Luna

TREINTA

LUNA | TREINTA

Sebastian leaned against the pillar at the entrance of their house. He pulled out a one stick of cigarette and stuck the cigarette butt between his lips before he started to light it up. He gazed up at the shading orange of the sky as he took a puff from it and slowly blew the smoke into the thin air. He can’t stop thinking about the woman. Well, hindi naman talaga ito nawala sa isip niya. But thinking what she has done, Luna really messed up this time if ever he told Hector about this.

Ilang minuto rin siyang nakatayo roon at nakasandal sa puting pillar. Unti-unti na ring nauupos ang unang sigarilyo na sinindihan niya. He took one last puff from it before he threw the cigarette butt and stepped on it to remove the burning end. Eventually, Sebastian stood up straight and immediately settled his eyes on the gate. The right part of the huge gate opened slightly and he saw Luna entered.

She looked so simple with her loose shirt and jean pairing with sandals. Bagsak man ang buhok nito pero may clip ang buhok nito sa harap. Wala itong dala maliban sa bagpack nitong nakasakbit sa magkabila nitong balikat. Nang tuluyan nitong maisara ang gate, humarap ito sa direksyon ng entrance door. Hindi ito nakagawa ng hakbang nang makita siya nitong nakatayo roon, na hindi inaasahan ang pag-uwi nito.

Pero sa ngayon, hindi muna magiging marupok si Sebastian sa dalaga. He is going to talk to her today. Right here, right now. Nagsindi ulit siya ng isang sigarilyo bago nilapitan ang dalaga. He left inches of space between each other.

He did not speak yet instead he took an enough puff from the cigarette. Napakunot ng noo ang dalaga dahil sa ginawa niya pero bakas ang pagtataka nito sa mukha. Kapag nagyosi kasi siya, matic nang may iniisip o inaalala siya. It is also a sign that he was pissed over something.

“If you are pissed off or worried about something, spare me, Seb. I am not in the mood to hear any s**t today.”

Sebastian acted like he did not hear what she stated. His eyebrows furrowed, looking at her intently. “You did something without the consent of Papa, didn’t you?” He spat off directly. 

Wala siyang panahon na magpaliguy-ligoy ngayon. 

Lalong napakunot ang noo ito sa sinabi niya. “What are you talking ab—”

“Don’t lie to me, Luna. I know you knew what I am talking about.” He argued. 

Mas lalong bumadha sa mukha ni Luna ang pagtataka. Now, seeing her reaction, Sebastian really does not know if she’s telling the truth or putting on an act again. “Seriously, Seb, I don’t know.”

Hindi niya maiwasang mainis sa ginagawa ng dalaga. Hindi niya alam kung ginagawa siya nitong tanga o sadyang tanga lang talaga siya at hindi matanggap na hindi niya ito mabisto? And he was worried about her. Hindi dahil baka mapagalitan ito sa Papa nila kundi nag-aalala siya na baka may mangyaring masama rito kung kumilos ito ng mag-isa na walang hinihinging tulong sa kanila. 

He avoided her gazes as he put the cigarette butt between his thin lips and took a puff. Binuga niya ang usok ng sigarilyo sa hangin bago niya muling nilingon ang dalaga. “You better don’t know, Luna. You better don’t know what I am talking about,” seryoso niyang turan. “Because if not, I won’t stay inside the technical room again. Instead, I will stay behind you just to protect you. So, please, Luna, refrain yourself from doing a solo mission. You are making me worried.”

“Solo mission?” She asked between her giggles. “Seb, tell me honestly, okay? I won’t judge you. Nag-aadik ka ba?”

Nakatangang nadismaya si Sebastian sa tinuran ng dalaga. Sa madramang lintanya niya, iyon lang ang matatanggap niya? Tapos? Siya? Nag-aadik?

“Mukha ba akong nagdu-drugs?” Tinuro niya ang sarili gamit ang kamay niyang may hawak na sigarilyo. “And can’t you see I am worried about you? Tapos ‘yon na lang matatanggap ko sa’yo?”

“Well, to answer your first question, you don’t seem like one but I could say you are almost there.” 

Seryoso ba ‘to o nangto-troll na lang?

“Yes, that’s all what you have got from me. Ang ironic lang kasi ng sinasabi mo. Like, do you really think I would do such a solo mission? You are unbelievable, Seb,” dagdag pa nito. 

“Then, why is your dagger not in your wardrobe?”

“Kasi dinala ko? God, Seb! You know me! Kapag lumalabas ako, lagi kong dinadala ‘yong dagger ko na ‘yon!” sagot nito. “And the eff, Seb?! Pumasok ka sa kwarto ko without my consent?!”

“So, hindi ikaw ‘yong pumatay sa mag-amang Laketon? Hindi rin ikaw ‘yong nakita ko sa balita kanina?” Was he just really hallucinating earlier?

“What?” Hindi makapaniwalang bulalas ni Luna. “You’re unbelievable, Seb. Mag-usap na lang tayo once you are over with your thoughts.”

Iyon na lang ang sinabi sa kanya ng dalaga bago ito naglakad papasok ng bahay. Naiwan siyang nakatayo roon at naguguluhan sa sarili. Unti-unti nang nauupos ang sigarilyong hindi niya masyadong nagamit. Tinapon niya ang sigarilyo at inapakan iyon. Humarap siya sa direksyon na tinungo ni Luna.

Pilit niyang i-analyze ang nakita niya sa balita kanina at ang pag-uusap nila ni Luna kani-kanina lang. Hindi naman nag-deny ang babae sa sinabi niya. There are possibilities that began running inside his head but theoretically speaking, he do not know what is the truth with Luna’s words and not.

And she has a point with her dagger. Kapag lumalabas talaga ito ay lagi nitong dala-dala iyon. May mission man o wala. Mabuti nga at hindi nito katabing natutulog ang patalim eh.

“Nag-aadik nga yata ako,” sabi niya sa sarili bago tuluyang naglakad papasok ng bahay.