By: Akhi
"Am I supposed to know you?" Nung marinig ko yun sa kanya, it made me think. If he is Gab it would be impossible. The last day of his funeral I saw him with my own eyes in that coffin laying peacefully. This really doesn't make sense. Sa kabila ng sakit na nararamdaman ko at pagkagulat mabilis akong nakapag isip... for whatever reason this is happening clearly what I am doing right now isn't gonna help so instead I said
Akhi: *clears my throat* I'm s-sorry. I've mistaken you for someone else. *sob*
tinitigan ako ng kasama nyang babae and by the looks of it, parang naaawa sya sakin.
Girl: Hey don't feel bad. We're not upset. Nagulat lang kami ni kuya Miko sa ginawa mo. Please stop crying.
Miko: I guess this Gab person is really important to you.
The f*ck! The more I look at him the more I see Gab. Is it really a coincidence that they are somewhat exactly the same height and built at pati timbre ng boses parehong pareho? My head is hurting right at that moment and so many thoughts are running through.
Akhi: Yes... The most important person in my life.
I looked down and cried once again habang nakatingin sila sakin.
Girl: Anyway, I'm Cindy, and this is my big brother, Miko.
Magkapatid sila? Gab has no sibling. So this might not be Gab at all... Iniabot sakin ni Miko ang kanyang kamay. I shook it, and as much as I don't wanna let go of it, I had to. I don't want them to think that I'm some kind of a random freak. Miko placed a hand on my shoulder and spoke to me.
Miko: Whatever it is you're going through, it's gonna be okay.
Cindy: Pasensya ka na ha? But we really have to go now.
I thought to myself "Oh no! Kailangan kong malaman kung saan sila nakatira o saan sila papunta."
Akhi: Wait! Saan naman kayo papunta?
They both looked at me then each other.
Cindy: I don't mean to sound rude but we can't just tell strangers where we live or where we're headed. Surely you understand that.
Akhi: Well if it makes you feel better I'd like to introduce myself. I'm Akhi and I'm not a bad person. So basically now that we're acquainted, we're no longer strangers to each other.
Miko: Umm... I think we should get going now.
Gosh I messed up pretty bad. Poor choice of words.
Akhi: Of course. P-pasensya na sa abala.
At umalis na nga silang dalawa pero maya't maya ang lingon nila sakin as if being worried na susundan ko sila.
I was left dumbfounded. Did that just happen? It felt like seeing a ghost. Things happened so fast that I couldn't believe it. When I snapped out it, it was too late. Hindi ko na sila makita. Kaya ang ginawa ko nalang ay nagmadali akong umuwi then I called for Cherry to go to the apartment para maikwento ko sa kanila ni Rocel ang pangyayari.
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At the apartment
Rocel: Napaka hirap paniwalaan ng mgs sinasabi mo Akhi. Akala ko naka get over ka na sa pagkawala ni Gab?
I gave her an annoyed look
Akhi: Ross, believe me I am starting to get over it! But this is real. I know it is real! Hindi imahinasyon lang. My eyes didn't fool me. It is him... or somehow, someone who looks exactly like him.
She rolls her eyes and cross her arms and gave me a peeved glance.
Akhi: You don't believe me?!
Rocel: Pwede ba?! Napaka imposible naman kase.
Cherry: Ross just give him a break okay? What if it's real?
Rocel: I'll believe it when I see him with my own eyes. Apparently hindi naman alam ni Akhi kung saan hahagilapin ang mga yon.
Akhi: Sa tingin mo ba what good would it do to me if I make up something like this huh?
Rocel: Exactly my point Akhi.
She just threw the question back at me.
Cherry: *sigh* You know what, let's just call it a day. Get some rest Akhi at meron tayong mas malaking problema sa negosyo natin that we need to settle.
Akhi: *sigh* Okay... *shoulder slumped*
Rocel: Ako'y maliligo na muna. Maiwan ko na kayo.
Then she walked away.
Cherry stood up, grabbed her bag and threw it on her shoulder and said goodbye then walked out of the house.
Akhi: My dreams of you Gab, is it really you or it was just me and my subconscious?
Nakakabaliw na ang mga pangyayari. Just when I was about ready to get over him heto nanaman. I decided to just sleep it off and maybe tomorrow I'll be okay...
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Morning came and I decided to be in DCC early since Cherry will be meeting up with Mr. Dawan para gawan ng paraan ang publicity ng cafe. Maya maya pa dumating si Richard.
Richard: Morning Akhi!
