YELO (P.S#6)

6

“Kuya!”

I was almost crying. But I was also fuming in anger. Nanggigigil talaga ako at parang gusto kong sabuyan ng asido 'tong pintuan ng bahay ng lalaki ni Mattee.

“I told you, hindi ka uubra kay Alexander. Ang tigas kasi ng ulo mo,”

Napairap ako at nagpapadyak na habang nakatayo sa harapan ng pintuan. It's been two hours. Two fucking hours at hindi niya talaga ako pinagbuksan.

“He's not human! How could he do this to me!”

Hindi kaagad nasagot ni kuya ang tawag ko dahil mayroon daw siyang inaasikaso. And he said it's too late for him to fetch me.

“Hindi ka rin naman mukhang tao. Sandali at si Bobbie ang patatawagin ko. Magdasal ka na sapian ng mabait na espiritu 'yang si Yelo at pumayag. Wait,”

Iyon lamang at namatay na rin ang tawag. Habol ko pa rin ang aking hininga sa sobrang galit.

I just can't believe what's happening. I mean, how can he let someone, and a girl at that, stay outside of his house instead of offering shelter lalo na at disoras na. It's already dark at marami na yata akong pantal sa binti!

As someone who had worked in the hospitality industry, this is very unacceptable. Isa pa, aren't we all hospitable? That's common manner, to invite people to your house, especially visitors.

Nakagat ko ang pang ibabang labi at pinigilan ang sarili na umiyak.

I hate being alone in dark places. And since walang bahay sa paligid bukod sa kanya, this is starting to scare me too.

All my life, I tried to be independent. Pero kahit ganoon, I still have Zarah and my cousins who watch over me from time to time. Hindi pa naman ako ganoong katapang na tao. Yeah, I voice out my opinion a lot but deep inside, I'm still scared. I have a lot of fears and one of those is being alone.

Napatingala ako sa langit. Ang dilim na at medyo malamig na rin ang hangin kaya bahagya na akong nilalamig.

What if hindi nila ma-convince si Yelo to open the door for me? Will I stay here the whole night? What if may bad people around the area? Baka mamatay na lang ako bigla nang walang nakakaalam...

My mind is starting to be filled with weord thoughts hanggang sa mapaupo na ako sa sahig at niyakap ang aking tuhod.

I shouldn't have gone here.

Dapat nagmukmok na lang ako sa condo kahit nahihirapan akong matulog. I should have stayed there na lang the entire time and pig out.

My lips puckered as I pouted about how bad my situation is right now.

‘Huwag kang iiyak, Arika. That man isn't worth your tears,’ I whispered it to myself over and over ngunit wala rin. In the end, I started crying.

Nakakainis!

My eyes closed automatically. Pumasok sa isipan ko ang mukha ng nakakainis na tatay ni Mataias.

I remember how pale his skin was. His eyes were cold at kahit na anong tikas ng kanyang tindig at kahit na gaano pa kaperpekto tignan ang kanyang mukha, hindi panrin matatabunan noon ang inis na aking nararamdaman.

“He's so mean!”

Sunod sunod na nagbaksakan ang mga luha sa'king pisngi at hindi ko na iyon mapigilan.

I can't believe I am crying right now. And that I am crying over a guy. I mean, never ince in my life na umiyak ako dahil sa lalaki. And he's not even my boyfriend to begin with!

Naimagine ko na naman ang kanyang mukha at mas lalo akong nainis.

“Pangit! Maputla! Multo! Pangit! Pangit ka ta-”