Twitter- @longlostwriter
Nathan:
This is my last day here at Singapore.
I'll be back home alone. Maiiwan si Dad for some reasons.
We're having lunch at the hotel.
"Son how are you and Jan?"Dad asked.
"We're cool. Madly inlove."I said. That made him laugh.
"Oh son, that's too cheesy."I smirked.
"Indeed really cheesy."
I became closer to my Dad. I don't know how and I don't know when. I just wake up one day and everything changed.
I became better person. I'm more open to others. Still snob but not too much. Can't blame myself for being snob. Come on, some people are too full of themselves that for you to not say anything harsh, you'll just shut your mouth and not care at all.
And I'm too lazy to talk a lot. That's not my forte. I'm into thinking than talking.
But hell no, I've been into talking than thinking before. I made mistakes because of this stupid mouth who won't stop telling things that we're not approved by my heart. Another cheesy line, sh-t.
But atleast after my regretful decisions, I pursued her again. I cleaned up the mess I made.
And now, we're still together. She's not the one who changed me into a better person. She's the one who helped me to be a better one.
No one can change you because they are here to help you, to encourage you and to inspire you to be a better person. It's up to you if you will change for the better.
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"Take care son. Call me if something happen."I nodded and bid my goodbye to my Dad.
Before shutting down my phone, I dialled Eliza's number. It took three minutes before she answered her phone.
"Eliza why you're so slow in answering your phone? Are you that busy?"I asked. There's a slight irritation in my voice.
"I-I'm sorry. Pumunta kasi akong cr. Ngayon ka na uuwi, right?"I looked at my watch. I still have 5 minutes to talk to her.
"Yes. I really miss you. Kapag nakauwi na ko, I'll see you at the apartment, okay?"silence. She didn't answer."Wifey, are you still there?"
"Uhh... Y-yes. Nasa airport ka na ba? We're taking too much time baka kailangan ng i-end call ito."after she said that, they announced that we need to close our gadgets."So I guess time's up na?"
"See you soon, Mrs. Lee. Can't wait for our wedding! I love you."I heard her sobs. Is she crying?
"Wifey, why are you crying? Please don't. I'm not there to hug you or to be with you. Please don't."I can't calm myself now. She's crying and I'm not there for pete's sake!
"I-I just miss you. W-Wag na mag-alala."
"Stop crying if you want me to calm."I heard again the announcement of taking off the phones.
"Bye Hubby. I love you so much. I-I really do."she said.
"Don't say goodbye as if I'll be away for a long well in fact I'll be there. See you soon Wifey. Stop crying."trying to comfort her.
"S-See you soon. See you soon Nathan. I love you."she said. Why am I getting goosebumps while she is saying that?
"See you soon Wifey! Stop the drama, okay? I love you I love you I love you! I love you so much. Need to hang up. See you!"
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I woke up. I heard that we're about to take off.
This is it! I'm back.
Pagkalabas ko ng airport, I don't know but I have this feeling of I don't know, nervous? Panic? I just don't know.
I decided to go straight at the apartment. I badly want to see Eliza. I really miss her. And I want to check her if she's okay and I'm expecting her to be really okay.
I tried calling but after 3 times of calling her, her phone is out of reach.
Sumakay na ako ng taxi. There are some text from Zac, and Marco. And even calls from them. But I'm too lazy to answer the calls and read those messages. Nangangamusta lang siguro.
After an hour, bumaba na ako ng taxi. I'm already in the apartment. Hindi ko na dala ang mga gamit ko. I left it in the airport. Pinakuha ko na lang sa secretary ko.
I'm about to knock but there's something bad I'm feeling.
Jetlag? Ugh... Hope it's just like that.
I heaved a sigh. This is so not me. Why am I too nervous? I'm about to see the woman I've been wanted to be with. I'm too preoccupied na hindi ko napansin that Mich already in front me. She's too surprised to see me. Hindi ba nasabi ni Eliza that I'll be home today?
