Hypocrisy (1): Calmness Before The Storm

The moment you thought everything is fine and safe,

A major plot twist will take place,

Turning the situation upside down like a roller coaster.

---------

SYR

"Keisyrvia Ildefonso, Focus!" I was startled by the sudden shout of Coach Armeen that can be heard across the gym.

"Ano ba Syr-- may problema ka ba?" Seryoso niyang tanong at ibinaba ang kicking pad na hawak niya. Mapapagalitan na naman ako.

"Wala, coach." Saad ko habang nakatingin sa kanya ng seryoso.

"Then focus, the tournament is in a month. You can't afford to be distracted or slack-off." I nodded my head at him and tried to bring back my focus but in the end, I failed. Pinauwi na lang ako ni coach dahil wala naman daw ako sa wisyo para magpatuloy sa training. Pumunta ako sa locker ng gym upang magpalit ng damit. I let out a heavy sigh as I took off my kimono and wore my casual attire.

I grabbed my phone to dial my father's number. I was hoping that he will pick it up but his phone was out of reach. Walang gana kong inilagay ang telepono sa bag at tuluyan na umalis ng gym. Naglakad lang ako dahil malapit lang naman ang susunod kong pupuntahan.

Tumigil ako sa bandang tulay upang makapag-isip. I enjoy the view of the river from this bridge. If I know how to row a boat, I might row until I arrive in Italy. That guy, if his phone got destroyed he should find a way to contact me.

Akala ko, isang linggo lang siya mananatili dun? Mag-iisang buwan na pero hindi pa rin siya umuuwi.

To be honest, I'm pretty distracted these past few days, and the cause? It was my father. It's been three days since I can't contact him, my father. Psh. So-- this is how he feels while waiting for my call when I'm away?

I tried to dial his number again but he didn't answer, I left him a voice message, "Dad, call me right away when you hear this." I let out a heavy sigh for the 9th time.

"I should head to the mall and buy my things to do my plates for the finals."

Being an athlete-student is never been easy. One must sacrifice the time for sleeping in order to achieve other tasks.

Tapos-- dadagdag pa 'tong si Daddy? I think the sleep that I've been dreaming of will not come true for tonight.

I weakly put my basket full of drawing materials on the cashier's table.

"1, 013 pesos ma'am." Binuksan ko ang wallet ko para kumuha ng pambayad pero labis akong nanlumo. I have only 3,000 left, if I subtract 1, 013 then I'll have 2, 987. It's time to find myself a part-time job if--- this keep up. I'm kind of nervous whenever I think that dad might not come back. Sabi kasi ni dad tuwing aalis siya ng bahay at hindi babalik nang isa o dalawang linggo ay maghahanap siya ng true love.

I always cringe when he's saying that. But still, if he really did find his true love then he should notify me! Argh! Just the thought of it makes my blood boil in anger.

"I can still live for two weeks." I said with my shoulders down. I handed the money against my will to the lady.

"Uhm ma'am-- pwede niyo po bang bitiwan yung pera?"

"Sorry," I said dryly and let go of the money. Looking at the money as she put it in her box made me feel distressed.

Nakakadrain talaga kapag wala ka ng pera. Kahit sino naman siguro manghihina kapag wala ng pera. Habang naglalakad ako palabas ng mall ay nakarinig ako ng mga gamit na nabasag.

I saw a woman kneeling on the ground and a crowd of guys surrounds her. Parang nagkabanggaan ata sila.

"Hala, yung mga babies ko! Ang mahal-mahal pa naman nito." She said worriedly as she fixed her thick eyeglasses non-stop while picking the glass shards on the floor.

"Kasalanan niyo 'to, ang mamahal pa naman nito."

"Ikaw yung unang bumangga sa amin!" Galit na ganting sigaw sa kanya ng isang lalaki na may kalakihan ang katawan. He was about to hit the girl but he hesitated when he saw a crowd of people looking at them.

She caught everyone's attention, pero kahit isa, wala man lang lumapit at tumulong sa kanya. Criticizing them for not helping would make me a hypocrite because I --- myself, don't want to help. And maybe, it's the same for them. I immediately turned my back and left the place peacefully as nothing happened in my perspective. Surely, the security guards of this mall will come to settle it.

"Uncle Dante, I'm home." Agad kong bati kay manong Dante, ang all-around helper namin sa bahay at labis na pinagkakatiwalaan ni dad. He's in his 60's already but still has the energy to clean the garden.

"Oh? Nand'yan ka na pala Syr. Sakto, kakatapos ko lang maglinis ng garden niyo."

"You don't need to do this uncle, lalo na at wala na akong ipapansahod sayo dahil hindi ko pa rin macontact si dad." I said and laughed halfheartedly.

"Speaking of Dad, tumawag na ba siya sayo?"

