[DIALOGUE]

< JACHIN'S HOUSE. EVENING. >

Mila couldn't utter the words in front of her friends.

Rigo
Ano ba kasi nangyari, Mila?

Mila
He left agad kanina. Before I could even speak.

Kumunot ang noo ni Rigo.

Rigo
Bakit? Hindi basta basta aalis 'yon kung nando'n ka. Alam mo naman 'yon.

Mila
I just—I just need to know where he is. May alam ka bang pwede niyang puntahan?

Jachin's parents and siblings, Abe, Fatima, and Evie were all looking at her.

Rigo
Ang daming pwedeng puntahan no'n. Hindi natin maiisa-isa.

Fatima
But right now we need you to be honest. Bakit umalis si Jach?

Mama J
Nag-away ba kayo? Pwede namang pag-usapan 'yan. Walang kaso kung kailangan niyang magpababa ng init ng ulo. Hindi naman lumalayo 'yang si Jachin.

Mila
Yes, nag-away po kami.

Bumaba ang tingin ni Mila sa mga daliri niya.

Rigo
Bakit?

Mila
I—

Mila glanced at Evie who was silently staring at her. Her eyes held no judgment, just worry.

Mila
Magulo. 'Di ko na kayang ipaliwanag, Rigo.

Rigo
Tsk. Sige, hanapin muna natin si Kin. Fatima, samahan mo ko sa may dating tambayan natin nung high school. Abe, pwede mo bang puntahan sa uni?

Abe
Yeah, sure. Tanungin ko baka tumambay sa library. Baka gumagawa ng plates or something.

Evie
Can I volunteer din?

Rigo
Saan ka?

Evie
Uh, the dance studio na pinupuntahan niya? Is it possible?

Rigo
Ah, oo. Send ko sa 'yo address, sige.

Everyone clamored to find and try to reach out to Jachin.

Mama J
Malalagot talaga 'yon sa 'kin. Paano na 'tong pagkain?

Evie
We can eat it later, Tita.

Mama J
Basta hanapin n'yo saan nagsuot 'yon. Susubukan din naming tawagan. Baka sakaling sumagot.

Jenyl
Nakapatay phone ni Kuya, ma. Gano'n 'yon kapag ayaw magpaistorbo.

Rigo
Babalik na lang po kami kung makita namin.

Rigo
Mila—dito ka na lang muna.

Rigo knew it wasn't just a fight that went down between them. Hindi umiiyak sa harap ng marami si Mila—but she did when she arrived here.

Mila
Okay.

Evie took a step towards Mila, but hesitated to touch her.

Evie
We'll try to find him, Mila.

Tumango lamang si Mila.

Hindi alam ni Evie kung bakit tila hindi ito makatingin sa kanya at hindi siya nito kinikibo mula nang dumating.

But as much as she cared for Mila, she cared about Jachin too.

* * *

#ATSWHIwp