Ride with me

SIMULA

"Basta kung saan mag-aaral si Akina, doon din ako." Nakangising sagot ni Marfori. "Grabe, next school year high school na tayo. I can't wait for tomorrow's graduation!" Napatango naman kaming lahat sa pagsang-ayon.

"So this is our last day, want to go shopping? Kasama naman si yaya kaya, okay lang." Napatingin naman kami kay Shantal na nakangisi sa amin, habang naghihintay ng sagot. Tumango silang lahat bilang pagpayag. Tatango na rin sana ako kaya lang, naala ko na first time namin magf-face time ni Izana. I don't want to miss this chance. Palagi na lang kaming e-mail kaya ngayon ko lang siya makakausap talaga.

"Sorry, I can't. May gagawin pa'ko mamaya e." Tumango lamang sila at sinabing next time na lang. But I don't think may next time pa.

I was planning to study in Japan. Mom and Dad agreed, at pumayag din si tita na siya muna ang magiging guardian ko doon. May house naman kami sa Japan so it's not a problem.

However, Izana does not want me to go and study there. It's dangerous for me raw dahil kalat ang gangsters and delinquents doon. Pero gusto ko na rin siyang makasama.

Ring~ Ring~

Huh? International call? Who could it be? Izana?

"Yes, hello? Riku Urrutia speaking."

"Kon'nichiwa, Urrutia-san. Seirukakokusaibyōin. Kurokawa Iza na no shinsekidesu ka? Kare wa shitai anchi-sho ni imasu. Hiroemasu ka?"

Huh? Huh?? Wala akong maintindihan.

"Uh, I'm sorry I don't understand. I don't speak Nihongo." Nahihiya kong sagot. Nakakagulat naman yun, dere-deretcho hindi ko maintindihan.

"I'm sorry. Uh, good day Miss Riku Urrutia. This is St. Luke's International Hospital. Are you Mr. Izana Kurokawa's relative? He's in the morgue. Can you pick it up?"

Napatigil ako sa paghinga. Hindi na ata nagf-function nang maayos ng utak ko. Hindi tinatanggap ng sistema ko ang sinabi ng caller na ito.

"Sorry, what? Kurokawa Izana? Morgue?"

"Yes ma'am. I think you're not in Japan right now. You're the only one on his contacts. Do you know some other relatives of Izana-san that can pick up his body?"

I don't know how I can still answer her question. My mind went blank and I am unconsciously answering and moving.

"I'll go there as soon as possible." Was my only answer. Dali-dali akong nag-empake ng gamit. Hindi ko na mahihintay ang isang linggo. I rescheduled my flight tonight papuntang Japan.

Tinawagan ko sila mom and dad para ibalita ang nangyari. They also helped me arranged the things that I will be needed. Sila na rin daw ang bahala sa school ko.

They knew Izana. And I appreciate their help. Just wait for me Izana. I'll go there as soon as I can.

Ang malamig na simoy ng hangin ng Japan ang sumalubong sa'kin pagkababa ko ng eroplano. Kinuha ko na agad ang bagahe ko at wala akong sinayang na minuto. Pumara ako ng taxi at sinabi ang address ng hospital.

I never thought that my second time meeting with my best friend will be at the morgue.

"Izana, sorry I'm late. I am here..." Hinawakan ko ang malamug na kamay niya. Hindi ko na napigilan ang paghikbi ko. Kurokawa Izana is my only best friend. Maliit pa lang kami nang una ko siyang makilala. Hindi niya na siguro matandaan nung una't huling beses siyang pumunta ng Manila.

Bigla nalang siyang nawala noon. I did everything I could to find him and luckily, I found him. I reached out to him and fortunately, he remembered me. We continued our communication via e-mail.

I told him that I will go to Japan once I graduated from 6th grade to continue my studies there para magkasama na kami. Hindi ko naman akalain na ang pangalawang pagkikita namin, at ang pagpunta ko sa Japan ang huling beses ko siyang makikita. I knew that he leads a gang but I never knew that it could be this dangerous. He's gentle to me and I can't believe that something like this would happen to him.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't here to support you. I am sorry, ngayon lang ako. Nandito na'ko Izana." My tears keep on falling and my cry echoed in the four corners of this room. I can't imagine how hard it is for him. He's alone, and I know, kahit hindi niya sabihin... He was suffering.

One of my reasons kaya gusto kong pumunta dito ay para hindi na siya mag-isa. Pero ako naman ang iniwan niya.

"I swear I'm gonna find who did this to you. I will avenge you. I will never forgive them."