"N-Nate!"
"Hi."she's not smiling. Is she that surprising to see me here?
"A-Ahhh. B-Bakit nandito ka?"kunot-noong tinignan ko siya.
"N-Nate?"tinignan ko ang tumawag sa akin. It's Marco with Zac. They are also surprised to see me. What's with these people?
"P-Pare nakauwi ka na pala."I nodded. Nagtinginan silang tatlo. I'm not in the mood for this. I already want to see my girl. Where is she?
"Where's Eliza?"I asked. They are starting to freak the hell out of me with those stares they are giving me.
"N-Nate p-pumasok ka muna."Marco said. What the hell? Can't they say if Eliza's here or not?
We entered and I'm busy looking for Eliza. I entered her room but there is no sign of her. Nasa work ba siya? But she knew that I'll be here.
I dialled her phone but still it's out of reach. Where is she? I'm starting to get this bad feeling.
Bumaba ako ng hagdan and I saw Marco, Mich and Zac. Nakaupo sila and they look somewhat worried? Ughh.
"Where is she?"they are not answering. I can't take this! Sh-t!
I checked almost all sides of there apartment. I'm about to check the kitchen when Zac spoke up. Finally.
"Pare wala siya dito."
"Then tell me where is she? Is it so hard for the three of you to tell me where is she?!"I'm starting to get annoyed. What's up with them? I'm busy looking for her expecting that she's just here in some side of this f-cking apartment but then again they'll tell me she's not here?
"Calm down Nate."Marco said. Mich starting to get panic and I can see her trying to compose herself. She's about to cry.
"That's bullsh-t."I said. How can I calm down when they're messing with me.
"Didn't you checked your phone?"I stared blankly at him. Can't he just say infront of me. But now that I'm reading his texts it's like I don't what to hear or even read it.
From: Zac
Pre si Jan. She left.
From: Marco
Nate sinabi ba sa'yo ni Jan kung saan siya pumunta? Hindi pa daw siya umuuwi since nung umalis ka.
"Mich and Yhanna thought she's at there house(Montenegro's) but Jin said she's not there and everyone here starting to get worried."Zac said. I laughed and that makes them confused.
"Are you joking? If you're messing up with me, I'm telling you, it's working. Cause I'm really messed up here! So now tell me, WHERE THE F-CKING PLACE DID SHE GO?!"I don't care if someone can hear me. I want them to stop pissing me. If they're not my friend, my fist might be at there face by now.
"Nate hindi namin alam at hindi ka namin pinagtitripan. Kahapon lang namin nalaman kina Mich na hindi mahanap si Jan."Marco said.
"Nung umalis ka papuntang Singapore, nagpaalam siya na pupunta lang siya sa work at baka may puntahan din daw siya after nun kaya wag na namin siyang hintayin pa."Mich said. Worried was written all over her face.
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Zac:
"Give me your car keys."sabi ni Nate.
Sh-t ibibigay ko ba? Paano kung ibangga niya? Hindi naman sa inaalala ko yung sasakyan ko, syempre kaibigan o kapatid ko na din si Nate at kapag may nangyari sa kanya, magagalit sa akin sina Tito! Ako ang leader at ako ang tinuturing na Kuya nila(kahit tanda ang tawag nila) kaya responsibilidad ko sila.
"I'll drive. 'Wag kana umangal pa, pre. Hindi kita hahayaan magdrive."halata sa mukha niya na gusto niyang siya ang magdrive at mag-isang maghanap pero hindi ko siya hahayaan. I know he can't control his feelings at siguradong wala na siya sa katinuan ngayon. We can't leave him like this.
"Fine."lumabas na siya ng apartment at dumiretso sa kotse ko na nakaparada sa labas.
"Marco maiwan kana muna dyan. Sabihan niyo na ang iba tungkol dito. Try niyo din siyang hanapin."tumango lang si Marco at sumunod na ako kay Nate.
