Conquering Territories: Completed

7

I noticed that a crowd were now circling us. Karamihan ay mga kaibigan ng babaeng nasa harap namin. May balak pa sanang sabihin ang mga 'to pero nagulat na lang ako nang bigla akong hatakin ng kasama ko. The next thing I knew, nakalayo na kami sa kumpol ng mga tao.

"Hey," I said, calling his attention. The two of us were now walking around the place after we ran away from the stall. Halos nagsipaglapitan kasi ang lahat ng tao matapos nilang mapansin na nakakuha kami ng dalawang malaking stuffed toy. Dumagdag pa ang mga babaeng lumapit sa amin. They wanted the man to also guide them so, the both of us decided to run away. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nakitakbo rin ako sa kanya, nahatak lang naman ako.

"Yes?"

"Thank you," I whispered. I don't know but I suddenly became shy. Bigla na lang akong nilamon ng kahihiyan. "May I know your name? Or may I treat you something?

The man turned at me with a smirk plastered on his lips. "I'm Irvin, and I won't say no for something free."

"So, what brought you here? I mean, what you are doing at that place? "

The cold night breeze brushed through my skin. I couldn't help but to hug myself as I let that question out. Irvin and I decided to eat out at one of the nearby convinience store. Pasasalamat ko na rin sa ginawa niya kanina. Sa dami ng nangyari ngayong gabi, hindi ko na lang alam.

"I just want to think and divert my attention. That place was kind of fun to begin with," Irvin said as we reached the convenience store. He opened the door for the two of us, since I'm holding a big turtle stuffed toy. I kinda looked like a small kid because of what I am holding right now. Nakakahiya naman kung sa kanya ko pa ipapabitbit ang hawak ko.

Several people inside the store looked at us as we approached the counter. They inspected us as if we are weird people. Ngayon lang ba sila nakakita ng dalawang lalaking magkasama sa dis-oras ng gabi?

"What's yours? Ice cream?" I asked to divert my attention. Irvin glanced at me before gazing at the surroundings. I bet he noticed that I'm now uncomfortable because of the sudden attention.

"I'll take one chocolate ice cream. You?"

"Cup noodles," I told him as I placed the noodles on the counter. The cashier glanced on my direction before punching our orders. I suddenly felt anxious because of the way they acted. May mali ba sa akin?

The both of us decided to find another place to eat after we paid for our things. The surroundings inside the store somehow made the two of us uncomfortable. Parang halos lahat ng tao ay nakatingin sa aming dalawa.

"That was kinda uncomfortable," Irvin commented as we sat down at the bench we found along the street. I carefully placed the stuffed toy between the two of us before I opened my food. Mahirap na at baka madumihan pa ito ng noodles.

"I know. Hindi ko talaga maintindihan ang mga tao rito minsan," I said before I focused my attention on my food. The hot noodles somehow lessened the shivers I'm feeling now.

"Come again?"

"I mean, the people in here somehow acted weird sometimes," I said before I glanced on his direction. His was face kind of familiar but, I don't why. As far as I remembered, it was my first time meeting him.

"Wait-" I looked at him with eyes wide "-are you a foreigner?" I asked. Hindi naman malayo na maging may lahi siya dahil iba rin ang puti niya. He honestly looked like an idol.

Irvin chuckled after hearing my voice. His chuckle somehow stunned me. I don't know but, something inside me stirred. Maybe I was just amazed that he still managed to look cool with that pose.

"I am." Irvin smiled. "I came from China but, hey-" he waved as if he was underlining a word "-I'm not fake."

"Are you sure?" I chuckled. "So, why are you in here? Vacation?"

Irvin held out a deep sigh before he stared at nowhere. "I wished it was just a vacation for me but, it wasn't." A weak smile was formed on his lips, which somehow made my heart guilty. I bet did cross the line.

"Sorry," I whispered.

Irvin and I stayed silent for quite some minute. I could hear the crickets because of the deadly silence covering the both of us. The cold wind blew once again, causing my skin to shiver. Hindi ko naman inakala na ganito pala ang lamig sa labas pagsapit ng gabi. After all, it was already 9 o'clock in the evening.

"My parents threw me here." I turned to Irvin after hearing him talked. His eyes were still focused on the vacuum surroundings. "They told me that I should stay away from our place for me to gather my thoughts. They told me that I should start building myself."

A sad smile was plastered on Irvin's lips as he was narrating those things. His eyes were full of emotions, mixed emotions. I only knew him for quite short time yet, I could almost feel all the emotions inside him. The man beside me was vulnerable.

"Sorry," he said. "I just want to let those things out. My old nanny once told me that saying the things inside you to a stranger is effective, since they won't judge you."

A genuine smile was formed on my lips after hearing what he said. Irvin somehow trusted my reactions towards his sudden breakdown." I won't judge you. We're not in the court, after all."

It was already past 10 when I got home. The both of us talked about several things which caused us a lot of time before we separated ways. Good thing that Kuya Leon was already asleep, or else I would be fried right on where I am standing.

I immediately went to my room after remembering something important. Hanging out with Irvin somehow made me forget about the letter Zhang sent me. Hindi ko pa nga pala nababasa ang ipinadala niyang sulat para sa akin.

I deeply inhaled before getting the letter inside my bag. As the piece of paper touched my palm, my throat suddenly became dry. I averted my gaze as my palms reached his letter. Natatakot ako. All the months I've spent waiting for his answer was nothing if it wasn't him.

我回来了

Vin Zhang

A soft smile was formed on my lips after I saw his name. The nervousness inside me vanished as excitement and joy enveloped my whole body. My trembling hands couldn't contain the feelings inside me. It's just that, I thought that him sending letters once again was the thing next to impossible but, it wasn't.

Years ago, a penpal project happened on our school. Students from our school were chosen randomly and were partnered with another student abroad. Teachers told us that the project was built to establish a connection and friendship with students from different countries. Akala ko isang malaking biro lang ang sinasabi nila, not until I was chosen as one of the school's representatives for that project. Because of that, I met him, Vin.

I couldn't help but to smile as those memories entered my mind. Hindi ko pa rin kasi akalain na magpapadala pa rin pala siya ng sulat. After several months, he finally sent his answer.

"Khaydel! "