"Mom, what is this?"
Wicker grab the box and looked at his mother with a smile on her face.
"A gift for you. It's kinda late, but still have one for you. Go ahead, open it."
Malapad ang ngiti ni Wicker habang binubuksan ang regalong ito.
"An aviator hat?" hindi makapaniwalang untag niya, "Ang ganda," dagdag niya habang tinititigan ito.
"Remember when your dad brought you here in Fawnbrook? Noong nagpunta kayo sa perya tapos nawala ka. You said you left your aviator hat somewhere. Masyado ka kasing natakot noong mga oras na 'yon that's why you won't remember some part of it . . ."
Wicker's brows furrowed. He couldn't remember where exactly he put his aviator hat. Nawala niya ba ito? Nalaglag kung saan man?
There's an immediate ding popped in his head. "I think I lent it to someone . . ."
Nagtungo ang mom niya sa kalapit na couch at umupo. "Someone? Is it about the girl in her school uniform? Naalala kong ikinuwento mo iyong batang babae noong gabing nawala ka at sinasabi mong siya ang tumulong sa 'yo, hindi ba?"
Wicker looked at his mom resting her back on the fluffy couch.
"I lent her my aviator hat. Kasi namumula na iyong mga tainga niya dahil sa sobrang lamig."
"You were a good boy. She'd helped you and you're giving back the favor. That's a nice thing to do, Wicker."
Sinukat na ni Wicker ang aviator hat na iyon na kasyang-kasya naman sa kanya. He looked so handsome wearing it. Hindi man ito katulad ng aviator hat na naipahiram niya noon but still, somehow, it gave him the nostalgia of that very moment.
"You looked good. Might as well wear that if you're going out. Makatutulong 'yan sa lamig ng panahon sa labas."
"I will, mom. Thank you!" He walked to her and gave a light hug.
Maagang umalis si Wicker mane-maneho ang kanyang kotse. Saturday mornings make him feel with so much joy. Lalo na sa liwanag na nanggagaling sa kalangitan at ang lamig ng umagang iyon. He better go somewhere for this kind of mixed weather.
He drove moderately while vibing to the sound of music his car's radio playing. A jazz music with purely instrumental only that gave him the sensation he needed to add up the morning.
He's on the way to the land where his dad thinking about buying it. Maganda raw ang lupaing iyon lalo na ang mga puno at mga anyong tubig na naliligiran at sakop nito. The land is good for restoration activities and cultivation.
He stepped on the break when the bus stops in front of him to catch passengers. Napansin niya ang ilang pasaherong naghihintay sa bus stop.
"Annara?" he muttered.
Binalikan pa niya ito ng tingin at kinumpirma kung si Annara ba ang isa sa mga babaeng naghihintay roon.
He pulled up his car. He slides the window down and had a glimpse of her from his seat.
"Annara!" he called her. "Saan ka papunta?"
Tumayo ito at lumapit sa kanya. "Pauwi na ako."
"Pauwi na? Wala ka bang duty ngayon sa library?"
Umiling siya. "Miss Georgette called me. May renovation daw na ginagawa sa library ngayon kaya inabisuhan na niya ako para hindi na tuluyang magpunta pa ng school."
"Ah, gano'n ba? Gusto mo bang ihatid na kita?"
Annara lifted her lips. "I'm okay. Baka may pupuntahan ka pa."
BINABASA MO ANG
Strange Voices of the Dead
Mystery / Thriller"I feel more than infinite with you." When Adrian died, Annara, a student library assistant, began hearing ghostly voices. Later in life, she meets Wicker, who resembles him, and this changes everything, making her realize that those strange voices...
