He’s gone (Tagalog)

F O U R ( black cat )

Sky

Yesterday was bullshit. Hindi ako nakatulog nang maayos. Why were they defending Roxanne? I’m just worried baka ubusin niya lahat ng pera namin.

I woke up early because I don’t wanna go with kuya Syl. Pinagalitan niya ako pagdating ko sa bahay kahapon. Si Amber naman, sabi niya tama daw ang kuya ko kaya hindi ko na siya ginising, nakakabadtrip. They’re all defending that girl.

“Mom, dad una na po ako,” I kissed them before leaving. Kay manong Henry nalang ako magpapahatid.

“Manong gusto niyo po ba mag shopping? I think it’s too early to go to school. Ililibre po kita, bibilhan ko na po rin ng mga gamit si Mae,” I asked. Anak ni manong si Mae.

“Nakakahiya naman po maam,” napakamot sya ng ulo.

“No, don’t worry manong best friend naman kita,” I gave him the sweetest smile. I feel bad for manong kasi never ko pa siyang nililibre and he’s been working as our family driver for more than 20 years.

“Sige po salamat po maam.”

We bought school supplies, groceries and some toys for Mae’s brother.

I noticed something. This black cat is following me. Kanina pa to.

“Manong why is the cat following me? Do you think the cat wants food po?” I asked manong since I never owned a cat and I have no idea about cats.

“Siguro, pero maam punta na po tayo sa paaralan baka malate na po kayo,” it’s just a cat anyway.

Nasa school na ako at umalis na si kuya. The cat is still following me. Bakit parang natatakot ako sa pusang to. I went to the school’s mall to buy a cat food baka nagugutom talaga ang pusa.

Pinakain ko na ng cat food pero hindi parin siya umalis. What should I do?

Pumunta muna ako sa school park at nag cellphone. Natatakot na talaga ako. Umupo ako sa bench. Baka imagination ko lang to. Baka pinoison ako ni Roxanne or pinakulam.

Nagulat ako nang bigla nalang siyang umupo sa thighs ko.

“Shoo, shoo, go away,” ayaw parin niyang umalis. Huhu mas nakakatakot pa to kaysa sa nangyari kahapon sa Salazar mansion.

“Koby, where have you been,” mas nagulat pa ako nang lumapit si weirdo guy dito.

So this is his cat?

“Pusa mo to?” pasigaw kong tanong.

Lord, tinatakot niyo po ba ako? Grabe kanina pa sunod ng sunod itong pusa niya.

Umupo si weirdo guy sa tabi ko.

“Are you afraid of cats?” Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.

“At bat naman ako matatakot sa mga pusa?” The cat meowed at me and rubbed its body to me. Bigla akong napatayo.

“Weirdo guy, get that cat out of me!” he chuckled. For the first time in my life, I saw him chuckle. “Are you teasing me?”

“Why do you call me weirdo guy?”

“It’s because you are a weirdo guy,” hello? Isn’t it obvious? First, he wears a black mask everywhere. Second, he still reads a book for children and lastly, he owns a scary cat.

“Jetro,” he offered me his hands. Finally! He became friendly and less weirdo. I didn’t accept his hand. Akala mo ikaw lang makakagawa non? Hindi noh. Gagawin ko talaga yung ginawa niya saken noon.

“Why do you wear mask everywhere?” Since I feel like we’re friends now, It’s time for me to ask questions.

“Long story,” ang mysterious niya talaga and it’s making me feel more interested about his life lalong lalo na isa siyang Salazar.

“How many siblings do you have?” I asked.

“I can’t answer that,” he said while rubbing his cat’s belly.

Cute.

“Edi wag. Wala kang kwentang kausap” nag cellphone ulit ako.

Now we’re just sitting here. Ang awkward. Kailangan ko mag-isip ng mga questions.

Think, think, think.

Hay salamat Lord. Nagring na ang bell.

Tumayo na siya at umalis kaya sinundan ko siya since classmates kami. Iniwan niya yung pusa sa bench.

“Hindi mo ba isasama si Koby?”

“He’s smarter than an average human,” napanganga ako. Am I dreaming? His owner left him to the place where the cat barely knows. Baka maligaw.

I dropped my bag when I saw another black cat sitting on my table.

“Jetro, why is your cat here?”

“Don’t say my name,” oh I understand. Ayaw niya sigurong malaman ng iba na isa siyang Salazar.

Paglingon ko sa table ko, wala na ang pusa. What the f**k?

“Hey, you ok Sky?” Kate asked and gave me water. “Namumutla ka.”

“Don’t worry, I’m fine. I woke up early kasi,”

Uminom ako ng maraming tubig at tinapik ko ang mukha ko.

Is that cat even real?

Pumunta ako sa cr para manghilamos.

Baka si Roxanne to tapos gumamit siya ng magic para maging pusa para maghiganti. Kung ano-ano na ang mga iniisip ko. Graba talaga tong si Roxanne. Hindi lang siya isang gold digger, fake, social climber, isa rin siyang mangkukulam. Kailangan kong mahanap si kuya baka anong mangyari sa kuya ko. Baka mangkukulam rin si Jetro. That’s his cat. O baka sinet up lang ako ni Roxanne. O baka panaginip lang to. Imaginations? Maybe, maybe not.

Roxanne, Jetro, ginugulo niyo na ang isipan ko.

Sana nga panaginip lang ito. Sinampal ko ang akin sarili. It hurts. Nafefeel ko parin ang sakit. So this is not a dream? Iiyak na talaga ako Lord. Anong gagawin ko?

I watched my reflection and saw a black cat beside me. I screamed and immediately ran nang bigla akong nadapa dahil sa sobrang slide ng sahig.

My head hurts, I can’t hear anything and everything went black.