The Man in Strings

V. Fishes

So much for peaceful Sundays.

Pagkatapos kong mapagalitan dahil sa biglaang pag-absent, akala ko makakapagpahinga na ako ngayong weekends. I knew I promised Maine I'd talk to her often, pero palagi syang umaalis ng maaga (bakit ngayon pa na-timing-an ng schedule nya?) kaya hindi kami nag-aabot. Our breakfasts were still sacred, though, and we'd still do our daily chitchat.

Pero last Tuesday ko pa sya nakita at nakausap ng maayos. Sunday na ngayon and the last four days defined agony to me -

- only to wake up because of her sobs on a Sunday morning.

I am a light sleeper, except when I'm drunk. Pero hindi ko talaga naisip na magigising ako just because she was sobbing. Para akong nagkaroon radar sa loob ng katawan ko ngayong umaga dahil lang sa pag-singhot nya. At mahina pa 'yon, ah.

Dali-dali akong nagbihis ng maayos na pambahay at dumiretso sa banyo sa baba (we have another upstairs) where I supposed Maine was - only to see her sobbing in front the toilet.

Yeah. In her minion pajamas. Teka, ilang minion pajamas ba ang meron sya? This one's full of printed minions din pero iba ang design at pagkakaayos. She's also wearing bunny slippers... but I don't know if it should be called that dahil minion din 'yung design nu'n.

"What happened?" I felt disheartened. Mugto ang mga mata nya at medyo namumula na rin 'yung ilong nya. Sobrang dami ring tissue na nagkalat sa bathroom floor and it looked like she's been here for a while before I woke up. "May masakit ba sa'yo?"

She was hugging her knees and she just hugged them tighter instead of answering my questions. "Huwag mong ipitin 'yung tiyan mo. Baka lalong sumakit 'yung sumasakit sa 'yo -"

"Hindi masakit 'yung tiyan ko," sabi nya sa akin na pasinghot-singhot pa. I fought a smile because she was just too... adorable. Sure. I couldn't stand her tears but she looked too adorable right now - I wanted to keep her inside my pocket forever.

"Eh anong masakit sa'yo?"

"Ito," suminghot pa sya bago nya ituro 'yung dibdib nya, kung saan nandu'n 'yung puso nya. What the fuck? She had her heart broken?! Is that why she's crying?! "Wala na sya..."

"Sino?!"

"Si Jake..."

"What?" As much as I wanted that asshat gone, I didn't know it could reach to this extent. "Wala na si Jake?!"

"Yeah," she nodded. "He didn't even last for a day..."

Wait.

A day?

Things had just gotten suspicious.

Aminado naman ako. Although I hated to see her this devastated about Jake's leave, natuwa ako when she said Wala na si Jake. I swear I could have thrown a house party without consulting her if that's the case. "Wait. Sinong Jake?"

"Jake the fish," tinuro nya 'yung inidoro. "Na-flush ko na sya." And she continued to wail.

Nablangko ako. 

Jake. The. Fish.

What the -

"Alam ko twenty-three years old na ako," tumunghay sya bigla and stared into the toilet bowl. "Alam ko rin ang babaw na umiiiyak ako over a fish. Pero kasi nalulungkot talaga ako..."

"Wait. Where did you get... Jake?"

"Kahapon. Nagsimba na ako kasi alam ko hindi ako makakapagsimba ngayong araw tapos may lalaki na nagtitinda ng isda. Sabi nya, wala pa raw syang kinikita ngayong araw. May tinda rin syang sisiw na may iba't-ibang kulay kaso inisip ko, baka mawala lang at maggala rito sa bahay kaya fish na lang ang binili ko. Bumili pa nga ako ng maayos na fishbowl eh..." Maine sobbed. "Pero hindi man lang sya tumagal ng isang araw."