Chapter 4 - Stranger

"What? Sino nagsabe sa inyong kasama kayo sa games? Sasama lang kayo para magspectate"

Coach explained to us yung usapan namen kahapon nila Dale, Ray at Joshua sa bahay namen.

Yeah, we can't compete inside the campus nalaban na kame sa labas eh.

"Take your lunches and be back at 1.. disperse."

Agad naman kameng naghiwa-hiwalay at yung iba nagpalit na ng damit dahil sobrang pawis na pawis na.

Well ako di naman ako naglalaro nanonood nga lang ako since may pilay pako, hays author.

"Oy Aiden sama ka samen?"

Tanong saken ni Ray habang inaayos bag nya at parang binabalik nya basa nyang damit.

"Hmmm sige, I think Ava is busy tho, so san tayo?"

"Tara sa jolibee dun sa may kanto lang"

Agad sagot ni Joshua na halata mong gutom na.

"Ehh, pustahan tayo mahaba pila don kase don den kumain ibang students"

Sagot ni Ray na kakatapos lang ayusin mga gamit niya at saka na sila nagisip ng makakainan.

Oh and yeah, every lunch time may 1 hour and a half kame para kumain sa labas on different fastfood chains atsaka proud pala akong may Ava University Discount Card kame means discounted ng malaki mga pagkaeng mabibili namen HAHAHAHA.

Napatingin naman ulet ako sa kanila kila Ray at Joshua na nagtatalo kung san kakaen..

Dale was kinda off tho, naka tulala lang sya sa bag nya not even moving, mukhang may malalim na iniisip.

Dale is weird since your first chapter author wth, ano ba trip mo sa characters mo?

"Dale, pre--"

Tawag ko sa kanya at agad naman nabreak eye contact nya sa bag nya baka mamaya magkatuluyan na sila HAHAHA.

"--you good bro?"

Napatingin den naman sila Joshua at Ray kay Dale and he was kinda shocked with our faces na nakatingin sa kanya.

He shooked his head telling us na wala lang yon and then he smiled.

"Just thinking of something, tara san tayo?"

Agad bawi nya para lang maiba topic.

"Sa resto nyo nalang kaya tayo Aize?"

Suggestion ni Ray and yeah, medyo malapit resto namen nila mama dito.

Nagnod naman ako sa kanila as an agreement at kinuha na nila mga bag nila tsaka naka kame naglakad palabas ng campus.

Woodland Resto

Typical classic styled resto, wooden floorings and walls, classic bulb and christmas lights lighting hindi yung pang pasko ha? Ayusin nyo imagination nyo HAHAHA, plants potted everywhere atsaka lahat ng place na tinatayuan ni mama is near peaceful places layo sa pollution and anything.

"What can I get you?"

"Ahh isang milktea yung large pakidamihan yung tapioca balls tapos yung best seller na adobo plus vegetable salad"

Sabay ngiti ko sa waiter as I ordered yung gusto kong kainin.

"Kayo sir?"

Sumenyas si Ray ng saglet lang at natingin pa sya sa meńu at di pa makapagdecide ng makakaen.

I looked around the place of our resto and I can't help myself but to be amazed kung gano kaganda at kaasenso resto ni mama.

Kwento nya kase saken dati simpleng karinderya lang daw to tas ngayon.. wow.

All the hardwork and determination, eto na nagbunga and it's worth it grabe, kaya bilib den ako kay mama eh sa kanya ko siguro namana yung pagiging determinado HAHAHAHA once na may gusto kase ako, pinupush kong maachieve yon at mukhang ganon den si mama.

Hobby nya lang daw nung una magluto at kwento nya samen dati gusto nya lang daw ng kahet maliit lang na karinderya talaga but eventually, tignan mo naman na ngayon resto na.

Napabalik naman ako ng tingin kila Ray at Joshua at napagawi ako kay Dale at napansin kong nakatingin sya saken saka umiwas.

Nakatitig sya saken?

Bakla ba si Dale author? Tell me HAHAHA.

Nah, 2 years na kameng magkakaibigan it's impossible atsaka wth bawal bakla dito beltok.

"Is that would be all?"

Ray nodded after he finished his order atsaka umalis yung waiter.

"Angas ng Resto nyo pre no? Parang konting apoy lang sunog na"

Sabay tawa ni Joshua at siniko naman sya ni Ray HAHAHA.

Di naman totoong kahoy yung sahig at pader eh tuleg HAHAHA.

Nagpaalam naman muna ako sa kanila at pumunta muna akong banyo, yeah madalas akong tawagin ng kalikasan ket nung sa mga previous chapters HAHAHA.

I entered the restroom at naghilamos muna ko dahil medyo inaantok ako, puro binge kame ng mga movies kahapon eh buong araw HAHAHA at natripan pa nameng manood ng netflix series pagkagabe kaya medyo puyat HAHAHA.

