Dark Phoenix #2: Echoes Of Lies

CHAPTER 14

Chapter 14

Ipit kami sa gitna ng traffic kay inilabas ko na lang ang cellphone ko para mag surf sa socmed ko. I visited first my Facebook at nang walang mahita ay naglogged out ako at in-exit ang application. Sumunod ay IG, I viewed some of the story of my favorite idols. My most favorite is The Mixtapes.  Bago pa lang sila, parang sa mga Korean idol na trainee pa lang pero but they are attest releasing some of their music. Covers and originals. I can say that they are good. Kita talaga sa mata nila ang passion nila sa ginagawa nila. I was once dreamed to become an idol but its not really for me.

Nakakausad pa lang kami nang magring ang cellphone niya na nasa dashboard. Nilingon niya lang iyon at pinagpatuloy ang pagda-drive. The ringing stopped but seconds later it rang again. Inis na itinabi niya ang kotse sa gilid ng makalabas kami sa traffic at sinagot ang tawag.

"Oh?"

Natahimik siya at parang nakikinig sa kausap. He muttered a curse and ended the call. Basta na lang niya ipinatong ang cellphone sa hita ko at pinaandar muling ang kotse ng may pag mamadali kaya mabilis kaming nakarating sa bahay namin. Ramdam ko ang pagkakataranta niya kaya hindi na lang ako nagsalita at tinanggal ang seatbelt ko at tahimik na lumabas. Sa pinag-upuan ko iniwas ang cellphone niya.

"Cassandra," he called me "Pupunta ako dito mamaya at mag-uusap tayo." Tipid na lang akong tumango at sinara ang pinto at pinanood siyang umalis.

I sighed and entered our house and as usual the deafening silence of our house is really creepy.

"Ma'am, anong gusto niyong pananghalian?"

"Busog pa po ako.

" Sige po."

Diretso ako sa bathroom para maglinis mg katawan. After hours of roaming around the mall, I felt so stinky and dirty. My sweats are sticky. I took a half bath for almost 30 minutes 'cause I'm so bored! Laurence is not contacting me, yet, I don't wanna disturb her 'cause she's maybe doing something like training.

Hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog pala ako at nagising lang dahil sa ring ng cellphone ko na nadala ko pa pala dito. I struggled reaching my phone till the ringing went dead and ring again for I don't know how many times. I almost fell my phone when I saw the incoming call came from. Why would Jin call me now?

"Hmm?" Pabebe ako.

"You home?" Mukha ba akong bahay?

I chuckled lowly because of my crazy thoughts. I cleared my throat so he won't notice that I'm like a crazy, chuckling alone. Baka ma-turn off.

"Oo. 'Di ba hinatid mo ako?" Lutang ba siya?

Siya naman ang narinig kong umubo na parang nasamid.

"Ampota Jin! Pabebe kang tangina ka!"

Napangiwi ako dahil doon. It was Lexus, he's with his friends.

"Shit! I'm sorry 'bout that."

"That's...that's fine. Kasama mo si kuya?"

"Yup, I'm w— Jin! Yung babae sa kwarto mo hinahanap ka! Nakahubad pa!" I heard some noises from the other line, some said 'ouch' and 'aray'.

"Fuck you, Haru! Just fuck you!"

Siguro ay naglakad siya palayo sa mga kaibigan niya dahil paunti unti ay humihina ang mga tawanan at boses ng mga ito na naghaharutan. Ilang segundo pa ang lumipas ay tahimik na ang background niya. We are both quiet waiting who will talk first.

"Hey, still there?"

Mahina ang boses niya, masarap sa pandinig ko. It was soft but a bit of husky that sent shivers down my spine. I can stay up all night if he was the one who will talk to me through phone call. I want him to be my late night talk. I want his voice every hour like this.

"Hmm-mm..." It was lazy hummed from me still feeling the shivers he gave me.

"What are you doing?"

Maybe he heard the water from my bathtub when I change my sitting position. Inayos ko ang pagkakasandal ko at parang baliw sa kangingiti habang pinakikinggan ang ang paghinga ni Jin sa kabilang linya.

