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DiamondAlpha
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CHAPTER 27
Alfred's PoV

"I wanna come with you." Pagpilit ko kay Chloe.

"Huwag na nga Alfred! ano ba?" she said in an irritated tone.

"You sure? You can't be alone. Something might happen to you."

"Sure nga ako! Ano naman? Kaya ko sarili ko Alfred. Hindi na ako bata."

"San ka ba pupunta?" Medyo iritado ko na ring tanong sa kanya.

"Sa Mall nga! Kanina ko pa nasabi Alfred."

"Bakit hindi ako pwedeng sumama?"

"Alfred naman! Parang tatay kita kung umasta ka. Please Alfred kailangan ko ng pumunta may gagawin pa ako." Para siyang nagmamakaawa.

"Anong gagawin mo?" I asked her.

"Assignments! Projects! Madami pa..." Sagot niya.

"Fine. Ingatan mo sarili mo. Bye." Poker face kong sabi sa kanya.

I didn't wait anymore for her answer and just turned my back on her. Nagsimula na akong maglakad.

Pero habang naglalakad ako, I can't resist looking back to her. Kaya napalingon lang ulit ako sa kanya. Then I saw her walking away. Hindi niya ba naramdaman ang pagkairita ko sa pagsalita ko sa kanya kanina? Tss.

She's acting weird lately. Lagi siyang ganyan since yesterday.

I don't know what happened.

Parang lagi na siyang busy. She always says that she's busy. Hindi siya makakasabay at may gagawin pa siya. Ni hindi ko siya makasama ng matagal. What's going on with her?

I'm starting to doubt things.

What is she busy about? Ano ba ang lagi niyang iniintindi? Does she have a problem she can't tell? O iniiwasan niya ako?

Tss. Hindi ko alam. I can't understand her.

We were arguing a while ago at the corridor. Uwian na kasi. And she said again that she needs to buy something at the mall. Huwag na raw ako sumama at mauna na raw akong umuwi.

Nakakainis na siya. She can't even tell me what she's going to buy. Pero I had my words. Kahit anong mangyari hindi na ako maiinis sa kanya. Whatever happens I'll stay by her side. But what now? Tinutulak niya ako palayo sa kanya. How the hell I'm gonna stay my her side now.

I'm now here at the parking lot.

4:12 pm palang. Maaga pa. I was hoping that me and chloe could grab some food and have some quality time together but, guess not.

She so damn busy. Assignments? Projects? Tss. Bakit dati hindi naman siya ganyan.

So where should I go? I have nothing to do. Kahit umuwi ako wala parin akong magagawa.

Suddenly I thought of an idea. Susundan ko si Chloe sa mall.

Hindi naman sa wala akong tiwala. But something really bothers me.

Sumakay na ako ng motor and quickly drove. I just wanna see if she's telling the truth that she has something to do. I'm not sure if she's lying or not. So I just have to see.

"There she is." Nabulong ko habang nakamotor.

Malayo palang ako sa kanya alam ko na na siya 'yon. I noticed because of her bag. Plus her beautiful hair that attracts me always.

I wanted to stop my motor and tell her to hop in. Pero alam kong hindi lang nanaman siya papayag. So I chose to drive slowly. Following every step from her. Bahala na kung ano man ang makita kong gagawin niya.

Moments after, nakarating na kami sa mall. I parked my motor fast. At sinundan ulit siya. Hindi niya parin ako napapansin. Pumasok siya sa isang bookstore. I waited for her to come out.

Pagkalabas niya madami siyang dalang gamit. Nakaplastik. She's also holding a big illustration board. Okay? So she was really saying the truth that she needs to buy things for her project huh?

I shook my head. I feel too paranoid.

But wait a sec, if that is what she's just up to, bakit hindi ako pwedeng sumama?

I decided to still follow her. Lumabas na siya ng mall. Agad kong pinuntahan ang lugar kung saan ako nagpark at sumakay. And I followed her again. I really don't like seeing here commuting. Gusto ko na talaga siyang isabay.

