Falling

"Cary," Gyron Schyler's serious baritone filled my ears.

Naupo ako sa poolside at nilublob ang paa ko sa swimming pool. I shivered a bit at the touch of the cold water on my bare feet.

"Gyron. What's up?" I said casually.

"I called to check on you. How are you?" he asked seriously.

"I'm doing fine. How about you and Sean? Kamusta?"

"We are a bit busy with the company right now but we can manage. I just called to check on you since uh, I thought something's going on."

My forehead creased at that.

"We're fine. Bakit, Gy? May problema ba?"

"Wala," he sighed. "I'm going to visit you one of this days. If you need anything, just tell me, okay?"

"Okay," I answered as he ended the call.

He's being weird lately. Masyado yatang stressed sa trabaho ang isang 'yon. Napailing na lang ako at umahon sa pool. I just went upstairs to do my homeworks.

But I was about to enter my room when I heard muffled voices. I tried to seek where the voices came from and found out that the master's bedroom is open.

Lumapit ako roon dahil mukhang doon nanggagaling ang boses at napakunot ang noo nang marinig na tila may nagtatalo. I know it is wrong to eavesdrop but I peeked on the room and saw my dad sitting on the bed while my mom is in front of her, nakahalukipkip at matiim ang ekspresiyon.

"Don't you dare lie to me about this, Sergio," mariing sabi ni Mommy.

I saw how Dad covered his face with his palms. He seems problematic of something.

"I said I am not sure yet. Hindi pa siguradong ako nga ang--"

"And now you are saying that when just a while ago, you are acting like you accept her already!"

Dad sighed and massaged his head.

"Come on, Cecilia. I'm just being nice to the young girl. I just can't be rude in front of her."

"My goodness, Sergio! I can't believe you did that to me, to us! At paano na lang kapag kumalat ang balitang ito? Magdadala ka pa ng eskandalo sa pamilya!" Mom raised her voice.

I sighed and took a step back. Hindi ko na pinakinggan pa ang pagtatalo nila at tumalikod na ako at dumiretso na sa aking kuwarto. Bumigat ang aking pakiramdam sa narinig.

This is the first time I witnessed my parents arguing and I realized, even if I am not on the situation, its draining hearing them argue over something. Curiosity filled me but I chose to shrug it off. I just hope that they'll fix their issues.

My phone beeped. I sighed and closed my eyes, trying to ignore it.

Maybe its just my friends or some unregistered number. I should really change my sim now at dumadami ang message notifications sa phone ko dahil sa mga unknown sender.

My phone beeped again.

Tamad ko itong inabot mula sa bedside table. Tama nga ko na unregistered number lang iyon. Hindi ko na sana papansinin kung hindi lang dahil sa laman ng mensahe.

Unknown Number:

Just got home.

Unknown Number:

What are you doing?

Napakunot ang noo ko, may hinala na kung sino ito. Either way, I typed for a reply.

Me:

Who's this?

Ilang segundo lang ay nakatanggap na ako ng mensahe. Napataas ang kilay ko. Mukhang wala siyang ginagawa at marami siyang oras magreply.

Unknown Number:

Forth. Got your number from a classmate. Daming pwedeng source, Cary. I'm kinda annoyed.

Me:

I should really change my number now.

Forth:

Good idea.

Me:

Is it?

Forth:

Oo. I don't like the idea of boys having your number like it's a hotline.

I bit my lower lip to stifle a smile. Tila gumaan ang loob ko sa nabasang mensahe. I rolled my eyes and waited for a few minutes before answering him.

Me:

They are not bothering me, though. I mean their messages.

Forth:

Even so. Ang dami kong kaagaw.

Pinigilan kong ngumisi sa sinabi niya. I didn't reply and just stared at the ceiling. Maya-maya pa ay nag-beep ulit ang aking cellphone.

Forth:

What are you doing?

Me:

Wala naman.

Walang kwenta yata ang mga reply ko. Hindi naman kasi ako sanay na makipag-usap sa text.

Nakalipas ang ilang sandali at hindi na siya nagreply. Sampung minuto na at wala pa rin siyang tugon. Gusto kong batukan ang sarili dahil para akong tangang nakaabang sa reply niya. Napaismid ako at sumandal sa headboard ng kama at tumitig sa kisame.

Natauhan lamang ako nang tumunog ang phone ko para sa isang tawag. The familiar unregistered number flashed on the screen. My fingers shook a bit as I swiped the answer button.

"Hi. Sorry, are you busy?" his husky voice filled my ears that made my heart  pound.

"H-Hindi naman. Why?"

"I'm...actually outside your house."

Natatarantang napabangon ako sa sinabi niya at napatingin sa orasan. It's already 11 pm. What the hell is he doing here at this hour? Kaya ba hindi siya nakapagreply ay dahil dito?

"Bakit ka pa pumunta? Gabing gabi na, oh." I said and stood up.

"I want to see you."

Damn him. And damn me for feeling giddy and nervous with what he said.  Bakit ko nararamdaman ito? Wala namang nakakakaba sa sinabi niya.

"Can you come out? Hmm?"

"F-Fine." kunwaring napipilitan kong sabi. "Wait for a while. I'll put a jacket first."

I quickly wore the jacket and looked at myself in the mirror. I put some lip balm on my lips and comb my hair with my fingers. Hindi naman mukhang dry o haggard ang mukha ko kaya hindi na ako nag-abalang maglagay ng powder. I am confident with my face even without makeup.

