P.S Always and Forever

Chapter 3

"...Look there she goes, that girl is strange, no question. Dazed and distracted, can't you tell? Never part of any crowd 'cause her head's up on some cloud..." I continued singing softly as I fixed the tear on the edge of the cover of my notebook.

I hummed softly the lyrics of the song I am singing as I softly moved my head left and right in accordance to the beat of the tune.

"...Look where she goes, the girl is so peculiar. I wonder if she's feeling well...With a dreamy, far-off look and her nose stuck in a book..."

I put a tape on the tear and pouted when it looked unappealing. My notebook was now ugly to look at!

I shrugged. Bahala na!

I continued fixing my notebook as I was mumbling softly the song I'm singing.

"...Oh, isn't this amazing? It's my favourite part because you'll see...Here's where she meets Prince Charming but she won't discover that it's him 'til chapter three..."

When I heard the sound of leaves brushing against the bushes near me, I stopped singing and whatever I was doing. I looked to where the bushes were located and didn't see anyone near them. Maybe it's the wind that made it move.

I frowned as I waited for nothing. Wala naman siguro nagtatago doon. I shrugged before continuing what I'm doing.

"Bella, come here. May pandecoco akong nabili para sa iyo." Mama Wina called me from the bench near me.

I gasped and excitedly stood up from sitting on the grass. Sa blanket ako nakaupo at nakakalat doon ang highlighters and all other designing materials I'll be needing to fix my notebook and to write in it.

Nakatayo ako sa harap ni Mama Wina habang siya nakaupo sa bench. Sinusubuan niya ako ng pandecoco as my gaze was roaming around the park. Medyo tahimik at onti ang tao ng park since weekday. Nandito lang naman ako dahil tapos na ang klase ko at gusto magpahangin sa park.

"Masarap ba, anak? Tatlo ang binili ko para sa iyo." Mama Wina said as she continued to feed me the pandecoco. Pinunasan niya ang bibig ko gamit ang kamay dahil may amos.

I nodded as I took a bite on the bread. After swallowing the bread, I spoke up. "Will Scar like these, too?" I asked, referring to the bread.

Mama Wina chuckled. "Oo, mahilig sa tinapay ang batang 'yon. Mag uuwi rin ako sa kanya, okay?"

I nodded excitedly. "Okay po!"

"Next time, sasama na si Scar dito sa park, ah? You want that, right?"

I nodded excitedly again. "Yes po! We will play and Crim can join us, too!"

Mama Wina chuckled at my enthusiasm before feeding me the bread again. "Oo naman. Oh, sige na, ubusin mo na ito tapos balik ka na sa ginagawa mo."

After I finished eating the bread, I sat on the blanket again and stretched my legs. But I frowned once I saw something foreign on my things.

A rectangular object wrapped in newspaper and jute string was lying next to my notebook. I pouted as I inspected it. I looked around and saw no one who could put it here. Maybe Mama Wina and I were too engrossed in the bread and our conversation to notice anyone coming near my place on the grass.

I softly untied the ribbon and unwrapped the thing in front of me. When the newspaper fell off, my eyes sparkled in delight.

"This is so cute!" I gushed quietly at the notebook in front of me.

It's the same color as my old notebook. Sky blue ang kulay at plain leather lang ang cover.

"But it's not glittery anymore." I pouted.

I opened the notebook and saw that it's a dotted type. Nakarating ako sa back cover ng notebook at may nakitang sulat sa likod. I frowned.

"Hi. Sorry kung nasira namin ang notebook mo. Kaya ito, bumili ako ng bago para sa iyo. Sana magamit mo. Ingat ka lagi. –BRL"

"Bella, may dinner na sa baba. Tawag ka na nila mommy mo." A helper went inside my bedroom to inform me about the dinner. I nodded as I continued looking at the writing on the back cover of the notebook in front of me.

I looked at her and smiled softly. "Okay po, bababa na ako maya maya." The helper smiled at me before going out and closing the door.

My gaze returned to the notebook and softly smiled. Hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin nakasulat dito. May paninilaw na ang edges ng bawat page dahil sa tagal na nakatago sa cabinet ko.

"I still don't know when to use you..." I whispered to the notebook in front of me.

"Hindi ko nga rin alam kung kanino ka galing." I pouted.

I went to the dining area. I saw my parents talking to each other and kissed their cheeks before sitting on my designated seat.

My mom smiled at me after the prayer. "How's your day, anak? Do you have homework?"

I nodded. "Yes, mommy. But tapos ko na po gawin."

"Your professors don't give you a hard time?" My father asked this time.

I looked at him before shaking my head. "No po. They teach well and hindi naman po gaano terror."

My father nodded in approval. "That's good. It will make learning easy for you, Crimson, and Mildred."

"Hindi ba may isang minor class kayo wherein it will be merged with a different college program?" My mom asked. Sinabi ko kasi sa kanila ang tungkol dito noong nagtanong sila sa start ng 2nd year ko sa college.

"Yes po, mommy but we still don't know who they are. Only the professor."

"Well, I hope it's a good professor din." My father said to which I nodded as we continued eating in peace.

Hindi masyado palasalita ang mga magulang ko. Maybe doon ako nagmana. But their love made me a hopeless romantic. The look in their eyes when they gaze at one another made me hope for a love like that.

Tahimik. Payapa. Puno ng pagmamahal.

They're both engineers and they have their own engineering firm. Investors din sila sa companies ng parents nila Crim and Misha. Our families are close like that.

I softly smiled when they fed each other. Katatapos ko lang kasi makain ang dessert ko kaya nakatingin lang ako sa kanila. Hindi naman sila naiilang sa tingin ko. They will even feed me, too!

"You know how to make these, right?" My father asked after he fed me the salted caramel and butterscotch brownies they bought in the mall.

I nodded excitedly. "Yes, daddy! I'll make one for us this weekend!"

My parents chuckled at my excitement. My mom held my hand from across the table and softly smiled at me.

"Anak, when the time comes, please hope for a love that gives a promise of always. That feeling is better than desserts."

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