Kumuha naman ako ng tissue tsaka pinunasan mukha kong basang basa habang nakatingin sa salamin ng cr.

Saglit akong natigilan at natulala sa reflection ng sarili ko.

Naalala ko nanaman nung Sunday.

My sudden resurfacing of memories.

Blue eyes, text, room 9, notes.

It's so clear tong mga nangyare saken these past few days pero yung mga nagresurface den sakeng memories from a distant past medyo blur pa.

But still..

Atleast di ko na nalilimutan tong ngayon unlike before,

siguro kase I pretty much accepted the fact na weird things really happens.

I accepted the normality of weirdness in my life before.

But this time I won'--

The door of the comfort room opens making me stop myself from thinking and somebody walks in.

A guy probably on his mid 30's, tan, messy hair, wearing a black coat and a loose tie with his white polo tuck inside.

Napansin kong napatingin saken yung lalake saka nya den inalis at pumasok sa isang cubicle.

Social interaction, am I right? HAAHAHAH

I stopped looking ans thinking of the guy na pumasok to avoid uneasiness saming dalawa and I also enter one of the cubicles to dispose some liquid waste also.. ihi meaning nyan readers umihi ako HAHAHAHAH.

Paglabas ko naghugas ulet ako tsaka tinapat kamay ko sa dryer para matuyo.

Yes, may tissue pamunas pero mas gusto ko na dryer automatic, para medyo advance naman HAHAHA.

Biglang namang kumalam tyan ko at kumirot HAHAHA nagugutom nako shemay

Nung napansin kong tuyo na kamay ko naisipan ko munang itext si Ava para kamustahin saka ko dinukot phone ko sa bulsa ko--

"Don't do it kid"

Napalingon naman ako at nakita ko yung lalake kanina na kakalabas lang den ng cubicle, nagtaka naman ako sa sinabe nya at agad nagulat, kakilala ko ba sya?

"Excuse me po?"

Di naman nya ko tinignan at naghugas lang sya ng kamay habang nakatingin sa salamin ng cr.

"Excuse me kuya, don't do what?"

Tanong ko ulet sa kanya sabay turo sa phone ko like wag akong magtext? Wag ko itext si Ava? Whut?

"Curiosity kills... literally"

Nagulat naman ako ng biglang magdeepen at naging seryoso boses nya sabay punas nya ng kamay nya using his handkerchief.

I was left there shocked sa sinabe nya at iniisip kung anong gusto nyang iparating at kung kakilala nya ba ko.

Naglakad naman sya dahan dahan papalapit saken after putting back his handkerchief in his back pocket at nagulat ako ng ilapit nya ng konti mukha nya saken saka bumulong.

"Don't feed it"

I froze.

the stranger walk pass me slowly as I felt each step he took as he left the restroom.

I was frozen, left there standing like a statue.

I found myself shivering and shocked but not because of that stranger's presence nor the words that he spoke--

his eyes.

arghh--

it's.. it's blue

Nabitawan ko phone ko at pinilit kong igalaw sarili ko ket nanginginig at namamanhid buong katawan ko.

Tumakbo ako at agad lumabas ng cr and I searched for that guy inside the resto.

Ginala ko mata ko sa buong lugar looking on very person on every table.

Hays, what's with that guy? I've seen other people besides Dale with those blue eyes before pero yung lalake, I feel like may alam sya tsk I need to find him.

I went to every table sliding through every alley ways, sliding through crowds facing every person.

Argh, where are you? damn it.

I don't know author that you can also make people disappear out of thin air? Amazing, claps for you, psh.

I was desperately looking for him na di ko na macontrol actions ko basta I need to find that guy.

Tumakbo naman ako papuntang entrance ng resto at sumilip sa labas kung nandun ba yung lalake kakaalis pa lang but to my surprise..

he's gone

"--Yow Aize"

Nagulat naman ako ng biglang may tumapik sa braso ko at napalingon ako sa taong nasa likudan ko.

"Okay ka lang?"

Alalang tanong saken ni Dale at napatingin naman ako sa loob ng resto, they were all staring at me confused.

Nakaramdam ako ng hiya sa ginawa ko at medyo bumalik nako sa wisyo.

"Gutom lang yan pre halika na!" Sigaw ni Joshua from our table.

Ngumiti nalang ako ng tipid saka naglakad na kame ni Dale pabalik ng table namen psh.

They were all looking at me.

Nakakahiya Aize ginagawamu HAHAHAHA.

"Anyare sayo pre?" Agad na tanong saken ni Ray nung umupo nako sa table namen.

Umiling iling lang ako sabay tawa.

"Nah, may hinahanap lang ako"

"Mukha nga sabog ka kanina e--"

Magbibiro sana ni Joshua pero siniko sya ni Ray dahil napansin nilang anlalim ulet ng iniisip ko.

