Missed Pages ✔︎

Chapter 21

CERTAIN

“Gising ka na pala...”

I opened my eyes after I hear that voice. Napaligon ako sa paligid ko. I fell asleep last night sitting on the floor...? And I have this cozy blanket wrapped around my body. “Oh.” My mind instantly stops from overthinking, thanks to noticing Frankie putting a cup in front of me.

“G-Good morning.” I completely stuttered after realizing that I slept inside her room without permission. That was so rude of me. “Is this for me?”

“Yes.” she nods. “Tinimpla ko ʼyan para sa ʼyo.”

I nodded back in response and said, “Thank you.”

Napatingin ako sa lahat ng mga papel, libro at mga ballpen na nasa lamesa. Things had been messy since last night. Mabilis kong binuklat at pinasadahan ng tingin ang mga nakasulat sa papel. I havenʼt finish writing everything I need to write. Kaya naisipan kong ituloy na ito ngayon. Iginilid ko ang kape na dinala ni Frankie at tinuloy na ang pagsusulat.

A minute after, Frankie enters her room again. I could hear her footsteps getting louder.

Suddenly, I felt her gaze dropped at my busy hands so I tend to look up to her, “Is there something wrong with my penmanship?” I asked, voicing out my anxiousness.

She shakes her head, “Itʼs so neat.” she uttered.

I formed a smile on my lips and faced her, awkwardly.

“Tapos ka na ba dʼyan sa ginagawa mo?” tanong niya. “Kagabi mo pa ʼyan sinusulat. Nakatulugan mo pa.” dagdag niya. Nakaramdam ako ng matinding pagkahiya dahil sa sinabi niyang iyon.

“Inumin mo muna ʼyung kape mo para mas ganahan kang magsulat.” suhestyon niya. Sinunod ko naman agad ang sinabi niya nang hindi nagdadalawang-isip. “If you want, sabayan mo na akong mag-almusal.” she adde.

That was much better than drinking coffee without having nothing in my stomach.

“Malapit na akong matapos.” sagot ko sa naunang tanong niya.

Ngumiti siya sabay tango. “Sige, aantayin na kitang matapos, then letʼs have breakfast downstairs.”

— MISSED PAGES —

Hindi na ako inabot ng sobrang tagal sa pagtapos sa mga sinusulat ko. Nilingon ko si Frankie na nakaupo lamang habang nakatingin sa kaniyang cellphone. She is usually scrolling through her Instagram newsfeed when sheʼs not reading a book. I was about to call her when I heard my stomach grumbling. Napukaw niyon ang atensyon ni Frankie kaya imbis na ako ang magyaya sa kaniya na mag-almusal, siya na ang gumawa nʼon para sa akin.

Sumenyas na lamang siya sa akin kaya tumayo na ako at sumunod na sa kaniya patungong kusina. Hindi ko na muna ililigpit ang mga gamit sa mesa dahil mas mahalagang kumain muna.

Pagbaba naming dalawa, naabutan namin ang isang ginang sa kusina na nagluluto. Napako saglit ang atensyon ko sa ginang. She was wearing an apron and her brunette hair was braided. She doesnʼt look like a workaholic person to me. She looked more like a person who was always busy inside the house.

Frankie sat in front of the dining table as she calls for my name. She gestured me to sit beside her, so I did. Napatingin akong muli sa ginang. She looked like Frankie so I came to the conclusion that she was her mother.

Nang matapos siyang magluto, inihain niya na ang mga pagkain sa hapag. When she glanced at me, I got so nervous that I greeted her, impulsively. “Good morning po.”