"Sabi na nga ba! Napakasama talaga ng ugali niya! Hindi ko alam kung bakit nagustuhan ko ang lalaking 'yon! Kinikilabutan ako!" entrada ni Savannah. Kasalukuyan kaming narito sa unit niya. After my deliberation about whether I should tell her or not about what happened, this is where I ended. I considered thinking of her feelings towards Raviel; that was why I was hesitating, but when I got to remember she was so turned off about their dates, I decided to tell Savannah every inch of the details I learned.

"So basically, he used me because I am close to you, and then you are, of course, close to your lover. Hold on, what if he planted a hidden camera on my things,, just like he did to your cat?"

Umiling ako. "I already removed it. I saw it the moment you told me about your date with him; that was why I came up with the thought of him using us, and so I confronted him."

I showed him the same exact design as the little camera Raviel planted on my cat. "I saw it on your wristwatch." Agad siya napatingin sa relong palagi niyang suot.

"Damn it! I remember when he asked about the time. He suddenly grabbed my hand to check it on his own, and I was so startled that I didn't realize it was just a ruse," nanggagalaiti niyang kuwento. "Aren't we going to tell this to the police?"

I shook my head. "We cannot. He will just deny it. We need solid evidence to put him in jail."

"But he's being creepy! He acted like a stalker. Imagine, he entered your house to plant a camera on your cat."

Bigla akong may naalala at sa sandaling iyon ay nagkaroon ako ng pag-asa. "I remember, that was one of our conversation..." bulalas ko habang nakangiti.

"Nino?"

I looked at her and flashed a triumphant smile. "Ismael knows about this. Ismael was aware of who was the one who planted the camera on my cat. I am sure he is doing something now, for that matter. What we only have to do is find him to be certain about that."

I almost forgot about it. I had previously asked him about this, and he was just about to tell me about it when Professor Sybill suddenly appeared in front of my house. Malakas ang pakiramdam ko na isa ito sa mga dahilan kung bakit nawawala si Ismael ngayon. Marahil ay may ginagawa siya para mahuli si Raviel.

Hindi nawala ang ngiti ko. Pakiramdam ko dahil sa bigla kong naalala, ay kinakausap ako ni Ismael sa isip. How I wish telepathy was real between us so that even if we were apart, we could still read each other's minds and communicate like we were in front of each other, looking into each other's eyes.

"Then saan tayo magsisimula para hanapin siya? May palagi ba siyang pinupuntahan? May secret place ba siya na alam mo?"

Huminga ako nang malalim at isa lang ang lugar na naisip ko.

*****

"Sigurado ka ba sa gagawin mo?" tanong ni Savannah sa akin. We are here at the hardware store looking for something essential for my plan.

"Bakit? Duda ka ba?" I asked in return. I pulled her by clinging my arm to her so she could follow me to the section of the digital surveillance camera.

"Hindi! Napakawitty mo nga, eh! Sinong mag-aakalang maiisip mong maglagay ng 360-degree camera na may speaker para mahuli si Ismael na pumapasok sa bahay mo?" natatawa niyang pahayag na hindi maitatangging may halong paghanga sa akin.

"Well, that's how technology works. Akala niya ba siya lang ang high-tech para maisip na lagyan ng smart door lock ang bahay ko? Syempre, smart din ako, kaya maglalagay ako ng bagay na hindi niya aasahan."

Naiisip ko palang na mahuhuli ko siya, natatawa na ako. Akala mo, ha? Nagtatago ka pa sa akin, Ismael. Ako pa talaga ang tinaguan mo? Eh, gagawin ko ang lahat para mahanap ka.

Kinuha na namin ang pakay namin tsaka namin binayaran. Sinamahan naman ako ni Savannah sa bahay ko at tinulungan akong magkabit ng camera kung saan hindi kaagad mahahalata. Panay pa nga ang hagikgik naming dalawa.

"I can't imagine Professor Mondalla's face when you finally caught him in 4K. He'll definitely be shocked," komento niya.

"He will."

Pareho kaming sumalampak sa couch nang matapos namin ang trabahong madalas lalaki ang gumagawa. Mabuti na lang talaga at sinama ko si Savannah dahil nagamit ko ang kaniyang tangkad para ikabit 'yong camera. Syempre, naging taga-hawak lang ako ng upuan na siyang inakyatan niya. Ni-set up ko na rin sa phone ko 'yong link para makita ko ang footage na nakukuhanan ng camera. Sinubukan ko na rin kung nakikilos ko ba ang camera gamit ang phone ko. Good thing, gumana siya. I can't wait to finally see Ismael.

