Chapter 11
1924 Words
Chapter 11
Nagulat si Lucas nang bigla siyang kalabitin ni Aura sa likod saka di ito makagalaw sa kaniyang kinatatayuan.
Hinatak niya si Lucas pa-upo sa isang bench at inabutan ito ng isang chips na kaniyang paborito. Di ito makapaniwala at natatawa nalang si Aura na kumuha ng kaniyang cellphone.
Piniktyuran niya ito na tulala at tiningnan ang litrato. Tuwang-tuwa naman ito sa litrato ni Lucas, dahil kahit tulala ito ay napaka-guwapo parin.
“Tingnan mo oh, para kang ewan.” Pinakita nito ang kaniyang picture at inagaw sa kaniya ang cellphone.
“Ang pangit ko jan!” pagwewelga nito at natawa lang si Aura.
“Akin na ‘yan, ipang story ko lang sa i********:. Ang cute mo kaya dito.”
Habang abala ang dalawa sa pag kukuwentuhan ay natapos naman si Sabrina sa kaniyang binibili at sa sobrang haba ng pila, uminom ito ng juice na kaniyang binili.
Hinanap nito ang puwesto ni Lucas na kaniyang pinagtatayuan kanina lang. Kumunot naman ang noo nito dahil nandoon sa kaniya ang bag nito.
Panay linggat si Sabrina at nang lumakad ito sa tinambayan ni Lucas, sa di kalayuan meron itong natatanaw na lalaking may babaeng kausap.
The smile and the body is like Lucas, kahit di klaro ang mukha nito na naka-upo sa bench na merong isang babaeng kasamang nagkukulitan.
Lumakad papunta sa kanila si Sabrina at nang mapansin ito ni Aura ay bigla siyang natigilan saka tumingin sa bag na hawak-hawak ni Lucas.
“Lucas may chix ka pala ngayon ahh… di ka nagsabi!” medyo mataas na boses nitong sabi kay Lucas at umusog si Lucas sa kaniyang upuan.
Nasa gitna ito ng dalawang babaeng kaibagan ngayong unang araw ng pasukan.
“Hi, I am Sabrina.” She smiles and greets Aura at the same time.
“Ako nga pala si Aura Hilde, third year kana rin ba?” Tanong nito at tumango lang ang isa.
“Yeah same with Lucas, magkaklase kami.” Sagot naman nito kay Aura.
Aura paused for a moment and familiarized the tone of Sabrina.
“Wait, parang familiar ang tono mo.” Sabi ni Aura habang si Lucas ay abala lang ng pagkain ng kaniyang pabotitong tsittsirya.
“Ahhh... taga Iloilo kaba?” tanong nito at tumango lang.
“Oo.” Natatawa nitong sagot at tinapik ni Aura si Lucas.
“Di mo sinabi na taga Iloilo—“
“Bat ko sasabihin eh nag-uusap kayong dalawa, parang tanga lang.” Naiiritang sagot nito at patuloy nalang sa pagkain.
“May meeting raw ang mga instructors and professors ngayon. Baka uuwi na ako ngayon.” Nag-iisip padin si Sabrina kung uuwi ba talaga siya o hindi.
Habang nakatingin lang ito sa gilid ng mga mata ni Lucas ay parang may iba siyang nararamdaman dito.
“Bakla, alis tayo. Punta tayo sa condo mo.” Pangungulit ni Aura at nakakunot namang noong nagsalita si Sabrina.
“Bakla? Sino, si Lucas?” nanlaki naman ang mga mata ni Lucas sa pagsabi niya at ngumiti ito ng hilaw kay Sabrina.
“Ahhh… si Lucas ba? Bawal yan mag bakla, papaluin siya ni Madam pag ganun. Tawag ko lang sa kaniya. Ang guwapo kasi ng kaibigan ko parang babae na ewan.”
Sabrina agrees to her because when she is looking at him; she cannot deny the fact that Lucas is somewhat handsome and beautiful at the same time.
“Sige, nice meeting you. Alis na kami, alas-diyes nang umaga at wala parin akong nakikitang mga teacher baka mamayang hapon na ang klase.” Ika ni Aura habang naglilibot ang mga mata sa paligid.
