Hindi na talaga nakabalik si Cody. I have never imagined na ganun ka strict si Arvin pagdating kay Cody. Although hindi naman ako na sad, hindi naman ako naging happy nang hindi siya nakabalik.
"Burp!! Excuse me."
"Hahaha." Biglwang tumawa si Ken as he gazed my plate na ubos na ang kinakain and ubos na rin ang coffe. Tiningnan niya ang watch niya na Rolex.
"Oh, mag te-10 na. Sige sige. Meron lang aasikasuhin." Biglang tayo ni Ken as I followed him.
"Okay okay. Thanks pala sa pagpareserve. Hehe." Sabi ko.
Napatingin sakin si Ken as if hindi niya inaasahan na alam ko na siya ang nagreserve.
"Ha!" Saka niya iwinave ang kamay niya. "Sus. Small thing." Saka nagsmile as he paced palabas ng restaurant. Napatingin ako sa mga waiter na nililinis na ang pinagkainan naman.
"Ah. By the way." Ken suddenly stopped. "Pasabihan nalang yung iba na wag munang gumamit ng east wing elevator. Under maintenance kasi. May warning sign na rin din namang inilagay dun sabi ni Mr. Simone." Sabi niya saka nagpatuloy sa paglakad.
"Okay." I shortly replied saka ako tumuloy papuntang hotel. East wing? Medyo nalito pa ako sa direksyon but I suddenly saw a warning sign na "Under Maintenance".
"Ahh. Eto ba? Then west wing yung nasa kabila." Natawa ako sa sarili ko as I felt like ambobo ko. Kung nandito lang si Jay baka tinawanan na ako nun. Saka ako pumunta sa west wing. Medyo nalito lang ako since mas nasanay ako na bumaba at umakyat sa East.
"Oh. Josh, san ka pupunta?" Sabi ko nang makita ko si Josh na mag-isang lumabas ng room nila.
"Ah. Susunod lang sana ako kila Kale, hahanapin yung bracelet." Sabi niya as he scratched his nape.
"Bracelet?" Kumunot ang noo ko as I tried to remember kung ano ityura ng bracelet ni Kale.
"Yung parang laced bracelet?"
"Hm. Oo. Yun nga." Sabi Josh as he tried to smile.
"Ba't.. San nawala?"
"Yung nga ang problema eh. Hindi namin alam. Kahapon pa nga nawala."
"Balikan niyo nalang yung dati nyong pinuntahan, baka nahulog lang." Suggest ko kay Josh.
"Ahaha. Yeah. Papunta na rin dun sina Kale. Ang problema lang kung may nakapulot na."
"Yun lang." Sabi ko saka ko ibinaling ang tingin sa direksyon ng elevator.
"Kanina pa ba sila bumaba?" Tanong ko.
"Huh? Hindi kaalis lang. Bakit?"
Kumunot ang noo ko.
"Bakit di ko sila nakita?"
"Huh? What do you mean?" Kumunot din ang noo ni Josh. "Ah baka sa kabilang elevator sila pumasok."
"Huh? Eh sabi ni Ken, under maintenance yunf east wing elevator. Naghagdan nalang ba sila?"
"Talaga?" Josh paced papuntang east wing na parang nagmamadali.
"Huh?" Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko nang nakita kung walang warning sign na nakalagay. "Ang sabi ni Ken..." Putol kong sabi as I rolled my eyes around the area. There were couple of people na nasa may area but parang wala silang pakialam.
My eyes suddenly widened nang makita ko yung level indicator nung car. From 10th floor bumababa. May nakasakay sa loob.
"Eh ang sabi ni Ken under maintenance ito ngayon." Sabi ko na parang nataranta. I quickly gazed towards the people malapit samin. Saka ko nagmadaling lapitan sila.
"Miss. Miss."
Napatingin yung binibini parang nakabusiness attire.
"Wala ba ditong sign?" Sabay kong turo sa elevator na kabado ang boses.
"Sign?" Kumunot yung noo nung babae.
"Ah. Warning Sign. Under Maintenance."
Tumingin yung binibini sa elevator. Her eyes went wife.
"Guys! Asan yung warning sign dito!"
Bigla siyang sumigaw at nataranta. "Sino ang tumanggal?!" Sabi niya with a very great force. Kinabahan ako bigla saka ako napatingin kay Josh na nakatingin sakin in a blank face.
Tumingin yung binibini sa level indicator tapos nakita niyang bumababa. Her face went white. Bigla siyang tumakbo patungo sa may post malapit sa may water dispenser saka nagdial sa telepono.
But after she dialed...
THUD!!!
A cracking noise sounded on the hotel.
My face went pale when I realized it was from the elevator. Napatingin ako dun kay Miss as her hands trembled na nakatingin sa direksyon ng elevator.
