Unfamiliar Mga Nobela at Kwento

Kasabay nun ang isang mensahe na natanggap ko mula sa isang unregistered number. Unknown number: I want you to meet someone. Are you free tomorrow?

Hindi na ako nakakain ng umagahan dahil nagmamadali na rin ako at baka ma-traffic pa ako sa daan papunta sa Laguna. My phone beeped. I looked at the message and it was a bit strange and creepy lalo na at galing pa sa unknown number ang message na sinend sa akin. From: Unknown Number I like your late breakfast. Can I join in your table? Who the fuck is this? I quickly roamed around the cafe and my eyes narrowed into someone who's obviously hiding his face behind the newspaper he was holding. I stood up, brows narrowed and walked to his table. When I got neared, I cleared my throat.

Though apo rin naman nya si Liam, pero iba parin kapag may yumayakap sayong maliliit na kamay. Anyways, I don't know much about their family. In fact, si Lolo Enrico lang ang kilala kong pamilya ni Liam. I haven't even met his parents or siblings. Sounds weird, right? Well, it is! Wala naman kasing naikikwento sa akin si Lolo about sa family ni Liam. Ni hindi ko nga alam kung ilan ang mga kapatid nya o kung may kapatid ba sya. I have no idea about their family tree at all!

“Parang... naamoy na kita before. Somewhere... intimate.” Napalunok ako. May kung anong kilabot ang gumapang sa batok ko. "Siguro nagkakasalubong lang tayo sa mga events dati," mabilis kong tugon, pinipilit maging kalmado kahit unti-unti nang bumibilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Pero hindi siya natinag. “No. It's not that kind of familiar.” Bahagyang tumaas ang kilay niya. “This scent... it’s too close. Too personal. Para bang—”

And that's pretty much how I've seen feeling anything negative. Silent, stitched up, afraid of looking in people's eyes, resentful of every word they say, even when it's nice. But today, I just felt. I am struggling to handle the return of these unfamiliar feelings— emotions and whatever I'm feeling right now, I know this is part of getting to know myself better. Nakaidlip pala ako.

Natapos nadin ako sa pag blo-blower kaya tumayo ako at pumunta sa higaan at umupo kaharap sa kanya na nakahiga na pala. "I can't stop, hindi niya parin e e-unfroze ang accounts ko kaya, no, not gonna happen."I said matter of fact. Lumingo-lingo siya at may pa 'tss' 'tss' pang nalalaman. "You should try cheap foods, things or whatever is that. Wag kang waldas ng waldas. Nagkakapera ka nga pero para sa hindi kanaman sigurado kong mabubuhay kapa."

Flashback Binigyan nila ng bagong pangalan ang estranghero upang makapagsimula ito ng panibagong buhay. Tinawag nila siyang Anthony. Naging bahagi siya ng kanilang pamilya at namuhay nang payak sa kanilang maliit na bayan. Isang araw, habang nagmamaneho si Anthony pauwi, napansin niyang may babaeng namumulot ng mansanas sa tabi ng kalsada—si Marlene.