Wait, this is not the way going through Perilton Village. So where is she going? May pupuntahan pa siya? Saan naman?

Mga ilang minute ng paglalakad niya at pagsusunod ko sa kanya ay nakarating kami sa isang village. A village that seems familiar to me.

I looked at Chloe's way. Hinihintay kung saan siya pupunta. Pero nagulat ako kung saan siya dumiretso.

"Brandon's house?" I asked out of nowhere.

And I'm right. This village is where Brandon's house is located. But what is Chloe doing here? 'Yung mga binili ba niya para kay Brandon?

Nakita kong kumatok siya. The door opened and there I saw Brandon. Pinapasok niya si Chloe sa loob.

What's going on with them?

I found myself walking towards Brandon's House. Nakita kong hindi nakasarado ang pinto. Tss. Kahit kalian talaga si Brandon. Good thing that Brandon's village is safe that their house would never be robbed. Brandon's a really negligent person.

I first looked at their window to see what they're doing. Only see them smiling. Mukhang nagkakamabutihan sila sa loob.

I wasn't able to control myself and without another word, I immediately went inside. I'm sure si Brandon lang nanaman ang narito sa bahay nila. His parents might be busy again.

Nasa sala sila. Parehas silang napalingon ng mapansin nila ako.

"Bro?!"

"A-Alfred!"

Sabay nilang sabi.

I saw a miniature house picture on the floor. Gagayahin yata nila. Nakakalat yung mga iba't ibang gamit na gagamitin nila sa paggawa.

"Hah. 'Yan lang pala ang gagawin mo Chloe. You could've just asked me for help. But you chose to get help from Brandon? Bakit? What's going on between you two?" Galit na tanong ko.

"A-Alfred mali ang inaakala mo---"

"Then why are you here?! Okay sana kung sinabi mo Chloe pero hindi!" Pagputol ko sa kanya.

I'm not saying that he can't be here at Brandon's house. I mean, he's my friend. Pero damn. Sinabi niya sana. Why can't she tell me that she'd be here? Tsk!

"Bro calm down. We'll explain everything." Sabi ni Brandon.

I didn't answer. I just looked at them. Sa kagustuhan ko na ring malaman ang mga dahilan nila, makikinig ako.

"Yesterday. Naboring ako at napag-isipan kong pumunta ng national bookstore para maghanap ng babasahin. Nakita ko si Chloe nun na marami ang dala. It was pass 6 that time. Napag-isipan kong dalhin muna sa bahay namin ang mga dala niya dahil malapit lang ang bahay naming. Para naman hindi mapagod girlfriend mo."

"Totoo 'yun Alfred... Sorry kung hindi ko nasabi..." Pagsosorry ni Chloe.

I looked at her and she seems sincere.

"Yeah Bro. Huwag ka masyadong paranoid. Walang namamagitan samin baliw." Sabi pa ni Brandon.

Did I really become that paranoid?

"Alright. I'm sorry if I got too paranoid. But Chloe, bakit hindi mo man lang sinabi na dito ka lang pala pupunta?" I asked her.

Medyo kumalma na ako. I don't want to get mad. Especially to her.

"Sorry talaga Alfred. Nasigawan pa kita kanina at nasungitan. Hindi ko naman intension 'yun eh. Masyado lang akong... stressed." Parang pagod na sabi niya.

"Stressed?" Kumunot ang noo ko.

"Yeah..." bulong niya.

"Why Chloe? May problema ka ba?"

She answered me by shaking her head.

Pero ramdam ko na may problema siya.

"Then why are you stressed? Ang sungit mo sa akin mula kahapon." I told her.

"Baka naman PMS?"

I pokered a face at Brandon after he said that.

"Bro, now's not a good time to joke." Sabi ko kay Brandon.