Her mouth quivered. "He-hello. S-sir.. K-ken..." She held the phone with an at most force. She gulped. Hindi niya alam kung anong sasabihin niya.
"Meron p-pong gumamit n-nung elevator. W-we n-need -"
TOOT!
Bago pa man makatapos si Miss sa pag-explain I heard a toot sound. Only one thing entered my mind. Ken went mad.
"Miss?" Sabi ko saka ko siya tinanong.
"Ano ba talagang nangyari?"
Mas dumami ang tao.
"Anong ingay na yun?"
"Don't tell me from that elevator?"
"Uy. Baby, wag ka lumapit jan baka delikado."
"Hala. Ano ba nangyari?"
"Sa elevator yung ingay?"
Saka na nagpanic ang tao. My heart went panic too. Ayaw ko lang ipahalata. Hindi ko agad nagalaw ang kamay ko to grabbed my other arm.
"Sino ba ang pumasok dun?"
"Uy. Di ba may pumasok dun na babae na may dalang bata?"
"Oo."
Napatingin agad ako sa nagsalita, waiting kung sino pa ang pumasok.
"Ah. Meron pa."
My hand dripped cold sweat nang marinig ko yung sabi ng isang lalaki.
"Isang nakabusiness attire na matandang lalaki."
My heart was racing. Napatingin ako sa direction ng elevator.
"At tyaka isang babae na nakashort shorts and kasama niya ang isang binata na kasing height niya."
My eyes went wide as biglang akong napatingin sa kanila.
"Huh?" A quivering voice slapped my ears. I slowly gazed behind.
"W-what?" Napangangang sabi ni Josh. My heart shattered as I saw his face. I was really shocked to see that kind of expression. First time kong makita siyang ganun. Namula bigla ang mata niya na para bang maiiyak siya. I don't know but parang biglang nag-iba ang aura niya. Bigla siyang namutla. He was scared.
"Josh? JOSH!" Sigaw ko nang biglang tumakbo siya papunta sa may elevator.
"KALE!" Sigaw niya habang tinatry niyang buksan ang elevator. Sa pagkabigla ko, nilingon ko paligid ko kung ano reaksiyon ng mga tao. I know they understand how we are feeling. Alam ko na nangangamba rin sila sa mga tao na nasa loob ng elevator.
I gazed the level indicator, they were clearly stuck between 10th and 9th floor.
###
"Wag kayong magalaw." Sabi ng isang babae na may hawak na bata sa loob ng elevator. Her face was really scared but she was trying to hide it for her child.
"Wala pa bang tutulong satin para makalabas? Hay, nako. Of all time. Ang malas ko ngayong araw ah." Ani ng isang lalaki na nakacoat.
"HOY! May tao po dito sa elevator! Pakibilisan po ang pag-ayos! Nakakatakot dito!" Sabi nung babae.
"Hay! Ano ba yan? Badtrip naman oh." Buntong hininga ni Elisse habang napaupo siya sa tabi ni Kale. Tiningnan niya saglit si Kale. Elisse seems like not even scared a bit.
"Kale? Ayos ka lang?" Tanong niya nang mahalata na parang worried si Kale.
"Kale. Kale!" Niyuyog niya nalang siya nang hindi marinig ni Kale ang boses.
"Huh? Ano?" Biglang napatingin si Kale kay Elisse.
"Ayos ka lang ba?"
"Ahh. Oo. Ayos lang." Halatang pinilit niyang magsmile.
"You look worried. Kung nag-aalala ka man na baka mahulog tong elevator, don't think of it. May safety device naman to eh." Sabi niya kay Kale habang pinagmamasdan yung bata na nakakapit sa mommy niya.
A long silence ang nakabingi kay Elisse.
"Hoy!" Sabay tulak kay Kale. This time hindi na tumingin kay Elisse si Kale. He looked even more worried.
"Is there something bothering you? Well, alam ko mahinhin ka but ku-"
Naputol ang sasabihin niya sana nang kinuha ni Kale ang backpack niyat hinablot ang cp sabay dial.
"Hello!" Boses sa cellphone.
###
"Josh, calm down." Mahinahon kong nilapitan si Josh at hinawakan ko braso niya.
"Huh?"
Nabigla ako ng mafeel ko na malamig na malamig na ang mga kamay niya and he is drenching with sweat. Humihingal siya habang tinatry na buksan ang elevator. Mas naging maputla siya ngayon.
He's trembling!
Nafeel ko na nanginginig ang mga kamay niya. And his lips were shaking. Bigla akong natakot. I don't know what to feel. Nang magsink in sakin ang nangyayari kay Josh, I become even more worried. Kinabahan ako masyado. Napaatras ako bigla at bumitaw sa braso ni Josh. Napatitig nalang ako kay Josh na nanginginig at paulit ulit na tinatawag ang pangalan ni Kale. My whole body froze with fear. Ano bang nangyayari kay Josh.
