-Logan Ellis-

November 23, 2026
8:30 pm
Emett District Subdivision, Ireal City

"No, I can't go," I replied to the person through the call. "Gonna assist an aquaintance for his work."

I lied down my bed and massaged my temple. Austin, whom I didn't see for days was the one on the call. Pagkatapos kong marinig ang pagbuga niya ng hangin sa kabila ng tawag, nagawa ko na lamang na umungot.

"Stop that style to grab my conscience, babawi ako sa susunod. Just spend your day with your Sophia. She'll surely, won't refuse," I added with a laugh to the point that my parents will suspect me flirting because of my tone.

"What style? Hindi naman kita pinipilit pero kung magdadalawang-isip ka, magkita-kita na lang tayo sa Kiran Street, bandang ala-una bukas," Austin replied and I was the one who sighed after that. My decision's final and that was to not attend but with his innocent words that could convince me, maybe I will go. Kidding, I wouldn't.

Hindi na kami gaanong nagkakasama ng nga kaibigan ko. Especially that Austin's my first and closest friend among them. I oftentimes see Emery whenever she and her brother came by our automobile shop.

That's a good thing fate kept on giving for me, I could be able to spend some time with Emery but his brother always become the most bothersome and irritating human among the human race. Pft.

"I don't know what to say but expect my absence tomorrow." I even shrugged by myself. "It's not my fault that you'll end up getting disappointed if you see no shadow of mine at the street."

I smirked. "Why don't you just solo your happy times with your girlfriend? Isn't she enough? You see, palagi kayong magkasama tapos maghahanap ka pa ng ibang kasama? Laugh my ass off Austin!"

He gave me a "huh" like he's clueless. Look, who took my joke seriously? Who understood my joke? He's slow sometimes, kawawa naman.

"What are you saying?" He added a chuckle. See? He didn't get it. I sat down and leaned my back behind. "Come on, sawa ka nang kasama si Sophia?"

"That will never happen. I always wait for every next day to see her. Besides, si Sophy ang nagre-request ng reunion nating lahat." Oh, I see. Your Sophy's the mastermind for reunion stuffs. Anyway, I couldn't disagree why he's being like this to his girlfriend. If I were Austin, I wouldn't let go off Sophia anymore.

But if I have Emery, I won't dream for Sophia. What were you saying, Logan-dude? That sounded offensive for girls, shut up.

"Oh, okay. Sabihin mong next time mangyayari 'yon. Hindi muna ngayon," sagot ko kay Austin.

"Roger, Logan!"

"Isa pa, gusto ko rin talaga kayong pumunta bukas kasi may ipakikilala ako," he added and my brows creased out of his words. "What's with the suspensing statement for, dude? Sino?!"

"She's Luciana Antonio." Babae? A woman? A girl? Seriously?

Oh, no, no.

"Fired up already? Dahil babae ba?"

I twitched my lips when the dude joked. "Seriously? Lame, girl? Oh, no, no."

"That's why you're single!" sabi niya sabay tawa kaya nakitawa na lamang ako pero sana alam niyang tawa ng pagka-irita 'yon. "Saan mo ba nahanap 'yang ipakikilala mo?"

"I'll tell you if we ever cross our paths again," he said so I complained like a kid. What's with his another suspensing response again?!

"So, gusto mong makilala?"

"Siyempre, oo!"

He chuckled. "Kapag magkikita tayo." I glared at nowhere but I was imagining Austin's innocent but sometimes-irritating-face.

"Fine, just a new girl anyway, I'll wait for our paths crossing soon just to meet her or that girl, whoever it is. I need to sleep, good night," I responded and he greeted back.

Honestly, I wanted to see them all together again. But I see, we're on different, complicated jobs unlike when we're just schooling, we could easily hang out together after class sessions.

After my session of reminiscing the past times when I could be able to hang out and fight with my friends, I threw my phone next to my pillow before lying down beside it. The ceiling has been melting due to how I glanced at it.

Nakasasawa rin talagang pumasok araw-araw sa school noon. Since I was in Junior High, I always begged the time to run faster so I could go home and lock myself in my room. But now, how I wished that I could go back to how we're used to be. Just once.

Silly dude, this was how life was. No one was born for schooling and hanging out with friends all the time. Besides, I like my job. I was just missing the old days.

Maaga akong nagising para makapaghanda sa pagtulong kay Eric sa trabaho niya roon sa Automobile Repair shop na ipinatayo ni Papa sa tabi ng bahay. That dude was dying from waiting for my day off to assist him from his daily job he's very done with. Thankfully, I had a chance to help the pathetic.

I brought my juice drink and towel to the repair shop and there I saw Eric. Nakapameywang na kausap ang isang maagang magpapaayos.