Hinanap namin kung saan-saan si Jan. Pumunta kami sa bahay nila pero ang nadatnan lang namin ay ang mga maids nila. Pumunta din kami sa company nila pero isang linggo na daw hindi pumapasok si Jan. Nagkaroon muna daw siya ng temporary na kapalit sa company nila habang wala siya.
Ang pinakanapapansin ko, sa buong byahe at paghahanap namin kay Jan, hindi kumikibo si Nate. Tahimik lang siya at ang lalim ng iniisip.
Hindi man niya pinapakita, alam naming kinakabahan na siya.
Tinapik ko siya sa balikat niya habang nakahinto ang sasakyan. Nakatingin lang siya sa bintana. Halatang malalim ang iniisip.
"Nate mahahanap din natin siya. Alam kong hindi siya aalis nang wala siyang dahilan. Baka may pinuntahan lang talaga."this time tumingin na siya sa akin. Kung nakakatusok lang yung matatalim niyang tingin siguro napakadami ko ng holes.
"Damn those reasons."iyon lang ang sinabi niya at bumalik sa pagtingin sa labas. Nagdrive na ulit ako. Hindi ko na siya kinausap pa. Hinayaan ko na lang muna siya na pakalmahin ang sarili niya pero alam kong hindi siya kakalma hangga't hindi niya nakikita o nalalaman man lang kung nasaan si Jan.
Kung kami nga nag-aalala kay Jan lalo na siguro siya.
Bakit siya umalis? Business trip?
Pero kung business trip iyon, sigurado magsasabi iyon kay Nate or kahit man lang isa sa aming mga kaibigan niya.
Pero may pumapasok sa isip kong dahilan ng pag-alis niya. Pero ayokong magconclude. I should wait for Jan's reason. Kung ano man iyon, sana valid.
Dumiretso kami sa infinite garden na laging pinupuntahan nila Jan at Nate. Hindi magawang tingnan ni Nate ang lugar pero alam ko nagbabakasakali siya na sana nandtio lang si Jan.
Bumaba ako at chineck ang buong garden pero no sign of Jan. Saan kaya siya nagpunta? Kung may pupuntahan man siya, bakit umabot ng isang linggo? At walang nakakaalam sa kanya?
Halos lahat na ng alam naming lugar na pwedeng puntahan ni Jan pinuntahan na namin pero wala talaga siya.
Nagpahatid na si Nate sa condo niya. Nung una ayaw ko pa siyang iwan sa condo niya dahil knowing this boy, panigurado magmumukha ng jungle ang condo niya pagbalik ko. Pero pinagtatabuyan ako ng loko kaya wala na akong magawa. Siguro nga kailangan ko muna siyang iwan. Hahayaan ko muna siyang mapag-isa. Kailangan ko din puntahan ang ibang IH7. Kailangan naming hanapin si Jan. mas masakit kung kasama si Nate sa paghahanap. Baka hindi kayanan ng lalaking 'to kapag sa lahat ng lugar na pupuntahan namin palaging walang Jan na makikita.
Pagkasakay ko ng kotse ko, tinawagan ko agad si Marco.
"Pre san kayo?"
[Jin's Bar. VIP2. Nandito buong IH7 maliban sainyo ni Nate. Kasama mo ba si Nate? Nahanap niyo?]
"Ako lang mag-isa. Nagpaiwan siya sa condo niya. Wala si Jan. Papunta na ko."
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Mga ilang minutes lang din nakapunta na ako sa bar. Dumiretso na agad ako sa VIP room na sinasabi ni Marco. As expected nandoon nga sila. Tahimik lang silang lahat. Nang pumasok ako, all eyes on me. Parang mga namatayan ang mga gagong 'to. Kung si Nate ang kalma ng itsura at hindi halatang kinakabahan at nag-aalala pero ang mga 'to halatang-halata sa mga mukha.
