(FHS #4) Tired of running away from her nightmares, Kirsten returns to Filimon Heights to make peace and start anew. Little does she know, returning has its own consequences. Deadly ones.
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"Hey!" I beamed at the sight of Magno sitting in the hotel lobby.
He smiled as he stood up but something about the look on his eyes made me feel sad. Perhaps it was because I know that deep inside, he's in so much pain. God knows where he finds the strength to fake a smile.
"Kanina ka pa?" I tried to sound cheery, as much as possible I wanted to keep up with his happy pretensions.
He shook his head as he raised a large brown bag. He looked a little nervous as he said, "for your parents."
"Nag-abala ka pa." Natawa na lang ako.
"Ayoko rin naman humarap sa mga magulang mo nang walang dala," natatawa niya namang giit.
Bigla akong kinabahan sa sinabi ni Magno. Napakurap-kurap pa ako at bahagyang nahigit ang hininga ko. "B-bakit? Anong gagawin mo?"
"M-magpapalam ako na ilalabas kita," mabilis niyang agap. "S-si Silver nga nagpaalam muna diba?"
Napakurap-kurap akong muli at tumango-tango. Oo nga naman pala. Silver did face my parents a couple of times before heading out.
Patawa-tawa kami ni Magno habang sakay ng Elevator kahit walang nakakatawa sa pinag-uusapan namin. Siguro naiilang na rin siya gaya ko. Naging ganoon kami hanggang sa magpaalam sa mga magulang ko at hanggang nasa loob na ng sasakyan niya.
"Hey, they're backstabbing you in the groupchat. Di raw sila titigil hanggang sa mago-online ka," biro ko na lamang para naman may mapag-usapan na talaga kami.
"Anong groupchat?" There was panic in Magno's eyes as he asked. Mabuti na lang at steady pa rin ang pagmamaneho niya.
"Ewan, bago yata 'yun." I shrugged and all of a sudden he sighed. "Bakit?" Hindi ko napigilang matawa, this time totohanan na.
"Basta kung ia-add ka nila sa kung mga groupchat, 'wag kang mag backread," giit niya.
"Bakit? Anong kalat meron kayo?" pang-aasar ko.
"Wala, tipikal na gaguhan lang nina Sawyer. Masisira tingin mo sa kanila," natatawa niyang giit.
"As if naman naging matino ang tingin ko inyo. Bata pa lang tayo, ang dumi n'yo nang lahat sa akin," biro ko kaya mas lalo pa siyang natawa.
"Sino ang pinakamarumi?" pabiro niyang tanong.
"Wala nang mas dudumi pa kay Haji. Diba siya 'yong nalaglag sa kanal noong minsang ginabi na tayo sa paglalaro ng basketball? Sinundan ang bola kahit madilim ang paligid!" paalala ko kaya mas lalo kaming nagtawanan.
