Tila Tala

VIII

He’s ten... but doesn’t know how to speak up about his life. Doesn’t like sharing things about him and his past. Doesn’t want you to discover the other side of his story. Tila ayaw kang papasukin sa nakaraan niya.

“Do you you like ihaw-ihaw also?”

He nodded. “You want to try some?”

I excitedly nodded my head. Daddy won’t let me eat these kinds of foods. Palagi niyang sinasabing baka hindi ito malinis. But it looks delicious and clean naman! The vendors are also so nice, tipong hindi ako hahayaang magduda na hindi malinis ang pagkaing itinitinda nila.

“Uy, ano ‘yan? Streetfoods date?” Damon appeared with his friends.

“Hi, Damon!” I was greeted to change the topic. What? Date? Gosh, how I wish it was.

“Kain, my treat!” Aya ko. Since he’s only with his three friends, hindi sila isang batalyon kaya naman nagyaya ako. Kaya ko namang bayaran.

Sa kabilang stall bumili ang apat dahil naroon ang gusto nila. Isagani and I enjoyed our food peacefully. Kumuha siya ng stick at tumusok ng mga kulay kahel na bilog that looks so fluffy. Isinawsaw niya sa suka na may onion, garlic, pepper, and cucumber. Saka niya kinagatan and it revealed an egg inside, it’s small not like the usual.

“This is what you called itlog pugo. The orange coating is just harina with food color. Taste it,”

He handed me the stick. Kinuha ko ang kinagatan niya. My brows raised in an instant and gave him a thumbs up. Masarap talaga ang mga pagkaing ipinakikilala niya sa akin isa-isa. Ipinatikim niya rin sa akin ang isaw, barbeque, betamax, at proben. Bumili rin kami ng buko juice sa kabilang tabi bilang panulak.

“Ako ang magbabayad,”

I shook my head. “Ako na ‘to.”

“Ah, basta. Ako ang magbabayad niyang sa ‘yo. Ako nagyaya, in the first place.”

Iniuwi ako ni Isagani bago sumapit ang dilim. I watched until his car disappeared before I went inside the house.

“Did you enjoy your day with Gani?”

“I always did.” I chuckled as I answered Daddy’s question.

I kissed his cheeks before going up stairs to change for dinner. Habang kumakain ay nagkukuwento ako. I wonder what I looked like when I was telling stories about Isagani. Do my eyes shine, too? Umakyat ulit ako para magpahinga na. I already did my study earlier in our little tutoring session.

Sumalampak ako sa kama at malalim na huminga. I held my heart and listened to it. I can feel it beating so fast whenever I am with him. Minsan, natatakot akong marinig niya. But there are times I intentionally let him hear it. Minsan, gusto ko nang umamin. Pero madalas ay nag-aalangan ako. Ako, sigurado ako sa nararamdaman ko. But I am clueless about what Isagani feels towards me.

At hindi ako nakatitiyak na pareho ito ng sa akin.

I woke up and it’s suddenly April. Look how time flies so fast. Sophomore na pala kami, ilang sandali na lang. Day by day, hindi pa rin maalis ang takot sa akin. Sana ay tama ang landas na tinatahak ko.

“Hi,” I greeted with a warm smile.

He chuckled. “Pawis ka na agad, ang aga pa...” Isagani reached for his handkerchief in his pocket. I was stunned when he suddenly lifted my head through placing his fingers in my chin. He gently wiped my sweats on my forehead.

Isagani is avoiding my stares. But he’s smiling. Maybe hearing how my heart beats fast once again.

“May plans ka na for summer vacation?” I asked while we were walking on the way to our classroom.

“Wala... stay at home and learn, I guess?”

Ngumiwi ako. “Masyado ka nang maraming nalalaman. Sama ka na lang sa akin sa Palawan.” I beamed as I looked at him.

“What?” Natawa lang siya sa alok ko.

