Reclaiming the Stars (Agustin Series #1)

Kabanata 25

There was a flashback. Lahat ng hirap na pinagdaanan ko noon. I was powerless, wala akong tapang, lakas ng loob at kapangyarihan. I was just that poor teenager who was locked up inside a tiny room, watched her brother die right in front of her eyes, witnessed how my father got handcuffed and be left by them.

But today is different. I didn't go through all of that for nothing. I got wiser by past and stronger by pain.

Jewel was gaping at me, with her mouth parted.

"Just a reminder, Jewel. Close your bag. And your mouth too. Baka langawin," I gave her a sly wink before heading in my car. She's a waste of time. They're both a waste of time.

Lorenzo on the other hand watched me get my ass out there. I even heard him saying some words to her girl. It makes me wonder, maybe they're really meant for each other.

Isang tangang engineer at isa pang nagtatanga-tangahang engineer.

Buti nalang architect ako.

"I will report this to the heads," galit na sabi ni Ade. Knowing her, she wouldn't let this pass. She never let bitches pass, especially not this one.

"Just let it be," I smiled at her.

"And you're telling me that we're tolerating this kind of attitude inside a working environment?" she pushed.

"We don't tolerate, Miss Mendez. We teach," tumaas ang gilid ng labi ko. She playfully rolled her eyes at me, intimately agreeing with how my mind works.

Magkasabay kaming umalis ni Ade. I glanced back at the mirror and saw Lorenzo and Jewel still at the same spot earlier. They seemed to be talking.

I kept my eyes on the road, my hair down and my chin up.

"Hi Crispin!" Iniwan ko si Crispin kayna Lala at si Yñigo ang nagbabantay dahil wala s'yang pasok. Walang pasok o hindi pumasok, hindi ko alam sa kanya. High school na at lahat, panggulo pa rin. I wonder what Kael would look like if he's here.

"Ate Priya!" bati ni Yñigo.

"Kumusta ang school?" pagtatanong ko.

"Ate matutuwa ka sa'kin!" pagyayabang n'ya. Si Lala naman ay tuwang tuwa na makita kaming magkasama. Minsan lang kasi ako umuwi.

"Hay nako, ang batang iyan talaga," naiiling na sabi ni Lala.

"Anong meron, Yñigs?" pagtatanong ko.

"Lumabas na yung grades namin last sem, Ate!" sabi n'ya at naghalungkat s'ya ng bag at may kinuha doong report card.

"Patingin nga! Nag-aaral ka bang bata ka?" Isa pa kasing tamad itong si Yñigo.

"May line of nine ako, Ate!" Kinuha ko ang report card n'ya at gustong gusto ko s'yang sakalin sa nakita ko.

"Ang galing ko, Ate, diba? Biruin mo Ate naka 79 ako! Kalahati palang yan ng sem ha, paano kung buo na edi baka 158 na yung marka ko! Walang wala yung top one namin," malaking ngiti n'yang sinabi. Talagang proud pa!

"Tarantado kang bata ka!" kinuha ko ang walis ni Lala at hinabol si Yñigo para paluin.

"La! La! Help! Lala! Si Ate, oh! Papatayin ako nito, La!" Nagtago s'ya sa likod ni Lala na nagluluto ng matamis na saging.

"Tabi ka dyan, La! Papatikim ko lang yan ng matamis na palo." Pananakot ko.

"Ano ba kayong dalawa? Umupo na kayo at kakain tayo," Lala chuckled as she prepared meryenda.

Yñigo stuck her tongue out and made face in front of me. Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong saksakin s'ya ng tinidor.

Moments like this makes me want to jump from time. I miss my family so much. And I wish I hugged them tighter the last time I saw them. Lala was braiding my hair, ayaw talaga akong pabalikin sa pagtatrabaho. Pati si Yñigo na nakahiga naman sa binti ko at nanonood ng kung anong palabas.

"Apo, dito ka na muna," malungkot na sabi ni Lala.

"Oo nga, Ate. Please?" ungot ni Yñigo.

"Hindi ko pwedeng iwan ang trabaho ko," I sadly told them.

"La, di na tayo mahal ni Ate oh," pag-iinarte ni Yñigo.

"Babawi ako, promise," I was planning to have vacation with them, hopefully, luwag ang schedule ko by next month. Namiss ko silang ka-bonding.

"Bye, La! Bye Yñigo! Mag-aral kang mabuti papalayasin ka ni Lala!" Madilim na at saka ko lang napagpasyahang umuwi.

"Ingat sa pag-drive, apo!" naiiyak na sabi ni Lala na parang hindi na talaga kami magkikita.

"Opo, La! Bye po, love you both!"

Pauwi na ako at madilim na rin. Balak kong hindi nalang kumain dahil naparami ako ng saging.

It was another calm night, a bit dry, but like what I've always wanted, peaceful. Kapag ganito kaganda ang kalsada, parang gusto ko nalang magmaneho magdamag. Tumigil ako para mag-gasolina. I checked my phone afterwards and there are three unread messages.

From: Lorenzo

Hi

This is Lorenzo, btw

Can I call?

Namalik-mata naman ako. It was sent hours ago. Why does he want to call? Wala naman kaming pag-uusapan sa trabaho. I already saved his contact since he's a colleague. His last message gave me shivers, something cliché.

Nag-intay ako ng mga three minutes bago mag-reply. Wala lang gusto ko lang.

To Lorenzo:

Okay

Nagulantang naman ang mundo ko nang biglang magring iyon. I wasn't expecting that! That was faster than lighting.

"Yes?" bungad ko, kunwari inis.

"Hi," he started. I don't know if it's the gloomy night but his voice sounded tired.

"What do you want?" hindi ko pa rin nakakalimutan ang pagkampi n'ya kay Jewel kanina. I mean, I'm not asking him to take my side but he should process the situation first.

"About Jewel..." he called because of that? You're such a disappointment, Lorenzo.

"What about her?" I rolled my eyes kahit hindi n'ya ako kita.

"I talked to her earlier–" pinutol ko s'ya. Ang sasabihin n'ya.

"Saka mo'ko tawagan kapag may pakialam na'ko," I angrily ended the call. Akala n'ya ba magandang pakinggan ang pangalan ng alahas na 'yon.

Way to ruin my night.

I parked my car at tamad akong tumaas sa condo. Ang dami kong talent na natuklas ngayong araw, runner, pulaera, lahat na yata. Inis ko uling pinindot pindot ang buttons dahil ang tagal na naman gumana.

I was humming my way to my door. Singing some weird lyrics from a certain song.

"Priya..." I heard someone speaking. I stopped my breathing. Kinakabahan akong naghalungkat ng bag ko at humanap ng pwedeng weapon. I looked both sides pero walang tao.

Baka isa na naman sa fans ni Dim na greatest prankster. Months ago, someone sent me a cute doll na galing sa fan ni Dim. I was the happiest hanggang sa pindutin ko iyon. It kept saying, "Layuan mo si Dim." and it creeped the hell out of me. That was a bad experience.

"Priya..." the voice said again, this time parang natatawa na. I slowly turned my back only to see a familiar figure.

"Lorenzo?"