Makapagsalita ako parang ako hindi din kinakabahan. Syempre kinakabahan din ako. Kinakabahan ako para sa kaibigan namin lalo na at mahal na mahal niya si Jan at wala siyang kaalam-alam na nawawala pala ito.
"Kamusta?"sabi ni Charles pagkaupo.
"Pinuntahan na namin ni Nate lahat ng lugar na naiisip naming dalawa na pwedeng puntahan ni Jan pero wala talaga eh."
"Bakit kahit sa akin hindi sinabi ni Ate kung nasaan siya? Kahit si Kuya Jop hindi niya alam."nag-aalalang sabi ni Jin. Lalong may nabubuong dahilan sa isip ko.
"Sina Daddy mo ba alam na ang tungkol sa pagkawala- hindi mali yung term. Pag-alis. Pag-alis dapat. Alam ba nila?"
"Wala sina Dad nasa business trip. Hindi pa namin nasasabi sa kanila."
"Paano kung alam nila?"sabi ko.
"Paano nila malalaman?"takang tanong ni Luke.
"Sinabi ni Jan?"sabi ni Ren.
"O sinabi nila kay Jan na umalis?"sabi naman ni Ren.
"Bakit naman nila sasabihin na umalis si Jan? Tsaka kung aalis si Jan dahil may business trip for sure magpapaalam iyon sa atin. Kilala niyo si Jan at Nate, hindi sila naglilihim sa isa't isa."sabi naman ni Marco. May punto siya. Ang dalawang iyon hindi nila hinahayaang magkaroon ng pagdududa sa pagsasama nila kaya dapat walang sikreto.
"Pero minsan may mga bagay na kahit gustong-gusto mong sabihin, hindi mo masabi o hindi mo ma-voice out. Ganoon kahirap lalo na kung naiipit ka sa isang bagay."naguluhan sila sa sinabi. Napabuntong-hininga ako at uminom muna ng alak na nakita ko.
"Ibig mo bang sabihin may tinatago si Ate?"
"Wag tayong magconclude. Hula ko lang naman. Wala pa tayong ebidensya."
"Ano ng gagawin natin? Sasabihin ba natin kay Nate na may nililihim si Jan at dapat natin malaman kung ano?"tanong ni Charles.
"Habang wala pa tayong totoong nalalaman, huwag natin munang sasabihin kay Nate. Alam niyo ang kaibigan natin. He can't control his feelings."
"Tama si Zac. Hanapin natin si Jan kasabay ng paghahanap ng dahilan ng pag-alis niya."sabi ni Ren habang lumalamon pa din doon ng pulutan. Katakawan talaga kahit kelan hindi matigil.
"Sana bumalik na si Jan."sabi ni Charles.
"Kinakabahan ako kay Nate. Kung kelan nagiging matino at medyo socialize na ang kaibigan natin babalik na naman ba siya sa dati? Tahimik at palaging may sariling mundo?"sabi ni Luke.
Ang tagal din namin hinintay na maging ganto si Nate. Yung nakikisali na siya sa mga kasiyahan instead na katabi mo nga feeling mo naman invisible dahil sa sobrang tahimik.
Kaya nga nung dumating si Jan sa buhay niya laking tuwa namin. Aba! Nakita at nasaksihan namin ang pagbabago ni Nate.
"Naaawa ako kay Nate. Kung alam ko lang sana kung nasaan si Ate."malungkot na sabi ni Jin sabay inom ng alak.
"Hindi niya kailangan ng awa. Ang kailangan niya tayo. Ang tulong natin, ang presensya natin at lalong-lalo na, ang malaman niyang handa tayong tumulong sa kanya."
"IH7 will always be a family no matter what. No one can seperate us."dahil sa sinabi ni Jin, nagcheers kaming lahat.
Sana matulungan nga namin si Nate. Hay buhay parang life! Tsk tsk!
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Isang part palang ito ng climax. Not really the whole climax.
INFINITE
Ms. Kim