Chapter 20

I looked at Rylan when I remembered about what Rachel told me a few days ago.

"I think, you need to explain, too." Napatingin naman kaagad siya sa akin. "Sabi ni Rachel when they were in my condo last time.. may plano ka na raw na mag-propose sa akin?"

"Sinabi ni Rachel 'yon? Of course, wala pa. We're still young and we still have a lot of things to do. Ikaw.. alam ko, marami ka pang plano. Wala pa sa isip ko 'yan sa ngayon, Alindra if you're worried about it.."

He assured me with a smile and held my hand while he's still driving. I sighed in relief. Mabuti naman.

"Alright. I just wanted to confirm it..."

Nakita ko namang ngumisi siya. "Why? Don't tell me na-e-excite ka sa thought na mag-p-propose na ako sa 'yo?"

"Oh! Shut up, Ry! Just drive!" I told him and chuckled.

He also chuckled and continue driving. Hindi ko na namalayang naihatid na pala niya ako sa building. He kissed me on my lips when I nearly go outside his car.

"Sige na. Umakyat ka na. Baka maiuwi pa kita," nakangiting sabi niya. I noticed he grew a beard now.

I rolled my eyes while also smiling. "As if I'll let you to do that.."

"Bakit? You don't want it?"

"It's tempting." Umiling ako saka mabilis na sinarado ang pinto ng kaniyang kotse pagkatapos magpaalam. Baka kung saan pa mapunta ang usapan namin.

It's still so early when I got inside the condominium. The guards even greeted me when they saw me. Alam kong kilala nila si Dad kaya malamang ay kilala rin nila ako.

Nagmadali naman akong pumasok sa elevator nang maramdaman ko ulit ang hilo. I feel like throwing up anytime. I'm just trying hard to hold it back because there's a lot of people inside the elevator. It's so embarrassing if I ever puke in here!

Iyon ang hinding-hindi ko gagawin!

My forehead creased when I saw a girl in front of my unit when I got out of the elevator finally. Her figure is familiar and when she turned around - I realized that she's one of my cousins on my Mom's side.

"Lexy? Hey, what are you doing here?"

She immediately smiled when she saw me. Niyakap din niya ako kaagad. "I called Tita Minerva and she said that you're here in this unit. It's been a year since I saw you! No'ng family reunion pa 'yon!"

"I think my mother is planning something." Nanliit ang mata ko saka tumawa. "I think she doesn't trust me enough kaya pinapunta ka niya rito to check me. But I missed you!"

"No huh! Sinadya talaga kita rito.."

She even giggled. I noticed that her body changed a lot. She became thinner and sexier than before. Color ash gray na rin ang kaniyang buhok ngayon. She looks so elegant even though she only wears a plain white cropped top and denim jeans. She never really changed her style.

She's also 20 years old. She's just months older than me. Compared to me, she's more relaxed and always calm. Manang-mana sa Mommy niya. She has this fair skin and natural brown hair just like mine. She's also a few inches taller than me.

"Let's continue our chats inside," aya ko sa kaniya saka kinuha ang keycard ng unit. "Should we order foods? Or kain na lang tayo sa labas?"

Nakanguso siyang pumasok saka nilapag ang bag sa couch. "I'm on a diet.."

Tumawa lang ako saka nilapitan ang piano para tumugtog. I stopped for a moment when I suddenly want to vomit everything inside my stomach.

"Hey, what happened?" tanong ni Lexy nang mabilis akong pumunta sa bathroom at sumuka.

I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. "I puked. Hangover.."

"Nag-pa-party ka pa rin pala until now," I heard her say that behind me and chuckled. "I thought, hindi na."

"You know that I'm a party goer. Whenever I party and drink, I can temporarily forget my problems.."

"Why? What's your problem? Nag-away ba kayo ng boyfriend mo or what?" she said with concerned eyes as she followed me.

"Wala, no. Something's just bothering me these past few days or even weeks, I think. Everytime na umuulan, I don't know.. laging mabigat ang pakiramdam ko. My heart aches for some reasons.."

I decided to make a coffee for the both of us. Para naman mawala rin ang hangover ko. Kaagad ko namang binigay iyon kay Lexy nang malagyan ko ng creamer.

"Thanks," she told me and smiled. Umupo naman ako sa tabi niya. "You think you have SAD? You know, seasonal affective disorder?"

"Yeah, I know that. Pero hindi naman siguro. And there's this stranger that I saw at the bar.. he's a completely stranger to me ah but I found him very familiar. May kakaibang feeling ako no'ng nakita ko siya at the very first time."

"It seems like.. I've already met him before," I added and sipped on my coffee.

Nagulat ako nang matapon sa kamay ni Lexy ang kape na hawak niya. I noticed that her hands are trembling and she's now panicking.

"Wait! Pupunasan ko."

I immediately wiped her hands dahil masyadong mainit ang kape at napaso siya.

