Sisihin Ang Bagyo | Wattys 2018 Winner

Kabanata 15 - Hide, Seek, and Something in between

Kabanata 15

Hide, Seek, and Something in between

He's not here. I went to his room to check on him, but he was no longer here. The bed was neatly folded, his clothes were no longer in the closet, his toiletries are missing, but his scent was still here. Traitor. Sabi niya mag uusap kami ngayon, pero bigla nalang siyang umalis ng walang paalam.

I went down and saw Mom and Nikolai quietly having their breakfast. Nikolai's eyes were puffy and his nose red looking like he cried when Keith went away.

Nang namataan ako ni Mom ay mahina siyang ngumiti sa akin. "Kaaalis lang niya, dear. Breakfast?"

Napayuko ako, ganoon ba kadaling basahin ng expression ko? Umupo na ako at sinabayan silang kumain.

He's not in school.

He's gone again.

"Seriously, I am getting tired with both of your faces." Mataray na sambit ni Rachel ng makalapit kami sa kanilang table.

"Look, Rachel, we just wanna know---"

"Where's Keith?" Nag taas siya ng kilay at sumilay ang mapang asar niyang ngiti. "Damned if I know."

Sabrina Reese took a deep breath. "You said you know everything in this school---"

"Keith is not in this school, is he? Look, if you lost the guy twice he doesn't want to be found the next time, trust me." She waved her hand dismissively.

"Was that based on experience?" Sabrina Reese bites back and Rachel just glared at her.

Pinutol ko ang irapan ng dalawa. "Baka may kakilala kang may alam kung nasaan siya."

Binalingan ako ni Rachel. "Yeah, ask Clark. Madalas silang tumambay kasama ang mga frat boys after class."

"He's friends with those crackheads?" I asked.

"You know what? I actually feel bad for you..." Maarte niyang tinapik ang aking braso. "Yes honey, turns out he's not the shiny boyfriend that you thought he is."

A surge of mixed emotions filled me but one thing was stronger than the others, betrayal. I asked Clark but he said the last time he saw Keith was with Migz. Migz said that Keith mentioned about getting a job at an antique bookstore but he didn't know which one. Assuming that it was a bookstore nearby, I started looking, but only on weekends because I can't afford to skip class.

"Why are we at an antique bookstore in Tagaytay, again?" Sabrina Reese said, dusting her fingers with her skirt. She kept skimming the old books on the shelves while I kept looking for any staff. This place is like the opening of a horror movie. Dark, dusty, and possibly termite-filled.

"Ah excuse me, dito ba nag tatrabaho si Keith Andrada?" I asked the guy on the top of the ladder, reaching a book. Napayuko siya at kamuntikan nang mahulog ng umuga ang kahoy na hagdan.

Nang makababa ang lalaki ay inayos niya ang rim ng kanyang salamin. "Andrada...Keith? He said his name was Steve. Yung matangkad na gwapo? Light brown eyes. Crazy sharp jaw. Stoical. Problematic." He continued.

"Yes! Siya nga yun!" Parehas kaming na excite ni Sabrina Reese, after two weeks we finally have a lead.

"Yeah, wala siya dito." Nag lakad palayo ang lalaki at bumalik sa likod ng cashier counter. "Ako lang mag-isa nag tatrabaho dito, kita niyo naman."

Parehas kaming napatanga sa lalaki. What the hell does he mean by that?

"B-but you know him..."