SA PAG-UGNAY (Soul Ties 2)

Chapter 11

TW: mention of suicide.

CHAPTER 11

Isa kami sa magc-camp ngayong gabi. Walang signal at kuryenta sa isla kaya naman unti-unti nang naghahanda ang mga tao para sa gagawing bonfire na magiging liwanag namin ngayong gabi.

Akala ko ay kaunti lang ang magc-camp dahil walang ilaw at signal ngunit nagulat ako nang marami silang pinili na magpagabi sa isla. 

Siguro kagaya ni Taliya, isa ito sa paraan upang makalayo sa buhay sa metro. Walang makakakontak sa'yo. Hindi ka rin makakatambay sa kahit anong social media dahil walang signal.

Buti nalang at bago kami nakarating dito ay nakontak ko pa ang sekretarya ko na hindi ako makakadalo sa meeting at bigyan nalang ako ng pointers ng mga magiging usapan sa pagpupulong.

People were so excited while waiting for the beautiful sunset in Zambales. 

And as one of the people who looks forward to it. She, who loves gold only if it's sunset, Taliya captured the sunset of Zambales using her phone's camera.

She even asked Altheria to take a picture of her with sunset in the background.

But one thing made me realize something about her. No matter what color the sunset gives her at the end of the day, she nevertheless welcomes it. Every time.

Many people took pictures of the sun setting too, until it finally settled and the sky broke into darkness.

Nagsimula nang pumabilog ang mga campers sa paligid ng mga bonfire na sila rin mismo ang gumawa.

Ang iba ay nag ihaw roon nang hapunan nila, ang iba naman ay nagpapainit dahil sa malamig na hangin na dala ng gabi.

Umupo kaming apat tapat ng isang may kalakihang bonfire. Napunta lahat ng atensyon namin sa lalakeng biglang nagstrum ng dala niyang gitara. 

Napangiti agad kami ng marinig ang intro ng pamilyar na kanta. Biglang tumahimik ang buong isla para sabay-sabay na kumanta.

'There I was, an empty piece of a shell

Just minding my own world

Without even knowing what love and life were all about

Then you came,

You brought me out of a shell

You gave the world to me

And before I knew

There I was, so in love with you'

When the chorus hit, their voices became louder. When I Met You of APO Hiking Society is such an OPM classic. 

Impossibleng walang nakakaalam ng kantang 'to.

'You gave me a reason for my being

And I love what I'm feeling

You gave me a meaning to my life

Yes, I've gone beyond existing

And it all began,

When I met you'

But my eyes landed on Taliya, who sang every line with all her heart. Her face was lit up by the gold-red fire in front of her; she was smiling, but her eyes—where the fire reflects—are holding on with tears.