"Jo-" pipigilan ko ulit sana si Josh ng biglang lumapit na samin ang guard.
"Sir. Maam. Don't worry. Paparating na po ang maintenance. Umupo muna kayo sa may balcony. Tyaka wag sana po tayo magcause ng commotion baka mas lalong magpanic ang mga tao."
This time nilakasan ko na ang pagkapit ko kay Josh at kinaladkad ko siya sa sofa. He is still trembling. Mas nagpanic ako sa kalagayan ni Josh kesa kila Kale na nastuck sa loob ng elevator.
"Teka, upo ka muna jan, kukuha lang ako madali ng tubig. Wag ka aalis ah."
Pumunta muna ako sa may corner ng balcony at kumuha ng tubig sa dispenser. Masyado akong naguguluhan sa pangyayari. Hindi pa rin naaalis ang kaba ko.
Kumuha ako ng baso sabay sulyap kay Josh. His feet were shaking and his hands were trembling. Nagulat nalang ako ng bigla niya hinawakan mga braso niya like he crossed his arms. Pinipigilan niya ang panginginig ng kamay niya. He suddenly bent his body towards his lap and he shut his eyes. He is scared indeed. Far more than scared. Ngayon palang ako nakakita nang ganoong pagkatakot.
Naiintindihan ko na worried siya kay Kale. But hindi ko magets kung bakit ganun na lamang siya natatakot. Nagpapanic na siya sa lagay niya ngayon.
"Aray!" Napaso ako ng mainit na tubig. Lumulutang na isip ko kaya tuloy ang napindot ko yung sa hot water imbis na malamig.
Bumalik agad ako dun sa may balcony and give him a cup of water. Inalis ko muna sa isip ang tanungin siya. We just we waited for the rescue na dumating.
"Bea?"
"Boses yun ni Cody ah." I thought saka ako napatayo.
Sina Arvin, Maam Rose, Cody and Ken ang magkakasama.
I gazed Ken. His eyes were really in a bad mood. His eyebrows were knitted as he was tapping on his cellphone in a tremendous speed.
"S-sir Ken." Tawag bigla ni Miss kanina.
Napatingin si Ken sa kanya. Biglang nagbago ang aura niya as he emitted a very evil look towards the girl.
"You." He quickly paced towards the girl.
"Ken." But suddenly Arvin grabbed his shoulder. "Calm down."
"Ha?!!"
Instantly when Arvin grabbed his shoulder, Ken quickly looked at Arvin with a very scary look. Tumindig ang balahibo ko since this is the first I saw him really mad.
"Calm down." Arvin said again. His cold voice resounded on the whole area. Maraming tao ang nakatingin sa kanila at ang iba'y nagbow.
Nanginig bigla ang tuhod ko as I felt a chill on my spine na gumapang hanggang sa ulo ko. Gosh! Nakakatakot ang dalawang 'to.
The two stared at each other. But eventually, Ken just loosened his clenched fist saka nagsigh. Ken calmly looked at the girl this time.
"I'll talk about this matter later. But for now, I want the maintenance to get back in this g**d**n floor and fix yang iniwan nilang elevator!" His voice echoed. No one dared to talk.
Napayuko si girl.
"Y-yes po. S-sir Ken." Her feet trembled as she quickly turned back at Ken saka tinawagan ang maintenace.
"Bea. Why are you here?" Tanong bigla ni Cody as he patted my shoulder gently and looked at my eyes. Gosh! Too close!
I softly backed away saka ko siya inanser.
"Well actually....sina Elisse at Kale... nasa loob ng elevator pa, nastuck."
Napatingin sila sakin. Pati na rin si Ken.
"What?!"
"Eh. Kasi... hindi. uhm.. hindi ko rin alam kung ano talaga nangyari. But I'm sure sila yung nasa loob." Sabi ko as I suddenly remembered Josh.
As soon as Ken heard what I said, he grunted as he pinched his forehead really hard.
"Sir Ken." Mr. Simone arrived as he bowed.
"Mr. Simone. I want you check all the CCTV footage kung ano talaga ang nangyari." He said as he was clenching his teeth while speaking.
"Yes, sir." Sabi ni Mr. Simone na agad namang umalis.
Tiningnan ko ang mukha ni Josh as soon as Ken faced us. I made a sigh nung nakita kong mas kumalma na siya kumpara kanina. He's finally okay. Kani-kanina alang ang putla putla niya.
"How are they?" Tanong ni Maam.
"Hindi po namin alam, I-" I cut nang nakita kong biglang kumuha ng cellphone si Josh.
"Hello? Kale?" Sabi ni Josh habang dali-dali siyang lumayo samin para makausap si Kale.
