4-Where is he?
2261 Words
4-Where is he?
Cahira:
“Cahira!” I was deeply jammed from my reverie as my memory had justified that it was really Travis Perez!
I turned my head to seek for him as to the thought that he once the one shouting my name but I just saw the priest exited and my mother was crying as my father approached me.
“Where is..Travis?” I was unaware about that query, it just my brain isn’t working right now and seemed that I was clearly not well-armored to this situation.
Meeting Travis for the second time around was excluded in my future plan list. I thought I’d successfully forgot that guy—but his abrupt existence today made me realized that I didn’t!
“He just left! My God, Cahira—we just lost everything.” Nanglulumong saad ni dad habang dagling hinanap ng aking mga mata ang anino ni Travis.
No! He’s gone.. Yes, I heard my dad’s statement—we just lost everything! But my stupid brain clearly cared about Travis’ sudden departure. It’s not me when I say sorry but it felt like I really need to ask an apology to that guy!
I totally played him big time.. He can’t just forget that to his memories, can he? Is it the reason why he urged my father to owe him a lot hanggang sa malubog na kami sa utang?
And so—he can take his sweet revenge from me!? Hah! I need to find him! Lumakad ako at iniwan ko sila ni mommy at daddy sa altar while the flashing lights of paparazzi’s cameras almost blinded my eyes!
“Travis!” I screamed when just saw him started his Ferrari’s car and there—left me that awful dust in this awful situation!
“Cahira, this is my fault. I’m sorry..” Nabigla ako ng sabihin iyon ni dad na sumunod pala sa’kin palabas ng simbahan. Hindi ako lumingon sa kanya dahil nandun pa rin ang galit na nararamdaman ko for concealing everything.
“You should have told me, dad—maiintindihan pa siguro ko kayo ni Mommy for doing this to me. But what now? You ruined everything!” Sabi ko saka ako sumampa sa aking big bike and annoyingly started the engine.
Travis Perez, you can’t just turn your back at me! My rebellious mind yelled and was determined to face him sooner or later! I started driving and now I looked like a pathetic-angry-bride who was left at the altar by her groom!
If my parents couldn’t tell me the truth—he should have! Yes—I badly wanted to know about my father’s debt and how definite he was for telling me that he did buy every property that we have!
And what about that day when you fool him, Cahira? Will you brought it up and say your first ever sorry!? Naglalaro sa isipan ko ang tanong na yun! What if this is all planned because of what I did to him?
Flashback:
“Congrats, girl! Eeh.. You really looked good last night with your Ice Prin—“ Ella started teasing me when we ate our snacks at the canteen together with Faye and Zara.
“I don’t wanna remember, please!” I halted my friend’s loquacious mouth as I placed my burger on the plate. Nawala ‘ata ang gana kong kumain!
My God, huh! What I did last night was shameful! I really did let that Travis danced with me—jeez!
C’mon! Look at that guy!
Nasa isang sulok rin ito ng mesa sa canteen at balik na naman ang malaking eye-glasses nito wearing that loose polo and that number of books that he tediously rendered his time—so weird!
“Okay, okay—kunwari hindi ka kinilig and was not surprised how good looking he was last night pero heto ka—pasulyap-sulyap sa kanya. Hmp!” I annoyingly glared at Zara’s face as the two girls hilariously laughed.
“Mga sira! I wasn’t and clearly didn’t see it last night coz for me he’s still that lame-limp-weird-neird-baduy-Travis-Perez, okay?”
The bell rang and we immediately stood up for the next subject when unluckily, I really need to pass beside Travis’ table dahil malapit ito sa pintoan ng canteen.
“Ahem! Hi Travis! ” Sira talaga itong si Faye! She obviously wanted to caught Travis attention nang nasa table na kami ni Travis and there—he caught me staring at up him.
I was unaware that I already coaxed myself in finding those two things that I did find him..attractive!
Sira ka rin, Cahira! Ano ba!? I instantly reprimanded myself as I sneered at him when he smiled at me—Eeww!
