The Hidden Gem

Chapter 29

Hindi niya ko magawang tignan. Akala ba niya ay isa akong tanga para maloko nila ng ganito?

"Oo t-tama kay Yka." Umangat ang gilid ng aking mga labi sa sinabi ni Bryan at nalabaling ang tingin sa kanya.

"Wrong answer. Hindi nagtatagal si Yka sa isang kwarto kapag nandyan ka lalong hindi siya uupo para makipagkwentuhan sa'yo. Even greeting you is hard for her. I haven't played any instrument since I joined here so how did you know? Unless someone told you."

I placed my eyes back to Icko that was still speechless and nervous. That's a right choice. Baka mas maasar lang ako kapag nagsalita pa siya.

"I knew there was something odd about your so called amnesia. First, your hippocampus was far from the shot but hey, it was science, no one could actually understand it completely. Then you rapped a song that you learned during the time we met. Sabi mo halos isang bwan mo 'yong inaral noon. How was it possible that you sung that smoothly without twisting your tongue in three weeks tops? Third, without any doubt, ibinalik mo ung cap ko without asking who it belongs to unless you already know. Then this! Are we playing a game I don't know?"

Dämn! I hate explaining this this long. Mas lalo tuloy pumangit ang mood ko. I clenched my shaking hands into fists and placed them inside my pockets. Nagpipigil lang ako ng galit. Sa pinaka ayaw ko pa naman ay yung ginagawa akong tanga.

Alam kong alam ni Icko na masama na ang aking timpla kaya hindi na siya sumasagot. Sa tansya ko, si Bryan ang may pakana ng lahat. Icko wouldn't think to make fool out of someone but the fact that it's on me, made me angry at him.

"Hello! Babe?... Why?... Now? Okay! Where and I'll come... Okay... Bye Love you, Babe!" Bryan suddenly said, phone against his ear. "I n-need to go. My girl needs me so bye guys."

Tapos mabilis siyang umalis. His phone didn't even ring. At monkey. Parang ramdam ko na kung bakit naiirita si Yka sa kanya. Si Kael ay tumatawa bago umalis na ginaya naman ng iba.

Tatlo nalang kaming natira. Ako, si Icko at si Lumiere. I noticed Icko glanced at Lumiere. Hinihintay din ba niyang umalis ito?

"Masaya ka ba sa laro mo, Icko?"

Ibinalik niya ang tingin sa'kin nang marinig niya ang kalungkutan at disappointment sa aking toni. Nakatayo ako sa harap niya habang siya ay nakaupo. He clasped his hands together. He looked guilty regretful.

"G-ger hindi sa g-ganon...ano lang k-kasi... si Bry--" Tumayo ito at lumapit sa'kin.

"Don't blame others for the things you've done because we all know you have the choice not to do it in the first place. Dominick."

Tatalikod sana ako nang hawakan niya ang aking braso.

"Magpapaliwanag ako. Makinig ka lang kahit sandali lang." Binawi ko ang aking braso bago bumuntong hininga.

"No just save it. I know you have a good reason for lying. Hindi mo naman kailangang magpaliwanag. Ako rin naman. There are things I'm keeping from you. Kapag nagsabi ka sa'kin, I feel like I'm obliged to tell you one of mine."

Sa aligaga niyang mukha ay halatang may nais pa siyang sabihin at gustong magpaliwanag pero umalis na ko. Kasunod ko si Lumiere na nanatiling tahimik hanggang makalabas kami ng bahay.

"You look sad." He pointed out.

Sinandal ko ang ulo sa salamin ng kotse. "I'll take a nap."

I said before closing my eyes. Naramdaman ko ang pag andar ng kotse na parang dinuduyan ako kaya't agad akong nakatulog.

-------

Gabi na kami nakauwi ni Lumiere. Good thing we already ate at the orphanage as my body collapsed upon feeling the soft bed underneath.