J U S T I N
Pat and I were sitting on an empty bench, waiting for her mom when she suddenly wanted a heart-to-heart talk. "Justin." I heard her call out my name.
"Hmm?" I looked sideways at her, and she wasn't even looking at me.
"Ano bang problema sa akin? I mean . . . may kulang ba? May sobra ba?" she asked, her voice raw with emotion as she stared far ahead. "May hindi ba 'ko nagawa?"
I wasn't expecting her to ask me that, but I quickly shook my head no. "Hindi. Huwag mong isipin 'yan. Tatagal ba tayo nang gano'n kung may problema sa iyo?" I answered, looking at her.
"Tumagal nga tayo, pero pinagpalit mo naman ako. There must be something wrong with me. Ano nga?" tanong niya pa ulit.
Hindi ko mapigilan ang mapabuntonghininga. Mahirap ipaliwanag. I was literally struggling to find the right words to say.
"You know your E-Heads shirt? The black one? Hindi ba ang tagal mong paborito 'yon?" tanong ko sa kaniya.
She nodded her head vigorously.
"Hindi ba suot mo 'yon araw-araw? Sobrang paborito mo 'yon. Tapos isang araw, binilhan ka ni Tito Paul ng Metallica shirt. Ito, 'tong damit na 'to." I said, gesturing to the exact same shirt she has on.
"No'ng una, hindi mo pinapansin 'to. Kay E-Heads ka pa rin. But you wore it once, and you realized that it was a better fit. After that, may bagong paborito ka na. Ito na 'yong mas madalas mong sinusuot," paliwanag ko.
"It doesn't mean na may problema sa E-Heads shirt. Gusto mo pa rin naman 'yon, and you still like wearing it once in a while. But . . . in your heart, you know that you and the Metallica one are a perfect match, and if you can only choose one—"
"Pipiliin ko si Metallica," mahinang bulong niya, nodding her head in understanding.
Tumango rin ako sa kaniya. "Walang problema sa iyo, Pat. That's why I felt so guilty for what I did. If you were a bad person, what I've done wouldn't have mattered to me. There wouldn't be any guilt. But you're not," I reassured her. "It's just that . . . Aubrey . . . she's my soulmate, Pat. I know she is," bulong ko sa kaniya.
Silence enveloped us for a few minutes before she finally smiled at me with a teasing look in her eyes. "Ninang ako, ah," biro niya.
"Oo naman," tawa ko.
Nagkuwentuhan pa kami tungkol sa Patterson, sa Dawson, kay Aubrey, at sa kung ano-ano pang mga bagay. Sobrang dami naming naipon na kuwento, and it's amazing how fast time flies when I'm with her.
It was close to 8 p.m. when I received a text from Aub.
FROM: Babe
Where are you?
Are you okay?
I looked at Pat. Wala pa rin ang mommy niya at hindi ko naman siya puwedeng iwan na lang dito.
"Are you sure masusundo ka ni Tita? It's getting late. Ihahatid na kita," alok ko.
"No, it's okay. She's just caught up in a meeting. Patapos na rin siguro 'yon," she said, glancing at her watch.
I know for a fact that her mom isn't in a meeting. I know where she really is, but that is something that I promised to keep from Pat, so I just kept my mouth shut. "Tara na. Ihahatid na kita. Hinahanap na kasi ako ni Aubrey. Hindi kita puwedeng iwan dito, gabi na," pilit ko sa kaniya.
She looked at the sky and let out a sigh. I know she's afraid of the dark and she won't last a minute in here by myself.
"Sige na nga," she said, standing up morosely.
Nang makasakay na kami sa kotse ko ay t-in-ext niya kaagad si Tita na may maghahatid na sa kaniya pauwi. Hindi ko na lang tinanong kung binanggit niya ba na ako 'yon. I don't think her mom still likes me after what happened between us, and I can't blame her.
"I saw you and Aubrey making out." We have been driving for a while when she suddenly opened up.
I hesitated.
Of course, she did.
Kaya nga kami naghiwalay, 'di ba?
"Alam ko. Hinabol pa nga kita sa kotse mo, 'di ba?" I struggled to let the words out. That was the same day when she got herself into an accident because of us. If we lost her then, I don't think I would ever be able to forgive myself.
"No. I'm not talking about that. That was a long time ago," she said, slightly shaking her head. "I saw you making out at the horror booth. Ako 'yong vampire do'n," kuwento niya.
Ahhh. So, siya pala 'yong vampire na feeling lion?
Hindi na nakakagulat.
"Kaya ako nakita ni Aubrey no'n na umiiyak sa CR," dagdag niya pa. "Pero okay na 'ko ngayon. Kahit nga siguro mag-churut pa kayo sa harap ko, okay lang," she said nonchalantly.
I almost stepped on the brakes. Ano raw?
"Ikaw, kung ano-ano talagang iniisip mo," suway ko sa kaniya.
"No, really. I know naman that you guys are having sex na. Okay lang sa akin. Naka-move on na 'ko. Promise," she said, crossing her heart and raising her hand.
"H-How did you know?" I asked, curious.
Wala naman akong nababanggit sa kaniya tungkol do'n. I respect Aubrey. What happens between us stays between us. Which is why I have no idea kung paano nalaman ni Pat.
"Hahahahaha. I didn't!!! Sinabi ko lang na alam ko para mapaamin ka, at umamin ka naman?" Tawa niya. "So, how was it? How was it, ha? Magkuwento kaaa!" pangungulit niya.
I laughed at her. She can really get childish sometimes. Pero nautakan niya 'ko ro'n, ah.
"I'm not telling you anything. Magbati na kayo ni Axl so you can have someone to do it with," pabirong payo ko sa kaniya. Halata naman kasi na may kaunting tampuhan sila o hindi pagkakasundo.
She pouted.
"Pero hindi, huwag pala. No, forget what I said. Don't have sex with that guy—or any guy—hangga't hindi ka pa kasal, okay?" mabilis na bawi ko.
Alam kong ang hipokrito ko sa linya na 'yon dahil hindi rin naman kami kasal ni Aub pero may nangyayari na sa amin. But I just want Pat to be careful. After all the hurt I caused her, the least I could do is to watch out for her.
"Wow. So, kayo lang puwede. Ako hindi?" Pat asked jokingly.
"Haha. Hindi naman sa gano'n. But always keep your head above your heart. Payong kaibigan lang," seryosong bilin ko.
"Yes po, Father," she answered sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
Pagkarating namin sa bahay nila ay mabilis siyang bumaba at nagpasalamat sa akin.
Palabas na 'ko sa subdivision nila nang makasalubong ko ang kotse ni Axl na papasok pa lang. Kilala ko 'yong kotse niya dahil nakita ko siya kanina na lumabas sa parking habang naghihintay kami ni Pat sa tapat ng Dawson.
He didn't seem to see me dahil dire-diretso lang siya sa pagda-drive.
Siguro ay pupuntahan si Pat para makipag-usap. I thought to myself. I felt my phone vibrate. I picked it up and it was Aubrey.
"Babe, nasaan ka na?"
"Pauwi na. Hinatid ko lang si Pat."
"S-Si Pat?"
"Yes. It's a long story, I'll tell you when I get—"
I wasn't able to finish my sentence because a black delivery truck came rushing towards me just then.
I tried to get out of its way, but I was too late. The vehicle smashed the back of my car making a loud banging sound. Everything happened so fast, and the next thing I know, my car was already spinning out of control.
The last thing I remember was crashing right smack onto a lamppost and feeling extreme pain in my legs, before finally losing consciousness.