Lucas and Sabrina also wandered their eyes and they agree, no teachers are roaming around the corridors.
“Aalis na kami ha, see you mamayang hapon.” Tumayo na si Lucas at binigay ang bag ni Sabrina sa kaniya.
“T-Thanks.” Nauutal nitong pasasalamat at ngumiti lang si Lucas saka umalis.
THE TWO walks up to the Robinson’s Place Manila to buy some lunch. While they are on the line Aura breaks their silence.
“Bakla, sino yung guardian mo na iyon?” pangungulit nito at di sumagot si Lucas habang tinawag na rin ang kanilang numero. Lumakad si Lucas at inabot ang kanilang inorder.
Nang makalabas ang dalawa ay nagtanong naman si Lucas sa kaniya.
“Akala ko roon ka lang mag-aaral at di ka mag ttransfer?”
“Ahhh yun ba? Naki-usap ako kay Mama saka gusto rin ni Madam na rito ako para raw may kasama ka sa school. Kaso di tayo magka klase hayst!” naka simangot nitong sagot habang nakatanaw si Aura ng isang magandang damit mula sa Oxygen.
“Wait lang.” pagpapa-alam nito at iniwan siya na bitbit-bitbit ang pagkain nilang dalawa.
“Punta ka nga dito. Ang ganda ng damit oh.” Lucas walks with a blank face.
He remembered that Xaviar is in the condominium, thinking if he eats his breakfast.
“Bat ka nag b-blush?” She asked while choosing some clothes for herself.
“Wala.” Matipid nitong sagot.
“Wala ako halos damit na dinala ehh… sabi kasi ni Madam at Mama dito na ako bumili sa Manila. Saka ang hirap isekreto na dito ako mag-eenroll, mabuti at sikat si Madam. Kung hindi dahil sa kaniya di ako makakapasok.”
Aura gets her money and pays it to the counter.
They both go outside the mall and walks up to the building taking some pictures.
“Ako naman, lugi ako sayo.” Pagrereklamo ni Lucas at kinuha ni Aura ang cellphone nito.
“Sandali lang, jan ka pumuwesto.” Habang kinukunan ni Aura ito ng ilang picture ay bigla siyang napahinto.
Nagtaka naman si Lucas at natulala si Aura.
“Guwapo ba ako jan kaya natulala ka?” Lucas askes confidently and she looks at his back.
“L-Lucas a-a-ang guwapo oh!” Lucas doesn’t mind it and ordered her to take some pictures.
Nang matapos na ito ay tiningnan ni Aura ang mga pictures at abala sa pagpost. Di natiis ni Lucas na hindi tumingin sa likod hanggang wala siyang makita kundi ang McDonalds na nasa likod niya sa kabilang kanto.
He sighed and they both walk up to his apartment.
Lucas gets his key then inserted it to the doorknob. The door opens and the eyes of Aura mesmerized the view from the entrance.
“Wow,” that is her reaction seeing the big condominium of Lucas; he walks inside, while Aura follows him.
“Close the door.” He ordered and she immediately closed it.
“Ang bango ng kape saan yan?” tanong niya at tinuro ni Aura ang coffee maker.
“LAGOT KA! KAYA PALA NAG REREKLAMO SI MADAM BAKIT ANG DAMING KALTAS SA BANK ACCOUNT NIYA.”
“Gusto ko yun ehh. Saka ko na babayaran si Mom pag may trabaho na ako.” Hilaw na ngiti nito at binato siya ni Aura ng lalagayan nito ng kaniyang gamit.
“TAKE IT EASY!”
XAVIAR COPPER goes to the Diamond Hotel when he receives the message from the company.
Agad siyang naligo at nagbihis ng kaniyang magandang damit. It is quarter to nine already. Buttoning his polo in front of the mirror and fixing his silky hair.
Xaviar Copper locked the door and walks up to the Diamond Hotel. Upon arriving at the entrance, he is being guide by the guard.
“Sir, doon lang po sa front office.”
Lumakad ito papuntang front office at agad naman siyang binate ng isang babaeng naka duty.
