Chapter 16 -Guests

"Manong bayad po--"

"Ay wag na, ako na Ava"

Sabay pigil ni mama sa pagbayad ni Ava kay kuyang driver at umagree nalang siya mabilis kase syang kausap HAHAHA.

"Thank you po titaaa! Byee! Liaaam, Loveee! Bye!"

Paalam ni ava samen sabay kaway nya saka na sya bumaba ng tricycle at naglakad papuntang gate ng bahay nila.

Cool nadischarge nako at di na ko magbababye dun sa ospital at baka anytime makabalik nanaman ako don punyeta.

"Sa may Cream St. po kame kuya"

Sabi ni mama dun sa driver saka sya lumiko.

"Dito lang po"

Sabay tigil ng tricycle at bumaba naden kame ni Liam..

"Aww-- Liam wag muna haha"

"Liam! Kitang may sugat pa si kuya"

Saway ni mama sa kanya ng bigla nya kong tusikin sa tiyan pangaasar raulo HAHAHA.

Pumasok na kame sa loob ng bahay atsaka ko agad umakyat ng hagdan diretso sa kwarto ko para magpahinga.

Bat ba walang araw na payapa? Laging aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh

I warned you, ayaw mo tumigil eh.

Well, may napala naman ako so..

But at what cost huh?

Satisfaction HAHAHAHAHA.

Wtf.

Kinapa ko naman yung bulsa ko at dinukot phone ko pero narealize kong tinatamad pako kaya binitawan ko den sa kama ko aaaaahhhh.

Napatingin naman ako kung nasan yung kamay ko at nakita kong nakapatong yon sa letter.. it probably fell out nung dinukot ko phone ko.

Kinuha ko naman yon saka muling tinignan.

Aize.

"Wala pang nagbubukas nyan pati yung mga pulis in respect of Dale's last wish"

Rinig kong boses ulet ni Kuya Jerome nung sinabe nya saken yon.

Inikot ko naman yung letter at tinignan likuran non at may isa pakong nakitang sulat pero normal ballpen lang unlike sa unahan.

'You'll never know what's a lie if

you just keep on looking only

at the eyes'

Nairita naman ako ng saglet sa nabasa ko kase aaaahhh, pwede naman syang magsabi nalang ng diretso what's the purpose of a brain fvcking twister, tho di sya mukhang ganon pero ansaket paden sa utak nyeta

Di ko pa pala nabubuksan yung letter at tinitignan ko pa lang yung labas dahil nakakakutob akong di ko magugustuhan kung ano man yung laman non HAHAHA.

Tinignan ko naman ulet yung name ko na nakasulat sa... d-dugo.. err

Triny kong amoy amoyin and wtf.. tsk is this really.. blood? and if so k-kanya.. ba to?

My curiousity is telling me to open it but I was hesitating if it's the right thing to do, arghh I dunno.

Don't open it.

Oooh di ka umagree, it makes me wanna open it more HAHAHAHAHA.

Lol, just don't baka kase kung ano nanamang mangyare sayo eh takte..

I don't care..

Agad naman akong tumayo sa kama at umupo sa may upuan ko sa tapat ng study table ng kwarto.

I place the letter at top saka pa ulit nagdalawang isip tsk..

Arghh.. screw it.

I unfolded the paper that looks like and just feels like a coupon band and I saw words written.. a poem?

It is the truth, what is written

Notice where it was hidden

-

Take it back from the start

Hear it out from beginnings to:

Enter inside, see where it hides

-

Closed eyes but open minds

Lose a fight because of being wise

On the midst of bliss and mist

Seeking truth, will bring abyss

End the search or you'll fell through

Truth is in the depths of eyes of blue.

Cool, I didn't knew Dale could write a poem HAHAHAHA.

But again, Can he just be straight forward cause wtf?! Pag gento kelangan mo pang magread in between the lines eh p0tek.

How sweet, Dale wrote you a poem HAHAHA.

Psh.

"Kuya si Dad nandito na!"

