That One Lie

13th Lie - Simon

Simon

"I don't freaking care. Seryoso." I switched the TV stations every 2 seconds without even knowing what I am watching.

One month quickly passed without news of her. I will never ever admit that I thought of her from time to time. She's now out of my life, out of my sight just like how I wanted to.

"You said I still have the end of the school year before you reset your life. I'm out of your life pero first term pa lang ah? Ano yun, gag*han?"

"Meow~" Anya brushed her small, furry head on my feet. I scooped her and carry back to the couch where she usually rests or sleeps. Medyo tumaba na nga tong pusang to kasi napakatamad, puro kain at tulog. I was about to pet her when my phone vibrated.

I'm at your apartment. Come down for a sec.

The text message was from Archer. Aba, bago yun ah. Ni minsan kasi hindi naman pumunta dito sa apartment ko yun simula ng mag-aral ako dito. Yeah, we hang out pero madalas lang kaming magkita sa train station.

"Yo," I slightly raised my hand as soon as I saw him. "Anong meron?"

Inaya nya ko sa isang malapit na convenience store. Gusto daw nya ng ramen. Umoo na lang ako. Tinanong ko ulit sya ng magsimula syang kumain pero mukhang balak nya muna ubusin at busugin ang sarili nya bago nya sabihin ang sadya nya. Nagkasya na lang akong uminom ng binili nyang iced tea.

"I think I saw Anya."

Halos maibuga ko sa mukha nya yung iniinom ko pero sya parang hindi nakakagulat yung sinabi nya at patuloy lang sa paghigop ng sabaw. Fck, lumabas ata sa ilong ko yung iced tea.

"Come again? I don't think I heard you right." I said while wiping the sides of my mouth. Disgusting.

Hinigop nya muna ang laman ng natitirang ramen saka deretso akong tiningnan ng seryoso. "I think I saw Anya. Yesterday."

"Saan? Paano? Nagkausap ba kayo? Bakit daw sya--"

"But I'm not sure if it's really her." He cut me off. Archer is a carefree guy. Maloko, flashy, mukhang babaero, ah tsaka (pervert). Pero ang alam ko lang, sa dalawang bagay lang sya seryoso. Sa pag-aaral nya...at kay Anya (for some reason). "She looked like someone I barely know. Parang hindi sya yung Anya na pumayag maging kaibigan ko."

I have no idea what he's talking about basta ang alam ko may info sya kay Anya. "Where did you see her?"

"Diba nasabi ko sayo na bibisitahin ko yung lola ko dahil pinilit akong isama ni mommy? She's living in a far countryside and that's when I saw her coming out of a shrine. She's like in complete disguise. Naka hoodie, naka mask, nakayuko. Kung hindi nga lang nya saglit inalis yung hoodie nya dahil sa init, I'm not sure kung makikilala ko pa sya. But she's the only person I know with that kind of eyes and red hair with awkward bangs. Tingin mo sya yun?"

"I think you really saw her. That's Anya."

"Sigurado ka? Pero kung sya nga yun, ano namang ginagawa nya sa malayong lugar na yun? Ako nga na hindi laking Capital, kating kati na kong umalis at umuwi, yung tumira pa kaya dun?"

"How long does it take for you to get there?"

"May 3-4 hours siguro."

"What??"

"Should we look for her this weekend?"

"Why are we gonna do that?"

"For your sanity?" he smirked kaya naman binatukan ko sya. Dapat pala sinubsob ko na lang yung mukha nya sa isa pang order ng ramen.