"Hey, I'm here! Thankful?! Happy?!" I shouted, interrupting his busy conversation with the weird drunk-looking guy.

"Aba, mabuti! Timplahan mo na muna ako. Kakausapan ko lang sila!" Pft, I showed my fist to warn Eric but he showed his fist back before talking to the drunk-looking man.

Nilapitan ko ang katabi nilang mukhang mas bata sa akin. Like his weird colleague, he's almost biting his nails as if he's bothered about something. What's with the dude? And his older man? He's drunk but they're still on drive.

Nilapitan ko ang mas bata kasi nasa mas malapit siya ng pintuan namin. "You okay, kid?"

He nodded but his brows were knitted, almost reaching each other. He gulped twice in ten seconds. "You sure your older dude's not drunk?"

He shrugged his shoulders, being not sure. Seriously? Pareho silang weird.

"Want something to drink?" I offered. Oh, come on, I was referring to coffee, para mahimasmasan 'yang lasing niyang kasama.

Bumuntong-hininga na lang ako para pakalmahin ang sarili dahil hindi ako sinasagot ng kausap ko. Bahala sila ng kasama niya. I walked past him but before I was about to enter the house, I turned my head to face the kid again.

He's seriously worried due to how he stares at his older dude. "You better not drive today," I warned him. Hindi ko na rin inabalang hintayin ang kanyang sagot. Nagtimpla na lang ako ng juice para kay Eric at dalawang tasa ng mainit na kape para sa bata at lasing. Lasing 'yon, sigurado, ipupusta ko 'yong naipon kong suweldo sa buwang ito.

Hindi na lang pala.

Nang makalabas akong may dala ay nadatnan kong nakaupo sa may waiting table ang dalawang nagpapa-repair.

The older dude looked at me in a playful way but he thanked me from giving the coffee for them. "Pft, inumin mo po 'yan. Lasing ka!"

I was about to head to the two's truck Eric's about to fix but I didn't see him under nor inside the vehicle. Tumungo na lang ako sa likod ng bahay dahil doon lang naman ang posibleng pinakamalapit niyang pinuntahan maliban sa warehouse.

As expected, I saw him standing near our mango tree. I was about to approach him when I noticed that he's talking to someone through phone call.

"HAHA! Oo nga, meron na sila," he answered, pocketing his hands. "Kararating lang din--- ah? Sinabi niya ba?---- Oo may sira daw 'yong truck kaya nagpaayos--- pero wala talagang sira?---- Ayos."

Kamit ang kilay kong napatago. Hindi ko alam kung bakit kusa akong nagtago kahit may kausap lang naman siya sa phone. I just smelt something suspicious.

"Oh, sige, sige!" nagyayabang niyang sagot. "Ako na ang bahala, basta 'yong usapan, ha? Malaking halaga ang kailangan. Ako na ang bahala sa truck niya---kahit saang banda pa sisirahin ko----mapupunta sa tama ang plano."

He ended the call and that made me suspect him so I waited for him to walk back towards me and let him notice how I heard anything. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay. Ginawa ko rin 'yon pabalik.

"What's with that? Planning something mischievious to the drunk dude?" I asked him but he gave me a fleeting mad face. Bigla namang nagbago ang itsura nito at napatawa.

He tapped my shoulders many times. "Sabi na't nakikinig ka sa usapan. Hayaan mo, biro ko lang 'yon. Nalaman ko kasing nakikinig ka kaya nagkunwari ako."

What a lame lie. Was that even an alibi? An act?

"Ts, seryoso. Totoo ba 'yong mga narinig ko? Anong balak mo sa truck ng mga 'yan?"

He just painted a playful curve on his lips to show how he pulled a joke to me since the minute I eavesdropped. "Wala nga, tinakot lang kita. Pumunta ka na doon."

"I won't help you," I threatened so he ended up sighing out of stressness, he pulled his phone out and showed his recent calls.

The most recent recipient he called was named "Aira" which was his girlfriend. "Alam mo na?"

"So what if she's the latest? Just because you called your girlfriend with that suspicious conversation doesn't mean you won't tackle such a crime-like plan," I responded to prove my suspicion.

"Nalaman kong nakikinig ka nga sa usapan kaya nagkunwari ako sa mga sinasabi ko sa tawag. Alangan namang...." He shrugged his heavy shoulders. "Hayaan kong marinig mo 'yong mga sweet talks naming hindi kinakaya ng mga single na katulad mo, Logan!"

Nasuntok ko na lang siya sa braso niya kaya natatawa itong napadaing bago ko inilahad ang baso ng juice niya. Laklakin niya 'yan.

Still, his alibi didn't save him from being dubious.

Either he played an act or not. Whatever, he frankly prove that I was single. He'll repair the truck himself.