Nagulat naman ako sa boses ni Liam na nasa may pintuan ng kwarto ko.

Aga nakauwi ni Dad ah? HAHAHA.

Finold ko naman ulet yung letter ni Dale saka tinago sa drawers ko at lumabas na ng kwarto.

Pagbaba ko nakita ko kaagad si Dad naka pang opisina at nagulat naman ako ng hindi sya mag-isa at may mga kasama syang katrabaho nya.

"Well, we've decided to eat dinner here to celebrate the success of our business project"

Rinig kong sabi ni Dad kay Mama saka naman sila napatingin saken pagbaba ko.

"Aiden! You're discharged se ospetal na?"

Tanong saken ni Dad saka nalang ako nagnod at nabaling naman ulet atensyon nila kay mama ng magsalita sya.

"But why here? Bat hindi sa restaurants?"

"Well, aren't you a restaurant HAHAHA"

Saka sila nagtawanan at naglakad na sila papuntang dining room, aaaaahhhh i'm not used to visitors naiilang ako kumilos sa bahay pag may ibang mga tao kaya usually pag may gento magkukulong lang ako sa kwarto.

"Aiden"

Nagulat naman ako ng tawagin ako nung isang katrabaho ni Dad sabay tumango saken ng isang beses.

Wtf who was that--

Oh.. it's him.

Nginitian nya ko ng tipid habang naglalakad sila papuntang kusina.. feeling close ka.

"Your house is decent and stylish huh"

"Well thanks to my beautiful wife HAHAHA"

Rinig kong usapan nila saka sila umupo sa dining table namen.. there are 4 of them including Dad, all wearing business attire outfits, carrying briefcases and all seems so decent and mannered.

The other one is wearing glasses tho which I think is the brain of the company, kita palang sa aura nya na matalino na sya.. well they all are, he just stands out HAHAHA.

"Cool nila kuya no"

Rinig kong sabi saken ni Liam na biglang lumitaw sa gilid ko.

"Yeah, they are kaya ikaw mag-aral ka ng mabuti para maging kagaya nila"

Sabi ko sa kanya habang ginugulo-gulo ko buhok nya saka naman sya nagnod saken.

Binalik ko naman tingin ko kila Dad at nagfocus ako don sa lalaki.. the one I met on the restroom of Mom's resto..

I'm glad you're here di ko na kelangang pumunta pa sayo..

Stop what you're thinking.. it's no good.

He might know something.. no, he really knows something.

You'll get in trouble, i'm telling you.

I've been in enough trouble already..

"Aiden, can you lend me a hand and fetch me my phone? I left it on the car"

Utos saken ni Dad saka ako tumango.

"Okay po--"

"Oh no, let me"

Rinig kong putol saken nung lalake wtf..

"No, you're a guest you must--"

"No no, I insist"

Bigla namang nanliit mata ko sa kanya, bruh papansin ka ba or sipsip ka lang kay papa? HAHAHA.

Naglakad naman na sya papunta sa gawi ko at nilagpasan ako saka naman ako sinenyasan ni papa.

"What are you doing? Accompany him"

Rinig kong sabi saken ni Dad saka naman ako sumunod dun sa lalake psh..

I followed him but i'm only walking behind his back at hinahayaan ko lang syang mauna..

Tinitignan ko lang naman sya mula sa batok nya at pinapakiramdaman ko lang sya.. ang tahimik amp HAHAHA, pero sabagay what do you expect chitchat? Di nga kayo ganon kaclose eh.

Nakalabas na kame ng bahay at nasa tapat na kame, nagstay lang ako don at hinayaan ko syang dumirediretso sa may parkingan ni papa sa may gilid.

Pinagmasdan ko lang syang buksan yung pinto ng sasakyan at hanapin phone ni papa..

Tsk.. hmmmmm Aiden.

Don't.

Shhh, I'm thinking..

Don't.

Why?

Wala kang mapapala..

Lol, takot ka lang sa mangyayare eh.

Bat ikaw ba hinde?

No.

What a lie.

