Drawn to His Flame

Wakas

"Don't go too far, Treyton!"

I nodded at Mom before leaving the chapel. Napapikit ako dahil sa sinag ng araw na tumama sa 'king mata. It's hot and boring in this place and I didn't know how I survived a month in here despite of that. I wanted to go for an out of country trip this summer but I didn't push it through. Gusto talaga ni Mom na pumunta sa Venturanza kaya hindi na ako nagreklamo pa at tiniis na lang ang bakasyon namin dito.

Good thing we're finally leaving tomorrow.

Ayaw kong suwayin ang ibinilin sa akin pero wala talaga akong magawa rito kaya tumawid na ako papunta sa parke na nasa harap ng simbahan. I'll just go take a look around and return before my parents noticed that I was gone.

When I arrived at that place, most of the people I saw in the park were children. Some looked like my age. Pero mas marami ang mukhang mas bata sa akin at sila ngayon ang pumupuno sa playground na nandito. I don't know how they can endure the summer heat but I couldn't care less.

I saw a vacant bench nearby that was directly under the shade of a mango tree so I went there to sit. May dumaang malakas na hangin kaya nakaramdam na ako ng ginhawa. If I will miss something about this province when I go back to the city, it will surely be the fresh air here.

Nanatili akong nakaupo habang pinagmamasdan ang paligid ko hanggang may napansin akong isang bata. He looked funny in his oversized Garfield shirt while he roamed around talking to people he crossed paths with. Nakita kong inilahad din niya ang dala niyang cellphone pero tanging iling lang ang natanggap niya mula sa mga kinausap niya.

I think he still hasn't found what he's searching for.

I averted my attention to other people not until someone spoke. "Hello po. Puwede magtanong?" tanong ng batang nakita ko kanina na nakarating na pala sa harap ko. He looked younger than me but I got intimidated when I saw how he towered over me while I was sitting.

I was complimented by many because I was too tall for a twelve-year old boy. Pero may mas matangkad pa pala sa akin?

Napatayo na lang ako para tingnan kung sino ang mas mataas sa amin at napaatras naman siya dahil do'n. Napangisi ako nang makitang hanggang baba ko lang pala siya. I looked at him again and I saw him taking another step back. Lalo akong napangisi roon. He looked like a scaredy-cat.

Hindi ako bully pero parang ang sarap niyang asarin kaya hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko.

"Nagtatanong ka na nga, bata," tukso ko sa kanya. Nagsalubong ang kilay ko nang talikuran niya ako bigla. I got pissed so I snatched his phone from his hand.

"Hoy! Ibalik mo 'yan!" paulit-ulit niyang sigaw pero tinaas ko lang ang cellphone niya para hindi niya iyon makuha. He jumped to reach it but I was taller and my arms were longer so it was no use.

I looked at his phone afterwards and chuckled when I saw what he's trying hard to find. Akala ko naman kung anong importanteng bagay. Aso lang pala at aspin pa.

Hinagis ko pabalik sa kanya ang cellphone niya at natawa nang muntikan na niyang hindi 'yon masalo. I laughed louder when I saw how red he was. He looked like a tomato. Parang kamatis talaga siya dahil gano'n din ang hugis ng mukha niya.

And I'm getting excited because I think I'll be seeing a tomato explode today.

Pero nawala ang pagkasabik at napalitan ng inis nang talikuran na naman niya ako. "Huwag mo nang hanapin 'yong aso mo. Aspin lang naman, eh. Dami rin naman diyan sa tabi-tabi, iuwi mo na lang 'yong una mong makita. If you're rich, then just buy a dog with a nice breed," malakas kong pagpapasaring sa kanya. I grinned when he stopped walking. Nilingon niya ako at tinikom ko na lang ang bibig ko para hindi matawa dahil namumula na rin pati ang tenga niya ngayon.