𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐒 𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄 (Completed)

Chapter 4 - Absent

"I know Lucas. Magkaklase kami sa ilang minor subjects last year," Sabi ni Gab, he's sitting right next to Jake and Angel. I'm sitting across them. Nakaupo ang mom and dad ko sa magkabilang sopa. Sa bahay kami nag-uusap.

"I saw him, maybe couple of weeks ago, nagtatambay around the bus stop," Pinagpatuloy ni Gab, "I didn't pay much attention to it. I thought he was just waiting for someone or something. Ngayon ko lang naisip na, maybe...maybe he was waiting for Van."

"That's weird. I've never seen him kapag nag-aantay ako sa bus stop. Yung gabing yun lang talaga na nakita ko siyang sumakay ng bus." Sabi ko.

"Which means he could be following you for days and you didn't even know it." Sabi ni Dad. He understands Filipino but couldn't really speak it fluently.

"Mom, what if he still follows me if babalik na ako sa school?" I didn't mind being vulnerable in front of my closest friends. Kahit matapang ako sa paningin nila, natatakot parin ako sa mga ganitong bagay. "I have been absent for three days straight na, I can't miss anymore school days. Tapos may deadline pa ako bukas."

"Tita, Tito, can't we take any legal action?" Nag-aalalang tanong ni Angel.

"We already considered that, pero wala tayong malakas na ebindensya na sinusundan niya talaga si Savannah." Sabi ni Mom at napabuntong-hininga.

"We can hire a new driver to fetch Savannah from school. We can just buy a secondhand car that they can use. Or they can just use our car and we can just commute to work." Sabi ni Dad kay Mom.

"No Dad, you don't have to do this." Nahiya na ako. They don't have to spend that much para lang mahatid-sundo ako sa school. 

"Well, maybe we can help," Sabi ni Angel. "May sasakyan po si Jake." Sabi niya sabay turo kay Jake.

"Guys, 'wag na—"

"Tito, Tita, Van, gusto ko talagang tumulong," Sabi ni Jake, "But I have responsibilities too. Hindi po pareho ang schedule namin sa school. I mostly have morning classes while late na mostly ang classes ni Van. I also have to fetch my little brothers sa school nila." Tumingin siya sa akin, "Van, I hope you're not taking this the wrong way."

"No Jake, you really don't have to explain yourself," I appreciate Jake's honesty. Hindi ko rin gusto na I have to live through the guilt na nagiging pabigat ako sa kanila because it might eventually break our friendship. "Naiintindihan kita. Please don't worry about it, okay?"

Mahinang tumango si Jake.

"Kausapin nalang kaya natin 'tong Lucas na 'to." Sabi ni Mom.

"Mom, ayoko ng eskandalo."

"So what do you want me to do?" Napataas ang kanyang boses.

"Lucy, calm down." Sabi ni Dad. Tumingin siya sa akin, "Sav, I will just fetch you from school, okay? I can adjust my schedule at work until everything comes back to normal. We'd have to confront this Lucas guy eventually. Let us take care of this, okay Honey? You don't have to blame yourself."

Tumango ako ng mahina in total surrender. Hindi ko na kinotra si Dad. I hugged him ng pagkahigpit-higpit and felt so much safer in his embrace.

Sinunod namin ang plano ni Dad. I went to school the next day. Everything felt normal and safe. Sinamahan ako ng aking mga kaibigan kahit saan ako pumunta inside the campus as long as bakante ang schedule nila. Hindi rin nila ako iniiwan habang naghihintay ako kay Dad.

I have my Illustrations class the next day. Kaklase ko si Lucas dito. I prepared myself kung sakaling lalapitan niya ako. I don't have my barkada in this class so mag-isa lang ako. Kinakabahan ako but I have a great support system na naniniwala sa akin, so I have to believe in myself too.

Hindi sumipot si Lucas sa klase, baka absent? He didn't show up even two, three, five, seven sessions after that. Did he drop this class? Maybe he's suspended? O baka na-expel siya? I don't know but I'm glad hindi ko na siya nakita sa klase, at kahit sa buong campus.

Today is the first day in a long time when everything is absolutely back to normal. Hindi na ako ihahatid-sundo ni Dad. Hindi parin ako pinabayaan ng friends ko. Even my parents call or text me kapag pauwi na ako. 

Huminto ang bus sa harap ko, pumasok ako pagbukas ng pintuan nito. I still remember the feeling nung naghanap ako ng upuan at nakita ko si Lucas sa pagharap ko. It was a bad memory, but it's nothing but a memory now. I don't have to hold unto it. It's not gonna happen again.

Habang humakbang na ako papunta sa likod ng bus, I saw a familiar face sitting in his usual seat. He raised his head when he noticed me na napatigil  sa kinatatayuan ko at tumititig sa kanya. He's wearing his earphones.

It was Trevor.