"I'm taking a half bath. 'Wag mo muna ibababa. I'm just gonna rinse and wash the foam away."

I heard him gasped but not that loud, siguro ay inilayo ang cellphone sa kaniya.

"O-okay. I'll...uhh...wait." matamis ang binitawan kong ngiti kahit alam kong hindi niya nakikita

"Thank you!"

Lumabas ako sa shower room at ibinaba sa sink ang cellphone ko bago nagmamadaling bumalik para magbanlaw ng katawan. But before that I put the loudspeaker on. I emptied the tub and clean it before washing myself with the shower. I wore my bathrobe and get my phone excitedly with a very wide smile plastered on my lips. Like what he said, he waited and the call is still ongoing.

"Hey!" nanlaki pa ang mga mata ko ng ma-realize ang excitement sa boses ko, mabilis akong pinamulahan doon.

"Are you done?" Paos ang boses nito, he's like struggling over something...

"You okay?"

"Huh?" A long paused "I am!" I giggled because of the panicked in his voice.

"Well, I'm not done, yet. I'm still naked underneath my robe."

Sinabi ko iyon na parang normal lang. Of course its normal! He asked me if I'm done and I just answered him.

"Jesus! Why are you so fucking innocent? God, its killing me." I think it was a whisper followed by his heavy sighs

I slipped on my spaghetti strap top and baby blue colored pajama before I took my phone again and turned off the loudspeaker.

"I'm all done!"

"Uhuh. You should sleep now. Call you again tomorrow." I pouted but before I even tap the end call I heard him cursed. "Fuck! I need to do something with you!" He doesn't sound mad but... frustrated? Yeah, I think that's the word.

Kahit bitin sa naging pag-uusap ay may ngiti pa rin ako sa labi bago nakatulog. I was in a dreamland when a disturbing ring ruined it. Who's going to call at this time? Its still early for Pete's sake!

Iminulat ko ang mata ko at kinuha ang cellphone sa ibabaw ng bedside cabinet bago pa man masagot ang tawag ay namatay na ito. Its from Laurence. I waited for another call from her but nothing came. Oh! I won't bother calling her 'cause I know she will call again later.

Hindi na rin naman ako makakatulog kaya bumangon na ako. I took a quick cold shower to awaken my sleeping senses to start my day.

While having my breakfast I received a text message from Jin. That early, huh.

From: Jin
Call Laurence. I forgot to tell you about it last night 'cause you're disturbing my calmness. Go and call my reckless cousin. Will talk to you later and take care.
-Jin San Jose

Kahit simpleng take care lang ay nagdulot iyon ng kakaibang kilig sa akin. Parang nananaginip pa ako though I am already wide awake. Nagdedaydream na ako nang maalala na dapat ay tatawagan ko si Laurence.

I tried calling her for about 2 or 3 times and massage 10 times! Ni isa sa mga iyon ay wala siyang sinagot. Buong araw akong naghintay sa tawag niya dahil baka nagpapahinga na iyon. Hanggang sa magdilim ang kalangitan ay nakatunganga pa rin ako sa cellphone at naghihintay sa tawag niya.

"Ma'am, anong gusto niyo sa dinner?"

"Kahit ano na lang po." I smiled at the maid and back to my phone again.

Nakaramdam ako ng pagkauhaw kaya tumayo ako para kumuha ng tubig sa fridge ng magring ang cellphone ko. Halos maibagsak ko pa ang baso ng ibitang iyon. Laurence is calling!

"Oh God! You answered! How are you?"

Really? You answered kahit ako ang sumagot? Nababaliw na ako. We talked a bit and she told me that someone took ate Enna again! Her hunched is the same kidnapper who took ate Enna before. I don't know what really happened to ate Enna pero hindi na siya naglalabas sa kwarto niya ng makabalik siya dati. She was scared and trembling! Naaawa ako sa kaniya pero wala naman akong magawa. Ren was the only one who can calm her ang pit her yo sleep. Sabi ni Ren ay nagiging maayos na ulit si ate Enna then this! Oh God! What's happening now?