Third Person's PoV
"Bro... your head. It's bleeding."
Jerone hit his head at the post. He doesn't know that he's bleeding. Instead of panicking, he patted the cat. "Don't worry cat, you're safe." And then he eventually closed his eyes.
Kiko and his troupe step back when they noticed that Jerone is surrounded by people.
They are seeking of what happened to Jerone. The owner of the car explained that Jerone saved that cat. Most of the witness was surprised of how the cat stayed still beside him. It seems like the cat was Jerone's companion for a long time.
The owner of Jerone's apartment which is Wena went outside when she noticed why there are many people near her apartment. Out of curiosity, nakisingit siya. She was shocked when she saw Jerone who was laying on an emergency bed. Puro galos ito, punit ang damit at dumudugo ang ulo.
She gasped and covered her mouth, "Ay jusko, Jerone! Anong nangyari sa'yong bata ka!?... Bakit... bakit ganiyan ang itsura mo?" Hindi niya maatim na tingnan ang sinapit nito.
"Nakita ko po siya while nasa rails po ako sa bahay. Ni-saved po 'yung cat po. Ang bilis nga po e, para siyang si superman." Umaksiyon pa ang bata habang may dalang mini superman toy.
"Dahil lang sa pusa?" Nangiwing tanong ni Wena sa bata.
"Cat are there whenever you're sad kaya po." Protekta ng bata at tinaas ang kaliwang kamay dala ang laruan nito. Inaaway siya.
Dumating ang Nanay nito at nagpasensiya kay Wena.
"Saan niyo siya daldalhin?" She asked immediately when she noticed na isasakay na nila itong si Jerone.
"Sa hospital po syempre," The nurse said. "Minor injury po ang nangyari, but we also need to treat him right away."
Kilala ni Wena at Jerone ang Nurse. Dahil nagrerenta rin ito sa apartment niya.
"'Bakit Jeraine?" She asked panicking, "Minor? E bakit ganiyan 'yang batang 'yan!? Bakit nahimatay!?" Kung titingnan lang si Jerone ay talagang nakakaawa ang itsura nito.
"Kalma tita, nawalan lang 'yan ng malay. Bukas o makawala, masamang damo na ulit 'yan." Jeraine joked as seriousness plastered on her face, "He lost his consciousness because he's over fatigue due to the injuries he got."
Napatakip si Wena ulit sa bibig at muli siyang naawa sa bata. Gumigising si Jerone alas kwatro ng umaga, naghahakot ito ng mga boxes ng produkto at sinasalansan itong ilagay sa lagayan ng mga paninda. Pagkatapos, liligpitin nito ang mga kalat sa tindahan. Malaki ang tindahan ni Wena at siya rin ang may-ari ng apartment kaya't nakakapagod talaga ang araw-araw na ginagawa ni Jerone.
Madalas niya itong maabutan na nagmomop alas sais ng umaga pagkatapos ng iba pa nitong gawain sa kaniyang grocery store. Madalas din ay inaabutan niya ito ng pang almusal. Tinatanggap naman iyon ni Jerone kay Wena at doon ay kumakain at nagkkwentuhan sila ng ilang minuto. Matapos iyon ay babalik na si Jerone sa kaniyang apartment malapit sa grocery store at maghahanda na para sa klase. Babiyahe ito ng ilang minuto at makakarating ng 7:30 ng umaga.
Pagkatapos ng klase maghapon ay magbibihis lang ito at babalik na ulit sa grocery store para siya naman ang pumalit kay Wena sa pagtitinda. Nakatoka si Jerone ng 7pm hanggang 11:30 pm.
Kahapon naman ng sabado ay rest day ni Jerone. Nagsasarado ang tindahan tuwing sabado at magbubukas ulit ito ng linggo hanggang biyernes.
Hindi ni Wena maintindihan kung bakit nagpunta pa ito sa bagong bar na malapit sa bayan nila. Alam naman niyang delikado at maraming masasamang tao lalo na sa panahon ngayon.
She looked over him again, parang anak na ang turing niya dito kaya't hindi niya maiwasan ang mapaiyak. She assured him that once he gets up, she will surely scold him.
She pleaded to Jeraine. So instead of taking him to the hospital, they brought Jerone into his unit. Wena knows that Jerone didn't like to go to the hospital.
While applying the ointment, "Kahit masamang damo ka pa rin, nakakaawa kang tingnan e." Jeraine mocked and turns his head to Wena. "Hindi pa rin siya nagbabago, takot pa rin sa hospital."
"Ewan ko ba sa batang 'yan kung bakit 'yan ganiyan." Maang na sinabi ni Wena.
Jeraine eyes suddenly grew sadder and she faked a smile, "Maybe because he's scared of what happened back then."
"Bakit? Ano bang nangyari?" Wena asked. Napuno ng kuryosidad ang mukha nito. "Ang alam ko lang e ayaw niya lang pumunta."
