Planet Acelatoria

Chaptah Sebentin

Life on the Line~

Nakatulala ako ngayon sa bintana ng aking kuwarto. There's a table here and a chair so, I can stare at the flowing water through my window as long as I want to.

Mula pagkagising, ganito na ang ginawa ko. Pero, kumain naman na ako. Syempre, papalagpasin ko ba 'yon?

And yes, it's raining outside. Ewan, ang ganda-ganda ng kalangitan kagabi at kaninang umaga pero biglang umulan ngayong hapon. Mukhang matagal pa ito bago tumila dahil sobrang dilim pa nang langit.

Nakapangalumbaba ako sa mesa at walang ka gana-ganang nagsusulat sa isang notebook na galing pang Earth.

"Clardia, do you have a problem? You can share it with me. I will listen." sabi ni Nebula na nandoon sa favorite place niya sa kuwarto ko—on my bed. Si Celeste, nasa sofa. Tahimik na naka-upo.

"Huh? I don't have any problem. Why did you ask?" tanong ko sa kanya nang hindi lumilingon at patuloy pa ring tulala sa ulan.

"Simple! Because you're like that! You're not in your self. You keep staring at the window. You keep writing on your notebook. And you're not chatting with me!" he shouted.

"Ah, nothing. I just miss my family.", sagot ko.

"None other than that?"

"None."

"Hmm, are you sure?"

Kulit talaga nito.

"Have Xavier mentioned a girl named Halley to you before? Other than me?" I turned around him and asked. Napatingala naman siya sa kisame.

"Uhmm, a girl named Halley? I don't seem to remember someone other than you." he said.

Napabuntong-hininga naman ako. Kanina ko pa 'to iniisip eh. Ang gulo kasi ni Xavier! Hindi niya man lang nilinaw sa'kin kagabi! Bigla-bigla na lang siyang umalis! Tas nung tinanong ko naman kanina, sabi niya sa'kin, kalimutan ko na lang daw.

Ugh. Nakakainis!

Is he really referring to me? Pero ang imposible naman kasi! Pero parang gano'n ang pinapahiwatig niya. Nalilito akoo!

Feeling ko may nakakalimutan akong parte eh. Feeling ko may nawawala kaya hindi ko maintindihan ang sinasabi niya. Perooo...ano ba 'yon?! Ugh. Ayoko na. Sumasakit lang ulo ko sa kakaisip.

"Why, Clardia? What did bro told'ya last night?" Nebula teasingly said.

Wait, pa'no niya nalaman na magkasama kami kagabi?

"Hahaha! Your face gives me a how-did-you-know look. Well, I saw the both of you at the balcony. I can't sleep so, I went out of my room and planned to go to bro's but, I didn't found him inside. So, I went straight to the balcony since I know I can see him there. And coincidently, I saw the both of you having your sweet-late night talks." Nebula grinned.

Nando'n pala siya! Ugh.

"It's not sweet talks.".I told him saka humarap muli sa bintana at nangalumbaba.

"Then, what is it?" sa boses ni Nebula, alam kong nang-aasar siya. Ano nga bang pinag-usapan namin kagabi?

"We talked about the girl your bro likes." I blurted out.

"What?!?! Bro, likes someone? And it's not you?"

"Yes."

"A-Are you okay? Don't worry, I will talk to him. This shouldn't be. You're his wife!" lumingon ako kay Nebula at nakitang tumayo na siya, actually going to where ever Xavier is. Si Celeste naman ay umantabay na sa may pinto upang pagbuksan siya.