What the Trees Kept Whispering [COMPLETE]

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I rarely leave the house.

When I was ten, I had this very close friend. We live several streets away from each other. Pero 'di naging hadlang ang "layo" ng tirahan namin sa isa't isa para makapagkita kami nang halos araw-araw.

Walang araw na lumilipas na 'di ako nagiging excited para makipaglaro o kahit makipag-usap man lang sa kanya. We didn't have phones back then kaya layas talaga ng bahay kung layas, makapagkita lang kami.

Then, that day happened.

I was eager to show him a new action figure I bought kaya tumakas na naman ako sa pagpapatulog ni Mama sa 'kin no'n. Lumabas ako ng bahay para lang puntahan siya.

But when I got there, ang dami kong nadatnang ibang mga bata. May hawak silang mga loot bags at kung ano-ano pang mga laruan. I also saw my friend playing with the other kids.

I was about to join them that day, kahit parang 'di pa niya ako napapansin sa kalayuan. Pero mas pinangunahan ako ng tampo nang nakita kong lumabas ang nanay niya mula sa bahay na may bitbit na cake.

All the other kids sang "Happy Birthday" to him. Wala akong nagawa kundi pagmasdan kung ga'no sila kasaya sa pagse-celebrate ng kaarawan ng kaibigan ko.

I was there, standing. I was waiting for him to notice me.

Pero wala.

Para akong isang batang kinalimutan ng sarili niyang magulang.

I was his close friend. But I wasn't even invited to his special day.

That was my first heartbreak. Umuwi akong umiiyak no'n dahil parang 'di ko matanggap na 'di man lang niya ako naalala nung araw na 'yon. 'Yong tipong parang wala kaming pinagsamahan. Heck, I even questioned myself kung kaibigan niya ba talaga ako.

I was too young and naive but my heart knows how painful it was.

That day, nagkulong ako sa kwarto. And since then, I never got the excitement to leave the house—or my room—ever again.

I do have friends pa rin naman as I grow up. But there's still this feeling na parang lagi akong left out sa kahit anong circle na kinabibilangan ko. That innocent childhood pain stayed with me, fueling my withdrawn self from my social nature.

Lumalabas pa rin naman ako ng bahay to refresh myself. But usually, I go out alone or only if my family is there, too. That happens rarely. Mas gugustuhin ko na lang ding magkulong sa kwarto kaysa pilitin kong palabasin ang social energy ko. Masyadong nakakapagod.

But this?! THIS?!

Hindi lang energy ko ang naubos. Pati 'ata kaluluwa ko.

The whole ride to the province was exhausting enough to even groan and mutter about it. I can't even bring my consoles with me. Tanging cellphone at earphones lang ang pinayagan ni Papa na dalhin ko kasama ng baga-bagahe kong mga damit and hygiene stuff.

Can this idea of him get even stupider?

The ever-changing scenery captivated my eyes but I still don't feel the element of excitement. My breath died down as I passed by a little-too-familiar signage.

Sitio Pulang Gubat.

When the trike stopped in front of the address I gave, nakaramdam ako lalo ng bigat ng katawan. I dragged myself out of the cab along with my heavy mountain backpack and duffel bag.

My shoes were greeted by the dirt road. As I looked around, I easily noticed all shades of green surrounding the place. Magkakalayo rin ang mga bahay na nakatindig sa lugar na 'to, unlike sa siyudad na halos gawing sardinas na ang mga gusali sa pagiging siksik.