Elezia

03

"Grabe pala no, taon-taon tayo nagkikita dito sa Batangas kahit taga Manila ka pa. Effort mo naman! Siguro gusto mo na din ako?!" She laughed.

"Nakikita mo 'yon?" I pointed where the sky meets the sea.

"Saan ba?!" She's looking for it. Napatitig ako sa kanya dahil she's actually focusing kung saan ako nakaturo, she's so cute.

"Babagsak muna ang langit bago kita magustohan." Pagsisinungaling ko at pang-aasar ko sa kanya. Dali-dali naman siyang kumuha ng buhangin at ibinato sa akin.

"Daya mo talaga! Maganda naman ako aayawan mo pa!" She rolled her eyes. I wish I can tell her that I'm falling inlove with her, but as much as I can, pinipigilan ko.

As she was crossing her arms, I noticed a bruise under her sleeve. Ano na naman kaya ang clumsy moment niya? Kada taon na lang ay may napapansin akong sugat at pasa sa kanya.

"Anyare diyan?" I pointed her bruise.

"Nadapa ako kanina dito, wala ka pa kasi edi walang sumalo sa'kin." She answered as if kasalanan ko pa. May pagka-clumsy din kasi ang babaeng ito, pag nalingat ako ng konti ay baka kung anong mangyari sa kanya.

"Ikaw? Napano yan?" She asked me about the scratch on my cheek.

"Ah, Dad threw his screwdriver at me because he was so mad. You already know the drill." I laughed it off.

"They're still hurting you huh.. Hay... Tara let's carve the tree na." Kinuha niya ang kamay ko at hinigit niya ko hanggang sa makarating kami sa malaking puno namin.

"07-14-22!" She's muttering what she's carving on the tree. "Grabe, 20 na pala ko." I didn't hear her clearly kaya I had to ask her.

"What?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

"Wala! Sabi ko that's the date today! Sulat mo na message mo for your future self. I'll write mine later after mo." She handed me a sharp rock.

I wrote a message for my future self. My wish every year is I hope I am happier and feeling better. Elezia writes the same thing too, she wants me to be happy... maybe to be as happy as her.

"Hoon, kung birthday ko ngayon anong birthday wish mo for me?" She randomly asked me.

"Really? It's your birthday? I should've bought you a gift then." I answered.

"No! No! Kunyare nga lang... Ano wish mo for me?" Lumapit ang mukha niya sa'kin at nginitian ako.

"Hmm, I'll wish na lagi kang happy. Stay happy and positive. That's rare nowadays, madalas na sa generation natin ay katulad ko. Madami na ang mga mentally unstable." I said and she nodded.

We spent the whole day doing activities. Nakabili na siya ng plates this time and she helped me write my problems.

"1...2...3, ibato mo na Sunghoon!" Elezia cheered for me kaya imbis na maibato ko ang pinggan ay nanlambot ako kakatawa, pinagtitinginan kami ng mga tao dahil mukha kaming tanga na tawang-tawa sa ginagawa namin.

I focused and I imagined releasing all the suppressed emotions from the past months. I threw the plate and we can hear it breaking. It was fulfilling.

"Wooh! Ang galing mo!" Elezia was clapping and laughing as if I did a big achievement. I've never felt so seen and heard. Only with Elezia. I wish she knew how much she helps me get through each year.

"Let's clean up na!" Lumapit siya sa akin and we grabbed the plastic full of broken plate shards. I helped her pick up the other broken plates dahil madami-dami din kaming binasag, hindi lang isa.

"Ouch!" I immediately approached Zia when I heard that she had been cut. She was holding her finger and it was bleeding.

"Wait here, I'll get you something." I told her. Naghanap ako ng panyo, towel, or tissue to wipe her wound.

"Here, ako na." Nilapitan ko siya para punasan ang sugat niya. She pouted and lets me hold her hand.

"Wait, I'll buy betadine to disinfect it." Patayo na sana ako para umalis but she pulled me back.

"'Wag na Hoon! Okay lang. Okay na 'to, sanay na naman ako." She smiled at me.

"What do you mean?" I asked her because that's an odd thing to say.

"Palagi ako nagluluto sa bahay namin at sanay na ko masugatan ng kutsilyo kaya wala lang 'tong maliit na sugat na 'to." Pagkukwento niya. Ngayon lang siya nagkwento tungkol sa buhay niya, I love hearing it.

"I love it when you're sharing things about yourself. I want to hear more." I smiled at her.

"Okay! Hmm... I wanted to be a doctor, Hoon." She said while playing with her fingers.

"Wanted? Ayaw mo na ba ngayon?" I asked her. Natahimik siya kaya naman all we can hear are the waves crashing on the shore.

After a few moments she answered. "I don't think I can be a doctor." Napangiti siya at napatingin sa malayo.

"Bakit naman?" I curiously asked. Why not? She seemed rich and smart so I think she can be one.

"Basta! Tara na nga mag-set ng campfire at nilalamok na tayo dito." Tumayo na siya at we cleaned up the rest of the broken plates.

"Tada! I bought marshmallows again!" Zia showed me a bag of marshmallows. She looks so proud holding it ang laki ng ngiti niya.

"Are you feeling better this year?" She asked while we're toasting marshmallows sa campfire.

"Yeah, I guess. I took psychology as my course and so far, I'm enjoying it. There's something to look forward to aside from.." Aside from seeing you every year.

"Aside from?" She looked at me oddly.

"Wala. Anyways, what about you? 'Di mo sinagot tanong ko kanina. You rarely share stories about your life while I'm out here oversharing my personal problems." I answered.

"'Di naman kasi 'yon mahalaga, Hoon." She smiled at me. She looks like she's living the best life, maybe that's why she won't share it because I might envy her life even more.