“H-Hi, Aira. Congratulations for being the campus queen last night.” May pahabol pa itong sabi at kunwari ay nahihiya pa talaga huh?
Doesn’t he know that he is indeed shameless!? Ba’t ba ang lakas ng loob nitong makipag-usap sa’kin when last night—I was just caught up by two huge stones that’s why I chose to dance with him!
It meant nothing—it was absolutely nothing! Kaya ‘wag siyang mag-ilusyon hanggang langit dahil baka sapakin ko nalang siya bigla ngayon at ng humagalpak pabagsak sa lupa!
“That’s because of you, Travis! We really do hope that you’ll change your style. You know, it’s such a waste hiding your gorgeousness behind those lame eyeglasses.” Ano ba ‘tong si Ella! Hindi pa talaga umabante sa paglakad, pati na rin sina Faye at Zara nakuha pang kumindat sa’kin!
Hayst! Kung hindi ko lang kayo kaibigan, mga bruha kayo!
“Hey, of course not! It wasn’t because of him, huh!” I reacted and halted. Hinarap ko ulit sila at lalo kong pinanggigilang buhagan ng aking nagbabagang tingin ang payat at baduy nasi Travis!
Oh my God! I can’t believe I let him danced with me and gave myself that absurd chance to notice his handsomeness and those things that I was attracted the most!
I just hate this man for being Travis Perez!
“..and you Travis—I don’t wanna see you surrounding us especially when you totally knew my existence. ‘Wag kang masyadong assuming dahil sa napagbigyan kitang isayaw ako—para ka ng nakalutang sa langit? Jeez, wake up! I think you awfully dreaming too much coz if you don’t—I’ll push your limp head back to the reality and that filthy ground where you belong!”
Mahaba kong sabi na ikanagulat nito dahil I was screaming at him right now. Maraming studyanteng kumakain sa canteen noon and shown varied reactions.
“That was rude, Cahira.. Oh, poor guy!” Bulong ng tatlo habang nakasunod sa’kin as I marched away. I felt that my blood is rushing to its boiling point!
“At kayong tatlo—I don’t like the idea that you all implying to me! I hate Travis Perez, okay? I hate that baggy guy!” Singhal ko talaga sa kanilang tatlo. I really don’t like when they teased me to that guy!
I don’t wanna be disrupted by just one night ice-prince appearance of that man! Hindi siya ang magpapagulo sa isipan ko tuwing gabi—No, it will never be!
He’s nothing but a lame man!
“Hi, girls! Guess what?” That was Ella.
I, Zara, and Faye were seating at the bench while watching at my long-time crush kicking that soccer ball. That was a week after that screaming and yelling happened at the canteen and thank God—my friends stopped teasing me to that Travis.
And infairness, hindi ko na siya napapansin sa school namin! Good! Pero, paano ko nalaman na hindi na siya parang bubuyog sa’kin?
Yes—of course! I was secretly keen about his presence na baka nandyan lang siya gaya ng dati—hiding at the back of that old Narra tree or perhaps seating on the bench and pretending that he was seriously studying!
Thank God, really for he clearly tolerates my warning last week. Pero, ano to? Ba’t isang linggo na akong naiinis sa sarili ko dahil pilit tinitingnan ng mga mata ko ang mga sulok ng paaralan where I used to see him! Jesus!
I’m crazy! Hindi kaya, he transferred already? Hmp! Okay then, I’ll ask my auntie later in private!
“What?” I tediously asked back as I was kicking my feet. Well, I thought I could entertain myself by watching Nick Ramirez playing soccer.
“Travis Perez—“
“Where!? Where is he!?” Bigla ko nalang nasambit na ikinagulat ng tatlo. I even unconsciously stood up and roamed my eyes around the perimer—but none.
I felt a heavy heart! Ano bang nangyayari sa’kin!?