"Uh, a-about that.. just don't mind it. Baka nakita mo lang dati pero hindi mo lang maalala or something. Me too, I experience that sometimes. Stop thinking about it, okay?"

Tumango lang ako saka sinundan siya ng tingin habang naghuhugas ng kamay sa sink. It's weird that she panicked when I told her about it.

Hindi ko na lang pinansin at ininom ko na lang ang kape hanggang maubos.

"Nakikita mo ba si Tita Lauren dito? I heard dito lang din siya sa floor na 'to. At 17th.."

Nilingon ko naman kaagad siya. "Huh? She's also here?"

"Yup. Matagal na siya rito, actually. Mas nauna pa siya sa 'yo. Her boyfriend also stays here with her. 'Yon ang sabi ni Mommy last time." Nagkibit-balikat siya.

My mother has also an eye here huh. Isang pagkakamali ko lang, alam kong i-re-report ako ni Tita Lauren kina Mom. Tita Lauren is just on her 30s but she doesn't have a child yet. She's more strict than my mother kaya alam kong kapag nakita niya akong may gawing kalokohan - baka hindi na ako payagan ni Mom na tumira dito pansamantala.

Well, I won't do anything bad so I don't have to worry about it. I just don't want to be scolded by my parents.

I went to the balcony when Lexy decided to take a rest first. I offered her my room. Napaisip naman ako sa sinasabi niya. Maybe she's right that I should just forget about what I felt last time. I shouldn't be affected just because of that. I think, it's just normal that there are some points in our lives that we'll meet someone and then we'll suddenly feel nostalgia.

Just like when we go to a place for the first time. It's nostalgic even if you haven't been there before. Siguro nga iyon lang iyon.

I hope so.

At bakit ko ba kasi pinoproblema iyon? I shouldn't let my emotions control me again! No! Not with this feeling! Not now!

"Hey! You want an ice cream?"

Nagulat naman ako nang makita ko ulit ang batang babaeng nakita ko noong nakaraan. She's just maybe four or five years old. She's also on the balcony but of course, in a different unit. We're, I think, three units away from each other.

"No, thank you. It's too early para mag-ice cream," I answered her with a loud voice so she could hear me.

"My rose wants ice cream every morning." Nginuso niya ang nag-iisang white rose sa tabi niya. My lips twitched because of that. "Just like Kuyang Pogi there oh. He also wants ice cream!You know him? He's just beside your room!"

Tiningnan ko kung saan ang tinuturo niya. May nakatalikod na lalaki na biglang humarap sa direksyon namin. To my surprise, it was the stranger at the bar last time!

Kaagad namang kumunot ang noo ko. "Hey! Are you following me? What are you doing here?"

Nakita ko naman ang gulat sa mukha niya nang makita ko. We're meters away from each other but I can still see his face right now. It's so bright that I think he had a good sleep. Wala rin siyang salamin ngayon kaya kitang-kita ko ang mga mata niya.

"Obviously, dito ako nakatira. I'm not following you. Itanong mo pa kay Yani," he told me - referring to the girl that I talked to a minute ago.

"Kuyang Pogi is already here when my Mommy and I moved here." Tumango-tango pa ang bata.

I collected myself altogether before I faced him. I was ready to answer him but he already waved his hands.

"Bye, Yani! Have a great day!"

I hate that he's smiling! Inaasar yata ako ng lalaking 'to!

"Bye-bye po, Kuyang Pogi!"

I rolled my eyes when she said that and repeatedly waved her hands. Pumasok na ako sa loob dahil bigla akong nairita sa kanilang dalawa lalo na sa lalaki!

Last time he was like staring at me and following me as if there's no tomorrow anymore! And now! He's acting like nothing happened! Like he didn't do anything to make me bothered!

I hate that he's just near to me! I didn't expect that he's also residing here in this building! Hindi naman ako pwedeng lumipat pa! Argh!

Pero hindi ako pwedeng magpa-apekto sa kaniya!

Kumunot ang noo ko nang may marinig sa kuwarto ko. I walked closer to the door so I can hear it clearly.

"..sinabi niya po 'yon a while ago. I didn't know what to say. Basta sinabi ko lang na kalimutan niya---"

"Mom!" I called her when I see her. Pare-pareho kaming nagulat. "What are you doing here?"

She immediately came near me and kissed my cheeks. "I came here to visit you, of course! Nandito nga rin pala si Lexy!"

"Yes, actually kanina pa. Nag-usap kami. Kayo? You were talking about something? Did I disturb you?"

Nakita ko namang nagkatinginan si Lexy at Mom.

"Yeah.. your Tita Imelda wants her to live here, too," nakangiting sabi ni Mom.

"Pero sa ibang unit. I don't want to disturb you on your personal space naman.."

I smiled at Lexy when she said that. It's a good thing though that she'll live here. Nasa iisang building lang kami at kahit papaano, may pupuntahan ako kapag bored ako.