Jeraine wants to cry that time but she should not. She just made a fake smile instead. "Hindi ko rin alam tita, nasabi lang din niya sa'kin dati... may nangyari sa hospital na ayaw niyang maalala."
Jerone's unit was filled with silence. "Okay na po, tawagan mo na lang ako tita Wen kapag nagising na siya." Jeraine checked her watch, it's 1:56 in the morning.
Wena nodded, "Okay salamat Jeraine ha."
Jeraine stand up and hugged Wena. It doesn't cause her to get shocked because she is used to it, after all, Jeraine is clingy to her. She didn't have a child so she defined Jeraine as her daughter. After that Jeraine went outside.
Before Wena got up, she stared at Jerone once again and before she was about to close the door she gets shocked when the cat came in and it sat down next to Jerone. Naguguluhan niyang tiningnan si Jerone, "Kelan ka pa nagalaga ng pusa?" She asked surprisingly before closing the door.
"So as long as I live I'll love you
Will have and hold you
You look so beautiful in white"
Jerone woked up when he heard a song from his neighbor. He frustratedly touched his head. "Ugh, it hurts." He checks his bruises. The wound was not that hurts because Jeraine applied an ointment and bandage on it.
"And from now to my very last breath
This day I'll cherish
You look so beautiful in white
Tonight..."
"Hoy! Magang-maga ingay mo!" Jerone shouted at the back of the wall. He stand up pero nagulat siya na may nahawakan siyang kakaiba sa tabi niya.
He then saw a cat laying on his bed, "Woah, hindi ka pa nakuntento ha. Nagpapaampon ka pa." He held the cat and put it on his arms as he caressed it.
He layed it in the bed and took a peek if it's female or male. Napagalaman niyang babae pala.
"Bastos!"
Napalingon siya sa paligid. "Hoy Jeraine magang-maga ang ingay mo!" He exclaimed as he went out into his room.
The door's opened. "Anong maingay e nagpapatugtog lang ako! Ikaw, magang-maga kung ano-ano ang naririnig mo! Dala yata 'yan ng pagbagok ng ulo mo e! Akina at iuntog ko naman para bumalik sa dati!" Bulyaw pabalik ni Jeraine.
Binato niya ang susi ng apartment ni Jerone, "Binigay sa'kin ni tita Wen since magkapitbahay lang naman tayo. Ako na muna ang tatao sa grocery kasi wala naman akong appointment ngayon. Magpahinga ka na muna." Her face went sad and worried, "You look so tired."
Napaiwas ng tingin si Jerone, "Layas na! Makita ko lang mukha mo mas hindi yata ako makakapagpahinga e!" Akmang sasaraduhan na nito ang pinto pero muling nagtanong ang babae.
"Ano ba kasing nangyari? Kwento ni Tita, pumunta ka daw sa bagong bar dito? And after that, ano? Nakipag rumble ka na naman?" Naiinis ito, "Pwede ba, tumigil ka na sa ganiyan mo!?"
Muli pa sana itong iimik pero pinagsaraduhan na niya ito ng pinto, "Bahala ka ha! Choice mo 'yan!" Matapos n'on ay wala na siya narinig. Nakaalis na siguro.
After that, he opened his phone. Sa lock screen ay makikita ang notification na puro missed calls galing sa stepmother niya. He then entered his pin to unlock it. The phone almost slid in his hand when Sadako-the ghost appeared on the screen. He almost got a heart attack with her shits.
"JERAINE!" He exclaimed then, he heard a loud laugh outside. He knew that she's tripping him by doing such a thing. She knows him well.
"HAHAHAHA! As I expected, I wonder what expression you have right now," Pang-aasar nito. "Sige na, aalis na ako."
Jerone turned off his phone and about to step onto the kitchen when the door opens again. He turns his head and was about to shout Jaraine's name again but surprisingly it was Wena.
"Kamusta ang sugat? Masakit pa ba?" He guided her to the living room. They satted down and faces each other.
"Yes, a little bit." He avoided her gazes.
Wena crossed her arms, "May nakarating sa'kin na report galing sa police station. Nabugbog ka pala," She then raised her brows, "Kung gusto mo palang mabugbog, bakit hindi sa'kin!?" Binato niya ng unan si Jerone galing sa couch.
"Hindi mo ba muna ibibigay sa'kin 'yan bago mo ako pagalitan?" He gets nervous while laughing.
"Oh, alam kong gutom ka na." Nilabas nito mula sa paper bag ang pang almusal. Umalingawngaw ang amoy nito nang buksan ang takip ng ng lalagyan.
He swallowed his saliva when he saw the foods. It was pancake, toasted bread pudding with scrambled eggs. "Magiinit muna ako ng tubig at ipapagtimpla kita ng kape." Nang pagkatayo ni Wena ay agad na nilantakan ni Jerone ang dala nito para sa kaniya.
