Leaving The Lights On

Chapter Twelve: A cup of Coffee

   I felt my heart skipped when suddenly she put her head on my shoulder. I felt warm in this cold summer breeze night. I can't even move bothered that her head might fall off my shoulder.

   Her eyes where close and I felt awkward for a bit. I don't know but ayuko ring alisin ang ulo nito sa aking balikat.

   “Well, I wasn't expecting this,” bulong ko ngunit rinig ko ang kaniyang hilik na nakapagpangiti sa akin.

   This is the first time I open up my problem to someone I known for just a week. And this is the first time someone just sleep before I could start, hahahahaha.

   Minabuti kung ‘wag nalang muna itong gisingin at baka subrang pagod nito. Paniguradong hindi ito gaanong nakakapagpahinga sa trabaho.

   “You’re so strange,” bulong kung muli at timingin sa kalangitan. Gulat ako’t napalaki pa ang mata ng makakita ng isang shoting star sa kalangitan kaya kahit subrang lame na nito ay pumikit ako at humiling.

   Pagdilat kung muli ay napapangiti akong napapikit ulit at dinama ang lamig ng Gabi. This is unexpected. This wasn't I expected, but I'm not disappointed about it.

Seah’s Point of View

   One of my favorite day is today! Walang pasok at walang trabaho.  Makakapagpahinga ako at syempre walang pasok.

   “Seah! Magsisimba ka ba ngayon? Sabay ka na sa amin,” pag-aaya ni aling Iya sa akin na nakabihis na at hawak ang kaniyang taenga habang nagsusuot ng kaniyang hikaw.

   Judging by her appearance today maganda talaga ang ginang  na ito. She might be kinda strict looking lady but she's beautiful.

   “Ayy mamaya na po akong second mass ma'am. May dadalawin pa kasi ako bago ako magsimba,” pagtanggi ko. Tumango naman ito agad at agarang dinamba ang bunso nitong anak at kinarga.

   “Raphael halikana at male-late na tayo, Pa! Halikana!” pagtawag nito sa kaniyang buong pamilya.

   Habang busy ang lahat ay ako naman ay nakapadjama pa at nasa harap ng hapagkainan at nagkakape. While I was looking at them keeping busy, memories of him started to get vivid again.

   “Seah! Gwapo na ba ang papa?” pangungulit nito habang ako naman ay tinitirintas ang aking buhok.

   “Hmm! Pwedi na,” walang gana kung saad habang hindi ito tinitignan. For  sure he was in front of the mirror  making the pogi sign in every angle.

   “Ito naman oh!” maktol pa nito. “Alika ako na mag-aayos ng buhok mo,” I was already Ten years old yet he always treat me like I'm still a fetus.

   He was combing my hair and every brush it was all gentle.

   Naghahanda na kami papunta sa simbahan. Madalian ang lahat kasi pagkatapus ng pagsisimba ay kailangan pa naming magtinda pagkatapus. Pagpapalarin at maaga naming matatapus ang pagtitinda ay mag-gagala kami ni papa sa parke.

   He might be a bit childish but he was doing his best and I am thankful for that. He was the great father and one of the best.

   That time was tiring at isa rin sa pinakamagandang ala-ala ni papa na hinding hindi ko malilimutan. I was hoping he could still comb my hair, but it was already impossible.