May pinag-uusapan pa sila nang makalabas sa kuwarto pero hindi ko na pinakinggan pa.

. . .

"Sa Saturday na ang flight namin," malungkot na sabi ni Rachel nang makapasok sa loob ng room ko.

I don't know what to react when I heard that from Rachel. I can feel her sadness right now. I'll surely miss her. Sa kanilang tatlo, siya ang pinaka-close ko. Pero kung mawawala siya because of her dreams then, it's alright.

Wala naman kaming magagawa kung gusto niyang umalis at sa ibang bansa i-pursue ang career niya..

"Matutulog kayong lahat dito?" I asked when Milan and Erica also entered the room. They both have a knapsack. "I'm tired.. I can't cook for us.."

"Then, magpa-deliver tayo! I want pizza and wings!" Milan excitedly told me. She even shook my arms.

Nakita kong ngumiwi si Erica sa kaniya. "'Te? Hindi ka ba nagsasawa sa pizza? Napupurga na ako ka-pi-pizza mo!"

Natawa na lang ako sa kanila. I'm really tired.

Galing ako sa magiging unit ni Lexy. I heard that she'll move here, too because of what Tita Imelda told her. Tuloy na raw pala iyon. She's also on the 17th floor. Almost beside Tita Lauren's unit.

"Hey, nag-usap kami ni Rylan last time when he fetched us. He said, he doesn't have any plans yet to marry me," sabi ko saka nilapitan si Rachel. I noticed that she's frowning at hindi nakikisali sa pangugulit ng dalawa.

She shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know.. ayon ang narinig ko sa kanila ni Daddy eh.."

Kumunot ang noo ko. Now, I don't know who's really saying the truth - kung si Rachel o ang Kuya niya.

Hindi na lang ako nagtanong pa ulit. I think, Rachel is not in the mood because she'll leave soon. She didn't expect that they will leave immediately after she decided to go abroad for her modelling career and studies. Summer pa lang. Malayo pa sa dapat na pag-alis nila ng Mommy niya.

"Movie marathon?" I suggested. "How about night swimming?"

I saw how Rachel's face lit up after that. Napalingon din ang dalawa na nag-aasaran pa rin.

"I like movie marathon while we're swimming." Tumaas-taas pa ang kilay ni Rachel.

Sumakit naman ang tainga ko nang tumili si Milan. "OMG! Should I invite Cassie here? Marami siyang---"

"Milan, tayo lang muna. Alright?"

She pouted. I just pinched her cheek as I made my way to the rooftop. Mabuti at wala nang nag-s-swimming sa ganitong oras. Rachel already ordered for our foods. Ni-re-ready naman nina Erica ang laptop para makapili na kami ng movie.

"Horror movie," I suggested and removed my shirt.

Inirapan naman ako ni Milan. "No, romance! Erica and I love romantic movies.. pati si Rachel!"

"Dinamay mo na naman ako diyan!" Tumalon si Erica sa pool saka hinila ang paa ni Milan. "Gusto ko horror para matakot ka! Hindi ka makaka-CR!"

We loudly laughed when Milan fell to the pool because of Erica.

"Sige, horror na lang!" Rachel agreed while still laughing.

I just shook my head and started to play the movie. Our orders have already arrived, too. Dala iyon ng isang crew. Nagulat pa akong may vodka pa silang in-order.

"I didn't know that you have plans to drink," nakangisi kong sabi kay Rachel na nanonood na rin sa movie na pinili ko.

She looked at me with a smirk on her lips, too. "Well, let's have fun tonight!"

I laughed when she swayed and jumped to the pool. Niyaya naman nila akong maligo na.

Nang tumalon ako sa pool, hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyari at hindi ako nakagalaw. The next thing I knew, I'm seeing a vague shadow in front of me. I can't really see it clearly. I feel like I'm only dreaming but I can still hear the sound of the water, audio from the movie and my friends' voices.

Naririnig ko sila pero hindi ako makagalaw!

Sumisigaw ako sa isip ko para humingi sa kanila ng tulong. My eyes are intently closed but I'm still seeing the shadow that I saw a moment ago. After a few moments, it became vivid and I saw a guy that is trying to save me from drowning. Binuksan ko ang mata ko pero wala akong nakita.

Namalayan ko na lang, wala na pala ako sa tubig at nag-aalala na sa akin ang mga kaibigan ko.

"Hey, what happened?" Rachel asked. Worry is evident on their eyes when I looked at them.

"Ayos lang ba kayo, ma'am?"

Nandoon din ang isang crew sa tabi. Hindi ako makasagot sa kanila. Sina Milan, umahon naman sa pool nang makita ako.

I'm still gasping for air while trying to look for the guy that I saw but he's not around. Malabo ang mukha niya pero bakit pakiramdam ko.. nakita ko na siya?

At bakit pakiramdam ko.. nangyari na 'to dati?

... ... ...