It's been five days since dad called. And I can't figure out why he called that day. I mean if he can call me right away, anytime, anywhere, why do it on that day?
Hindi ko maiwasan magisip ng mga bagay bagay na hindi dapat karapat dapat.
The last time we talked over the phone was 3 years ago when mom died and dad called to inform us about it. Just why dad?
"Teh ang lalim ng iniisip mo," si Yana. Nandito kami ngayon sa student center. Nagrereview para sa upcoming exam namin.
May klase na kami ngunit maulan pa din ang panahon, kaya lahat ng estudyante ngayon ay nakasuot ng hoodie, jacket o mga kapote at boots pa. Nakasuot lang ako ng hoodie.
"MGA BRUHA NAKITA NIYO BA 'TO?" biglang singit ni Gio habang nakatingin sa kaniyang ipad. "Dave Davis, who have cases of attempted murder, sexual assault, and robbery, was found dead, inside his cell, this morning."
"Who's that?" taas kilay kong sabi.
"The one who stabbed you. He's dead!" Nanlaki ang mga mata ko habang nakatingin sa kung saan.
No way...
How did that happen???
Who killed him???
Why would they kill him?? he was imprisoned already!!
Pero parang nabingi ako at isa lang ang tumatakbo sa isip ko.
That guy who saved m-me, does he know something...about this?
___
Flooded with thoughts, I still managed to go upstairs to the main building and found myself in the old library where the school materials were located.
Gio asked me to bring some manila papers and markers since we have a reporting later.
I was dumbfounded when someone shut the damn door and went back to my senses nang magdilim ang buong paligid. Kinakapa ko ang mga shelves na nadadanan ko and to my horror, someone touch my shoulders. I immediately punched whoever he was and heard him scream in pain.
I was about to scream when he turned his flashlight on and saw his dumb face.
That face makes me sick. I also turn my flashlight on and find my way to the door.
"Alam mo Donatellio, ang gago mo!"
"Alam mo Josephina, ang sakit ng suntok mo! By the way, kumain kana ba---I mean ...Pinakain mo na ba si Bogart?"
"He ate, we both ate already. Teka nga bakit ka ba nandito?" kinuha ko ang mga gamit na nasa shelves na kailangan ko at naglakad papunta sa pintuan.
"I was searching for some tape and then I saw u and tried to scare you. I didn't know you're good in punching."
"I should've knocked you out."
"Try me, babe."
Napapiksi ako at umamba na susuntukin ulit siya ng protektahan agad niya ang ulo niya. "Just kidding!" he said, surrendering.
"Makaalis na nga dito----shit!"
"Dammit, Margoroth Josephina Willson!"
Pareho kaming napamura ng mahulog ang doorknob. Nasira ko nanaman yata ito. "What's with your hands? You only touch doorknobs but they are always ended up knocking down on the floor. Ouch, put that away from me, Josephina." sabi niya ng tutukan ko siya ng flashlight. Sira kasi ang ilaw dito at wala kaming pareho makita.
Tinry ko hawakan ang pintuan at hindi ko mahalikot. Nakalocked.
"I think...we're stuck."
___
My flashlight turned off automatically, deadbat na. He pointed his flashlight at me and used some folder to use it as a fan. Napapaypayan din ako kaya hindi na ako ganon pinagpapawisan. Nakasandal kami ngayon sa pintuan.
"Call the janitor. He can open this door. Or your friends to help us get out of here." panguutos ko. Decision kasi ako.
"I don't have prepaid load." tipid niyang sabi. Hampas lupa naman pala 'to eh.
Pinapaypayan niya kaming dalawa sa isang kamay niya at ang isang kamay ay hawak ang flashlight na nakatutok saakin.
"It's not friday the 13th, but why am I being stuck in here and out of all people, why you? Wala naman akong balat sa pwet? Hindi naman malas ang kanununuan ko?----"
"Can't you tone down your voice for a bit?"
"Fine, whatever." natulala na lang ako sa tabi and silence reigned the whole room. And then minutes passed. He finally spoke.
"Your friends must be searching for you now. They'll be here at any time. So calm down. And wait...you have the audacity to call this 'malas' even you're the one who destroyed that damn doorknob." he said, blaming me.
"I'm not called the doorknob wrecker for nothing."
Hindi na siya nagsalita at namayani nanaman ang katahimikan.