###
Just after na makuha ni Kale ang cp niya'y agad niyang dinial ang number ni Josh.
"Hello?" Sabi ni Kale.
"Hello? Kale?" Boses ni Josh galing sa phone.
"Kale sino y-" Elisse cut ng nagsalita si Kale.
"Josh. Ayos ka lang ba?" Sabi ni Klae as he made a very worried look. Elisse's suddenly widened as she backed a little from Kale as she stared siya sa mukha ng binata.
"Haha. Don't w-worry. A-ayos lang a-ako."
Biglang kumunot ang noo ni Kale.
"You don't sound okay. You should head back muna sa room."
"No. No. Ayos lang talaga ako. Ahaha. T-talaga." Saka tumawa si Josh ng pilit.
Hindi umimik si Kale as Elisse continued staring at Kale's face.
"I-I just n-need to know kung ayos lang ba kayo jan." Nagstu-ttuter na boses ni Josh.
Kale sighed. "Don't worry. We're fine. Wala pa bang tutulong samin?"
"Mm. Ah! P-papunta pa lang daw."
"Okay okay..."
Silence crawled.
"Josh." Kale's calm voice reverberated inside the elevator car.
"Mm?" Boses ni Joshua.
"Don't worry. I'm fine. Makakalabas din ako."
SILENCE.
"Hsf!"
A sound of sniffing was heard from Kale's phone.
Elisse's eyes widened as Kale made a faint smile that she have never seen before from him.
###
Napatingin ako kay Josh na parang kinakausap si Kale. I quickly paced towards him baka mahulog siya balcony. Since hindi ko pa rin naman naalis sa isip ko yung nangyari sa kanya.
"Josh. Ayos ka lang ba? Jo-" My eyes burst ojt as I saw him crying. Napaupo siya bigla sa he covered his eyes while his hand just held the phone.
"K-kale. Hsf! N-nat-tatakot ako. I-I c-can't s-stop tremb-bling." Josh said as he tears flowed like a river to even see na basang basa agad ang lap niya ng luha.
I quickly patted his back. I don't know what's happening but I'm really sure he needed some comfort. Lalong lalo na yung galing kay Kale.
Maya-maya pa't dumating na rin yung maintenance team. Ken who saw them first immediately grabbed a piece of rolled magazine saka ipinalo sa mga ulo nila while Josh talked to Kale until na makalabas sila. Isa-sang inilabas sa elevator ang mga nastranded and panghuli sina Kale.
"Kale! Elisse!" Maam bursted out as she hugged the two. Actually I expected Elisse to be so loud nang makalabas na ng elevator, but I was really shocked to see her na nakayuko and nung tinawag siya ni Maam, she just gave her and made a smile.
Josh silently walk towards them saka sila bumalik sa kanya-kanya room.
Ba't parang naging awkward bigla yung atmosphere? I gazed towards Maam and she made a worried look. I know parehas kami ng iniisip.
"Girls maya." Sabi ni Maam. Cody suddenly looked at Maam.
"Okay. But for now... I want to know something." Sabi ko as paced towards sa kwarto nila Josh.
Arvin and the rest looked towards me as I left them.
KNOCK!
"Kale?" Tanong ko sa pinto as I knocked.
The door clicked opened saka ko nakita si Kale.
"Oh. Ate Bea." Sabi ni Kale.
"Mind if I enter?" Sabi ko sabay kibitbalikat.
"Ah. Sure sure." Sabi niya as he let me in.
"Just shh." Sabi niya saka naggesture na parang pinapaquiet ako. At first nacurious ako but then I saw Josh gently sleeping sa kama. He slept agad agad?
"I know. You know naman kung bakit ako nandito." Sabi ko na parang whisper na. Kale offered me a seat saka umupo siya sa kama.
He suddenly made a very gloomy face.
"Yeah. Nakita ba nilang lahat?"
Napayuko ako as I gazed my fingers on my lap.
"Hindi. Ako lang ang nandun kasama si Josh."
Kale suddenly made a faint smile.
"Mmh." He sighed. "I know you're really shocked sa reaction ni Josh."
"Well, frankly. Oo." Sabi ko ng mahinahon. This was really a serious talk. Mas malala pa sa serious. I really want to help Josh but I can't. Natatakot ako para sa kanya and at the same time I really want to help him kung ano man ang problema niya ngayon.
I gazed a tall gentle young man stretched on a fuzzy warm bed. Hindi mo aakalain that he would be like that kanina. I just can't connect kung bakit siya nagkaganun. Napatingin ako kay Kale.
Kale suddenly clenched his fist as he bit his lower lip. I was shocked to see him like that.
"Just one..." His tears flowed out "Just one promise and yet, I can't even fulfill it." He suddenly bent his body towards his lap and cried.