Ang Multo sa Manhole 2 - Under revision

Bogart says 13

Eiji's Point of view

Buknoy made a choice. He chose what I don't like. Nauna ako sa kanya sa pagbaba sa kwarto to give him some time to rethink about everything; that he later joined us in dinner; his face worry-free. I thought, based from what I saw, good news ang maririnig ko. Hindi pala. Siguro napili nyang ipakitang masaya sya for the sake of his family, para di masira appetite nila, at maging ako na rin especially na paboritong ulam ko ang nakahanda. Bumalik kaming kwarto after dinner and there he said, 

"I'll be her date on the party." Cold and serious. At first, napatulala ako as if I was trying to get his words sink in. Then napakurap. And right after that, I did not say a thing or curses or whatever. I just simply asked him kung pwede na ba ako maunang matulog dahil bukas na bukas din ay uuwi na ako samin.

That was supposed to be a surprise visit; yung pagpunta ko sa kanila. Simula doon sa pagtatago sa cabinet, plinano ko yun. Turned out, ako ang sinurpresa nya.

I hesitated to argue with him regarding the party. Ayoko kasing ma-ruined ang one night stay ko sa kanila (kahit in the first place, ruined na). Originally, I was intending to stay for two nights. But due to the flow of event, ni-reduce ko into one. I don't want to sleep with him with that kind of tension going up. Also, nakakaramdam ako ng kaba - kaba na baka isang move ko lang baka iwanan ako ni Buknoy. As much as possible, iniiwasan kong makapanalita ng ikakasama nya ng loob which might caused him to love me less than before.

Maybe I'm just getting a little paranoid. Well, sino bang hindi? Lately, nagiging malihim na sya sakin. When I want to know saan sya pupunta or anong gagawin nya, he always lure me to different topics hanggang sa akala nya nakalimutan ko na. But at the back of mind, I was waiting for a clue. Moreover, the answer itself.

And although it was a nice thing to do to approach a person whom you offended kagaya na lang sa kaso namin nung umaga, the day after we slept in the same bed, back to back, I could not helped myself but to cringe inside. Ika pa nya,

"Sorry Hanybee. I hope you understand"

How can I understand when you ceases to let me understand? tanong ko sa sarili. But nonetheless, I responded. As cheerful as it may sound like, waring walang tension ang naganap kagabi.

"Diba sabi ko sayo, 'Decide for yourself'? You made a decision and that - I should respect. And besides naunahan mo ako." pakutsada ko. "Sasabihin ko sana sayo na although gustong-gusto kong ikaw ang ka-date ko sa Acquiantance, hindi rin ako pwede gawa ng officer ako sa classroom and at least, two or more officers daw ang kailangang volunteer na mag-act as a receptionist at the time of the party."

But of course...

I'm lying.

Matter of fact, I've been giving the acquaintance party a big thought, bearing in mind na nung Prom, hindi kami nakapag last dance. So I was hoping, this party will be the means to make that happen. But situations got us twisted. It can't be helped. The only thing I can help myself to must be to accept the fate. E kung gusto ng tadhanang wag kaming mag-last dance, e di fine!

But still, just how heavenly would that feel, maisayaw ka ng mahal mo? I stopped at my thought, particularly sa word na "mahal mo" then once again I asked myself.

Mahal nya pa kaya ako? That's what I was trying to figure out hanggang sa makatulog na lang ako, leaving the thought unanswered.

The morning of that important date, I woke up from a very wonderful dream. It was a dream I wish would happen later on. Sa panaginip ko kasi, nakatayo ako dun sa gilid ng malagrandyosong stairs habang masayang pinagmamasdan ang pagsayaw ng isang babae sa isang "halimaw". I dreamed I was in the story Beauty and the Beast. Napaiyak ako sa tuwa sa sobrang ganda ng scene of which as I realized through the mirror, may traces nga ng luha ang aking mukha. I did cry for real.