Missed Pages ✔︎

Chapter 13

COFFEE SHOP

“Help me memorize and review.” Frankie told me as she sat down in front of me. We were sitting down at the floor of the rooftop. Inilapag niya ang mga libro na dinala niya kanina. I helped her arrange those books aside.

“How?” I asked, only looking at her.

Kapag nagkakabisa ako at nagre-review, mag-isa lang ako. I donʼt need someone to help me do those. Wala rin namang may lakas ng loob na tumulong sa akin sa tuwing nahihirapan ako sa academics. I study alone, I gain my grades alone, and above all, I suffer alone. I am always alone. And I wasnʼt complaining. I can think well when Iʼm alone so I really donʼt mind.

But if sheʼs having a really hard time doing it by herself, Iʼd be glad if I could be of help for her.

“Whenʼs your test?” I asked, starting to open up one of the books.

She flips the pages of the book I was holding and gave me a short glance. “Monday next week.” she said.

Hindi na ako nagsalita pa. I was having unexpected plans inside of my mind. I need to shut my mouth so that I wouldnʼt spill any of my thoughts.

“Iʼll read it aloud first, tapos ire-recite ko ʼyon after.” she utters as she picks up the book from my hand.

Humarap siya sa akin at nagsimula nang magbasa. Nakaupo lamang ako habang nakikinig ng mabuti sa bawat salitang binabanggit niya.

My friends alwayd say that I was an attentive and a good listener. Itʼs funny how I am being lost in the galaxy of my own thoughts now while I was in the middle of listening.

Tanging pagtulala ang aking nagawa buong oras na nagbasa siya sa harap ko. Sa hindi inaasahang pagkakataon tila hindi ko na marinig ang boses niya. I was thankful enough that reading was my hobby. My gaze dropped to her moving lips. I begun reading them like an open book. I somehow understand.

“Marcus,” she calls my name, suddenly.

Sa simpleng pagbanggit niya sa pangalan ko, biglang bumilis na naman ang pagtibok ng puso ko. The feeling was familiar. Somehow, it felt like my past life with Liana. That time where she was the one who always complete my everyday. The feeling of getting to the rising action of the story.

Everytime I look at her, it somehow make me feel like I was reading a characterʼs point of view in a romance novel.

I canʼt explain furthermore because I couldnʼt read myself anymore.

“Y-yes?” I sounded like I had a hiccup. So embarrassing.

That was the very first time I stuttered. Reason? Suddenly called by a girl.

“Tapos na akong magbasa.” saad niya.

“Ah oo nga.” Inabot niya ang libro sa akin kaya kinuha ko ito. I messed up my hair to cover my face—ayos na sa akin kahit mata ko lang ang matakpan.

“You may start reciting now.” I signaled.

This time, I tried switching my attention to other things—to the sky and the lights around me. I donʼt want to just focus on her and lose my mind again.

After she recites, I nodded attentively. “Youʼre doing well.” I complimented.

“Thank you.” she replies. Tila namula ang kaniyang pisngi dahil sa sinabi ko.

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She reads, she recites, I listen and observe. We repeated that routine until we finished a whole lesson.