Pinagdaop ko ang mga palad. “Please? Sagot ko lahat!”

He grabbed me on my shoulders and gently messed my hair up. “Hindi puwede... mag-enjoy ka na lang.”

Napasimangot ako. I guess, hindi ko talaga siya mapipilit sa mga ganito. Since I will stay there for a few weeks. Gusto ko siyang isama sa bakasyon as a friend! Wala namang malisya ang pagyayaya ko.

“Tal! Ano ba ‘yan, tagal walang paramdam!” Trina exclaimed. I closed the door of the journalist club’s office.

“Busy ang mabuting estudyante, e. What did I miss?” Naupo ako sa tabi ni Dhea, a writer.

“Wala namang masyadong importante. Kami, what did we miss?”

Nagpahalumbaba sila na para bang nag-aabang ng kuwento ko. I chuckled. I have nothing to say! Puro lang naman tungkol kay Isagani na hindi naman na neccessary.

“Going out with the Isagani Isidro raw? Hala!” Abi squeaked.

My brows went up as I laughed. “Going out? We’re friends! We go out as friends.”

“I doubt that.” Sabay-sabay nilang kumento.

“I’m Isagani’s high school classmate, Tala.” Dhea told me. “Gusto ko sanang magkuwento, but it’s not my story to tell, so...”

I am so eager to find out what’s in his past. Gusto kong malaman kung ano ba ang kuwentong ipinagkakait nila sa akin. I am now a friend. Hindi pa ba sapat iyon para may kusang magkuwento sa akin? But I really want it to come from Isagani himself, with his willingness to tell that to me.

“Tal?” Dhea called. Kami na lang dalawa ang naiwang naghihintay ng sundo rito sa waiting shed. Nauna na ang iba dahil uwian na rin kani-kanina pa.

“Hmm?”

“I am... writing a book.” She said. My eyes widened a bit in excitement. Dhea is such a good writer! “Gusto ko sanang ikaw ang unang makabasa ng sangkapat... I still have a long way to finish that book, saka busy pa ako, e. Sa ‘yo na muna, proof read mo? Ikaw bahala!”

Dhea handed me a blue journal. Ngumiti siya sa akin at nagpaalam na. “Uh... thanks!”

Napatingin ako sa ibinigay niya. Kung nasa akin ‘to, paano niya matatapos sulatin? Pero sabi nga niya ay busy pa siya. Hindi ko muna binuklat kahit gusto ko nang mabasa. I knew the story was good. Dhea is kind of a known writer already. Siguro ay sa break na sa holy week.

April fools. I am actually trying to reject them all in a nice way, tapos mayamaya ay sasabihin nilang ‘it’s a prank’. Hindi ko alam kung trip lang ba nila ako dahil nga April fools o parang natatapakan ang pride nila, napahiya, or what kaya sinasabi nilang prank lang.

“Kanina ka pa nakasimangot,” Isagani said. “Problem?”

“Wala... mga lalaki talaga.” I chuckled and showed him my phone. Nasa message request iyon ng messenger at sandamakmak na mga lalaki ang naroon at nagc-confess daw.

“Those guys aren’t brave enough to face you, huh.” He commented. “The essence of courting is really gone.”

“Hindi naman seryoso ‘yang mga ‘yan. Pinagt-trip-an lang ako dahil ‘April fools’ daw.” Tawa ko pa.

Isagani suddenly put his hand on the top of my forehead. Sinalo nito ang sikat ng araw na tumatama sa mukha ko habang naglalakad kami. Napalunok ako’t inalis ang tingin doon.

“If someone would bravely face and tell you he likes you, what are you going to do?” He suddenly asked.

“Bihira na ang ganiyang lalaki. Hindi ko na nga maalala kung kailan huli akong naka-encounter ng harap-harapang nag-confess ng feelings sa akin, e.”

“But if someone does that,” I thrilled. “I might let him enter my life.” I shrugged

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