Strangers [A Valentine Special] (EDITING)

Prologue

•Year 2020•

Two strangers.
One ready to end her life.
One fighting to extend his.

Nakatitig ako sa last painting nitong art exhibit ng isang bagong kilalang pintor dito sa Southvill, si Geo Castillo.

It was a painting of a girl sitting on a bench. It was very detailed that if you look closely in her eyes, you’ll see a hint of sadness there. It looks like this painting has a story to tell—well, this whole exhibit, if I may add.

“This painting seems to have full of stories,” komento ko nang mapansin ko ang isang lalaking nakatayo rin sa harapan n’on.

Kita ko ang pag-ngiti niya, habang nakatitig pa rin sa painting na ‘yon, nang bahagya ko siyang lingunin.

“It has,” sagot niya.

Napatingin ulit ako ro’n sa painting at binasa ang title sa baba n’on.

“Reach The Stars?” tanong ko muli.

I looked at him again. I knew that he’s Geo Castillo, the artist behind all these masterpieces.

“Bakit gano’n ang pangalan nito? May meaning din ba behind this name? Kasi mukhang may kwento ang lahat ng paintings mo base na rin sa pagkakasunud-sunod nito,” tanong kong muli sa kaniya.

He smiled as he looked at the painting again. “It has. She was the lost star. His lost star.”

“Lost… star?”

He smiled widely… na para bang may inaalala siya. A beautiful memory only he knew about.

“A guy lost his inspiration to draw. But then… she came. He found his lost star again,” he said, more to himself than to me.

He laughs a little, like he’s back from that memory. Like he was just here physically, but his mind is elsewhere.

“Someone said that if you miss someone in heaven, you just have to reach the stars. Nando’n lang sila, nasa taas, kumikinang. Binabantayan ang mga naiwan nilang mga mahal sa buhay.” He smiled bitterly. “But in his case… nandito pa rin ‘yong kaniya. His star is still here… and he’s still waiting for it to spark again. He’s been waiting for it for a long time now. Umaasa at naghihintay pa rin siya… na babalik siya. Na babalikan siya nito.”

Binalot kami nang saglit na katahimikan matapos niyang sabibin ‘yon.

It was as if he shared something deep. Like… he shared a piece of him with me. For some reason… I felt comforted. After all these years, I’ve finally felt that I’m not really alone in this world. That there’s really someone out there who feels the same feelings I was feeling all these years.

Habang nakatitig ako sa batang ito ay humanga ako sa lawak ng imahinasyon at eksplanasyon niya, that it left me speechless. Or maybe… because I can relate.

Muli kong tiningnan ‘yong painting ng babae. She’s beautiful with her long black hair and full bangs. Even though it was just a side view… she was painted beautifully. Like every stroke of the paint brush used to paint this was calculated. Like the artist of this masterpiece was too afraid to leave a single detail, that it almost looked perfect. Almost.

“What’s the name of this girl?” basag ko sa katahimikan namin.

Nakangiti niyang pinagmasdan ang painting niyang ‘yon na mukhang inaalala ulit ang mga pangyayaring ‘yon sa buhay niya.

“His star,” sagot niya, “that’s her name. ‘Yon siya… para sa ‘kin.”

“His… star,” I said, almost a whisper.

My mind wandered on those moments that we’ve spent together. The guy who gave me hope and made me see things beautifully again.

Our memories came rushing back at me. Like I was hearing an old song. It stirs up an emotion that I thought I already buried deep inside me. A feeling like I was transported back in time. The feelings, the memories… all of it. Like I was reliving it again.

“Sa tingin mo, hijo… if I ever reach my hand out in the sky… will that be able to reach him? Will I be able to reach him?” I asked.

Mukhang hindi niya na-gets ang ibig kong sabihin do'n base sa reaksyon niya. He was confused.

“P-Po?”

I just smiled. “Nevermind. Anyway, congratulations sa success ng art exhibit mo at ang opening ng art gallery mo. You’re a great artist.”

“T-Thank you po.”

My smile widened. “No… thank you.”

Mas lalo siyang nalito sa isinagot ko sa kaniya ngunit ngumiti na lamang akong muli bago ko siya nilagpasan na at lumabas na sa art gallery na ‘yon na may ngiti pa rin sa mga labi ko.

At this point, I knew that being here right now wasn’t just a coincidence. It was destiny. It was destiny that I met Geo Castillo and that he met me. Maybe because I can understand him… somehow. Dahil kagaya niya, I’m still waiting. I’m also hoping and waiting for him.

Tumingala ako sa langit nang tuluyan na ‘kong makalabas. Napangiti ako habang nakatingin sa maaliwalas na langit.

“Maybe it was you who sent him to me,” I whispered to myself.

Until today, you still want to continue my life and be happy.

“Dumb,” muli kong bulong sa sarili habang nakangiti, saka tuluyan nang naglakad paalis.