"Do you want beer?" pag-aalok ko kay Savannah.

"Oh, you have?"

I nodded and stood up to pick up some beers from the refrigerator. Napakalaking tulong talaga ng isang daang libong ibinigay sa akin ni Mr. Mikael. At least ngayon, hindi ako namomroblema kung may kakainin ba ako kinabukasan. Hindi rin nauubusan ng stock ang refrigerator ko at nakabili pa ako ng kaunting beer.

"Thank you," sambit niya bago buksan ang lata ng beer at tinungga iyon.

"No, it was me who should be thankful to you for helping me on this and for helping me in everything. You're such a great friend, Sav."

"Because you deserve it. You saved my life before, and this is the only thing I can do for you in exchange for you treating me as your best friend."

"Honestly, you have done a lot of things for me already. You were always there for me, even more so when Ismael left me. Wala ka nang dapat itanaw na utang na loob sa akin. Actually, wala naman talaga dapat," paliwanag ko.

"Well, I'm doing this because I love you, Jothea. You are my very first friend after being my mortal enemy. I was full of insecurities before. I always tried to find something wrong with you; little did I know I'm becoming convinced you're built differently and unique; your gestures, behavior, expression, and the way you fought back with me before. Your way of making my nerves wrack is what amazed me."

I looked at her and smiled. "Thank you for noticing them. I never thought it would have an effect on you."

"It has an effect, Thea. For sure, kay Professor Mondalla lalo. I was really impressed by how nonchalant you are when talking to him in class. I never thought the two of you would end up being together."

A bitter-sweet smile formed on my lips. I felt a sudden rush of longing towards Ismael. Just thinking about how we started and how we ended up being apart buried me in a deep well of solitariness. Tears welled up in my eyes. "As time went on, we were convinced we hated each other, only to realize that we were starting to care for one another."

"It is indeed true that the more you hate, the more you love." Ngumiti siya sa akin bago muling uminom ng beer. "Do you think Professor Mondalla used you? That's what he said when he left you, right?"

A sigh left me. Those are the questions I never wanted to hear. My smile fades away. I was never ready to hear those connotations from her. Nagkaroon na naman ng what-ifs ang natutulog kong utak. Sa totoo lang, hindi ko rin maiwasang mag-isip ng ganito dahil wala akong payak na sagot sa bawat tanong sa isip ko. Gusto ko lang maghintay at magtiwala pero hindi mawawala sa akin ang kaunting pagdududa lalo't hindi siya nagpapakita sa akin. He visited this house, but I am not really sure if he will come back.

"I mean, hindi rin ako kumbinsido. What if he really just told them he used you for your sake? Kasi ayaw niyang maapektuhan ang studies mo, para maka-graduate ka. Because for sure, if the two of you confessed, you two would be out of this place."

"I don't really know," mahinang sagot ko. "I want to think that way, but I want to hear from him, whatever the reasons behind this all are." I sipped my beer in one shot. I felt the heat from my throat down to my body.

"I agree. Everything will be clear once he appears and explains it to you. Hanga ako sa pagiging matiyaga mo, Thea. Hindi lahat kayang maghintay nang matagal."

"Yeah, hindi ko rin alam paano ko nakakaya." I glanced at the promise ring on my finger. "I just have to endure and trust that everything will be fine."

Savannah tapped my shoulder, and with that, she then asked me to embrace her, so I did, and she welcomed me with both of her arms. "Yes, everything will be fine at the end. Now that he's away, you should continue working on yourself. Live your life and your dreams."

"Right. We are almost there. Ga-graduate na tayo." Humiwalay siya sa pagkakayakap sa akin. Kapag iniisip kong makakatapos na ako ng pag-aaral, hindi ko maiwasang maalala ang mga pagsusumikap ko simula noon para maitaguyod ang sarili ko.

"Speaking of graduation, may napupusuan ka na bang company na pag-aapplyan?" pag-iiba niya ng usapan habang kumukuha ng chips na siyang nilabas ko rin kanina para may kinakain kami habang umiinom. "Magwo-work ka na ba agad?"

"Yes, I will," sagot ko tsaka nag-abot sa kaniya muli ng beer. Somehow, I am enjoying this talk with her. It was as if we were taking another step to become closer. Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti dahil ang meaningful ng conversation namin lalo na't napupunta na ngayon tungkol sa mga future plans at dreams. "I've searched a lot of companies around the Philippines. There's this company I've been eyeing for a long time now."

"And what is that company, Thea?"

"Loeisal Malmdan Company."