Who in the world..

I opened the message agad sa pagka'curious ko.

from @JakePerez

"Hello goodevening, I heard ikaw yung bagong sali sa music ministry ng tito mo. I'm your leader so I hope to keep in contact with you, may practice kasi bukas, can you come?"

Hindi ko alam kung anong irereply, hindi naman ako agad nasabihan ni tito agad about dun sa sinabi niyang worship group ko.

"Goodevening din po, anong oras po ba bukas kuya?"

"9 in the morning sana, sa church"

"I'll be there po, Godbless"

"😊"

Hayyy maaga ulit bukas, this time wala si Ali. Nalungkot ako sa thought na yun ah, but I still have to go um-oo na ako kay tito e, para narin matulungan ko yung church na maggrow.

Humiga na ako para matulog before I finally checked my phone. No messages from Ali?

She probably slept already. So with that natulog na rin ako.

The next morning came quickly, kakatapos ko lang maligo so I wiped myself bago isuot yung box neck olive green dress. It was slightly above my knee so I paired it with my white slip on.

"Tito mauna na po ako sa church" pagpapaalam ko.

"Sige Hannah, susunod kami mamaya ng tita mo"

I texted Ali nang makasakay na ako sa jeep.

"Goodmorning sleepyhead, hit me up when you wake up I miss you"

I put my phone on vibrate saka sinuksok ito sa bag ko, mahirap nang manakawan no jusko san ako hahanap ng pambili ng bago.

I got startled when my phone vibrated kaya agad kong kinuha para tingnan kung nagreply na si Ali.

You have one message from @JakePerez

Ahh.. hindi pala si Ali.

"Goodmorning Hannah, are you on your way sa church? pwede naman kitang daanan, may kukunin din ako sa bahay nila pastor"

Dadaan siya kina tito?

"Hi, no need naman na po, I'm near the church na rin"

"Oh okay, see you"

Binalik ko na agad yung phone ko sa bag bago pumara sa jeep at bumaba.

I was walking na sa premises ng church when a white civic passed by and slowed down sa tabi ko.

Nagulat ako nang nag open yung window nito, mananakawan na ba ako? kidnap na ba to?

"Uy hi! you're Hannah diba?"

Oh well he must be Jake. Ambilis naman niya kung galing pa siya kina tito.

"Ahh yes po" sagot ko.

"Wait for me ah magpapark lang ako, I'll take you inside"

Banggit niya bago sinara ang bintana at nagpark na.

"We finally meet" sabi niya sabay abot ng kamay nang magkita na kami sa entrance ng church.

Inabot ko ito at ngumiti.

"Ah opo kuya"

"Sus wag nang kuya kuya, call me Jake." ngumiti nalang ako sa sinabi niya.

"Tara sa loob, papakilala kita sakanila"

Pumasok na kami sa loob ng church while I'm holding the strap of my shoulder bag sa hiya, at nadatnang nagsisimula na silang magpractice.

"Guys!" naptigil naman sila sa sigaw ni Jake.

"This is Hannah, bago nating member, pamangkin ni Pastor so be good"

Isa isa naman nila akong kinamayan at nagpakilala.

"Hello Hannah, I'm ate Jani, yung nasa piano si kuya Ori, yung nasa bass si kuya James, Jake is our vocalist and tayo ang maaassign sa choreography"

"Uh hello po, sorry na po in advance kung matigas yung katawan ko ah"

Natawa naman sila and I saw Jake also smiled sa tabi ko.

The practice started and went smoothly.

I was learning the dance with ate Jani nang nagulat ako at may humawak sa balikat ko.

"Hannah can we talk?" si Jake.

"Ah sige po"

"It's just that your dress is a little short so wag kang tatalon talon masyado"

I just smiled and nodded before going back kina ate Jani.

I get that he's concerned, but I didn't like how he touched my shoulder like we were actually friends already.

Nevermind, he's probably used to baby the people sa ministry since kuya kuya na siya.

Ambilis ng oras, lunch time na pala so we gathered to talk about the afternoon call time.

"Let's continue nalang mamayang 2 guys, happy lunch" pagtapos ni Jake.

Shit I was too focused sa practice I haven't checked my phone yet.

You have 14 messages from Boo 🐻💕

"Goodmorning beauty, I miss you"

"Have you had breakfast boo?"

"Hmm my girl's busy?"

"Hey? it's not actually possible na tulog ka pa boo diba"

"Kain na nga muna ako"

"Btw boo, I'll be buying cleaning supplies mamaya, are you free?"

"I'll buy you ice cream"

"Hey"

"Where are you boo?"

"Busy naman ng bebe ko"

You have four unread messages from Boo🐻💕

I was about to reply when Jake appeared sa harap ko.

"You have lunch plans? gusto ko sana mangtreat for welcoming you sa ministry"

"Ah di naman na kailangan.."

"No I insist, let's eat out?"

Napa-oo nalang ako sa alok niya, nakakahiya baka isipin niya ngpupush away ako ng tao.

Pumasok na kami sa kotse niya at umalis.

"Ah first of all Hannah can I get your contact number? weird kasi na sa social media kita kinakausap, you know pag may updates sa practices and events natin? mas madali kitang macocontact"

Sabi niya while handing me his phone, I took it at inilagay yung number ko.

He called it and made my phone ring.

"There, save it na rin para hindi unknown yung number ko" sabi niya.

I just smiled at him and saved his number sa phone ko.

