Where It All Started (SOW #1)

20.

Our 3rd day ended happily. My brother is sitting beside me on our way home. Sa kabilang gilid ko si V na natutulog. Hindi pa umaandar ang van ay nakatulog na siya kaya hindi ko na inistorbo. Both of them lean on me hanggang sa maramdaman kong nakatulog na din ako.

The van stopped kaya naalimpungatan ako. I opened my eyes and saw Ralph and Jeon going out the van. Nilingon ko din ang iba at nakitang tulog pa si Erich with Kuya Jin beside her. Nilingon ko ang driver's seat at nakitang wala doon si Yuri, which is the one who's driving. Even Kobi isn't on the passenger's seat.

"Leisheen, gusto mong kumain? Nag-stop over muna sila." I turn to Parker who's yawning.

Gusto ko sanang bumaba pero, paano? May dalawang nakasandal sa akin.

Tiningnan ko si Parker na mukhang napagtanto din ang sasabihin ko. Natawa siya at tumango tango. Lumabas na siya pero bago isara ang pintuan ay lumingon pa sa akin.

"Bibilhan ko na lang kayo, ano bang gusto niyo?" Sinilip ko ang shop na hinintuan at nakitang fastfood iyon kaya sinabi ko na lang ang gusto kong kainin at ang paborito ni Louie. V is not a picky eater so, kakainin niya naman siguro kung anong ibigay ko.

Parker closed the car's door. Naiwan kaming lima dito. The couple in front is sleeping at ang dalawa sa tabi ko. I'm the only one who's awake here.

Napakagat labi ako nang maramdamang naiihi ako. Shit, how could I go out nang hindi nagigising si Louie at V?

The van's door opened, Ralph and Jeon entered. Natigilan pa sila pero agad ding umusbong ang ngisi.

"Malupet, mukha kayong pamilya d'yan," Jeon said but I only rolled my eyes. Naiihi na talaga ako!

"Jeon, can you please sit here? Kailangan ko lang mag-CR," pakiusap ko. Jeon's lips pursed before he nodded. Dahan dahan kong inangat ang ulo ni V at naglagay ng unan sa gilid para doon siya sumandal, Louie is leaning on Jeon kaya tumayo ako at lumabas ng van so, Jeon can enter and sit on my previous seat.

Agad akong pumasok sa fastfood at nakita si Parker, Yuri at Kobi na nakapila sa counter. Napalingon sila sa akin pero sumenyas ako na sandali lang dahil naiihi na talaga ako.

Nakahinga ako nang maluwag nang makaihi ako. I washed my hands and fix myself. Napatitig ako sa salamin at napansin na exposed ang mukha ko. My scar is proudly showing. Mas exposed iyon dahil nakatali ang buhok ko. I caress it and smile.

Be proud of your scar, Sheen. That shows how strong you are.

I went out the bathroom and walk towards the counter. Sakto namang walang tao sa likod ni Parker kaya doon ako pumila. I tap his shoulder and he instantly turn around.

"Sheen, akala ko ba hindi ka aalis do'n?" He asked. Napalingon din sa amin si Yuri at Kobi.

"I need to pee kaya si Jeon muna ang naroon. V and Louie are still sleeping," sambit ko pero nagtaka ako nang ngitian lang niya ako at guluhin ang buhok ko.

"Victorious is really clingy when it comes to you, huh?" Napangiti ako nang maliit. Nilingon niya si Kobi at tinapik.

"Parekoy, pwede bang ikaw na bumili ng order ko? Bilhan mo na din itong si Leisheen tapos si V at Louie, ito pera. Kakausapin ko lang itong pinsan mo," sabi ni Parker at agad na hinila ako. Hindi na ako nakaimik dahil nahila na niya ako palabas ng fastfood shop. Huminto kami sa gilid ng fastfood shop at naupo sa may batuhan doon.

We're both looking at our van. The door opened and Erich went out with Kuya Jin behind her. Dumiretso sila sa loob ng fastfood shop. The window rolled down and Jeon peeked. His eyes instantly landed on our direction and he signaled something.

"He's saying that V is awake," sabi ni Parker kaya napatayo ako pero pinigil ni Parker ang kamay ko.

"Why? Pupuntahan ko lang sya," sabi ko pero hindi niya pa rin ako binitawan.