Hays, what's with that stranger.

I just sighed atsaka sumandal sa upuan ko, napatingin naman kame sa beeper at tumutunog na.

"Number 32!" Sabay taas ng kamay ni Dale and our meal arrived.

"Ahhh buti naman andito na gugutom nako"

Banggit ni Joshua habang natatakam sa pagkaen sa harapan nya.

"Baka naman ilibre mo pa to Aize malakas naman kame kay tita eh" lol, sinipa sipa pa ni Ray paa ko sa ilalim ng table raulo.

"Sagot ko nalang yung mga milk tea"

"Lah!"

Natuwa nama sila Ray at Dale samantalang si Joshua napasigaw sa sinabe ko.

"Ako lang walang milktea! Anduga!" Sabay tawanan namen.

"Kasalanan ba nameng di ka bumile HAHAHAHA" muling pangaasar ni Ray at agad naman syang nabatukan ni Joshua.

Finally Dale's laughing tho di gaya kanina medyo tahimik sya.

Kinapa ko naman bulsa ko para kuwanin yung wallet ko at shet--

Yung phone ko pala.

"Wait lang ah kuwanin ko lang phone ko sa cr naiwanan ko" sabay tango nilang lahat.

Agad naman akong nagmadali papuntang cr and as I opened the restroom's door I felt relieved.

Andun pa yung phone, buti wala pang pumapasok dito simula kanina at di nila napulot to ko kundi yare ako HAHAHA.

"Oh ano pre nahanap mo?"

"Oo HAHAHA buti walang nakapulot agad"

Sagot ko kay Ray tsaka nako kumain at nakalam naden tyan ko.

I just eat using one hand btw at kutsara lang hawak ko, partida kaliwa pa pinaggagamet ko eh kanan ako sanay, ayaw pa kase pagalingin ng author kamah ko eh sksksksks.

Yung luto nga pala dito sa resto is all my mom's delicacies, recipe nya lahat ng mga to at parang nakaen lang ako sa bahay.

Proud pala kong walang ket anong pasarap tong mga luto ni mama gaya ng mga Magic, Aji-no moto at iba pa, talagang natural lang talaga yung mga pampalasa ni mama dito and tbh, sobrang sarap.

Uminom ako sa milktea ko atsaka napatingin sa kanila and I caught Dale staring at me again..

Wth bruh?

Di ko nalang pinansin at napadako tingin ko sa mga nakaen den dito sa resto, mostly families at may ibang students den ng Ava University--

Lah nalimutan ko pala itext si Ava kanina, epal kase yung lalake HAHAHA.

Dinukot ko naman agad phone ko tsaka pumunta sa inbox ko.

"HAHAHA that's hilarious"

I hear a familiar voice from an indistinct chatter just a few tables ahead, the resto's noisy but that particular voice seems to caught my ear.

"Yeah right, now into the serious matter, the project's proposal is on this wee--"

I didn't pay attention to the voice I was hearing and just focus on my phone as I was typing on it.

"Yes, it'll be crucial if we let it--"

The voice became louder and louder as my hearing started focusing on that particular voice, but i didn't let it distract me..

After a minute, I finished typing a message to send to Ava at bumalik nako sa pag kain ko.

"On the other hand our partners on--"

Nairita nako sa boses na yon at paulit ulit kong naririnig so I followed where the voice are coming from..

Just a few tables ahead some men on suits at may isang nagsasalita in their middle--

Whut.

I look closer at kinusot kusot ko pa mata ko para lang malaman kong totoo ba yung nakikita ko.

How!? I searched the whole cafeteria kanina! Nyeta Author.

The stranger I met on the restroom..

He's just a few tables away from us with some co-workers of him.. I think?

Natulala naman ako don sa kanya at pinagmamasdan ko lang sya, he looks normal kesa kanina wth.

Nagulat naman ako ng mapagawi yung tingin nung lalake saken at saka ako umiwas.

Wth, how author?! Hooow?!?!

I badly wanna punch you on the face... kung totoo ka man talaga.

I just ignored the guy atsaka ako bumalik sa pag kain ko.

Tsk, i'm getting pissed, I always feel like I've been being played all the time with these weird shits. Sksksks.

...

"Ava students right? Cards please"

Saka naman namen nilabas yung mga discount cards namen at saka iniscan nung waiter.

Kakatapos lang namen kumain at lagpas alauna na and I know what you're thinking, late na kame? Filipino time brothas HAHAHA.

"That'll be 1,330"

Sabay abot samen ng receipt at saka ako nagbayad.

"Huhuuyy libre na tayo sa lahat ni Aize" sabay ngisi ni Joshua.

"Anong libre, sa milktea lang bayaran nyo ko mamaya"

Kontra ko sa sinabe ni Joshua saka na kame tumayo at tinaklay mga bag namen.