"Found it"

Sabi nya sabay ngumiti at naglakad na sya papunta saken

Sumenyas naman sya ng tara na ng malagpasan nya nako at pumunta ng pinto ng bahay.. tsk.

Don't.

"Kuya"

Tawag ko sa kanya saka naman sya napatigil sa pagpasok sa loob at napalingon saken.

"A-are you the one I met on--"

"I've warned you"

Agad na putol nya saken as his mood suddenly changed tf and I think that's a yes, sya nga yung nakita ko sa Cr ng resto ni Mama.

"Why? What do you know?"

Agad naman syang napasmirk sa tinanong ko at bahagyang tumawa.

"I told you stop being curious about anything cause you don't know what you're doing"

He said in a serious tone at nagulat naman ako ng magbago ulet aura nya, he's like a different person now.

Tinuloy naman na nya paglakad nya at binuksan na nya yung pinto.

"Wait"

Pigil ko ulet sa kanya saka naman sya napabuntong hininga.

"What is it kid--"

"Who are you"

Seryosong tanong ko sa kanya at napabalik naman sya ng apak sa labas at sinara yung pinto ng bahay.

"I'm Elie Amer Cohen.. but my friends call me Elmer"

Sabi nya saken saka na sya tuluyang pumasok sa loob.

Wth.. is he.

"Wait! Elmer!"

Sigaw ko sa kanya pero nasa loob na sya at di na nya ko narinig.

Wtf he's the crazy guy I saw when I was a kid.. fvck I knew it.

You've gone too far Aiden, stop it.

No, I won't.

Wtf can you just please stop.

I don't wanna stop.. besides Dale told me not too either..

Tangina ano ba mapapala nyo dyan.

Shut up.

Pumasok nako sa loob at naglakad ako papunta sa dining room ulet dahil sasabay ata kame sa dinner nila.

"Oh and that one HAHAHA-- Aiden!"

Natigil si papa sa pagkwento ng makita ako saka sya sumenyas na umupo sa tabi nya.. medyo naamoy ko naman si papa at ngayon ko lang napansin na mukhang naginom na ata sila sa labas bago makapunta dito.. tsk i'm dead..

"Cheers to the success of Steel tech and especially to the one who'll inherit this business!!"

Sabay turo saken ni Dad saka sila nagpalakpakan.. tsk there it goes.

"Oh, what's with your face buddy? Aren't you happy that our business will be pass on to you someday?"

Tanong saken ni Dad at tumahimik nalang ako as I bit my lower lip to stop me from talking at baka magkasagutan nanaman kame.

"Wait.. wait that's right.. you wanna be a doctor! HAHAHAHA nyi nyi"

He said in a mocking voice saka sya umakting ng nanggagamot.. tsk kaya ayokong nalalasing si Dad eh.

Napatingin naman ako sa mga katrabaho nya and also that stranger.. Elmer bigla silang natahimik dahil kay Dad.

"Why save lives huh?! There's so many others that'll be a doctor, world will be fine.. why not inherit my business?! Huh!"

Sabay duro ni Dad ng kamay nya saken tsk..

Don't talk Aiden.

Sagutin mo.

Fvck you, shut up.

"Chairman... you've drank too much--"

"No! I'm fine"

Sabay alis nya nga kamay nung katrabaho nya sa kanya nung sinubukan syang pakalmahin.

I hate this Dad's attitude pag lasing sya, he feels like a different person he loses his control at mababanggit nanaman nya saken yung inherit inherit kuno ngina.

Since when I was a kid sinasabihan na nila ko na ako magmamana ng negosyo.. then Liam arrived naisip nilang sa kanya nalang  dahil ayoko talagang manahin pero bobo ko den kase nagselos ako at gusto kong ako ulet magmana tas ngayon arghh..

Bigla namang dumating si mama mula kusina at may dala dalang malaking bowl at mukhang nagluto sya ng sinigang.

"Liam, ikaw nalang wala dito"

Sigaw ni mama sa sala saka naman narinig ni Liam at tumakbo papunta dito.

