6ft Under

---> text message <---

(Matilda)

Matilda: Feel ko in love ka na dyan ki Sandra

Huh?

Matilda: Yung spirit na sinabi mo ki Cleo

So naniniwala ka?

Matilda: Kilala kita alam ko yang mga ngitian mo na yan.  Saka kakaiba yung aura mo this past few weeks parang ang light and glowing di ka na rin laging galit sa amin pag nagkakamali sa mga tasks.

Wow compliment ba yun?

Matilda: Oo nga! So I think you're in love Jules. Yieee for the first time nasubaybayan ko yung in love moments mo.

Baliw! Di ko sya gusto noh. Tinutulungan ko lang sya

Matilda:  Talaga ba? Baka in denial ka lang.

Oo nga!

Matilda: Inamin mo rin na in denial ka

Gago hindi! Sabi ko di naman sya gusto.

Matilda: Well as a friend kita ko na, na bet mo sya.

Okay crush ko sya yun lang yun

Matilda: So gusto mo na sya.

Oo nga pajulet-julet

Matilda: So tama ako na in love ka.

Hindi nga! Crush ko lang sya.

Matilda: We'll see di ako nagkakamali eh. Alam ko yang mga galawan mo.

Nyenye

Matilda: Parang bata Jules!

---> end of message <---

Bobie: Huy Jules! Dito kita sa kwarto ia-assign, ayusin mo trabaho mo ha.

He demanded, snapping me out of my reverie.

J: Huh? Ah yes po!

I gathered all my cleaning materials and motioned for Sandra to follow me.

J: May naaalala ka na ba?

She shook her head and began looking around.

S: I'll look around and test my memory to see if I can still remember anything from before the night of my disappearance.

J: Sige lang at magsisimula na ako maglinis, baka makahalata sila.

I whispered to her. 

C: Do not touch the books.

I was startled by the deep voice speaking behind me. I was about to start dusting the books on the shelves when a man warned me.

Liningon ko sya and I was met by two soft brown eyes.

J: Ay sorry po sir, lilinisin ko po sana yung mga libro.

C: You're a new face around here. You can touch anything, but not the bookshelves—Sandra would be furious.

I looked back at the shelves, and a thick black book with a tower logo caught my attention. It was neatly tucked to the side.

J: Bagong recruite lang po sa grupo, sensya na po sir di ko po kasi alam yung napag-usapan nyo ni Sir Bobie.

C: You can move anything, just don't touch the bookshelves.

J: Yes po sir sorry po.

I was scrubbing the edges of the tiles when Sandra started talking to me.

S: It's Cyrus... my fiancé.

J: You're engaged? Why didn't you tell me?

I uttered while looking at her and tilting my head slightly.

S: Because it's not necessary.

J: What do you mean it’s not necessary?! You're asking for help, and I'm trying my best to understand who is who. Yet, you can't even be honest with me about the people around you.

I furiously scoffed at her while applying a cleaning agent to the tiles.

S: I thought you'd understand.

She spoke, then moved in front of me and looked me in the eyes.

J: Understand what?

S: Because... I don't fully trust you.

I was both shocked and hurt. I sighed deeply while lowering my head and started wiping the residue with a microfiber cloth.

J: After all these weeks we’ve spent together, you still don’t trust me? I've shown you who I am and how eager I am to help, yet you still can't trust me.

Joke lang ba ako sayo Sandy?

I glanced at Cyrus to ensure he didn't overhear us.

S: I'm sorry, but this engagement is supposed to be kept secret from the public.

J: So you're afraid I might exploit this information for personal gain?

S: No... I was just scared.

J: Scared of what Sandra?!

I rub my nose out of irritation and anger.

Napalakas ako sa pagkakatanong kaya napatingin si Cyrus sa akin, I simply waved at him and pointed to my earphones.

J: Sorry Sir nakikinig kasi ako sa podcast nadamdam ko masyado.

Tumango lang sya at bumalik sa pagbabasa ng papers. I faced her again and waited for her response, hoping it would be reasonable.

S: I am scared that you'll judge me.

J: Why would I?

S: Because... 

J: Because? 

She just stared at me with teary eyes, looking as though she couldn’t find the words.

J: You know what? Let's just forget this happened and get back to business.

