Still facing my laptop while thinking about what I should write on my personal profile, I narrowed my brows. I am getting the headaches. Not because I got too exposed to radiation, but because I am frustrated of the things I am unable to remember.
I shook my head and close my eyes firmly. "Who is that man?" I mumbled upon myself. "Is he the taxi driver?" I slightly tilted my head. There is something that doesn't fit right to the puzzle.
Lola told me that the man who brought me home doesn't look like a taxi driver, in any particular ways. According to her, that man got the looks and has a classy choice of outfit. With that, my mind can already picture an image of a sophisticated fellow. Another thing is the way he speaks. How can an ordinary chauffer be so fluent in English?
"This is driving me crazy!" Napahawak ako sa aking sentido. Hindi ako makapag-focus sa ginagawa ko dahil paulit-ulit na bumabalik sa utak ko ang tungkol sa lalaking 'yun. He gives me the impression of being super mysterious. Or maybe ako lang talaga ang may problema?
I closed my laptop and stood up from my chair. Nagtungo ako sa living room namin kung saan naabutan ko si lola na kumakain ng merienda. How can she eat all alone without even asking me to join her? Napasimangot ako.
I walked towards her direction. Sa harapan niya ay nakahain ang ilang piraso ng peanut butter sandwich at isang baso ng freshly squeezed orange juice. It looks so yummy that I instantly extended my arms to grab some. But before I could even touch it, pinalo ni lola ang kamay ko.
"Aray! What was that for?" I pouted my lips.
"Sino 'yung kasama mo noong nakaraang gabi?" She asked while glaring at me. I almost had goosebumps while receiving her deadly expression.
"Hindi ko nga po kilala kung sino man 'yang tinutukoy niyo. I have no idea about what happened." Paliwanag ko.
"Hindi mo siya nobyo?" My eyes widened out of shock. I don't even know how that man looks like-but what?! Tinatanong ako ni Lola kung may relasyon ako sa taong 'yun? I'm quite sure na taxi driver lang ang naghatid sa akin, there is no way na isang gwapong binata na may taste of fashion ang kasama kong umuwi sa bahay.
My goal is to find myself a suitable job, not to flirt with some random man that I just met in the streets. Besides, wala akong plano na magkaroon ng boyfriend.
"For the last time, hindi ko po siya kilala at mas lalong hindi ko siya boyfriend." I answered using my voice full of certainty.
Napatango-tango si Lola. She lifted her gaze to our ceiling, perhaps she is thinking about something. I grabbed that opportunity and took a sandwich out of the tray. Nagmamadali ko 'yung kinain saka ako patakbong lumabas sa bahay para makaiwas sa mga susunod pang tanong ni Lola.
I decided to take a walk along our neighborhood. Matagal-tagal na rin noong huli akong nakapasyal dito. Masyado akong naging busy sa paghahanap ng trabaho, nakalimutan ko nang magsaya at magrelax.
It's quite windy and not many people are outside of their houses. Unlike me, lahat ng tao rito ay may mga bagay na pinagkakaabalahan. Just take a look at the convenience store where part-timers are serving their costumers, the bakery where the bakers spend their day making delicious pastries and that salon where stylists are busy designing their client's hair. I wish I have something that I can enjoy.
I shut my eyes as I breathe the fresh air. The smell of dried leaves that slowly falls down from its tree lingers through my nostrils. It was such an astonishing moment to cherish. The beauty of the surrounding absolutely puts me in peace.
"What the hell?!" I screamed when I tripped on something and eventually ended up lying on the ground. Mukhang nagasgasan pa ang braso ko dahil naitukod ko 'yun sa lupa.
I turned to my back at hinanap kung ano ang nakapatid sa akin. To my surprise, I saw a man in a black hoodie. He is comfortably sitting on the park bench while his long legs are widely spread on the pathway. He did this to me.
Inis akong tumayo saka pinagpagan ang aking sarili. Pagkatapos, nilapitan ko 'yung lalaki. Hinintay ko na tingnan niya ako pero mukhang hindi niya napansin ang presensya ko. He did not move one bit.
Sa inis ko, lumipat ako ng pwesto sa harapan niya para makita niya na may ibang tao dito bukod sa kanya. He lifted his gaze and saw me. I thought papansinin na niya ako but he just ignored me and look the other way.
"Are you snubbing me?" Napatingin siya sa akin. Seryoso lang ang mukha niya. He sure does have a handsome face, a unique possession which is hard to find among all the men in the world. However, I can sense that he has an awful behavior.
