ambulansya.
Right after madala ang lalake ng ambulansya ay umuwi narin ako sa aking apartment. I immediately wash my hands to get rid of the blood and soon heads towards my bed. Inilagay ko na lamang ang ice cream sa mini fridge dahil natunaw na ito. I no longer have an appetite and I was really tired.
After 1 week..............
"Ehlein, pinapatawag ka sa dean's office", tawag sa akin ng aking kaibigan na si Patricia.
"Huh? why?".
"Dunno. Sabi lang saken ni maam clarisse kanina pagkadaan ko sa office na tawagin daw kita. Hindi rin naman sinabi kung bakit".
"Say Patty. Was it about the incident yesterday?", tanong ko saka tumayo na at naglakad patungong dean's office.
"What incident?".
"You know when I accidentally step on the newly plant sunflowers", sagot ko dahilan kaya napatawa si Patricia.
"Was that even an issue?".
"I guess".
"Hay naku, Ehlein. That incident ay bunga lang iyong katangahan. I'm sure you're being called to something completely unrelated".
"like what?", tanong ko.
"Like may activities kang hindi na submit or zero ka sa test kanina".
"I'm pretty sure I submitted all my activities and I only got 2 mistakes sa test kanina, you know that right? you're the one who check my paper remember?".
"Oo nga pala noh? ", natatawang tugon nya.
Nang makarating kami sa harap ng dean's office ay bahagya itong binuksan ni patty at pinasok nya ang kanyang ulo.
"Maam, nandito na po si Ehlein".
"Let her in".
Tuluyan ng binuksan ni patty ang pintuan saka hinarap ako.
"Pasok ka na raw".
"Hindi mo ba ako sasamahan sa loob?".
"I'll just wait here, okay?", sagot nya saka marahan akong itinulak papasok, then she close the door behind me.
"Ehlein", narinig kong tawag sa akin mula sa kaliwang bahagi kaya napalingon ako doon.
Napansin ko si maam clarisse na naka-upo sa sofa kaharap ang isang lalake. I couldn't figure out who it is dahil nakatalikod ito sa direksyon ko. Maybe some sort of visitor.
Naglakad ako papalapit sa kinaroroonan ni maam clarisse.
"Good afternoon maam, sorry for the wait".
"It's fine. Here, sit beside me", tugon nya.
Nang maka-upo ako sa kanyang tabi ay saka sya muling nagsalita.
"This is Ehlein Hamada", pagpapakilala sa akin ni maam clarisse.
Sa sinabi nyang iyon ay agad akong napatingin sa lalaking kaharap namin.
This guy is familiar.....
"Hmm. Seriously her? Tita, are you really sure that it's her?", tila dismayadong wika ng lalake habang nakatingin saken.
I gulp. The hell is going on here? Pinatawag ako dito without even explaining kung anong nangyayari. This guy even looks at me like I've done horrible things to him.
"Yeah, ofcourse. Right, Ehlein?", nakangiting tanong saken ni maam clarisse.
"Eh? huh?....ano po ba ang pinag-uusapan natin?".
"Do you remember the recent accident? You know, the car accident last week. Back then, you saved an injured guy by calling an ambulance, right?".
"Aah".
"That is him".
Napatingin ako sa lalake. Kaya pala medyo familiar sya saken dahil sya pala yung lalaking na-aksidente. The wounds on his forehead were gone as if the accident never happened. He looks better now. And I hate to admit it----he really is good-looking.
"What's with the stare? Aren't you taught not to stare with people?", konot-noong sumbat saken ng lalake.
"Huh?".
"Hey, Hess. Keep that tone of yours. You shouldn't be talking like that to the person who saved your life. Show some gratitude, will you?", saway ni maam clarisse sa lalake.
Umiwas lamang ito ng tingin. What an attitude.
"I'm sorry about that, Ehlein. Were really thankful sa ginawa mo that time. To show our thanks we'd like to give you some reward money, how much would you like?".
"Naku maam, hindi na po kailangan. I don't really need some reward. I just did what a normal person should do".
"But—"
"It's fine really. Saying your thanks was way enough", nakangiting wika ko.
"Okay. But if you need something don't hesitate to ask me".
I smiled and nodded.
"Are we done here?", iritabling wika ng lalake dahilan kaya napatingin kami ni maam clarisse dito.
"May pupuntahan ka?", tanong ni maam clarisse.
"Yeah".
Tumayo ito at labis akong nagulat sa sumunod nyang ginawa. He grab my wrist and pull me as he walk towards the door.
"Hoy, ano bang problema mo?", inis kong tanong sa lalake na wagas kung makahila.
"Hess, what are you doing?", gulat na tanong naman ni maam clarisse.
Huminto ang lalake saka hinarap si maam clarisse.
"You told me to show my gratitude, right?".
Matapos nyang sabihin iyon ay hinila na nya ako palabas ng office.