Hey, Look Up!

HLU (Chapter 13)

STELLAR

It is not always those people around you who will give you surprises because there is or there are rare times it is you who will surprise you

And in a most unexpected time that rare moment happened to me

Here I stand, gazing at my reflection in the mirror, with my attention drawn to the minimalist tattoo just below my left shoulder

I gently put my right hand over it, and I am completely fascinated by how small it is, yet inexplicably leaves a huge impact on my whole being, as if I am a new person now

"Stellar, kakain na!"

Papa shouted downstairs, kaya agad akong bumaba sa dining area para makapag-umagahan na kami ni Papa

"Anak napakatagal mo naman bumili ng pandesal, magtatanghalian na oh"
angal ni Papa habang nagtitimpla ng kape namin

"Sorry na Pa"

Let's save the tattoo story later so we can dig in to our usual breakfast, except that now, it is a late breakfast

"Zion, nandyan ka pala! Dito kana kumain sa lamesa at sabay sabay na tayo"

Otomatiko akong napalingon at doon nakitang kumakain ng cup noodles si Kulot while sitting on the couch sa may lobby

Here on the ground floor situated ang lobby, counter and dining area. We only maximizes the space kaya kung nasa dining ka kita mo pa rin ang counter and lobby and it goes the other way around.

In return, Zion waved his hand, a gesture na okay lang siya doon

But Papa has his ways of making sure that no one in La Estella will feel alone or left out under his watch. Before I realized it, Zion was sitting directly in front of me, enjoying his cup noodles

I am trying my best not to commit eye contact with him. Because after what happened last night and earlier, I find it hard to act normal around him

Because talking about your failures, your vulnerability, your miseries to some stranger is no normal and more so getting a tattoo impulsively with someone you barely knew is definitely not normal

"Hanggang kailan ka nga ba dito iho?"

I keep my head down and focus on my own business as they continue chitchatting

"Paalis na po ako bukas, papunta po ako sa Sagada"
napatigil ako sa pagkain

"Aba akalain mo 'yon, papunta din bukas si Stellar sa Sagada"

And in a snap, our eyes met

He's smiling right at me, while I'm probably frowning.

~

I am now walking at the street of the small and quiet town of Sagada

And in an instant I felt at peace just by looking at the scenic structures around

It is true that you can find peace and comfort just by walking around the streets of Sagada

Sagada always offers a comforting vibe like the air itself genuinely welcomes you, I don't know if it makes any sense but that is how I am feeling right now

This will be my last night here in Sagada

After the Marlboro Hills yesterday, I decided na hindi na sumunod sa itinerary ng grupo, so in return I got to spend half of my day exploring around Sagada, doing coffee shop hopping!