The stranger is still here btw.

Nung naglakad na kame palabas ng resto tumingin muna ko sa kanya atsaka sa mga kasama nya at may nakita kong company id ata na nakasabit sa mga bewang nila.

I looked at it at pinilit basahin yon even tho i'm walking and they're kinda distant.

Steeltech

:your trusted partner on metal supplies

Dad's..

He was working on my Dad's company?!

"Hey, what the hell?!"

Sabay sigaw saken ng isang costumer dahil nasagi ko yung upuan nya, making his drink spill on his shirt.

Tsk, bobo Aiden.

"Ano bang problema mo ha, mind your steps!"

Pangagaral saken nung lalakeng nasagi ko, habang pinupunasan nya nabasa nyang damit.

The people inside the resto started looking at me again all weirded out including that stranger.

"He's weird, kanina parang ewang naghahanap ng kung ano tas ngayo--"

"Ano ba problema ng batang ya--"

"Sabog ata yan pre, mga studyante talaga--"

I heard the murmurs and indistinct noises fill the whole place and it's kinda make it hard for me to breathe the air inside.

"Sorry po, di ko sinasadya--"

"Talaga! Kayong mga bata magaral nga kayo ng ayos hindi yung para kayong ewan na--"

He spoked some things and lectures me, but I didn't listen, my ears became deaf for a mere moment because of this tension.

I didn't bother finishing hearing what that guy is saying, bastos na kung bastos, wala ng modo sige but I walked out of the scene.

Lumabas ako ng resto and finally fresh air touched my face, for a sudden moment I felt freedom from that place.

"Pre, uy! Kanina ka pa namen tinatawag"

I heard Ray's shout at kanina pa pala nila ko tinatawag, the surroundings just became inaudible kaya di ko sila narinig.

"Huy!" Sigaw ulet saken ni Ray at saka ko bumalik sa wisyo.

"Okay ka lang ba pre? Kanina ka pa mukhang hindi ayos eh"

Tanong saken ni Joshua ng seryoso, he didn't usually take things seriously, never syang naging seryoso, kakapanibago lang sya ngayon.

"Nah, i'm good, tara na late na tayo lagot tayo kay coach" sabay turo ko sa phone kong nakadisplay yung oras.

Nagnod nalang silang lahat saka na kame sumakay ng bus.

I sitted beside the window kase mas gusto kong tinatanaw yung paligid pag nabyahe.

Tsk, I calmed myself for a minute.

Lage nalang akong nagiisip at natataranta pag may mga bagay akong nakikita o nalalaman tho di ako gento dati.

"Yow, aahhhh ano ba nanyare kanina pre?"

Tanong saken ni Dale na katabi ko lang and it looks like he's curious about what happened a while ago.

Natigilan muna ako ng saglet at hindi ko naman kase maeexplain sa kanya yung nangyare but he's waiting me to answer.

Err-- tsk.

"De kase ano--"

My phone vibrates right before I was gonna tell an alibi kay Dale sa nangyare, HAHAHA

Saved by the author, sksksksks

"Oh sorry, wait lang tignan ko lang to"

Sabay turo ko sa phone ko at tinignan kung ano yung nagnotif.

It was Ava, she texted.

Ava

:love sorry, alam mo naman na, busy hahaha, kumain na po ko, HAHAHA baka mamaya pala love makasabay ako sa paguwi <3 ilyyy :>

Aww, my baby's studying hard HAHAHA.

Buti naman makakasabay sya sa paguwi mamaya, yehey!

I was about to off my phone ng mapansin ko sa notifs na may nakaopen pang isang application.

-Notes app is open.

Hmmm, inopen ko ba notes ko? Di ko naman madalas ginagamit yun ah? Last time na ginamet ko yon dating dati pa HAHAHA.

Out of my curiosity I opened it and I saw a single note written just today wth.

8/14/18 _ 12:36 PM ~

I was kinda creeped out when I saw it and I lowkey don't wanna open it but still my curiosity is pushing me to do it, aish.

Arggh, screw it.

I tapped it and words displays on my phone screen and shit.

A familiar phrase showed on that note and fear started crumbling me

'Told you to don't feed it.'

d-did he wrote this?

I was freaked out of what I saw and my body started shivering again arghh, I'm shaking uncontrollalby and I was sweating all over my body.

Tsk wth author, di ko na nagugustuhan flow ng story mo!

Inoff ko phone ko sabay napabuntong hininga, punyeta.

I started calming myself as I breath in and out slowly, i feel my heartbeat go calmly after attempting to stop my anxiety, tsk.

These weird things are really getting into my mental health.

Bumalik naman ako sa wisyo at agad tinignan yung notes as I open my phone.

Aish wth.

How did that stranger got into my phone?

.....