"Aiden pray"

Sabay tingin nilang lahat saken saka ko tumayo ng sabihin yon ni Dad.

"Tumayo po tayong lahat"

Wao, Aiden is dat u

Shh, respect prayer to.

"Uhmm, Bless us O Lord in this thy gives which we are about to receive from thy boutine through Christ our Lord, Amen"

Yez nemen, religious pero naniniwalang peke yung mundo, sabog ka no.

Shut up.

The evening went by as we all eat dinner with their champagne glasses clicking, their laughter and small talks throughout the night.

At syempre after some time, pagtapos..

"Plates Aiden ikaw na muna"

Yaya! Tenenen psh may pilay na't lahat pahirapan to punyeta HAHAHAHA.

"Thanks for the food"

Sabi nung Elmer kay Dad habang kinukuha ko isa isa mga plato nila.

I immediately washed the dishes para matapos na agad di na magtambak habang naririnig ko naman mga tawanan at kwentuhan nila sa Dining area.

Psh, weird lang dati pa kayang nakakapunta dito yung Elmer at ngayon ko lang sya napansin and why..

Why does he wants me to stop just like the others especially you..

Whut? You talking to me?

Malamang tanga ka ba.

Okay HAHAHAHA.

"Aiden, eto pa mga wine glasses you forgot"

Nagulat naman ako ng biglang lumitaw yung Elmer saka iniabot saken yung mga champagne glasses na ginamit nila.

"Oh, pro tip me' boy unahin mo mga baso, then the spoons and forks, then later on the plates"

Oh.. kay?

Nginitian naman nya ko saka tumalikod agad pagkatapos nya sabihin saken yon at naglakad palayo.

"Wait!"

Tawag ko sa kanya saka sya napatigil.. Aaaaahhhh, Aiden.. tsk gusto ko kaseng malaman kung anong alam nya nyeta.

"Yes Aiden?"

Nilingon naman nya ko ulet saka nagintay ng sasabihin ko sa kanya.. tsk.

Don't, Aiden.

"Do you know Dale?"

Tanong ko sa kanya at nagpasawalang bahala nalang ako baka lang naman kase may alam sya..

Agad namang kumunot noo nya saken at bahagyang tumaas kilay nya habang naging seryoso expresiyon nya.

"Who?"

Tanong nya ulet saken at medyo nahiya ako tsk, di nya kilala bobo Aiden HAHAHA.

"Oh, s-sorry kala ko lang kakilal--"

"Wait, right! That Dale"

Natigilan naman ako ng bigla ulet syang magsalita saka nya ko tinignan ng diretso sa mata.

"Cedrick Dale Alvarez, halos magkaparehas lang kayo, both so curious.. about everything..."

Nabitawan ko naman yung sponge ng biglang mag color blue yung mata nya saka sya naglakad dahan dahan papalapit saken.

"Why? Do you have plans on being like him? Let your curiousity drive you.. nuts?!"

Napaurong ako ng konti ng medyo magkalapit nalang kame ng ilang distansya saka naman bumalik ulet sa normal mata nya, how does he do that? Parang nakokontrol nya pagchange ng mata nya.

"I've warned him.. but he never listens.. it's so sad to know he's dead now"

Wtf, how does he know? and his courage to say 'dead' straightly without hesitation feels like he's used to it.

"So if you don't wanna end up like him.."

Sabay patong nya ng kamay nya sa braso ko saka ako ngitian wtf.. his smile is creepy.

"You should stop feeding it"

Then he shaped his hand like a gun saka nya tinuro sa ulo nya and he imitated a gunfire.

Wtf.. he's crazy.

"Aiden? Oh Elmer"

Sabay naman kame napalingon ng magsalita si mama at tinawag kame.

"Oh hey, Mrs. Evans! Just helping out your son with the dishes"

Wtf.. moody ba to or gago lang, he looks so different now kanina ang seryoso at intimidating ng aura nya ngayon parang gago nalang na bida bida nyeta.

"Oh, thanks but you're a guest kaya na ni Aiden yan"

Sabay naman sila nagtawanan at nagngitian taena creepy..