S: Look Jules, I'm so sorry, I tr-

J: Sandra, just stop. Please give me some alone time; I need to think.

She nodded, stood up, and wiped the tears from her eyes. She walked toward Cyrus while I observed them from my position, continuously scrubbing the floor.

Nilapitan nya si Cyrus and look at him with yearning and affection which I had never seen in her eyes before. It seems that the stars themselves were reflected in her gaze. 

She gently caressed his cheek and hugged him tightly, as if for the first time, she had truly found comfort in someone.

At that moment, it felt as though the world had gone silent. It was like being in outer space, where someone had stolen my pressure helmet, making my vision blurry and the oxygen become insufficient in my lungs. I wanted to return, but it was too late. The cosmos continued its eternal dance, indifferent to the heartache of a stargazer whose dreams had drifted into the void.

J: I- ahm… lilinisin ko lang po yung ahm yung CR sir.

C: Yeah sure, ano... what’s your name?

J: Jules po sir.

I hurried to the bathroom at saka sinara ko kung pinto,I stared at the mirror. Why am I crying? Akala ko crush lang naman to bakit sobrang sakit?

J: Ang bobo! The worst thing you can do, Jules, is fall in love with someone who has already found their person.

Luh happy crush lang naman diba Jules? Diba?

By the time I finished cleaning the bathroom, I gathered my cleaning materials and was about to leave the room.

C: I missed her.

J: Po?

C: Sandy, I missed her.

J: Sandy... I also call her by that name.

I whispered the last words to myself.

C: I know you're a fan... but just so you know, I love her so much. I don't care anymore what her fans will say if they find out that I'm engaged to her. I just want to see her again. Not a single day goes by that I don't think of her.

He said softly, a hint of worry in his eyes, as he tucked away the papers and began gazing out the window. I turned my gaze to Sandra, who was leaning against the side.

J: That’s just so sad po, but I know the feelings are mutual. She misses you too... just like right now.

C: You think so?

J: Yes... I think she really loves you. She would do anything to see you again and be with you.

C: Why?

J: Huh?

C: Why do you think that she loves me?

J: I just know...

C: I just hope she's okay...

J: I think she’s feeling much better now that she has finally seen you and understands how deeply you still care for her.

I stated, and Sandra gave me a grateful smile, as though thanking me for reassuring him.

J: Sir, do you believe in ghosts?

C: Ghost? 

He chuckled and looked me straight in the eye.

C: No, ghosts are just a concept that parents invented to frighten children into behaving properly.

J: I can't blame you; I didn’t believe in ghosts before, either.

C: Before?

I hummed and sat on the small sofa, set my things down, and stared out the window while both of them watched me.

C: So, what would you do if ghosts were really real?

J: If ghosts are real, I’d like to talk to them. I’d take the time to get to know them because I imagine they must be very lonely, wandering alone. No one dares to interact with them or see them as individuals; they’re just viewed as scary entities. I’d want to ask them how it feels to be ignored, how it feels to be invisible, with no one hearing their plea.

C: You're a smart person, Jules. I like the way you speak. I think you and Sandy will get along well.

J: If you only knew baka everyday lang kami nagbabangayan Sir.

He laughed, covering his mouth with his fist, and began shaking his head. 

Bobie: Sir good afternoon po, tapos na po kami, magpapasign na lang po ako dito sa paper.

I stood up and prepared to leave, as my work here was done.

S: Nagtatampo ka ba?

J: Huh? Bakit naman?

S: Di mo kasi ako masyadong kinukulit today.

J: Napagod lang ata ako kakalinis sa penthouse mo, dami kasing instructions ng manager mo.

Saad ko sa kanya habang naglalakad pauwi.

Luh ako nagtatampo? Di ah...

J: Naiintindihan naman kita. Nabigla lang ata ako sa new information tungkol sa’yo.

She gazes at me, surprised by my statement.

J: You love him so much, kaya... ayaw mo lang na masira yung image nya lalo na pareho pa kayong nasa industry.

The walk to the apartment was silent.

: Follow the girl; I think she might know something.

[Copy po boss]

: Baka may kinalaman sya sa pagkawala ni Sandra, she might be getting some intel, para iiwas tayo sa tunay na dumukot sa kanya.

[Yes boss, I’ll report back to you, pag may nakuha akong importanteng detalye]

: Thank you.