He lifted both his hands up. Then mouthed to me the word 'sorry'.

I looked again at Chloe. Giving her a serious stare.

"Chloe? I know you have a problem. Tell me." I demanded her to tell.

"Wala Alfred. W-Wala lang 'to." She uttered.

Still she chose not to tell me. Why? Ano bang kinakatakot niya.

Napatingin ako kay Brandon. Parang nagtataka rin siya. I want to talk to him. Gusto ko siyang makausap. I want to get some advice from Brandon. Or maybe he has an Idea about Chloe's problem.

"Chloe... okay ka lang?" I asked her.

She nodded.

Even though that's her answer, I still don't believe. Parang may problema talaga siya. Kahapon pa siya stressed. Masungit.

Nakita naming inayos ni Chloe ang mga gamit at sinupot. She looks like something weak. Ang tamlay niya. I hate seeing her like this. But how can I help? I don't even know what's her problem.

"Uuwi na ako. Salamat pala Brandon sa pagtago ng mga gamit ko." She said in an exhausted tone.

I started to worry. What the heck's happening to her.

"No Chloe." Pagpigil ko sa kanya.

Agad naman siyang natigilan.

"I'm not letting you go home alone. Stay outside. Hintayin mo ako sa tabi ng motor ko. Sabay na tayong umuwi. I just want to talk to Brandon. It won't last a minute."

She slowly nodded.

Tapos saka siya lumabas dito sa bahay nila Brandon. I watched her until she fully got outside.

After that I faced Brandon.

"Bro! Pramis! 'Yun lang talaga yung nangyayari. Walang namamagitan sa amin ni Chloe---"

"Oo na! Oo na! I believe bro calm down." Pinutol ko si Brandon.

"Ahh. Edi bakit? Ano pag-uusapan natin?" He asked me.

I took a deep breath before asking.

"May alam ka ba bakit ganon si Chloe?"

Kumunot ang noo niya.

"Hm, hindi rin Bro. Napapansin ko na nga rin eh. She looks like she has a problem."

"What do you think is her problem?" natanong ko.

"Baka nahihirapan na sa pagtatrabaho sa inyo Bro?"

I gave him a confusing look after he said that.

"I don't think so. Dati naman hindi siya ganyan. She manages to work. And she only works at night." I answered.

"Well bro, I have no idea."

Matagal kaming natahimik.

"Alright. Sige Bro. Labas na ako. Uwi na rin kami ni Chloe. Thanks." Pagpapaalam ko.

He just nodded and smiled.

Tinalikuran ko na siya. I walked towards the door to walk out. Pagkalabas ko dumiretso na ako sa motor ko. I found Chloe standing beside it.

"Chloe... Let's go." I told her.

Tumango lang siya.

She's so pale. Ano ba talaga ang nangyayari sa kanya. I really don't like the way she's looking right now. Whoever or whatever did this to her, curse them to death.

"You're not okay." Akon a mismo ang nagsabi sa kanya.

Because if I'm going to ask her if she's okay again, I know she'll just answer she is even though she's not.

"Huh?" takang tanong niya.

"Halatang may problema ka." I answered.

"Alfred... wala lang 'to. Uwi na lang tayo please." Sagot niya rin.

"Stop lying." I told her.

Matagal siyang natahimik.

I suddenly smiled at her. Nginitian ko siya.

"Get well soon." I told her smiling.

I don't know about her pero bigla na lang rin naman siyang napangiti.

"Baliw." I heard her whisper.

Natawa ako ng mahina.

"Tara na. Let's go home."

And she nodded again. Sumakay na kaming dalawa sa motor ko.

I started the motor and I felt her arms wrapped around my waist. Nagsimula na akong magdrive.

I know she's really lying. Halata naman. Halatang hindi siya okay. Halatang may problema siya. Halatang hindi wala lang ang nangyayari sa kanya. Something's happening to her.

And if she doesn't want to tell me, then I'll find it out myself.