Last Day Of September

-10-

                               DRACO

Napabalikwas ako sa pagkakahiga ng tumunog ang phone ko. Nakailang missed call na si Sheena at text.

Text Message: Love

Good morning Love, 'wag mo na akong sunduin, ihahatid ako ni daddy ngayon. See you later! I love you!

Napangiti ako sa message niya. Nagreply ako at dumiretso sa kusina para magluto.

Hindi na namin nakita si Aina kagabi, the guard said that she called a taxi. I text and called her many times but she isn't responding. Pinuntahan ko rin siya ng makauwi na kami pero walang sumasagot. Hindi ko na siya inistorbo dahil baka pagod siya at tulog na.

I'm so worried about her, lahat kami nag-alala sa kanya dahil bigla siyang nawala sa restaurant.

After I cooked, I decided to go to her unit to check her, at para sabayan siyang kumain. I knock on the door, the door opened.

"Ohayou." She greeted me, coldly.

"Ohayou." I greeted back and show her the food I've brought. My brow furrows, she's still in the doorstep. Wala ba siyang balak na papasukin ako?

"Can I come in? Aina?"

"Ahh, yeah." She step back to give me some space. I nodded and smiled.

"What the..." Mabilis kong naibaba ang hawak ko sa lapag ng makita ko na may mga bubog na nakakalat sa sahig "Are you okay?! Nasaktan ka ba?!"

I check her whole body, my hands were trembling while checking her out. I let out a heavy sigh when I saw that she's not hurt.

"It's just an accident." She said, she's about to pick up the broken pieces of glasses when I immediately hold her hand and shook my head. She stares at me with her blank and cold face.

"Ako na." Kinuha ko muna ang tupperware na nasa lapag at dinala 'yon sa kusina bago ako magwalis.

"Ano bang nangyari? Bakit ang daming basong nabasag?" Pag-uusisa ko.

"All of that glasses were in the same spot." She pointed out the dining table. Five glasses? In one spot?

I just nodded and went to the kitchen, kumuha ako ng dalawang plato, baso at mga kubyertos. I prepare the dining table. Naglabas din ako ng fresh milk sa ref.

Umupo na siya, gano'n din ako. Sabay naming ipinagdikit ang mga palad namin  para magdasal.

"Ittadakimasu."

Nilagyan ko ang plato niya ng kanin at ulam. We eat silently, walang ni isang nagsalita sa amin. Ako na ang nagpresintang maghugas ng mga pinagkainan.

"Sabay na tayong pumasok." Sabi ko paglabas ko, tumango lang siya saka niya isinarado ang pintuan. She's acting weird today. Really weird.

Naligo ako at nagbihis, pagkatapos pinuntahan ko na siya. Wala na namang nagsalita sa amin. I'm expecting her to ask why I didn't fetch Sheena, but she didn't.

Tahimik kami buong biyahe.

"Good morning Mr. Santiago and Ms. Dela Vega, can you give me a minute?"

The Dean said, we just nodded and followed him to his office. Pinaupo niya kami ni Aina saka bahagyang ngumiti.

"You're aware that your grades are not in good terms, right Mr. Santiago?" The asked.

"Yes Dean." I answered in a polite way. He nodded and pressed his palms together.

"Ms. Dela Vega will guide and help you to fix your grades, that's why I also called her here. I know that she's helping two students now like you, pero alam kong siya lang ang makakatulong sayo para maisaayos ang grades mo and at the same time, magkaibigan kayo." He explained "Is that okay with you Ms. Dela Vega?"