Keep Me Closer

22nd: Prove Me Wrong

I WAS SEATED on Eustace's clean and comfy sofa inside his unit as he got busy in the kitchen preparing something that we could eat.

Nakaupo na ako rito ng mahigit ilang minuto dahil nahihiyang maglibot sa paligid. The guilt that I was feeling was still clinging inside me that I couldn't take in the truth na si Eustace pa ang na-detain pero ngayon siya pa ang magluluto.

Alam ko namang sinabi kong hindi ako marunong maluto. Pero pagdadahilan lang iyon. Hindi ko siya maharap nang maayos at nahihiya ako baka hindi niya magustuhan ang luto ko. Mas lalong hindi ko na alam paano bumawi sa kanya.

"Gusto mo buksan ko ang TV?" tanong niya sa akin. He took a shower just minutes ago habang ako naman ay mabilis na nagligpit sa unit ko. When I pressed the doorbell of his unit he immediately opened it.

Nangingiti pa siya nang hinarap ako.

Kagaya nang ginagawa ko kapag hindi ko alam kong ano'ng sasabihin, ngumiwi lang ako at napailing-iling.

Hindi ko alam kung ano'ng sumapi as aming dalawa pero parang automatic na nagdecide na lang kaming kumain ng dinner na sabay.

He didn't mention his moments inside the jail. I also didn't bother asking. Pero gusto kong hagurin ang likod niya dahil alam kong may mabigat siyang pinagdadaanan ngayon.

Umilaw ang cellphone ni Eustace na iniwan niya sa center table.

"Eustace, someone's calling..." I said as I immediately stood up from my seat.

I grabbed his phone. Nagmadali akong lumapit sa kanya sabay abot sa cellphone niya.

"Maybe it's your Dad." Dahil Dad ang nabasa ko sa screen.

Lumingon siya sa akin at ibinaba ang sandok na hawak.

But instead of getting his phone from my hand, sumandal siya sa bar counter at pinakatitigan ako.

"Di mo sure," he said, then laughed a bit. I knew he was just preventing himself to grin or laugh loudly.

"Hala, ayos ka lang?" saad ko, ngumiti pero halos matawa rin.

The phone rang again and I immediately handed it to him.

"Tingnan mo." Iniharap ko sa kanya ang screen ng sariling phone at halos pandilatan siya ng mga mata. "Dad ang nakalagay kaya sure ako. Mapilit 'to."

Ikiniling niya ang ulo at humalukipkip sa harapan ko. Hindi tinanggap ang cellphone at hindi pinansin ang tawag ng Dad niya. "Ang galing mo palang magtagalog, Lienna."

Kunot-noo akong tumitig sa kanya pabalik.

"Ngayon mo lang napansin?"

Tumango siya. "Walang halong accent ng ibang bansa."

"I grew up talking to my parents in tagalog and my friends in English. I'm always reminded of where I come from despite me growing up in here."

"Did someone already tell you how fascinating your voice is?"

"Eustace na untog mo ba ang ulo mo kanina o kahapon?"

"It's your voice that I heard first after getting out of that chaotic place. And amid of trying to explain myself, it's you whom I shouldn't have to beg for you to believe that I am saying the truth."

"It was my fault why you got there."

"Hindi iyan mahalaga."

"Eustace..."

"Salamat kasi hindi mo ako iniwan."

"Of course, I couldn't do that to you."

Our eyes met and I couldn't contain the rush of emotions in my stomach.