SEIRI GRAGNE
"Seiri, love, where are you? Late ka na!"
Ipinatong ko ang phone ko sa vanity mirror habang pinapatuyo ang buhok. I can't go out with wet hair or else it will freeze.
"Gago ka ba? Anong love?" Tanong ko.
"Love is the affection and tenderness felt by lovers. Credits kay mareng Merriam-Webster," sagot n'ya.
"Bwiset."
"So? Nasaan ka na?" Tanong n'ya.
"Paano ako pupunta d'yan eh hindi mo binigay ang address mo?" Sagot ko.
"Hindi pa ba? Text ko na lang," sabi n'ya at binaba ang tawag ng basta-basta.
Nang matanggap ko ang text n'ya ay agad ko s'yang tinawagan.
"Miss mo 'ko?" Napa-irap na lang ako sa bungad n'ya.
"Shuta ka, magkapit-bahay lang pala tayo," sabi ko. Nasa likod lang ang apartment building n'ya.
"Oh? Tama 'yan, kapag wala akong ulam ay p'wede kitang sigawin para humingi," sagot n'ya.
"Ano ka? Nasa bukid?" Tanong ko.
Ewan ko kay Calix. Minsan katulad s'ya ng mga pinapangarap mong lalaki pero kadalasan ay may saltik sa ulo.
Pagkatapos mag-ayos ay binitbit ko na ang mga equipments na gagamitin para sa cake na gagawin namin. It's for our family dinner at sasama s'ya kahit hindi naman pamilya.
Sinalubong n'ya ako at kinuha sa akin ang eco bag.
"My apartment's at the fourth floor," sabi n'ya at huminto muna bago buksan ang pinto papasok sa hallway nila.
"Medyo magulo ang apartment ngayon dahil sa mga anak ko."
"May anak ka?" Tanong ko and he nodded with a huge smile.
Pagpasok sa apartment n'ya ay nagkalat nga sa sahig ang mga laruan. I guess it's true, he has a child.
"Where are they?" I was expecting some noise once we get in.
"Spring! Snow!" Tawag n'ya.
Maya-maya ay may tumunog sa isang kwarto, two dogs went out running towards us.
A Golden Retriever and a Husky!
"The husky's Snow, the chill one. That's Spring, the hyper one," they both wagged their tails while Calix was introducing them.
Lumuhod ako sa harap nila at parehong tinapik ang ulo nila. Spring was definitely hyper trying to lick my hand while Snow just sat down beside me.
"Entertain the kids for a while. Aayusin ko lang ang gamit mo then we'll go to the mart," sabi ni Calix at pumunta sa kusina.
Dinala ko sa sala ang dalawang aso at doon naglaro.
The pictures around Calix's apartment was either his or the dogs. The other side of the living room has the dogs' chew toys and stuff toys.
Pagkatapos ng ilang minuto ay tinawag na ako ni Calix kaya pumunta ako sa kusina. Naka-ayos na ang mga gamit sa counter top at nasa dining table naman ang iba.
"Dito lang ba iiwan ang mga aso?" Tanong ko.
"Yup! They're good kids. 'Wag kang mag-alala," sagot n'ya.
"Let's just take a bus to the supermarket. Sira 'yung kotse ko," dagdag n'ya at hinila ako palabas pero pinigilan ko s'ya.
"Calix..."
"Hmm?" Humarap s'ya sa'kin.
"P'wede bang iba na lang ang sakyan natin?" Sabi ko.
"Why?" Tanong n'ya pero nanatili lamang akong tahimik.
"Never mind. Let's just take your car," he said then smiled.
Tumalikod s'ya ulit pero hinawakan ko ang kamay n'ya at pinaharap s'ya sa'kin.
"I-I'll tell you," I said, almost a whisper.
"Seiri, you don't have to tell me if you're uncomfortable. I understand," pigil n'ya.
I sighed and hold onto his hand tighter.
"I was in elementary, it was the first day of school. May trabaho noon si Daddy but I insisted na s'ya ang sumundo sa'kin," I stopped as I recall my memory.
"He excused from his work for a while to fetch me. Nasa harap na ako ng school, his bus passed me and he waved at me with the biggest smile on his face. Pero nawalan ng preno ang kasalubong nilang bus at nabangga sila. He smashed his head on the glass window, in front of me."
"Ever since then, I didn't ride the bus again. It reminds me of that accident. I almost lost my father," pagtatapos ko.
Calix remained silent but then he hugged me after a few seconds.
"Stop crying, love. He's fine now."
Doon ko lang na realize na kanina pa pala tumutulo ang luha ko.
I was traumatized. In my young age, I witnessed an accident that almost took away my father's life. I never left Dad's side while he was at the hospital. Sinisi ko ang sarili ko sa nangyari. Kung hindi ko pinilit na s'ya ang sumundo sa'kin, mangyayari ba 'yon sakaniya?
Calix was humming as he swayed our bodies. He started singing after a while. His deep, relaxing voice made me stop crying.
♬ Every time I walk with you
My winter is beyond time
Now I meet you, who's like spring
One by one, I fill up with you
Through the time
My season that's filled with you
Goes beyond time
We'll always be together
At the end of winter, you approach me
The long winter has passed
Come to me
With the Spring of yours
Melt me and look at me with your eyes
And I hope our seasons doesn't change. ♬
Tumigil s'ya sa pagkanta at ngumiti nang makitang hindi na ako umiiyak.
"Go on," I told him.
♬ I'm always grateful
For you who came to me
Even if the moment
Of you and me passes by
Even in those lonely moments
It's fine now as it's no longer cold
Gently, the spring snow kisses
When I open my eyes, it's filled with you, Oh baby
In my winter, you approach me. ♬
"What's the title of the song?" Tanong ko.
"Spring Snow," sagot n'ya.
"Just like the dogs' name," sabi ko at tinignan ang dalawa na ngayon ay nakatingin sa amin mula sa sala.
"It's their lullaby song too," sabi n'ya.
"Let's go, we'll ride the bus," sabi ko at ako na mismo ang humila sakaniya.
"Are you sure? P'wede naman nating gamitin 'yung sasakiyan mo," sabi n'ya.
"Mahal na ang gas ngayon, may card naman ka naman para sa bus," sabi ko.
He chuckled, "If you say so."
I'll just think that he's the bus driver so I can calm my system.
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YOU ARE READING
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."
