THREE

THREE

ELLYA

Sa nangyari noong nakaraang kagabi mas pinili kong magleave muna sa office at kausapin si Tita. Susubukan ko kahit papaano na maayos ang mga bagay bagay na pangyayari. Ayoko nang mawala .Nakakapagod nang buong sistema. Nakakahiya din kay Limmuel sa kanya ko pa nailabas at may nasabi akong nakakahiya.

Nakakahiya ka minsan Ellya e.

Being frustrated about what happened makes me wonder why should I deserve this kind of treatment?

“Pwede ko po ba makausap si Tita?” Tanong ko sa katulong ng bahay.

“Ay Mam, nag iwan po ng sulat sa inyo ang tiya niyo. Eto po.” Sagot nang katulong at inabot ang isang sobre.

“Salamat po.”

Mukhang huli na ako. Ganoon na ba talaga ang mga tao? Ipagkakait sa iyo yung ibang bagay? Inumpisahan ko na lumakad hanggang nakarating sa sakayan ng bus.Pagsakay ko ay di gaano kapuno ito. At buti may naupuan akong double seater na walang nakaupo.Hinayaan ko lang yung sulat sa bag. At nag iisip kung saan titira o hahanap ng apartment.

At dahil marami akong iimpake na gamit pagkauwi. Kaya napagdesiyunan ko munang umidlip.I guess, Wala akong choice. Palaging ganoon. Kailangan kong sumunod dahil ayoko rin makulong. Nakakatakot kung saan ako pupulutin.

---

I was awake when someone sat on my side.

“I’ll be late.” The familiar voice said.I looked up and our gaze met.

“Hi”

I don’t know what to do because the last time we talked was not that good. And right now I’m feeling it.The awkwardness and the tension between us.I feel so ashamed right now.

Hindi ko rin alam bat kita nayakap.Sana nga nakainom na lang ako kaso mas maliwanag pa sa buwan nang gabing yun na di ako nakainom at katabi kita.

“H—hello”

I didn’t give him a chance to speak as I got my earphones out and plugged them on my ear. Not now. You’re tired. I keep on reminding myself of it. And I am fully aware of that.

Wala na kong narinig na boses sa kanya. Kaya hinayaan mong panoorin na unti unting umuusad ang bus na sasakyan namin.Traffic means forever. Ganto sa pinas. Mas matagal pa ang traffic kesa sa relasyon.

Yung sinasabing me time? Paano yun? Kung ang kasama mo ay kilala mo.Isang tunog sa email ang nagpabalik sa akin sa katinuan.

“Hi Elly, Hindi ka nakapasok ngayon kaya di mo nalaman ang meeting. By weekend ay aalis tayo papuntang La Union to celebrate about the event na mangyayari bukas hanggang Friday. Team Building then tayo. So be aware sa kagamitan at kailangan pag alis.

Attendance is a must.

Let's see each other tomorrow.

-Jean

I focused myself on the screen thinking na sana mali itong nababasa ko. Okay lang kung sa ibang lugar pumunta bakit sa La Union? At alam ko kung sino may pakana. I instantly removed my earphones and face him. “Why?” I asked.

He seems to be confused but I didn’t give a damn and continued with the words that I needed to say.

“Why all of the places sa La Union pa TL?.” I emphasize the word TL. Para malaman niya kung hanggang saan lang siya.

“It’s convenient. Wala pa sa inyo nakakapunta sa Rest house ko kaya dun tayo magstastay. And besides the whole team will be joining us.” He said and smiled.

My heart aches.

Ganoon na ba kadali kalimutan yung mga nangyari. For God sake, dun ako nasira, nawala yung pamilya ko at mahahalagang tao pati siya.Siya na walang malay at hanggang ngayon hindi ko siya maintindihan.

“I guess I don’t have any choice.” I said and checked my things.

“I just need to accept this. That I need to move on and erase the memories we have on that island.”

I stood up to get off the bus.

---

LIMMUEL

I stared at her. Telling myself that she has changed. But my mind keeps countering that she doesn’t. She is tired. And I know how tired she is.

“Can you contact my lawyer to get the updates regarding the house of Miss Torres,” I called on someone.

Maybe this guilt will be gone. If I can give the happiness she deserves.It was 7 pm and I ended up going to the mall and to the bookstore to buy some books. They are telling me that I am gay but I just have the habit to read a book. It keeps me calm. Lalo ngayon parang kailangan ko dahil kay Ellya.

“The Lost One.” I read the title and found it interesting.

Fantasy novel book. Magic.

“Sir Lim?” I heard someone calling me and saw my team.

“Sir bat nasa bookstore kayo?” Mica asked. I waved my books at her.

“Oww Sir? Sabay ka sa amin dinner?” they asked and I saw Dave running towards them.

“Bakit kayo nandito?” asked Dave. And they point me using their lips.

Why? I guess nabigla sila nang makita ako.

“Hala Sir! Sorry.” He apologetically said.

“Stop it Dave. Susunod ako. Bayaran ko lang to. May gusto kayong idagdag?” tanong ko.

“Uhmm Sir. Padamay ako sa books ikot ako.” Jean said.

I am following Jean to Art supplies section. I saw her getting a brush pen. A set one. Then grab some books in NonFiction and Fiction area.

“Ang dami nan.” Sabi ko at tiningnan na mapupuno niya na yung buong lagayan

"Birthday na ni Elli. Kaya heto ang binili ko. At mukhang next week di na ako makakabili dahil busy na tayo.”

I almost forgot.

“Ganun ba? Sige surprise natin siya sa La Union?” tanong ko and saw her grinning from ear to ear.

“Stop with that Jean. Di nakakatulong.” Sabi ko at naglalakad patungo counter.

Jean was smiling widely habang nakasunod at nag iisip na naman ng kalokohan. I let her be and one thing caught my attention. A journal. I got the blue journal with an engraved word of “You are strong and brave.”

Sounds good. Kaya binayaran ko ito nang di napapansin ni Jean at hinintay ito.

“Saan sila nakain?” I asked paglabas ng bookstore.

“Sa Mcdo raw Sir.” Napaface palm na lang ako narinig ang tawa ni Jean.

“Kahit kailan kayong team.”

“Sir, Di pa kayo nasanay aba.”

We went to McDonald’s and saw my team laughing about something.

“Sakto nandito na kayo at kararating lang ng pagkain.” Mica said.

“Tara Kain na. “ Bill said.

10 pm pa ang mga shift namin at si Ellya lang ang kulang. Kahit si Jessica ay kasunod na. Nagkakatuwaan at masaya sa isa't isa habang nakain. Parang mga bata kung pagmamasdan ang mga ito pero ang saya nila. Ibang klase.

These people are great. All of us was laughing nang biglang nagsalita si Jean.

“Sinong may dalang kotse?” nagpapanic niyang tanong.

“Hey Jean. Calm down, what happened?”  I asked and Mica calmed her.

“Si--- El—ellya.”