I didn't notice him as I was spacing out. Naiisip ko parin ang mga pangyayari kahapon and how it made me feel.
Richard: Hey! Akhi?
Hindi ko parin sya napansin hanggang sa lumapit sya sakin and waved his hand in front of my face.
Richard: Earth calling to Akhi!
Akhi: *startled* Oh! Richard ikaw pala.
Richard: Tsk tsk! Anu namang iniisip mo at tulala ka jan?
Akhi: A-a wala. Anyway ba't andito ka?
Richard: Anu ba namang tanong yan? I'm here to have coffee of course. I'm a paying customer you know.
Akhi: Richard even if you're not, you're always welcome here. I was just asking baka may iba kang sadya.
Richard: Oh you mean like I came here para lang makita ka?
Akhi: I didn't say that!
Richard: Okay okay haha relax. Just give me my favorite.
Akhi: With the cake?
Richard: Yes, I could use some sugar.
He then settled in a couch near the window pane and does something on his laptop while he was waiting for his order.
The rest of the time wala akong ginawa kung di tumulala at mag isip. Maya't maya ang tingin sakin ni Richard and it looks like he's worried but he doesn't wanna be obvious. About 10:30 am, a pair of familiar faces came in. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko ng makita ko si Miko at Cindy. Hindi ako nakagalaw agad. Hindi parin kase ako makapaniwala dahil kamukhang kamukha talaga ni Miko si Gab at hindi ako namamalikmata. matapos nilang maka order they settled in. I've decided kailangan kong kaibiganin si Cindy para makalapit kay Miko kaya naman naglakas loob na ako at lumapit sa kanila. Hinintay kong matapos ng barista ang order because I intend to deliver it personally.
Akhi: Here's your coffee and desserts.
Cindy: Thank... wait, it's you again.
Miko: You work here?
Akhi: *Placing stuff on their table* I kinda own the place.
Cindy: Wow, Small world.
Akhi: Anyway I hope you enjoy your coffee.
Miko: *Grabs it and takes a sip* This is really good. *smiles*
That smile was almost like a literal bullet na tagos na tagos sa puso ko. Napapamura ako deep down because it's exactly how Gab smiles at me. Nararamdaman kong patulo nanaman ang luha ko so I took a deep breath to relax and then composed myself.
Akhi: Do you live nearby?
Cindy: Yes actually naka check in kami ni kuya at a hotel habang naghahanap pa kami ng apartment na matitirhan.
Akhi: Apartment? So you'd be staying for long?
Cindy: Yes. kase dito ako mag aaral. At si kuya naman pinasama ni mama kase ayaw nyang mag isa ako. But you know what? I'm not a baby anymore! I can take care of myself.
sabay lingon nya sa kuya nya na para bang pinariringgan nya ito.
Miko: Cindy, Nagaalala lang si Mama sa'yo dahil babae ka at dalawa lang tayong magkapatid.
Cindy: *sigh* May magagawa pa ba naman ako. Eversince we were kids palagi ka naman pinabubuntot ni mama sakin. I just wished that now that I am almost 18 na bigyan nyo naman ako ng chance na mabuhay mag-isa.
Ngumiti si Miko and reach for Cindy's nose across the table and pinched it.
Cindy: Aray!
Miko: Look at you? Still a little baby girl, acting and trying to be all grown up.
Cindy: Shut up kuya! Nakakahiya.
Akhi: Ang cute nyo namang magkapatid.
Cindy: Ay sorry kuya Akhi. Would you like to sit with us?
Nagtama ang tingin namin ni Miko and Cindy gestures for me to take a seat beside him. Gustong gusto kong maupo at makausap pa si Miko pero nararamdaman kong hindi ko kakayanin. napakabigat sa loob. Ang sakit sa pakiramdam. Gusto ko syang mayakap pero baka magmukha akong manyak. So I just declined politely at baka hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko.
Akhi: No it's okay. You two have a good time.
Cindy: Anyway, sorry kung hindi man namin nasabi kahapon, but it's nice to meet you kuya Akhi.
Miko: Same here.
