AOT : Caught In The Fire

Prologue

Prologue

Irita kong pinulot ang isang bato at tinapon ito sa malawak na dagat ng Manila Bay. I huffed and watched how the stone bounced three times before sinking into the water. Mapait akong napangiti at tumingala sa langit.

Papalubog na ang araw, at wala pa akong planong umuwi. Ayoko munang umuwi. I don't want my Mom to witness how broken I am at the moment. I'm broken. I know it's been two years but my heart is still aching every time I remember my father.

Ganoon ba ako kadaling iwanan, Pa?

That question will remain unanswered forever. Hindi na niya masasagot 'yon, e. He's already in a place called paradise where God wanted him to be. And me? Here, suffering from the cruelty of the world and doing my very best to fucking survive.

“Ano ba, Micah. Kanina pa tayo rito. Naaalibadbaran na ako sa mga tao rito,” maarteng anas ni Abby. One of my friends—that I really don't consider as one.

“Kung gusto mo, umuwi ka na.” Pumulot ako ng bato at muli itong binato sa kagaratan. “I'll stay until nightfall.”

Umismid lang siya. Hindi ko na ito pinansin pa at muling tumingala sa kalangitan. I bet there will be stars tonight. Glimmering through the sky. And I want to witness it here.

“Hindi ka ba papasok bukas?” she asked.

I looked at her over my shoulders and shrugged. “Depends.”

I'm not cold, nor distant. Ayoko lang makipag-usap nang matagal sa ibang tao lalo na't hindi ko naman sila kaano-ano. I only have one friend, and I know these girls are only using me to befriend my best friend.

“Susunduin ka ba ni Austin?”

Nagkibit-balikat lamang ako. Umihip ang malamig na hangin at pansamantala ay nagpakalma 'yon sa akin. I'm still wearing my school uniform. As I've said...ayoko pang umuwi.

Hindi na muling nagsalita si Abby, so I think umalis na ito. Muli akong nagpakawala ng malalim na hininga tumingin sa aking pambisig na relo. My phone's vibrating from the inside of my blazer's pocket. Ngunit alam ko kung sino ang tumatawag.

And it's Mom...

According to her, I'll be meeting his fiancée tonight. But I don't want to. I know my mother deserves to be happy after two years...but I can't. Hindi ko pa yata kayang kumilala ng panibagong tao na tatawagin kong ‘Papa.’

So I'm not coming home. Bahala na kung pagalitan niya ako bukas. Basta ayoko. She can't force me to meet her future husband. Hindi ko pa kayang tanggapin ang katotohanang may panibago nang nagpapasaya kay Mama.

Nang kumagat ang dilim ay mas dumami ang taong palakad-lakad dito sa tabi ng Manila bay. May mga nagbebenta ng street foods and seriously, I'm craving to eat some.

I look up the sky and bit my lower lip. The wind is blowing some strands of my hair. Ang ganda ng kalangitan. Totoo nga ang naisip ko kanina. Magliliwanag ang kalangitan dala ng mga nagkikislapang mga bituin.

“So you're really here.”

Napalingon ako sa biglang nagsalita at namataan si Austin na papalapit. He's wearing his usual ragged jeans and black shirt paired with his white air Jordan shoes. He tied his hair into top knot and he's also wearing his leather jacket.

“Anong ginagawa mo rito? I didn't text you to come over,” pagsusungit ko rito.

He shrugged as he stopped in front of me. “Abby texted me.”

“Abby likes you, Dude. Just go and get her. Stop bothering my self-time.” I rolled my eyes.

Austin chuckled and wrapped his arms around me. Pinikit ko ang aking mga mata at sumandal sa kaniyang dibdib. He's six feet and three inches in height, samantalagang ako ay five inches and seven lang. Hanggang dibdib niya lamang ako.