Love Persist

Kabanata 5 - A moment that goes far beyond mere coincidence.

Sabado ngayon at birthday ni Papa bukas. Binilinan ako ni Mama na bumili ng mga irerekado para sa ihahanda kay Papa. Kahit hindi namin kasama si Papa hindi namin pinapalampas ang mga special occasions kasi ito ang nakasanayan namin.

Pagpasok ko sa grocery ay inilabas ko ang phone ko para i-check ang lista sa notes ko. Kumuha na rin ako ng cart, at saka dumiretso na ako sa aisle.

Ang gulo ng listahan ko. No way I had to go back and forth sa different aisles. The thought of it alone was already enough to make me feel dizzy.

I was so invested in fixing the list that I didn't notice the person on the side of the shelf. I accidentally hit the person with my cart which caused a small collision.

"Ouch!" the little girl yelped. She was practically rubbing the back of her heel where she got hit.

"Hey, are you okay?" I said and lowered my body to meet the kid's frame.

The kid faced me, pain flashed in her face. I widened my eyes when I realized she was very familiar.

"It's you, sissy!"

What was her name again? I forgot.

"I'm sorry, I hit you with my cart. May masakit ba sa'yo?"

Her facial expression, which was contorted with pain, was suddenly replaced by a gentle expression as if nothing had happened to her.

"It's a little ouch-ouch but I'm okay now." Kanina lang mangiyak-ngiyak na siya sa sakit pero ngayon ang lapad na ng ngiti niya. "I finally found you! You're going to pay for leaving us behind that day!"

I internally facepalmed. "I didn't mean to leave you without saying goodbye. It's just that I need to go home na that time kasi baka pagalitan ako ng Mama ko..." I trailed off as I realized something. "Why are you alone again?"

Nandito ba siya para mag-unboxing ulit ng snack? 'Wag naman sana. Hindi ko na siya matutulungan ulit kasi eksakto lang ang dala kong pera pang grocery.

"I'm not alone. I'm with my mom."

"Cerise."

Oh?

Tila nag malfunction ang utak ko.

"Mommy!"

Oh.

"Have you found what you're looking for?"

"Yes, but I can't reach the jellies. It's so mataas!"

Tulala lang akong nakatingin sa dalawa nang bigla akong tinuro ni Cerise. Dahil sa ginawa niya, napunta sa akin ang atensyon ng kasama niya.

"Mommy, she's the lonely sissy in the store that I kwento sa'yo. She's kind and pretty, see?"

Dali-dali akong umiwas ng tingin. Nararamdaman ko pa rin ang titig ni Professor Gil sa akin kahit hindi na ako nakatingin sa kaniya.

"That's her?"

Kind and pretty nga raw. Malamang ako 'yong tinutukoy ng bata.

Muli kong binalingan ng atensyon silang dalawa. May resemblance nga. Kung siya ang mother ni Cerise, ibig sabihin ay anak niya si Cerise? At si Professor Gil ay may asawa na?

"She's my student." Professor Gil said to Cerise, but her eyes remained on me. "She's the one who you became friends with in the store, yes?"

Cerise nodded eagerly. "I told her to make hintay that day 'cause I wanted you to meet her but she left after she paid for the treats."

Professor Gil smiled. The way she smiled at Cerise and talked to her with a soft voice sounded so natural and sweet if you ask me.

Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, ito ang unang pagkakataon na nakita ko siyang nakasuot ng casual clothes. She looked attractive with her turtleneck shirt and leather jacket paired with skinny jeans. Napatingin ako sa sarili kong suot. Nakasuot din pala ako ng jacket, specifically a denim, but I just wore it to not reveal all of my skins since naka-crop top lang ako at saka ripped jeans sa pang-ibaba.