Arthur
It was dark. Madilim ang mundo para sa akin. I tried to lit it up so many times pero hindi ko makayanan. So I accepted the fact that this is how I will live until the day I die.
Not until she comes into the picture.
The moon became brighter. The sun shines brightly. And the stars became brighter in my eyes. The wind blew gently and not as harsh as I felt before. The water hugs me warmly.
Everything went good. Everything became nice when I met her.
I was driving on the road without any destination in my mind. Hinayaan ko na magpasya ang daan kung saan ako magpupunta. Suddenly, I felt my stomach growl. Hindi pa ako kumakain simula kaninang hapon. Sakto naman na napadaan ako sa convenient store. I park my car. Isinuot ko ang hood ng jacket at pumasok doon dala ang laptop.
Nang mag- angat ako ng tingin ay nakita ko ang isang babae na mabilis nagpunta sa counter para salubungin ako. Mahaba ang buhok niya, maganda ang katawan at maamo ang mukha. Pero it wasn't enough to make me feel something towards me because I stop feeling anything years ago.
Para siyang tanga noong tinanong ako kung naiwan ko daw ba ang pera na inilagay ko doon. I said it's hers. She can't believe that I gave her tao hundred pesos when it's so small. Nahimagaan ako sakanya roon so I continue going to that place. I stopped going there for three days. Bumalik nalang ako at sakto pa na may gustong magsamantala sakanya.
I was pissed that time. Hindi ko lang maipakita dahil baka matakot ang isang ito. In my own way, I'm gonna punch those assholes face until they bleed. But I stopped because I remember her. Walang emosyon kong binasa ang nakalagay na papel sa tray ng pagkain ko. It's hers. And that was the time I knew what her name was.
Cora.
Pinanood ko siyang pumasok sa bahay niya. I can't believe that she only sleep for three hours and wake up again to go to school. For the past days, hinahatid ko ito sa bahay. Nakakaramdam ako ng awa sa unang pagkakataon. Awa ng isang nakakatandang kakilala, pilit kong sinasabi sa sarili ko. I know I'm crazy to say that. I just can't accept the fact that I am feeling something towards someone again.
I was scared because the last time I felt loved, she was taken away from me. Magulo ang buhay ko. Marami akong kaaway. And I can't accept that. I even ask God if I could just live like a normal person. Hindi iyong minu- minuto ay iniisip ko ang kaligtasan ng malalapit sa akin.
"Shit!" Mura ko noong makasalubong parehas ang dalawabg motor na kanina pa humahabol sa akin. I tried to sway the both of them but it seems to me like they have brains.
Bumaba ako sa kotse nang mapahinto ito. Tumigil rin ang makina ng motor na sinasakyan ng mga humahabol sa akin at bumaba sila dito. They took something out of their pockets and I saw both of their hands carrying a knife.
Umatake silang dalawa sa akin. I dodge both of it at first but then I was cut in my side. Hindi ko ininda iyon and when I tackle the man who looks like a mad ape while the other one is lying unconscious on the ground, I ask him who sent him.
"Report to your goddamn stupid Boss that I am no longer part of the V.E.N.O.M. Stay the fuck out of my way before I fucking slit your throat," Nagpupuyos sa galit kong sabi. Matagal ko ng tinalikuran ang club na iyon. I am no longer a part of it. And so I think it is pointless for them to send someone out for me.
"Don't worry about it, Art." Ani Lorcan nang sabihin ko sakanila ang nangyaring pag-atake sa akin noong nakaraan.
I don't know but for some reason, the immediate thought that comes to my mind when I was stabbed was to go to Cora despite it. It's like going to the convenience store was my routine. Parang tatakasan ako ng bait kung hindi ko makikita si Cora at hindi ko alam ang dahilan noon. So even if the hospital is near my place, I still chose to go there. Kahit maubusan pa ako ng dugo dahil sa saksak ay pipiliin ko pa ring pumunta sa convenience store kesa magpagamot.