“Cahira, bali-balita sa school he’s sick and he needs to have an immediate operation.. Kaya nga nag-lagay ng tulong-barya ang lahat ng mga advisers sa’ting mga rooms.” I was destructed by the news that Ella laid. Napaupo ako ulit sa bench.
“Oh, poor guy!” Zara exclaimed as I felt the weight of my heart hearing the news.
“Kaya pala he wasn’t showing up these days..” Faye said.
“A-Anong sakit niya, Ella? I mean..o-operahan siya at nangangailangan siya ng tulong ngayon?” I was totally felt guilty dahil may sakit pala yung taong parati ko nalang binabastos at inaaway!
“I heard, he had a heart problem.. Inatake raw last week kaya hindi na nakapasok.” Oh my God! I was shocked at the moment at kusa nalang tumayo ang mga paa ko at tumakbo palayo.
Tinawag ako ng mga kaibigan ko but I couldn’t hear them dahil papunta na akong parking lot. Gusto kong puntahan si Travis at humingi ng despensa!
Paano kung..kung ako ang dahilan kong ba’t inatake siya sa puso? I’ll persuade my dad to help him! Maraming kilalang doctor si dad—that I could ease my guilt in the very least!
“You sure, this is your house friend?” My father asked as we parked across this old-Spanish house. Gabi na at dinala ko dito si Daddy Ricky after I fetch him in our company.
“Yes, I’m sure. I guess I need to knock.” Sabi ko at bumaba ako ng sasakyan at sumunod rin si dad. I felt the rush beating of my heart—I really wanted to help Travis now.
“Tao po! Tao po!” I yelled as the gate when there’s a man approached us.
“Magandang gabi po—is Travis Perez there? H-How’s he?” Sabi ko and I really felt nervous at hindi ko alam kong bakit at kung para saan iyon. Maybe, I was excited in certain to meet and see him again and yet, scared kung baka ano ng nangyari sa kanya!
“Lumipad na po sila ng mama niya sa ibang bansa at ‘di naman sinabi kong saan.” He went abroad!? Bahagyang may kurot akong naramdaman sa dibdib ko.
That very same feeling that I lost my dearest lola—ganun ang nararamdaman ko ngayon parang ang bigat at nasasaktan ako! Bakit ba!?
“Sabi kasi ng anak ko na nangangailan ng agarang tulong ang kaibigan niya—so we went here to give his family our financial assistance.” My father said dahil bigla nalang naputol ang matabil kong dila sa mga sandaling iyon.
“Ay, ganun po ba? Pero nakaalis na po sila, eh.. Ewan ko bas a batang yun—pinagsabihan na ng mama niya na mag-homeschooling nalang kasi hindi kaya ng puso niya ang environment sa labas—ayun, hindi nakinig! Inatake na naman noong isang linggo!”
Oh my God! I always shouted at him, yell and cursed him! Jesus..I don’t know na may sakit pala ito sa puso!
“I-Inatake na naman po siya?” I just repeated and thought about the last day I told him those harsh and rude words.
“Ewan ko sa batang yun—matigas rin talaga ang ulo. Pero gusto talagang mag-aral sa labas eh pwede naman sa loob lang bahay kaya ayun! Lihim palang umibig na at pinaiyak lang pala—kaya hindi nakayanan ng puso at inatake siya.”
Mahabang saysay ng lalake at para akong bumalik sa mg araw na binigyan niya ako ng rose at sinira koi yon sa dibdib niya, when I ran away that prom night coz I wasn’t expecting it was him at galit na galit ako sa kanya, at noong pinagsalitaan ko siya ng masasakit na salita!
He was in love at me and I caused him his grief kaya ito inatake! Oh my! H-hindi ko sinasadya!
Oh, Travis! I’m so sorry.. I felt saddened turned away with a heavy heart. Kasalanan ko kung ba’t siya inatake sa puso.. Hindi ko alam na may sakit pala siya!
And he’s already gone.. I wish I could forget you easily and to all misdeeds I did to you, Travis.. I really wish—you’ll forgive me one day..
- Writer
