[Kaijin Del Mundo]
Napabuntong hininga ako habang bagot na nakikinig sa professor. I look at her seat but it's empty.
5 days past and she's really busy on her second day as a president. 5 days na siyang umaatend sa iba't-ibang conference to meet the other presidents of other school.
While me? She assigned me to watch all of the students in this campus. Tangina, PARA NAMAN KAYA KONG BANTAYAN LAHAT NG PUTANGINANG ESTUDYANTE DITO.
Bumagal ang oras para sakin so I stand up and excuse myself to 'OBSERVE' students in this campus. Kahit ang totoo, gusto ko lang gumala.
I get my phone as I call her number.
Tangina, nakakailang tawag na ako pero bakit di man lang niya sagutin? Gano'n ba talaga kahaba 'yong mga putanginang conference na 'yon? Bakit kasi hindi niya ako sinasama sa lakad niya?
I'M WORRIED AS HELL IN HERE.
Tapos nauuna pa siyang pumasok sakin kaya hindi ko siya nakikita. Teka, TANGINA, WHY DO I FEEL LIKE IT'S BEEN YEARS SINCE SHE LEFT?!
Fuck!
Nadinig ko ang tunog ng bell hudyat na breaktime na. Wala namang gulo dito, nakakabagot panoorin.
My phone began to rang so I answer it.
"KAILAN KA PA BA MATATAPOS?!" I irritatedly asked.
"Tangina, bakit moko sinisigawan?" Napatikhim ako ng marinig ko ang boses ni Asylum.
"Bakit ka tumawag?" Narinig ko ang pagtawa niya sa kabilang linya. "Mamaya, after school, at the bar." Sabay patay niya ng telepono. Ano nanaman bang balak ng lalaking ito?
"Hoy! Kaijin!" Napatingin ako kay Venice nang makarinig ako ang matinis na boses.
"What?" I boredly ask. "Bakit hindi ko na nakikita si Airish? Anong ginawa mo sa kanya ha?!" Sabay tulak niya ng balikat ko.
"She's busy." Masama niya akong tinignan. "Hindi mo naman siguro binubugbog si Airish DIBA?!" Napaamang ang bibig ko. HOW CAN I FUCKING DO THAT IF I'M THE FUCKING VICTIM HERE?! Mas malakas pa nga sakin ang babaeng 'yon.
"Do you see any bruise?" Hindi siya nakapagsalita. "Malay mo tinatakpan niya lang!"
"Sino ba sa tingin mong mas malakas samin?" I asked with a serious face. Dapat talaga pagsamahin ang babaeng si Pey kay Venice.
"Physically? It's Airish." Napakunot ang noo ko. "As you can see, Airish isn't as tough as you know in the inside." I started to feel interested in her topic so I didn't speak.
"Her... Her—" Hinintay ko pa ang sasabihin ni Venice pero hindi niya ito tinuloy. "Hindi ko kayang pangunahan si Airish pero she have a tragic life back then... And I guess that you should hear it from her and not me. Don't depend on her too much Kaijin, she maybe tough physically, but she's always broken inside. So please, don't ever leave her side." Kita ko ang pag-aalalang pagtingin niya sa mata ko. She cares for her friend so much isn't she?
"I can't promise you that," dahil kapag natapos ang kontrata ay nasa kanya ang desisyon kung gusto niya pang ituloy ang relasyon namin. "But there's only one thing that I can promise." I smiles as I look at her.
"I'll protect her at any cost." She smiles as she speaks. "I'll be counting on you Kaijin. Please take good care of her. That's all, I'll take my leave." Pagkatapos no'n ay umalis na siya. Bumili ako ng pagkain bago bumalik sa pag-oobserba ng mga estudyante.
I can see her pain when she already knew that her ex and my brother are on a relationship. I want to cheer her up but it feels like she's creating a barrier on me...
That I almost feel that I can't even reach her... It's like we're living in a different world. I think it's time to gather some information about her...
-
Afterclass...
Gaya ng napag-usapan ay dumiretso na ako ng bar na pagmamay-ari ng pamilya ni Asylum.
"Bro, you made it in time." He give me some wine so I drink it. "Yeah, that's more like it, Kaijin."
"So, what's the deal?" Agad kong tanong. "Kwento ka naman." Sabay upo niya sa sofang puno ng mga babae kaya napaupo nadin ako.
"She's a troublesome girl. You don't want to mess up with her." Sabay inom ko ng wine. "What do you mean by that?" Sabay refill niya ng wine sa baso ko.
"She's a bossy type of person." Pag-uumpisa ko. "She's a short word speaker but she can make a fucking long essay." Natatawa kong sambit.
"Marami akong kinakaayawan sa ugali niya." Napatingin sakin si Asylum. "Then make a divorcement paper."
"She makes you as her slave right? You can just leave her after you already paid your company's debt. After all, she's a bossy master, she's troublesome, and she's a BITCHY type right?" Doon na ako tumayo at hinigit ko ang kwelyo niya.
"DON'T FUCKING CALL HER A BITCH." He raises his two arms as he laughs. "Ikaw na nagsabi na marami kang kinakaayawang ugali sa kanya."
"I said it but it doesn't mean that you can speak to her like that." Sabay bitaw ko sa kwelyo niya.
"Even if she's like that, I still respect her, KAYA WAG MONG BABASTUSIN ANG NIRERESPETO KO ASYLUM." Aalis na sana ako ng magsalita siya.
"Relax dude, this night is for you, hindi pwedeng sayangin ang grasya, I already hired a girl you know?" Napakuyom ako ng kamao.
"Then take it all by yourself. I'm trying to change, Asylum. I don't want to cheat on her." I said those words without even thinking. He claps his hands as he nods.
"Is it Lust?" Napatingin ako sa kanya at ngumisi bago namulsa.
"IT'S NOT A FUCKING LUST."
"Then what is it?" I didn't answers his question. It's too early for that. Lumabas na ako ng bar at napag-isipan ko nang umuwi.
Nakauwi na kaya si Airish?
Pagkarating ko sa mansyon ay napatingin ako sa relos ko. It's already 9:45 PM natutulog na kaya siya?
Nagmamadali kong inilapag ang bag ko at tumakbo papuntang kwarto. Pero, hindi ko siya nakita.
Where could she be? Nang makababa ako ay napatingin ako sa sofa. Napangiti ako ng makita ko siyang natutulog.
"She's waiting for you." Napatingin ako kay Miss Nadia. "She said that she won't sleep unless you're here." My lips suddenly formed a smile as I heard those words.
"Kaijin," Napatingin ako Kay Miss Nadia. "Are you planning to cheat on her?" Kahit isang beses ay hindi ko pa naiisip ang bagay na iyon. Marahil ay sumasagi ito sa isip ko pero... Habang tumatagal, ayoko nang gawin ang bagay na 'yon.
"Beats me," Nasambit ko nalang tsaka pumunta sa hinihigaan ni Airish. Binuhat ko siya na parang isang bagong kasal at tahimik na binubuhat siya papaakyat ng kwarto.
I lay her softly in her Melody Pillow. Sandali akong nagpalit ng damit at umupo na sa kama. I look at her while I'm arranging her hair.
"Is it Lust?"
"IT'S NOT A FUCKING LUST."
"Then what is it?"
Napailing ako. Dahil maski ako, Hindi ko masabi ang katayuang kinakaharap ko. Ang alam ko lang, dapat kong protektahan ang babaeng ito.