September Night

XI - EXORDIUM

Solace's POV

"Going back to the corner where I first saw you
Gonna camp in my sleeping bag, I'm not gonna move
Got some words on cardboard, got your picture in my hand
Saying, "If you see this girl can you tell her where I am?"

As I stepped my feet on the ground, her singing voice was the first thing I heard around. She's sitting on the grass while having her eyes close as she continue to feel every words that comes out of her mouth.

"Some try to hand me money, they don't understand
I'm not broke, I'm just a broken-hearted woman
I know it makes no sense but what else can I do?
And how can I move on when I'm still in love with you?"

I crossed my arms as I leaned on the car, sumulyap ako sa orasan bago muling tumingin sa kaniya. Hindi niya pa napapansin ang presensya ko, patuloy parin ito sa pagkanta kung saan ay dinadama niya ang bawat liriko. I cannot hide the truth, she has this voice that can captivate a sleeping soul inside of someone who's asleep for a long time.

"Cause if one day you wake up and find that you're missing me
And your heart starts to wonder where on this earth I could be
Thinking maybe you'll come back here to the place that we'd meet
And you'll see me waiting for you on the corner of the street,"

I watched her attentively, sa kung paano niya sambitin ang mga salita ay parang mayroong malalim na pinag-kukunan. Tila puno ng pangungulila ang kaniyang boses, nais may ipahiwatig na hindi ko mabatid. Gustuhin ko man siyang tanungin ngunit hindi ko kayang gawin, hindi ko kayang panindigan ang magiging desisyon ko kapag narinig ko ang kaniyang sagot.

"So I'm not moving, I'm not moving

Policeman says, "Daugther, you can't stay here"
I said, "There's someone I'm waiting for if it's a day, a month, a year
Gotta stand my ground even if it rains or snows
If she changes her mind this is the first place she will go,"

Oh, she's changing some of the lyrics.

"Chynna," I called her.

Nag-mulat mata naman ito ay ngumiti nang malaki, tumayo siya bago tumakbo palapit sa akin sabay na mahigpit akong niyakap. Nang magbitaw kami siya tumango ako rito saka umayos nang tayo, hindi pa ako nakaka-tindig ng tuluyan nang bigla ako nitong hilain pabalik sa p'westo niya kanina. Napahingang malalim na naka-ukit ang maliit na ngiti sa aking labi akong nag-paubaya.

"You came, I thought you were not coming." she uttered and sat down again on the grass.

Namulsa ako bago tumingin sa harapan kung saan tahimik at payapa, "Tita Charity called me." sagot ko.

"Are you busy? Baka naabala kita."

Umiling naman ako bago dinama ang sariwang hanging tumatama sa akin, "Wala akong pasok ngayon."

Tapos na ang exam namin at kahit pa-paano ay nai-usad ko. Today's friday, wala kaming pasok ni Vincenzo pero meron bukas. Si Amor naman ay may klase ngayon kaya hinatid ko lang siya kanina, sinabihang magpahinga ako pero saktong tumawag si Tita Charity at sinabing kinukulit sila ni Chynna magpasama sa pag-iikot pero pare-parehong abala. Dahil wala naman akong gagawin sa bahay, napili ko nalang pumunta rito.

"Natatandaan mo pa rito?" maya't mayang tanong niya. "This is the place were we first saw each other."

Tumango naman ako habang nakatingin padin sa harapan. Right..this place became our safe haven together. Nothing is unique here, just pure nature around and fresh air encircling the surroundings. Sa mismong p'westo namin ay mayroong malaking puno na nagsisilbing silungan, habang may dagat na malamyos sa tainga ang kumukumpas sa aming harapan.

"I miss those days. Where we were young and innocent, not thinking of the world's difficulties. Ang sarap bumalik sa pagkabata." sambit pa nito at magiliw na mahinhing tumawa. "At ang sarap mo parin ilunod sa dagat, ang tahimik mo parin."