“Goodmorning sir, how may I help you?” tanong nito at pinakita niya ang text message.
“Oh, ikaw pala si Xaviar Copper. Sir, doon lang po sa opisina ng aming head human resource.” Tinuro sa kaniya ang opisina at naglakad ito papunta doon.
Nakangiti naman itong pumasok sa opisina at nag-umipsa na ang pag-interview sa kaniya.
The interview takes some minutes; he cannot deny the fact that he is the apple of the eyes of the human resource manager.
Xaviar is handsome and fits to be in the spot of the office image. His attractive looks and broad shoulders make good first impressions.
“Thank you Sir.” He heartedly said and the manager gets his resume.
“You can start working next week. I will still make a report to the office.” The manager smiles and shakes hands to him.
He walks cheerfully and leaves the hotel’s premises. He sighed and looked at the beautiful sky.
“Thanks God for this day.” He even texted Madam Lou.
To: Tita
[Tita, nag-apply na ako. Next week na raw ako pwede mag umpisa.]
He walks silently and when he reached the next street, his phone vibrated.
He glanced at his phone, when he get read noticed that it is the reply from Madam Lou.
He opens his phone and read the message.
From: Tita
[That is good. Sa first week mo tutok ka muna kay Lucas. I will send another allowance next two weeks, ipatipid mo muna siya.]
He sighed reading the reply from Lucas’ mom.
To: Tita
[Wala naman akong problema sa kaniya, mabait naman po si Lucas.]
After that, Madam Lou doesn’t reply because she is heading to the court for a hearing.
Xaviar looks at his watch and it is already ten in the morning.
I wonder if that spoiled brat ate.
He scratches his head and looks at the entrance of the McDonalds. He is thinking if he will buy some foods for him. Few minutes later, he decided to go inside.
He fall in line calmly and chooses on the board menu. He twitched his arch lips when he decided to buy some foods for the spoiled brat of Madam Lou Patterson.
He buys a coffee and takes out the rest. After he gets it, he seats on the chair beneath the window while sipping some hot coffee.
He opened his cellphone and go to his photos to look at their family picture.
He nearly cried remembering the tragedy three years ago. He breaths deeply and turn off the screen of his phone.
Xaviar has a sister and a brother, but unfortunately, they left him alone. He bit his lower lip then blows a heavy warm breath.
He remembers that when they celebrated his graduation, that is the time he loss everything he have.
Even the family of his father from America is saying that he needs to go there, but he chose not to.
Every year he goes to that place to visit and give some fresh flowers from Baguio. This year will be their fourth anniversary. He makes an absent when that day came.
October 10, 2016 is the worst day for him. His family goes all the way to Philippines just to support him then celebrated again his graduation. Nevertheless, he is pleased that they are there even it is late.
He sighed thinking about it again, sipping coffee from the disposable cup.
Napalunok nalang ito at hinawakan ang kaniyang mukha. If he could turn back time, he would go back there, to the place that they should not go.
He is the only survivor because he have his own car and his family goes first leaving his to buy some liquor in the near store before they will go to Benquet.
He even say goodbye to them when the engine of his father’s car starts.
He is busy picking some liquor to mix; he is a hospitality management bachelor degree holder so he is good at it.
Until he drives his car to go after them, he sees some people on the road.
The next thing he knew, the car of his father falls at the cliff leaving them all dead inside.
Xaviar cannot eat and falls to depression since that day, he cannot even look at the faces of his family members. He cried all day and even didn’t eat.
He snaps from the past and gets his ordered food to go to the Crane Condominium.
Nang makarating na ito ay nagtaka siya bakit hindi naka lock ang pinto. Dahan-dahan niyan itong pinihit at nagulat siya nang biglang bumukas ang pintuan.
Ang dalawang tao sa loob ay nagtaka rin bakit ang pintuan ay bumukas nang wala naman sa kanila ang nagbukas nito.
Lucas doesn’t care and place their ordered food on the table. Until, the girl seating on the couch covers his mouth and almost scream.
“BAKLA! SIYA YUNG NAKITA KO KANINA! ANONG GINAGAWA NITO RITO?!”
- Writer