Naglakad naman na yung Elmer paalis pero nilingon nya muna ako and his face became serious again with his blue intense eyes looking at me.

'Stop feeding it'

He mouthed at me saka sya tuluyang bumalik sa dining room.

Binalik ko naman na atensyon ko sa plato at nagulat ako ng may nakita kong nakapatong sa may countertop.

Wtf is this.. naiwan ba nya to or iniwan nya.

Pinulot ko naman agad yon saka tinignan.. it's a business card with his info's number in it..

Weird.. he left me his number.

Yieieieie, sumbong kita kay Ava may katext ka ng iba.

Gago.

Ibinulsa ko naman agad yon saka ko na hinugasan ulet yung mga plato tsk..

He knows Dale and he said he warned him already so possible na sya yung kausap ni Dale sa likod ng building ng makita namen sya, plus magkaboses sila nung kausap ni Dale don wtf, but why? I don't understand baket ba puro sila tigil mo yan eto nyeta, can they just say the excat reason kung baket? Nyeta.

It'll only make your life horrible that is.

Well, it's already is.

Can't you just accept it kase?! Hayaan mo nalang lahat punyeta, tanggapin mo nalang na nasa loob ka ng kwento, na character ka lang dito?! Ano ba mapapala mo!!

I wanna know my purpose for petesake!

Your purpose what?!

Bat tayo buhay, baket tayo ginawa ng author.. is there life out there?! Gento nalang ba tayo dito!? Why those weird error things happen?! Ano ba! Tao ba tayo?! Arrghh.

Yes I can live blindly! Ignore all of those things.. but I've lived most of my life believing and accepting! The questions just started to grow more and more and more!! I can't stand just living those questions in me..

It's killing me slowly.. I want my mind to be at peace.. I want to know the answers! I wanna find my purpose so for petesake..

You should be the one to stop!

I've bursted out and my mind started being silent at di ko naman namalayang nasapak ko yung pader out of anger..

Arghh.. I dunno I just wanna know.. di ko den alam kung yan talaga reason ko but I really just wanna know for petesake.

"Kuya.. okay ka lang?"

Napalingon naman ako ng marinig ko boses ni Liam at nakita ko mukha nyang takot saken.. tsk nakita nya ata akong sapakin yung pader.

"O-oh.. okay lang si kuya sorry HAHAHA may langgam kase pinatay ko lang"

"Pero nasigaw ka"

Nagulat naman ako sa sinabe nya tsk.. Did I shouted out my thought again, shet.

"Ahh HAHAHA, de kase.."

Saka ko lumapit sa kanya at napaurong naman sya saken at kita kong takot paden sya hays.

"Alam mo ba sound sensitive ang mga langgam"

Shet, that's a lie.. ants can't hear human noises.. jusq Aiden.

"Sinisigawan ko po kase yung langgam para matakot sila HAHAHA"

"What are you saying about answers, kuya?"

Aaaaahhh wala kong kawala kay Liam matanong den kase to eh tsk.

Magkapatid talaga kayo.

Shut up.

"Oh.. okay sorry"

Nanlake naman mata ko ng masabi ko nanaman ng malakas yung nasa utak ko shet.

"Ayy hinde, hinde po ikaw yon"

Napatigil naman sya saka nya ko tinignan ng nakakunot ang noo.

"What really happened kuya?"

Tanong nya saken with he's worried face and his--

Wtf..

"Yeah kuya Aiden, what really happened"

Natigilan naman ako at napatingin sa katabi ni Liam.. wtf

"Kuya? Huy?!"

Shet.. no.. this can't be real..

"Kuya!!"

I shook my head at inalog alog ko buong katawan ko as I blinked my eyes many times habang pinupunasan ko yon.. wtf.

"Kuya! Anyare?! Ayos ka lang?"

"Oo nga kuya Aiden, ayos ka lang ba?"

I dunno if it's real or my eyes are tricking but one things for sure..

I saw Dale..

He's beside Liam..

Shet.

...