Tila Tala

Simula

She shines like a star.

That is how everyone describes Tala Amora Lucejo. Her name suits her so much. Tala always shines the brightest.

She’s so warm. In many people’s eyes, she is the type of a girl who always wears a big smile on her face as she greets everyone a good morning. If you look sad and down, she’s always there to rescue you. She will give you her shoulder for you to lean on and she has open ears that are ready to listen in whatever you want to open up to her. I can say that she’s a hero to everyone whom she has given helped. Tala never loses her brightness that can light up everyone’s dim paths.

It can make you feel anything she wants you to. She has thin brownish brows, short but pretty lashes, natural rosy cheeks that matches her fair and white skin tone, thin pinkish lips. She also has a mole beside her eyes that makes it more attractive. After all, her smile is her biggest asset.

“Good morning, Gani!”

That random greeting shocked me. Ni hindi ko inakalang kilala niya ako. She is a friend to everybody but not to me. We never interacted until this day came. Hindi agad ako nakasagot kaya’t sa huli ay tanging ngiti na lang ang aking iginawad.

She gave me a warm smile. Sa lambing at init ng nga ngiti niya ay mararamdaman mo na ang pagyakap nito sa ‘yo. With that great start of my day, I end up sleeping smiling replaying her image in my mind.

“Mag-isa ka?”

“Palagi naman...”

“I understand what you feel, Isagani. I also grew up not having friends and such until I became this person. Don’t be afraid of having someone and losing them after. That’s... part of life. Enjoy living instead. Enjoy exploring.”

Inihatid ko sa bahay nila si Tala noong araw na iyon. We talked. We talked about a lot of things. Masaya siyang kausap lalo pa’t may jatuturan ang bawat salitang lumalabas sa mapupula niyang labi. Her presence and way of communicating made people feel easily comfortable.

After that day, Tala and I became... a bit closer. She never fails to greet me everyday. May mga pagkakataong sabay kaming umuuwi dahil hindi rin naman nalalayo ang distansya ng bahay namin. Minsan ay magkasama kaming mag-lunch o mag-recess. May mga pagkakataon pang kapag nakikita niya akong walang kasama ay nagpapaalam siya sa nga kaibigan niyang kausap para lang ako naman ang samahan hanggang sa maubos ang oras.

She is... ‘that’ person. She made me feel seen. And that’s what matters to me the most. I feel like I am valued and important for a second. Growing up in a family I had right now, Tala’s whole existence is what I really need.

“Umiiyak ka?”

“I-I... failed.”

I was never scared of losing something or someone, sa isip ko ay ako lang naman ang maaapektuhan sa ganoon. But failing? It feels like I would fail everyone in just one wrong step I took. Hindi lang ako ang apektado kapag bumagsak ako. Everyone who is expecting a lot of me would also fall.

“Hush, tahan na...”

Natigilan ako nang bigyan niya ako ng isang yakap. Tala buried my head to her stomach as she put her hand on my back and the other one caressing my hair, trying to comfort me. Mas lalong bumuhos ang luha ko dahil doon. Never ask me about something I am mourning or else seeing me this vulnerable.

“It’s okay, Gani. There is always a second chance. May susunod pa para bumawi tayo. Failing is a part of success. You wouldn’t be able to make yourself stronger than ever if you didn’t experience failure.”

Sa pagpasok ng Disyembre, naging mainit ang pagsasama namin ni Tala. This time, I can feel a stronger connection between us. And I hope I am not mistaken because I would never be wrong with mine.