Remains in the Sand | Los Quiros Series Book #01

21

RITS; Chapter Twenty-one

"I'm near,"

Nakarating na 'ko sa airport— I started my first day off work today. Sinundo ako ni Leorthon at pagkatapos ay hinatid ako sa hotel na bi-nook ko. I wasn't really familiar with Quezon kaya humingi ako ng recommendations sa kaniya. I was planning on spending a few days relaxing dahil ito naman talaga ang rason kung bakit ako nag-leave besides attending on Duen's graduation.

I wanted to see him now... But I don't want to spoil my surprise.

"Call me when you need anything," Leorthon quickly headed back to his car while answering a call. Hindi na raw siya magtatagal dahil lumabas lang siya sandali mula sa duty niya para sunduin at ihatid ako. He did a small wave over the semi-opened window.

Kaagad naman na akong pumasok sa loob ng hotel. Nasa mataas na floor ang room ko kaya kitang-kita ko lahat ng nasa sa ibaba. The view was relaxing. Inayos ko ang mga gamit ko at nang mag-hapon ay nagtimpla ako ng kape at umupo sa paanan ng kama habang nakatitig sa papalubog na araw.

I ate out that night. Nagbrowse lang ako ng top-reviewed restaurant na malapit sa'kin instead of having it delivered. Malapit lang talaga siya sa hotel ko kaya naglakad nalang ako pag-uwi at kaagad na nakatulog dahil sa pagod.

The next morning, I felt unusually comfortable. Bumangon ako't nag-inat at nang makita ang oras mula sa cellphone ko'y doon ko napagtanto kung bakit. It was already late to start a morning. But it was great... Dahil sobrang tagal na rin nung huli akong nagkaroon ng maayos na pahinga.

Inayos ko ang higaan ko't nagpadeliver nalang ng pagkain. I didn't know what to do kaya bumaba nalang ako para mag-gym— kahit hindi naman talaga ako nag-g-gym, which wasn't entirely a good decision dahil walang ibang pumapasok sa kokote ko kun'di yung mga nangyari sa'kin sa Bacolod.

Ibinaba ko ang dumbell bago umupo sa mat.

I let out a breath and thought. Kaya nga 'ko nagpakalayo-layo para hindi ko na maisip yung mga nangyari, yet I'm here being bugged by it. I wanted a break. A real break... Dahil kahit saan akong social media ko pumunta, my case would be on news articles somewhere on my feed, as if everybody hasn't moved on from it. I deactivated all of my social media accounts—

Naligo nalang ako't bumalik sa room ko. I went on checking emails for work, pero wala namang ibinigay sa'king trabahon. From families, wala. Others, wala. I continued scrolling on, pero wala akong mahanap na pwedeng trabahuin at gawin and I wasn't used to not doing anything for fuck's sake.

But that was entirely the point of being here; to do nothing.

I decided to watch a movie at nang maghapon ay namasyal ako. I went to Quezon Memorial Circle. I remembered Duen talking about his first time strolling there. Ang dami niyang kuwento! I smiled while taking pictures around.

Maraming mga tao... And I remembered, it's Sunday.

Ang dami kong nakuhang mga litrato. People are everywhere... And mostly, by pair.

Bigla ko siyang naalala.