XNUT (Published under Pop Fiction)

x43: One Crazy Girl

x43: One Crazy Girl

[CJ's PoV]

From Subic, I drove my way back to Manila ALL ALONE. At twing mapapatingin ako sa passenger's seat, lagi na lang akong napapasigh.

Hours earlier, I was driving with Hazel beside me then now, yung pink backpack na lang nya ang katabi ko. Naiwan nya yun nung tumakas sya eh. Di ko nga tuloy maiwasang mag-alala sakanya. I hope she has enough money with her. And I hope she makes it back home safe.

Habang nagdadrive ako, paulit-ulit ko ring inaalala ang naging pag-uusap namin ni Hazel kanina sa phone. Ang tono nya non, talagang parang nasaktan sya. She even cried as we talked. Pero bakit?

I don't want to assume, but there's only one reason I can think of why she acted like that. I think she's.. she's in love with me.

Diba? Siguro mahal nya ko kaya sya nagkaganun, kaya parang nasaktan sya at kaya pinagtabuyan nya ko sa babaeng missing piece ng buhay ko. But damn it. Di nya alam na sarili nya ang tinutukoy nya na dapat kong puntahan! Tsk. Kung pinatapos nya lang ako sa confession ko, then she should have already known that.

Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa manibela as I took one deep breath. Geez. I didn't expect that it would be this hard to fall in love with a crazy girl.

Mahirap nga, pero di pa ko sumusuko. I already made up my mind. Hindi ko papatapusin ang araw na toh nang hindi kami nagkakalinawan ni Hazel.

* *

Pagkabalik ko ng Manila, pinuntahan ko muna ang tatay ko para personal na iupdate sya tungkol sa current status ng tinatayong bagong branch ng business namin sa Subic. I did it as quick as I could then I drove my way again-- now going to Hazel's home in Bulacan.

Passed 7PM na nang makarating ako dun. Bitbit ang bag ni Hazel, bumaba ako ng kotse ko at sinilip kung may tao ba sa loob ng bahay nila.

Sa bintana, natanaw ko na nakabukas ang ilaw nila. May kotse rin na naka-park sa may garahe. Tahimik ang paligid pero sa tingin ko, may tao sa loob.

I pressed their doorbell twice. Seconds later, bumukas ang front door at may babaeng sumilip sakin. It was Mama Margie.

"Sino yan?" she asked on a cheerful tone.

"Uhm, good evening po.." medyo nahihiya kong bati.

Mama Margie stared at me for a short while until she finally recognized me. "C..CJ?! Ikaw ba yan?!"

"Opo.." I smiled at her.

"Waaa!" excitedly, she came to me and opened up the gate. "Bakit ka napadaan dito CJ anak?! Nakapagdinner ka na ba?! Waaa! Pumayat ka alam mo ba yun?!"

I chuckled. And honestly, I don't know what question I have to answer first.

"Uhm, nakauwi na po ba si Hazel?" I asked instead.

Mama Margie paused, blinking. "Si.. Si HAZEL? Eh oo.. Nakauwi na sya.."

Her answer made me feel very relieved. Thanks God, Hazel made it back home.

"Pero..bakit mo naman yun natanong?" Mama Margie asked with so much curiousity on her look.

"Kasi po..uhm.." napaisip ako ng kung anong idadahilan ko. Ayoko naman kasing sabihin na nandito ako ngayon at tinanong ko ang tanong na yun dahil may balak ako na magtapat sa pamangkin nya. "Ah, because I want to give this back to Hazel."

Pinakita ko kay Mama Margie ang bitbit kong pink backpack ni Hazel. So glad I got this.

"Naiwan po toh ni Hazel kanina eh nung..nung naghiwalay kami pauwi.." I explained.