"Wala," he said and looked away from me. I've known Uncle Dante and Tita Delya since I was five years old, they're like my second mom and dad. So I know if they are hiding something from me.

"Parang hindi ka pa sanay sa daddy mo, eh nawala nga rin siya nang ilang buwan noon." Sabagay---- but I feel something bad, this time. And the way he answered my question earlier hype up my suspicions. I don't know which is better, kung nagtayo na ba siya ng ibang pamilya kasama ang true love niya o 'di kaya ay may nangyari sa kanya. 

"Yeah you're right--but-- should we contact the authorities in Italy to check him out?" I asked. We should give it a shot, what if the latter happens to him?

"Sige, titingnan ko." He answered at inayos niya na lahat ng gamit niya.

"Syr, huwag ka na magluto ng hapunan mo. May pagkain na d'yan sa ref mo, pinadala ng tita Delya mo." Pag-iiba niya ng usapan namin.

"Tell Aunt Delya, I said thanks, and tell me if you heard anything about him. Careful on your way home uncle,"

"Ikaw rin, huwag ka magbubukas nang basta-basta." He said and walked away.

After Uncle Dante left, I slammed my body on the bed. Maybe, I need a rest for now and just work later at midnight.

***

"Konting-konti na lang talaga at matatapos ko na 'to." I said to motivate myself. Seventy-five percent na yung nagawa ko sa plates kaya masasabi kong konti na lang. Who am I fooling? Twenty-five percent is still too many. May the God of success bless me tonight--oh midnight rather.

"Knock! Knock!" I was alarmed when I heard a knock from the door. Agad akong napatingin sa orasan, sinong kakatok ng ala-una nang madaling araw? Dahan-dahan akong sumilip sa bintana upang tanawin kung sino yung taong kumatok, pero labis akong nabigla nang malaman ko na hindi lang pala isa kundi lima sila. Kinabahan ako, ano kaya ang sadya ng mga tao na ito rito?

I saw a man slammed the back head of the guy who was standing near the door.

"Bobo ka ba? Bakit ka magdodoorbell?!" Agad silang nag-akyatan sa bakod ng bahay ko.

"Who are they?" I whispered to myself. I should call Uncle Dante or the Police but to my dismay, it's out of battery.

"Damn this life." I cursed. Agad kong hinanap yung charger ng cellphone ko pero hindi ko talaga makita.

"Pucha naman oh, kung saan kailangan na kailangan, ayaw naman magpakita!"

I heard them banging the door kaya naghanap ako ng flashlight at agad na nagtungo sa main switch ng bahay para patayin. Lungga ko 'to kaya kahit walang ilaw kabisado ko pa rin yung mga daanan at kung saan nakalagay ang mga gamit. Well, the light from the moon helps me a lot to move kaya hindi ko na muna ginamit ang flaslight. Using it will help them to spot me. What are they doing? Eh wala nga akong kapera-pera. Hindi rin naman nila mabebenta yung tv.

I was about to go out of the house using the backdoor in the kitchen when I heard a loud sound banging on the front door. I should get out fast. Dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang pinto sa kusina at nang mabuksan ko na ay mabilis akong lumabas. Tuluyan na rin yatang nakapasok ang mga tao na yun sa loob ng bahay. Naririnig ko na kasi ang mga nababasag na gamit. Sana lang, hindi nila sirain yung mga plates ko. Pero kapag sinira nila paano ako makakapasa sa last semester.

Tumakbo ako nang mabilis papunta sa garden nang bigla akong napahinto at umatras nang dahan-dahan sa kadahilanan na may naaninag akong pigura ng isang lalaki.

"Don't turn your back. Please, don't!" Bulong ko sa sarili ko habang pinagkrus ko ang daliri ko.

"Hi?" I said when he turned around and saw me.

"BOSS ANDI—,"bago niya pa matapos ang sigaw niya ay agad ko na siyang sinipa gamit ang round house. Napayuko siya sa sakit. Is that blood dripping from his nose?

I heard a lot of footsteps rushing to my location. I immediately run away. 

Habang tumatakbo ako ay bigla akong napitlag nang may humila sa akin papunta sa damuhan. At dahil na bigla ako, madali akong nawalan ng balanse at napasandal sa matigas na bagay--- ano nga ba tawag nila rito? Dibdib?

When I stabilized my foothold, I tried to elbow him but he stops it by blocking with his bare hand.

"You, let go of m---" but before I finished my statement he covered my mouth with his hand.

"I'm not an enemy. Stay put, they are near." He whispered near my ear. Agad akong kinalibutan ng maramdaman ko ang hininga niya sa tenga ko. But somehow, at the same time, I felt relieved knowing that he's not on their side.

Still, I need to be cautious because---I don't know him.

Nevertheless, I am hoping that he's a friend and not a foe disguised as a friend.