Tamang-tama at gutom na gutom na siya. Pagkabalik ni Wena ay may dala itong kape. "Ano bang nangyari at nagpunta ka pa do'n? 'Wag mong sabihin na inakit ka ng barkada mo at wala ka no'n o dahil trip mo lang?" Umupo ito at sinuri siya habang kumakain ng pancake na niluto niya.
"Trip ko lang." Maikli nitong sagot.
"Alam kong hindi ka ganiyan Jerone, hindi ka nagpapakalasing dahil trip mo lang at ang nakakapagtaka ay dumayo ka pa talaga sa bar? Ano ba talagang nangyari?" Kunot noong tanong ni Wena. Simula kagabi ay nakukuryos na siya dahil hindi naman si Jerone ganito.
"Fam prob." He said in soft voice.
Gusto man magtanong ni Wena pero alam niyang hindi nito gustong mag open up kapag usapang pamilya na. Tumayo na siya. "Ubusin mo na 'yan at pupunta ulit ako dito mamayang gabi para kunin 'yung lagayan," lumingon ito kay Jerone bago isarado ang pinto. "Naghahanap na ako ng magiging kasama mo sa tindahan para hindi ka na ganoon mahirapan."
Ngumiti si Jerone, "Kaya ko naman tita, don't worry that much. Don't act like I'm your son," Pagbibiro niya. "At hindi naman po 'yon tungkol sa pagttrabaho ko sa grocery nagkataon na may fam prob lang kaya naisipan kong gawin 'yon." Napailing-iling ito.
"Kahit na. Palaki na ng palaki ang tindahan kaya kailangan mo na rin ng makakasama." tsaka dinuro ni Wena si Jerone, "Tingnan mo nga 'yang sinapit mo oh." Napakamot ito sa ulo, "Kung may problema ka Jerone, 'wag ka na dumayo pa kung saan lalo na at mag-isa ka dahil mahina rin naman 'yang alcohol tolerance mo. 'Wag nang matigas ang ulo, dito ka na lang uminom kung gusto mo." She widened her eyes before she gone to her grocery store.
Nang matapos kumain ay agad siyang pumunta sa kusina para hugasan ang mga pinaglagyan ng mga ito. Matapos iyon ay nakarinig siya ng lagabog mula sa kwarto. It might be the cat. He thought that it has been starving since it was a stray cat.
He go to his room and saw the cat laying on his bed. "I thought you were the one who created that sound? That's weird." Shiver went down in his spine, "Bakit kanina pa ako nakakarinig dito ng ingay pero wala naman?" Dali-dali siyang lumabas matapos kunin ang pera sa wallet niya.
He goes to grocery since magkabitbahay lang naman ang apartment at grocery store.
"What made you here?" Sinalubong siya ni Jeraine.
"Cat food?" Nakangiwi niya tanong sa babae.
"What?"
"I mean cat food, I will buy cat food."
"Wow Jerone! Kailan ka pa nahilig sa pusa? Cat food? Stray cat naman ata 'yun, pwede na 'yun sa tamang kanin at ulam."
"Does a vendor required to meddle with the customer's choice?" He asked annoyingly. "Just give me the best one."
"Vendor... vendor..." She murmured, "Sales lady, sales woman!" Umirap ito.
"Tss, arte. Pareho lang 'yon."
Umirap itong muli. "Ewan ko sa'yo. Ikaw nga dapat, mamili. Para ka talagang tanga." Umismid ito bago tumalikod.
"Mas tanga ka." He whispered.
Nanlalaki ang mata na ni Jeraine na humarap sa kaniya, "Narinig ko 'yon!"
"So what?" He muttered. "Just give me that thing para makaalis na ako," and mocks her, "Pangit mo."
She annoyingly gave him a strike on his arms before obeying his order. Matapos makapili ay binato nito sa kaniya ang cat food, "865. 'Yan na 'yung pinakamalaki do'n."
As he caught it, he gave her 500 pesos. "'Kulang pala, ikaw na lang magdagdag." Mabilis itong tumakbo papalayo sa kaniya pabalik sa apartment nito.
"JERONE!" She exclaimed.
As he went inside, dumiretso siya sa kitchen at para maghanap ng p'wedeng lagayan. Nang makahanap ay agad niyang nilagay ang cat food, "Tatakalin ko pa ba?" Taka niyang tanong.
"Ugh... 3 cups? Am I right?" Nahihirapan niyang tanong sa sarili matapos kunin ang cup na kasama sa cat food.
"Bahala na, okay na 'to." And immediately walk towards his room, he doesn't know but it seems like he's excited to feed that cat.
"What name should I call to---Sadako!?" He strident as the cat food on his hands fell when he saw a woman with white dress on his bed.
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A/N: I'm sorry for mistakes such as: Grammatical error, misspell etc. You can correct me if I'm wrong, thank you!