My eyes are still on Miko. Hindi ko alam pero everytime he looks at me it feels so familiar and the way he does feels like he already knows me, but that can't be possible. I just smiled back at them at bumalik na ako sa couch na kinauupuan ko kanina and pretended that I was busy on my laptop. Nung nasigurado ko na wala na ang attention nila sakin, tinitigan ko ulit si Miko. My heart and my eyes are protesting at sinasabing si Gab ang nakikita ko but my mind is saying it's not possible. I watched him laugh and talk to his sister the whole time. Kitang kita ni Richard lahat ng mga pangyayari. How I delivered their order and the way I reacted mula nung pumasok si Cindy at Miko up to this point na nakatulala lang ako sa kanila and has been sighing and looking so sad like I was about to breakdown and cry. Nalilito sya, iniisip nya kung kamag anak ko ba or how I might be connected to those two. Hindi na sya nakatiis at lumapit sya sakin.
Richard: *taps on my shoulder* Kanina ka pa titig na titig dun sa lalaking kasama nung bata ah?
Akhi: *sigh* It's nothing.
Richard: Are you sure?
Akhi: I'll be alright Richard thanks for the concern.
Richard: Gusto mo bang lumabas muna?
Akhi: Richard please... I wanna be alone right now.
Deep down medyo nasaktan si Richard kase hindi ko tinanggap ang paanyaya nya. He just wanted to comfort me and it hurts him to know that he's not the one who can give just that.
Richard: Well... okay if you insist. I guess uuwi narin ako. *sad tone*
Akhi: Okay bye.
Wala man lang ka rea-reaction ang pagkakasabi ko because my attention was fixed on Miko.
He backed away slowly and had a sad look on his face. He stared at me for a moment at nakita nyang nakatingin parin ako kina Miko. Nilingon nya ang mga ito then back at me before turning his back and headed for the exit.
As the two of them were about to leave, naalala ko yung sinabi ni Cindy that they were looking for a place. May naisip ako bigla. So before they could ever step out of DCC hinabol ko sila.
Akhi: Wait!!!
Cindy: Anu yun kuya?
Akhi: You mentioned naghahanap kayo ng matitirhan?
Cindy: Yes.
Akhi: May extra beds pa sa apartment namin. Baka lang sakali interested kayo and I'll show you.
Cindy: You mean we'll be living together?
Akhi: Umm.. Yes with a few other people but I promise you mababait sila and maganda ang bahay.
On the corner of my eyes I can see na para bang sumimangot ang mukha ni Miko. At nagtataka ako why he's so quiet at di nagbibigay ng comment.
Cindy: Kuya what do you think? We should at least take a look.
Miko: I don't know. Baka naman mahal ang rent.
I don't intend to take a "no" for an answer kaya naman I made an offer.
Akhi: I can pay half of yours or pwede ring ako na bahala sa renta nyo.
napataas ang kilay ni Cindy.
Cindy: Teka, you've only just met us and you're gonna do that?
Nagtama ang mata namin ni Miko but this time he had no reaction.
Akhi: Um... Let's just say na magaan ang loob ko sa inyo. Besides, if you don't like it there, you're free to leave anytime you want. Wala namang mawawala sa inyo if you just go and check it out.
Cindy: I suppose you're right. What do you think kuya?
She looks at him.
Miko: Let's take a look. Pero kung magustuhan mo dun I'm not gonna let Akhi pay for our rent.
Akhi: Kung yan ang gusto mo. So, shall we?
Miko: Lead the way.
Then I called for a cab and we all headed to the apartment.
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Pagkarating namin sa apartment, walang tao. I guess nasa mga kani kanyang kwarto si Rocel at Gideon at si Harold naman ay baka nasa labas. So I just let Cindy and Miko in at siguro mamaya ko nalang sila e-iintroduce sa ibang housemates. I showed them first my room kung saan bakante ang side ni Gab.
Cindy: The house is really nice kuya Akhi.
Akhi: Thanks. So ang magiging arrangement natin is, it's either dito ang kuya mo sa bakanteng bed at doon ka naman sa kwarto ni Ross or lilipat ako sa kwarto nya at dito kayong dalawa.
Cindy: Um... Who's Ross?
Akhi: Ah oo nga pala. Her name's Rocel but we call her Ross for short.
Cindy: A female roommate and I finally get to be apart from kuya for once? I like that arrangement and I really like it here.
Hindi namin namalayan ni Cindy na habang naguusap kami ay lumabas pala ng kwarto si Miko at naglakad lakad sa bahay.
Nakaheadset si Rocel at kumakanta habang nakikinig ng music at may dala dalang fashion magazines habang papalabas ng kwarto nya. Laking gulat nya at kinabahan sya at pakiramdam nya'y lumipad papalayo sa katawan nya ang espirito nya ng makita nya si Miko.
Rocel: G-g-g-Gab?!!!! Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!!!!!
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