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22 | Newcomer

XXII
Newcomer

Y O O N D A E

I wasn’t moving while pinning the guy with an intense stare. I watched how his adam’s apple moved as he gulped while staring back at me, obviously not feeling comfortable in this situation.

I got him cornered. Walang kawala ang pag-deny niya ng totoo. Kilala niya ako. Wala siyang ibang nagawa kung hindi paunahin ang iba pang mga kasama niya na umuwi nang mapagtantong hindi ko siya hahayaang makaalis hangga’t hindi sinasagot ang tanong ko.

“Phew! Okay, let’s settle this once and for all…” pag-putol ni Gunter sa tensyong namamagitan sa amin. Katabi ko siyang nakaupo sa dating upuan namin nang makarating kami rito sa pub habang nasa harapang upuan naman ang lalaking ‘yon. “Let’s start with the basics. I’m Gunter Glendale and this is my daughter, Yoondae. And you are...?”

It took him a moment to fill in the statement. He was hesitating. So I glared at him even more.

“I’m Van…” alanganing sagot niya saka sandaling napahinto. Kumunot ang noo ko nang hindi ko maalala ang pangalan niya. “…Van Cherriguine.”

Natigilan ako sa sunod na sinabi niya. Hindi pamilyar ang unang pangalan niya pero siguradong pamilyar ako sa apelyido niya. Ngunit bago pa man ako makapagsalita ay nauna na niyang  dugtungan ang huling sinabi niya.

“Nakababatang kapatid ako ni kuya Sage.”

Tuluyang natikom ang bibig ko. Tahimik naman si Gunter, naka-kunot ang noo, halatang pilit inaalala kung saan niya narinig ang pangalang ‘yon. It’s been two months since the last time I introduced him to Sage.

“Then how did you know me?” I finally managed to ask.

“We were childhood friends back then. The three of us.” He replied while smiling warmly at such thought.

Naalala ko naman ang huling pag-uusap namin ni Sage sa nakalipas na dalawang buwan. He did say that we were friends when we were children but I don’t remember him mentioning about his younger brother. Kaya naman hindi ko pa ring mapigilang magduda sa sinasabi niya. Alam kong halata ‘yon sa paraan nang pagtitig ko sa kanya ngayon.

“Although he always said that I was just an excess baggage,” muling dagdag niya.

Now that explains why he didn’t tell me about his brother. I couldn’t believe that Sage could be really mean to everyone—and his brother isn’t an exception.

Humigop siya ng iced coffee saka muling ipinatong ‘yon sa lamesa.

“Hindi na kasi tayo nagkita matapos niyong ma-kidnap ni kuya. Nabalitaan kong pinadala ka raw sa isang orphanage. Lumipas ang mga taon, gusto ko sanang bisitahin ka namin pero ang sabi ni kuya, hindi raw pwede dahil wala ka nang naaalala tungkol sa nakaraan mo. Hindi mo na raw kami naaalala. He also said that you’re assuming a different new identity.”

Mahabang kwento niya sa mabagal na tono. Bakas ang pag-iingat sa bawat salitang bibitiwan niya. I didn’t know if he was  intentionally leaving something in his story or it was just me doubting him.

“You knew a lot about her, huh?” Gunter did the honor of asking—more like interrogating him. All I could do was just give the lad a scrutinizing look.