We reached a restaurant and entered.

Nasa table for two na kami and I still feel awkward around him.

"Ah sorry if you feel awkward ha? I just want to get to know you.. as my new member, I really try hard to be a good leader" pageexplain niya.

"Okay lang po, I understand"

"Angformal mo pala, Jake nalang" sagot niya.

Kumain na kami at nakinig lang ako sa mga ineexplain niya about sa upcoming events ng church.

"Malapit na yung anniversary ng church so if you want, maginvite ka ng friends para marami tayo"

Kung alam niya lang, mga seedlings ni satanas yung mga kaibigan ko.

"Ah sure" maikling sagot ko knowing na wala naman akong maiinvite talaga.

Nagulat ako nang derederetso yung pagvibrate ng phone ko sa bag.

Shit si Ali, hindi pa pala ako nakakareply manlang.

I quickly took my phone para tingnan yung messages.

Mukhang nahalata ni Jake na nataranta ako, he asked if I was doing fine.

"I'm good, importante lang yung inaantay kong messages" pagpapaliwanag ko.

You have four messages from Boo🐻💕

"Boo I think you're busy but can you come as soon as you read this?"

"I think something's wrong"

"Boo help me please"

"Anna?"

I was more than nervous sa nabasa ko, ano bang nangyayari?

I called Ali but she did not answer.

Hindi ko alam gagawin ko sa taranta ko.

"Uhm Jake, I really need to go" pagpapaalam ko.

"Huh? how about yung practice?"

"Susunod ako, I just need to go now, emergency lang, sorry"

"I can give you a ride" pagaaya niya.

Nahihiya ako and I don't think it's a good idea but with the situation now I think I do need a ride.

"Is it fine?" pagaalinlangan ko.

"Yeah sure no problem"

Mabilis na kaming sumakay sa sasakyan ni Jake and I immediately told him the condo address.

As we were on the road, all I could think of is what the hell happened to Ali.

I texted her again and called her a few times more but she's not answering any.

"Uh okay ka lang ba Hannah?" tanong ni Jake.

"Oo okay lang, kailangan ko lang makarating agad dun"

"O-okay"

As soon as Jake stopped the car sa harap ng condo I bolted out and ran papasok.

"Mauna ka na sa church Jake, thank you sa paghatid" sigaw ko bago dumeretso na sa elevator.

My hands were trembling sabay ng paglakas ng tibok ng puso ko.

Shit shit shit c'mon! wala bang turbo to?!

I looked at my phone and still nothing. Ano bang nangyari dun?

When the elevator reached 17th floor tumakbo na ako sa door ni Ali.

Lalong kumabog yung dibdib ko when I saw it's slightly ajar.

"Boo?! Ali!" sigaw ko pagpasok.

Wala siya sa living room and kitchen.

I went to her room pero wala parin.

"Aliya!! andito na ako!" I was starting to tear up sa kaba.

I called her phone and heard it ring sa may laundry room.

Pinuntahan ko ito nagbabakasakaling andun din siya pero wala, the phone was there pero si Ali wala.

I was panicking so bad that I started crying.

"Ali!!" inikot ko pa ulit yung condo niya hoping na baka nagtatago lang siya but it made me lose more hope when I saw no sign of her.

I tried to calm myself and sat down sa sofa, still thinking kung ano bang nangyayari.

Nagulat ako when the front door opened revealing a confused Ali.

Agad ko siyang tinakbo at niyakap.

"Nasaan ka Sam?! saan ka galing ha?! I went as fast as I can nung nabasa ko yung text mo! are you trying to kill me?!"

Hindi ko na napigilan yung luha kong dere deretsong pumapatak.

"Wh-what? boo? bakit ka umiiyak? I'm sorry, but why are you so tensed?"

"Anong tense tense ha! anong sorry sorry?!"

Hinampas hampas ko siya sa takot ko, but she just hugged me.

"Okay okay, I'm sorry come here boo upo tayo sa sofa" pagpapakalma niya.

"What really happened boo?" I asked her while wiping my tears.

"Well, I think I destroyed my clothes.."

"What?"

"I know, it's kinda stupid" sagot niya.

"I did my laundry ever so calmly thinking I got it right.. but when I came to check on it, pink na yung white shirts ko" nagrereklamo niyang kwento.

"So I texted you but you weren't answering so I went sa lobby to ask for help boo"

"Bakit mo iniwan yung phone mo dito, saka nakaopen ng konti yung door"

"I was in a rush boo e, I really didn't mean to scare you"

Muntik na akong ma highblood sayo Ali.

"Gosh, mamamatay ako sayo e"

"Sorry na boo" paghingi niya ng tawad.

I sighed.

"Hay nako Ali, sinama mo yung decolor sa puting damit sa laundry no?"

"Well, yung miss sa lobby said it was my red jacket at fault"

"Aba nanisi ka pa ng jacket"

"Sorry na boo, I'll make it up to you, can you come with me bumili ng bagong damit?" pagaaya niya.

"I'll come here after our practice boo ha-" I was cut off by my vibrating phone, tumatawag si Jake.

"Saglit boo ah" nagpaalam ako kay Ali before answering it sa labas ng front door.

I went back inside after telling Jake na malelate ako saglit but also tell tito that  I'll still come.

Nagulat ako when a serious looking Ali was sitting sa arm ng sofa playing with her feet while licking her lips.

She looked at me, her eyes were dim.

"Who's Jake?"

~~~~~~

uwu :/