He licked his lips and divert his eyes to something. "I heard you got stabbed and got hospitalized for a week. How's your wound? Did it heal na?" that caught me off guard and looked at him only to catch him looking at me before he looked away.
"It healed already. Ganon pala feeling kapag binaback stab ka." I joked.
"Tanga," natatawa nitong sabi. Umiiling iling na lamang ako. He shifted and sit properly before speaking. "And I heard what you said on the convenience store that day. Feel free to tell me about your d-dad if you don't mind. But if you feel sick or uncomfortable talking about it, I won't force you."
"Alam mo, you're so full of words no? And FYI, It's your face who always makes me feel sick and wanted to vomit blood."
"I'm trying to be nice now, Margo." I was dumbfounded hearing him calling me by my first name. It fluttered my heart and it's weird that it echoed on my ears and I smiled. Kaya naman pala maging mabait e, bakit kasi pangit ng ugali?
"First time ha?" I said teasing him, as I push his shoulder jokingly.
"I can call you whatever you want. Just say, babe."
"Babe," I smirked when I saw him shift his position and lick his lip before looking away. "But kidding aside, it's true. I hate my dad. I hate my mom. I hate everything that is related to them. It's so sad how money can affect people's minds and behavior. If the money that too important for them to even abandon their child, they should've just focused on their business at hindi na sana nila kami binuhay. Though, I'm fine. I was fine before he called asking if we are okay. Okay pa sana ako e, pero nagparamdam ulit si Dad. I thought I can handle the pain well. Turns out, I was just distracted by the fact that we're alive and breathing. I almost forgot his alive."
"That's...I'm speechless..." Hindi ka dapat nagsalita, ganon speechless, buang.
"It's okay, I just want you to listen about it, let alone comment and say advice that you yourself doesn't even apply. That's hypocrisy." Magsasalita pa sana siya ng tumunog ang pintuan, hinahalikot ng kung sino ang pintuan sa labas. Kaya agad kaming tumayo ni Amir at inantay itong mabuksan. Finally, nabuksan ito at nakita ko sina Yana, Gio, si Manong Janitor, mga kaibigan ni Amir, at si Ma'am Pen, and head teacher ng school.
"Sinira mo nananan ang doorknob na ito, Margo?!" they said simultaneously.
"Jinx," sina Gio at nagapir pa.
"Go to my office, Margoroth Josephina Willson!!!!" sigaw ni Ma'am Pen at rinig iyon sa buong hallway!
___
Nakauwi din ako matapos kong gawin ang doorknob, tinulungan din ako ni Amir. The girls and boys keep teasing us. I mean, it's okay for me because I can feel the awkward reaction of Amir. I found it cute.
Mahina pala siyang nilalang.
But I think after this day, magiging mabait na saakin ang lalaking iyon. Kung hindi, aba'y ewan ko na lang talaga. Mabait naman kasi siya, nagsusungit at mayabang lang talaga minsan!
But at least I can get to know him more.
Mabait siya, sinasabi ko na ngayon.
I stretched my arms and bend my body before entering the main door but I saw a note that halted me from moving. It's the same color notes that I've been receiving from my stalker. I mistook it as my admirer. It was paste behind the doorknob. Kinuha ko ito at kunot noo kong binasa. And the note says,
"Stay out of trouble. Don't wreck things especially doorknobs. I'll take care of the rest."
p.s if you would doubt my capability of protecting you, I bet for a truck of oreo:)
- (K)
The door opened and I saw Magi, smiling widely with Vana. They are playing again.
I sat down on the sofa and accidentally looked at the balcony of our neighbor. Nagtaka ako ng may umiwas na tao doon at agad sinara ang bintana. Nagkibit balikat na lang ako at pumikit. Sumasakit ang ulo ko sa mga nangyayari ah.
Paano nalaman ng stalker ko nakakasira ako ng doorknob?!
Kaklase ko ba siya? Hindi e walang gwapo sa mga kaklase ko.
Baka kaschoolmate? HIndi rin...mapapansin naman agad siya at pagtitilian ng mga students kung andon siya. Pero walang pinagkakaguluhan bukod kay Amir at mga soccer players.
Edi...baka...taga dito siya?!
Napatayo ako at napatingin sa bahay sa harap namin.
I'm certain, taga dito lang sa lugar ang stalker ko.
Hindi ako pwedeng magkamali.