SEIRI GRAGNE
"Are you ready, Sei?" Tanong ni Aster habang kumakatok sa pinto ng kwarto ko. She slept over since may vacant room naman sa tabi ng kwarto ko.
I got up from bed and opened the door. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay pero tinalikuran ko lang siya at bumalik sa kama. Nagpameywang siya sa harap ko habang nakataas parin ang mga kilay.
"Akala ko ba alas otso ka aalis? Aba't alas otso treinta na, ineng," sabi niya.
"Inaantok pa ako," sabi ko at nag taklubong ng comforter.
"Inaantok? Eh ang aga aga nating natulog kagabi dahil aalis ka ngayon," sabi niya at kinuha ang hairbrush ko para suklayin ang basang buhok niya.
"I couldn't sleep," sagot ko at hinarap siya.
"Bakit naman?" Tanong niya.
"That guy from yesterday," I trailed. "He's tattooed on my mind."
She gasped before laughing. Halos mapa-upo na siya sa sahig kakatawa.
"Ikaw Seiri, ha? Nagda-dalaga ka na," sabi niya.
"I'm already an adult, tho?" I said as a matter of fact.
"No, what I mean is that you have a crush on that guy!" She exclaimed. "Alam mo ba ang pangalan?"
"Yeah, it's Calix Cortez. Anong gagawin mo?" Tanong ko.
"Ise-search ko sa facebook, let's judge kung worth it ba siyang i-crush ng isang Seiri Gragne," sabi niya habang nagpipindot sa phone. Napa-iling na lang ako sa ginagawa niya.
After a few minutes, she squealed so loud baka umabot na sa kabilang mga apartment building.
"Omg! Totoong tao ba 'to? 'Di ba 'to alien or robot? Mas maganda pa siguro sa'kin 'to kapag naging babae siya," sabi niya.
She shoved her phone in my face while Calix's FB acc was displayed in it. For sure, ang gwapo niya sa profile pic but he's more handsome in real life.
"You know what, Aster?" sabi ko at tumayo na. "You should cook breakfast."
Patuloy pa rin siya sa pag-stalk kay Calix habang pinipilit ko siyang lumabas sa kwarto ko.
I entered my walk-in closet and picked jeans and a comfortable white hoodie. Summer naman dito kaya hindi pa malamig. After that ay naligo na ako at nag-ayos.
Breakfast was ready when I went to the kitchen. Aster was smiling brightly at me.
"So, I just found some details about Calix," she said and started scrolling on her phone. "Big time, te!"
She showed me several pictures of Calix taken by professional photographers. There's even a Greek God themed photoshoot and he sure does look like one.
"He works as a model and a photographer. His family owns several businesses both in the Philippines and abroad. He's just our age!" She squealed.
"Stop stalking, Aster. Mamaya may mapindot ka diyan, sige ka," sabi ko at naupo na para kumain.
"Kung ayaw mo sakaniya, pwedeng akin na lang?" tanong niya.
"Lol, you wish. At saka, 'di naman natin alam kung makikita ba natin siya ulit. Like you said, he's rich. Baka sa ngayon ay papunta na 'yon sa ibang bansa," sabi ko.
"Malay mo naman nandito pa 'yon. Baka nga bumalik siya kung saan kayo nagkita," sumimangot siya pero nag-umpisa na ring kumain.
"Eh ano namang gagawin mo kung ganon? Tatambay sa Walmart para bantayan kung bumalik siya?" tanong ko.
"I would if I'm not busy with the restaurant. But you, you're not busy naman," sabi niya. I rolled my eyes at her.
"My parents wants me to go on a vacation, not stalk a person whom I've only met once," sagot ko.
"'Di naman kasi stalk, girl. Tignan mo lang kung bumalik doon. Maybe, maybe he's the right guy for you," tumayo ako para hugasan ang mga pinggan while still listening to her talk.
"Think carefully, he's the first guy na nagka-crush ka sa una pa lang. Be honest, Seiri. You've been thinking of him last night, that's why you can't sleep," napalingon ako sakaniya. She was smiling widely.
"Paano mo nasabi?" tanong ko.
"Oh, come on. I have known you for so long, alam ko na ang takbo ng utak mo. And I'm sure that he's been running around your mind the whole night," sabi niya. She continued talking but I dismissed her.
After almost an hour of talking about Calix, Aster finally decided to help me put my belongings unto the car. Gumawa rin siya ng sandwiches na pwede kong kainin sa biyahe.
"Ingat ka don, ah? Hanapan mo 'ko ng jowa," sabi niya habang chine-check ko ang dalang camera.
"I will so you can finally stop talking about Calix," sagot ko.
"Talaga ba? Baka pag-uwi mo, ikaw na 'yung may jowa. Para sa'kin 'yung bilin ko ah? 'Di para sa'yo," she said and closed the passenger seat's door.
"Ewan ko sa'yo, kulang ka sa gising," sabi ko at pinaandar ang sasakyan.
"But seriously, stay safe. Mag-focus ka sa pag-drive baka lumilipad 'yung utak mo kay Calix," huling bilin n'ya bago lumayo sa sasakyan at kumaway.
"Yeah, whatever. I'll call you pagkadating ko," sabi ko at umalis na.
I refilled my car's tank first, mahirap na at apat na oras ang biyahe papunta doon. Lumabas ako para hintaying mapuno ito pero napatingin ako sa Walmart. Nandito kaya ulit siya?
Napa-iling ako ng mapagtanto na kanina pa ako tinatawag ng nagtratrabaho dito kaya agad kong inabot ang bayad at umalis sa gas station.
I decided to go to Lake Louise first and after hours of driving ay nakarating na ako doon. I went out of my car and breathed in the fresh and cold air of Canada.
Kinuha ko ang dslr at napagpasiyahan na maglakad-lakad muna. I already ate lunch while I'm on my way here. It's almost 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
I admired the green trees and crystal clear water of Lake Louise. May snow din ang peak ng bundok kahit summer na.
I also took photos of other visitors. Grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles, children and some even brought their pets!
Lumingon ako ulit sa tanawin. A flock of birds are slowly flying above the mountain. Tumuntong ako sa bato para mas maayos na makuhanan iyon.
Tatalikod na sana ako para bumaba pero biglang dumulas ang paa ko. I closed my eyes and waited for the impact.
"I caught you."
That voice.
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4EVER
Romance"It was summer when I first met you. Fall when I officially owned you. Winter when I took my first step away from you and spring when I found you again. You're forever my summer, fall, winter, spring."