"No, stay here. Jeon is there. V wouldn't come out of the van, babalik din 'yan sa pagtulog. Trust me. He wouldn't want to be awake when he's inside a vehicle." Napatitig ako kay Parker at nakitang seryoso na ang itsura niya. Gone the playful Parker I knew.

Napaupo naman ako at parang may nag-udyok sa akin na pakinggan kung ano ang sasabihin niya. I feel like he's about to tell me something important. Something about Victorious.

"Victorious, Jeon and I are friends for a very long damn time. Naka-diapers palang yata kami, magkasangga na kami. Jeon is the youngest among us and he's the most playful, the prankster one. Ako ang pinakamapang-asar sa amin. Sometimes, pakiramdam ko, pareho na nilang pinaplano ang pagbugbog sa akin sa isip nila dahil sa mga pang-aasar ko," he laughs.

"Victorious is like the father of our group. Siya ang tagasaway sa amin ni Jeon. Kahit mas matanda ako sa kanya, mas seryoso siya kaysa sa akin. But despite that, Victorious loves to smile, joke around, join our pranks and teases us. He loves to take pictures and paint things that caught his interests."

I imagine the old V who's holding his camera and taking photos. Holding a brush and painting a scenery with a smile on his face. I wish to see that V now. Kuntento akong makita siyang ngumingiti at tumatawa ngayon but, is it too much to ask when I want him to show me his favorites? His hobbies?

"Victorious is an achiever. Walang palya iyon. Mula elementarya hanggang mag-college, hindi siya nawawala sa ranking. He's a consistent dean's lister in college. He's doing great until she came..." humina ang boses niya sa huling salita kaya mas na-curious ako.

She? Who's she?

"She made him happy. She made Victorious work harder. Victorious loved her with all his heart. He's the happiest when he's with her..." He looked at me and smiled sadly.

"Hindi ko alam kung bakit pinapaalam ko sa iyo ito when it should be him who's saying this to you. I just want you to have knowledge about V so you could understand him better."

I nodded. I want to learn more about Victorious.

"V almost propose to her but, tangina nung babaeng iyon. May iba palang kinakasama." My lips parted and I felt my heart broke while imagining the smile on V's face fading.

"Minahal siya ng kaibigan ko. Halos araw araw na bukambibig ni V 'yun pero isang araw, nagulat na lang kami na may tumawag kay Tita Tania. Nasa hospital daw si V," mas bumigat ang pakiramdam ko at ilang beses akong huminga nang malalim.

"V was involved in an accident the exact same day he saw her with another guy. That's also the day his suffering started." I heard him sniffing kaya tumulo na ang luha ko.

"Tangina, nagmahal lang 'yung kaibigan ko. Nagmahal lang siya ng totoo pero bakit gano'n ang sinukli sa kaniya? Niloko siya, naaksidente tapos nawalan pa siya ng paningin."

I can't imagine how painful that is. 'Yung malaman mo pa lang na niloko ka, napakasakit na. Nakakamatay na sa sakit pero 'yung maaksidente at mawalan ng paningin, that's too much.

Now, I fully understand him. He lost everything eversince that day. He lost his sight, he lost his will to paint again, he lost his happiness, he lost his smiles.

Tipong malapit ka na sa gusto mong makuha pero para kang lumagapak ulit. Nakaka-frustrate at nakakawala ng gana kaya naisip mo na sumuko na lang pero hindi dapat. Victorious shouldn't give up. I shouldn't give up.

"We are longing to see Victorious' genuine smile. Akala namin matatagalan pa pero nang dumating ka, sumaya siya. You make Victorious happy and I guess, he's doing the same thing for you. You are both making each other happy and I hope you two will last," aniya. "I am rooting for you two. We are all rooting for the two of you..."

My heart beats faster than the normal pace. I don't know why but imaginin what Parker said, me and Vuctorious together, strangely feels surreal. Ewan ko. Parang ang sarap pakinggan.

"Victorious went through a lot, Sheen. He deserves to see the light and the light that brightens his world is you, Sheen. I don't know your whole story but you deserve happiness. Wala akong pakealam kung paulit ulit ako pero deserve niyo ni Victorious na sumaya at sana... maging kayo hanggang dulo," he said.

Hindi ko man sigurado na matutulungan ko siyang sumaya ulit pero mananatili ako. Until, he's complete and healed again.

Until, he got his sight back. Until, he got his will to paint back. Until I see him do what he loves again.