Sa likod ng bahay ako dumaan dahil baka makita ng mga magulang ko na lumabas ako ng ganitong oras at kung ano pa ang isipin nila.

The cold breeze caressed my bare face as soon as I stepped out of the house. Namataan ko si Forth na nakasandal sa kanyang sasakyan at nakatungo. Marahan akong lumapit sa kaniya. Nag- angat siya ng tingin nang marinig ang mga yabag ko.

He shifted on his stance and stared at me. He cleared his throat and opened the car's door for me.

"Get inside first. It's cold here." aniya. Tumango na lang ako at walang salitang pumasok sa kotse.

Umikot siya para pumasok sa driver's seat. Pasimple akong humugot ng hininga nang maamoy ko ang panlalaki niyang pabango.

He smells so good.

"I won't stay long," he uttered in a low voice and faced me. I glanced at him and leaned on my seat. "I just came here to see you. May pinuntahan akong kaibigan sa malapit at naisipan kong dumiretso na. Sorry for bothering you this late." he said.

"Magkasama lang tayo kanina, ah?" taas-kilay kong tanong.

"So? Kanina pa iyon. I want to see you tonight, too." he smirked.

My stomach fluttered at his words. Itinago ko ang nagbabadyang ngiti at inirapan siya.

"Araw-araw na nga tayong nagkikita. Magsawa ka naman sa mukha ko," saad ko.

Marahan lang siyang tumawa at inipit ang ilang hibla ng buhok sa aking tainga. Halos mapapitlag naman ako sa pagtama ng aming balat. Tumikhim ako at nagkunwaring hindi apektado.

"That won't happen," he said and smiled.

"Pa-fall, huh," mahinang usal ko at kunwaring napaismid.

"Bakit? Are you falling now?" he asked playfully.

My eyes widened. Ang kapal, ha!

"You wish, del Rosario!" singhal ko.

It was followed by a long stretch of silence. He is not saying anything and just stared at me. Tila kinakabisado niya ang detalye ng mukha ko sa paraan ng pagtingin niya. Naiilang na umiwas ako ng tingin at tumungo.

Bigla akong na-conscious sa sarili. Mukha ba akong sabog o antok? Dapat siguro nag-ayos muna ako bago lumabas. Pinaglaruan ko ang aking mga daliri sa aking kandungan.

"Cary..." he suddenly called.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya. My eyes met his intense gaze that I almost shivered. His eyes went down to my trembling fingers and back to my eyes again.

"Is something wrong?" he asked. Natigilan ako at simpleng napabuntonghininga.

Napansin niya ba na may bumabagabag sa akin? Masyado ba iyong halata?

Umiling lang ako at tipid ng ngumiti.

"Why are you driving this late? Hindi ka ba hinahanap sa inyo? You should be home at this time." I changed the topic.

Mukha namang nakuha niyang ayaw kong pag-usapan iyon kaya hindi na rin siya nagtanong pa.

A glint of emotion crossed his eyes at my question. I couldn't tell if it was sorrow or bitterness. Agad din iyong nawala nang kumurap siya.

"Hmm, our parents don't have the time to look for us anymore. They are too busy with our business."

Pakiramdam ko ay mayroong laman ang mga salita niya. Nahimigan ko ang lungkot at pait sa boses niya, pinilit niya mang itinago ngunit tumakas pa rin sa kaniyang tono.

"Just because your parents doesn't care about your whereabouts anymore doesn't mean na you are free to do anything you want. You should be responsible for yourself, for your own safety."

Tumaas ang kilay niya.

"Easy to say. But then, the thrill of the bad things can lure you to choose it because it's fun."

"How can you say that? Bakit, ano bang ginagawa mo kaoag umaalis ka ng gabi? Nagdo-droga?"

Napapikit siya ng mariin sa sinabi ko ngunit sumusugat ang mapaglarong ngiti sa kaniyang labi. Nang hindi na siya makapagpigil ay kumawala ang mababang tawa mula sa kaniya.

"What? You think I'm an addict, Carina Selene? Dati, playboy at basagulero lang. Ngayon, adik na rin?"

"I'm genuinely curious!" depensa ko.

"Of course I'm not an addict. Maa-adik pa lang  sayo, siguro," he wiggled his brows.

"Cringe mo!" lalo siyang natawa sa sinabi ko.

He stayed for a few more minutes, talking and teasing me. Kahit nakakainis ay aminado akong napagaan niya ang loob ko kaya hinahayaan ko na lang siya.

Agad din naman siyang nagpaalam nang makita ang inaantok kong mga mata. Hinigit niya ako ng marahan palabas ng kotse. Ang akala ko ay bibitawan niya na ako ngunit hinatid niya pa ako hanggang sa likuran ng bahay kung saan ako dumaan kanina.

I smiled at him when I was already at the backdoor. He stared at me deeply before letting go of my hand that I quite longed for the warmth of his touch.

"Forth," tawag ko.

"Hmm?"

I bit my lower lip. Sana lang ay huwag kong pagsisihan ang desisyon kong ito.

"Payag na ako," matapang kong saad. "Payag na akong...magpahatid sayo. Gaya ng napag-usapan kanina."

He was taken aback on what I said. He stared at me with a hint of schock and amusement in his eyes before he nodded his head.

"Thank you," he whispered and smiled at me. "Goodnight, Cary."