OPERATION: Make Ligaw to him

Seventeenth Move

Narinig kong napahinga siya nang malalim habang mahinang nagsalita. "I told you that I'll always be safe. Hindi ka na lang sana nag-okay nung sinabi kong walang mangyayari sakin... hindi ka rin naman naniwala. Tsaka hindi naman purong kasinungalingan ang sinabi ko dahil may binibisita akong kamag-anak doon. Hinahatid din nila ako pauwi kaya gano'n."

Hindi na rin ako nakasagot sa kanyang paliwanag. That's good to hear then. I don't know what I'd do if she ever got herself in danger.

"I'm sorry If I shouted at you. I'm just so damn worried," I whispered to her ear. I felt her nodded. Yes, I am so damn worried about her at wala na akong planong i-deny yun kahit kailan. Somehow, she is a part of my life and it's only right if I started to care about her.

"Okay lang," sagot niya. Her voice was a little groggy probably because of her weaping. A few seconds passed when she was hesitant to say something. "U-um, wala ka na bang planong bitiwan ako?"

That thought snapped me out of my senses as I let go of her and was slightly meters away from her. Hindi ko alam na napatagal na pala ang yakapan namin. Damn, what was going on in my mind?

"Bakit namumula yang tenga mo?" nakakunot-noo niyang tanong.

"A-ah ano, mainit kasi sa labas. Wala ka bang planong papasukin ako?"

It was a lame excuse pero mas maganda na iyon kesa walang maisagot. Bakit nga ba ako namumula? It was just a hug. Just a friendly hug. No malicious thoughts involve. None at all.

"Ay oo nga pala. Sige, halika na."

"Sandali..."

Lumingon siya. "Ano-" kaagad ko siyang binatukan pero hindi naman ganun kalakas. Napa-aray siya habang nakahawak sa ulo. "Para saan yun?" reklamo niya.

"Batukan daw kita sabi ni Joan."

"Yung babaeng yun talaga." Hinimas niya ang nasaktang ulo.

"You can't blame her though. She was worried too." Napatingin siya sakin tapos bigla na lang ulit umiwas.

"Fine, I'll explain later. In the meantime, tara't pumasok."

Sinundan ko siya papasok sa tapat ng pintuan nila. Tinanggal ko na rin ang sapatos ko dahil nakakahiya namang mabahiran ng dumi ang white tiles ng floor nila. Bumungad kaagad sakin ang sala set ng kanilang bahay.

I looked at the interior design of the house-- It was simple-looking to be exact. I even saw cross-stitches on a frame hanging on the wall. There was even a 47" flat screen tv in front of the couch with a glass table at the middle while the floor is hidden with a red carpet.

There were even shelves with lots of books on it and another shelf displaying figurines, plates, mugs, utensils, and other chinawares. Their place is neat.

"Huwag mo ngang nililibot ang tingin mo sa bahay namin." Naistorbo ang paglalakbay ng mata ko sa bahay nang magsalita ang baliw na babae. Here we go again with her issue. I wonder what's the big deal about it.

"Ewan ko sayo..." It was all I could say.

"Kumain ka na o hindi pa?"

"What do you think?" I asked not minding her but the interior of the house.

"Hindi pa kasi mas inuna mo yung pag-aalala mo sakin kesa sa tyan mo." Nang tingnan ko siya ay meron ng ngiti ang kanyang mukha. Good that she's okay now but bad dahil iba na naman ang nasa isip niya. There is also a glint of joy from her eyes.

Iyan ang isa sa mga nalaman ko tungkol sa kanya. Na sobra siyang transparent at mababaw ang kaligayahan. Kapag nalulungkot siya, tatahimik lang siya sa isang tabi, walang kakausapin tapos pipilitin niyang maging masaya kahit na hindi naman.