"Who are you?" His ice-cold voice sent chills down to my spine. I felt like seeing the whole arctic from where I stood.
"Anong klaseng tanong yan?" Pasaring ko at binigyan siya ng pekeng ngiti.
"A very sensible one." Tipid niyang sagot.
"Are you numb? Hindi mo ba naramdaman na may napatid 'yang mala-poste mong binti na paharang-harang sa daan?" He showed me an insulting smile.
"I thought it was just the wind." Napatampal ako sa aking noo. Sino ba ang nilalang na ito at paano siya napadpad sa lugar namin? Did he just move in? Maybe that's why sobrang unfamiliar ng mukha niya sa akin.
"Cut the crappy dialogs and just apologize." Mariin kong sabi. Hindi naman siya nagsalita. He just stared at me for a couple of minutes as his forehead crumbles up slowly. He looks as if he is trying to recall a forgotten memory.
"You!" I was surprised when he unexpectedly pointed his index finger at me. I took a step back nang bigla siyang tumayo at hindi man lang inalis ang paningin sa akin. Is he crazy?
"What are you doing?" Napaatras akong muli nang humakbang siya palapit sa akin. His eyes narrowed while continuously scanning my face.
"Don't you remember me?" He asked with a hint of doubt present in his voice. Dapat ko ba siyang maalala e samantalang ngayon ko lang naman siya nakita?
"So you have forgotten about me huh?" I saw him smirk.
"Excuse me? Ngayon lang kita nakita and I didn't approach you just to joke around with you." Inuubos niya ang pasensya ko. "Just apologize." Ani ko.
He slipped both of his hands to his pockets. "Too bad, you're memory stinks." Nanunuya niyang sabi at tinalikuran na ako.
"Hoy! Saan ka pupunta?" Hindi niya ako pinansin at patuloy lang sa paghakbang.
"Aren't you going to say sorry?" He stopped. He then turned his head towards my direction.
"Why should I?" He asked. I can't believe this man. He has no sense of justification. He can't even admit his own mistake.
Magsasalita pa sana ako pero inunahan na niya ako. "Shouldn't the principal assailant be the one to apologize?" I gave him a puzzled look. Is he saying that I am the one in the wrong?
"Nevermind, you look kind of dumb para maintindihan ang sinasabi ko." He said straightforwardly while sneering at me.
He continued walking away from me. Pilit ko man siyang tawagin ay hindi na niya ako pinansin. Gosh! I've met so many people with a trashy attitude, but he is the worst among all species.
--
"Khaela! Halika nga rito at may iuutos ako." Narinig 'kong tawag sa akin ni lola. Dali-dali naman akong nagtungo sa kusina kung saan nanggagaling ang boses niya.
"Ano po 'yun?" Lumapit ako sa kinatatayuan niya at nakita kong nagsasalin siya ng ulam sa isang tupperware.
"Lola, wala naman po akong pupuntahan ngayon. Bakit pinaghahanda mo po ako baon?" Nagtataka 'kong tanong. Iniabot niya sa akin ang tupperware. Natakam ako bigla nang malanghap ko ang amoy ng adobong manok.
"Kakainin ko na po ito, nagutom ako bigla e." Nginitian ko siya. Akmang bubuklatin ko na ang takip nito nang bigla niyang pinalo ang kamay ko.
"Wala naman akong sinabi na para 'yan sayo." Gumana na naman ang pagka-amazona ni lola.
"Eh para kanino po pala?" I curiously asked.
"Balita ko ay may bagong lipat tayong kapit-bahay, dalhin mo 'yan at sabihin mo na pumasyal dito kung wala siyang ginagawa." There she goes again, trying to be friendly with anyone around her. I just shut my mouth and nod at her.
Tinatamad akong nagtungo sa katabi naming bahay. Sarado lahat ng pinto at bintana. Geez! Napaka-weird naman ng taong nakatira dito. "Open up!"
Ilang minuto ang lumipas bago ako pagbuksan ng may-ari. "Here, pinapabigay ng lola ko. Pumasyal ka daw sa bahay namin kahit kailan mo gusto. Okay?" Dire-diretso kong sabi nang hindi man lang tumitingin sa kausap ko.
"Are you kidding me?" His voice sounds so familiar.
Gulat 'kong iniangat ang paningin ko, sumalubong naman ang mukha ng lalaking nakaaway ko kanina.
"Ikaw?!"
"Are serious about what you just said?" Mabilis akong umiling. Inilagay ko na lang sa kamay niya ang tupperware at saka ako kumuripas ng takbo pauwi.
What was that all about? Am I suddenly being cursed?