Book
Days have passed. Pagkatapos noong picnic namin ni Rhi, my life went back to normal—iyong dati na bahay at eskwelahan lang. Sanay naman na ako kaya wala akong ikakalungkot. At isa pa masaya ako na makakagraduate na ako. Matatapos na rin lahat. I
Sabado nanaman, sabado ulit. Wala akong gagawin ngayon kaya naisipan kong ayusin iyong mga gamit ko. Nandito ako ngayon sa aking kwarto inaayos ang mga kalat dahil kapag weekdays ay wala akong pakealam kung anong nangyayari sa kwarto ko basta malinis sila sa paningin ko. Well, at least the floor.
Habang nilalagay iyong mga tinupi kong damit sa lalagayan ay nakita ko iyong tote bag na ginamit ko noong picnic namin ni Rhi. Inayos ko muna iyong nga damit bago ito binigyan ng boung atensyon.
Kinuha ko iyon. Boung akala ko ay mabigat iyon dahil sa mga libro kong dala ngunit ang gaan nito.
Nangunot ang noo ko. Binuksan ko iyong bag at hindi ko pa nakikita iyong laman ng bou ay nangingilid na agad ang luha ko. I can't see any trace of my favorite book. The hardbound one. I just got it just one month ago, why?
Nagsimulang tumulo iyong luha ko, "Shit, shit, shit." Nagpapanic na saad ko.
Hinalungkat ko iyong tote bag. Ngunit wala akong makitang anino noong libro na isa sa dinala ko noong nagpicnic kami. Dalawa lamang ang narito at sigurado ako na tatlo iyong dinala ko dahil iyon ang huling binasa ko bago ako istorbuhin ni Rhi.
Hindi kaya? No. Hindi iyon gagawin ni Rhi. I'm sure nilagay niya iyon dito sa bag ko. Alam niya naman kung gaano ka importante sa akin ang mga libro ko.
Naiiyak kong tinanggal iyong laman ng tote bag ko. Kinuha ko iyong dalawang libro at linagay iyon sa tamang lagayan nila. Habang ginagawa iyon ay hindi ko mapigilang mapabuntonghininga ng paulit-ulit.
Kukunin ko na sana iyong ibang laman ng bag ko ng tumunog iyong phone ko. Agad-agad kong kinuha iyong cellphone ko sa aking study table. Napakunot naman ang noo ko ng makitang mensahe iyon galing sa hindi rehistradong numero.
Unknown number:
Good afternoon, Miss Navarro. I am texting you now for you to know that I would like to meet you in LaI Mini Mart. My reason for the said meet up is that I found a book entitled Whispers of the Wind and it has your name and number. I am hoping for your response. Thank you.
So formal. Napabuntonghinunga ako. Thank God it went to a kind person.
Ako:
Good afternoon, Mr. or Ms.? Could you text me the date and time? Thank you and I thank you so so much for approaching.
It didn't took long for the anonymous number to reply.
Unknown number:
I was planning tomorrow, After the program? Would that be okay with you?
You are very welcome.
Ako:
That's okay.
09XX-XXX-XXXX:
It's settled then. Tomorrow, four post meridiem. At LaI Mini Mart.
Shocked that he or she knows that there will be a parade for the opening of all of the events for the Fiesta here in our Barangay. Maybe he's somewhere near? My mind says.
I shrugged all of that thoughts and reply to agree on his or her consequences.
Ako:
Ok.
Nagpatuloy ako sa paglilinis ngunit hindi maalis sa aking isip kung sino iyong nakakuha ng aking libro. I was hoping it's fine. No dents. Nang matapos sa paglilinis ay Agad kong tinawagan si Rhi. Ang sakit na ng ulo ko kakaisip kung sino iyong taong iyon peri nagpasalamat naman ako sakaniya dahil kung hindi dahil sakaniya ay hindi maibabalik iyong libro ko.
“Teh dapat mahalaga ‘to ah? May tinatapos ako tas sisingit singit ka! Magpa-appointment ka nga.” Pabirong aani nito
“Whateves, Rhi. I'm just thanking you for slipping my book away. Gagu, makikipagkita ako sa lalaki bukas." Ako dahil pikon na pikon na.
Meeting someone isn't my cup of tea. Seriously, I can't hold a conversation for hours. That's tiring. My social battery would be dead.
Suminghap siya, "Ay? Totoo!? Omg, you're very welcome my love!"
Umirap ako. "Yes, thank you very much." Pabirong ani ko.
We talked for a couple minutes then bid our goodbyes because I'm tired of the things I did today and she on the other hand has some things to do she says.
Sunday came, as expected it was like the usual. In the morning, I prepared myself to attend the mass in our town. After the mass I immediately got home and change so that I can attend the parade. I just wore a gradient of white and pink colored jersey top which has my nickname "Cha" at the back and number 55 that's up to my waist. I then paired it with a maong shorts that's up to my mid thigh. I styled my jersey by tucking it in on the side. I'm not totally confortable with heels that's why I wore my two-inches pointed heels. I was busy doing my make up when my brother called me for lunch.
My make up was light. Just some blush and a dark pink lipstick with some highlights and I'm okay with it. I didn't even bother to curl my eyelashes since its long and curly I just put some mascara in it. I looked myself in the mirror. Scanning my face from my thick eyebrow to my pointed nose and pouty pinkish lips. I looked pretty.
Pagkatapos ng tanghalian ay hinintay ko na si Papa at Chan upang pumunta court at makaattend ng parade. I need to be there because my father bribed me to be their muse by saying that he'll build me a mini library inside my room and I'll get to design it myself. Of course, I agreed but with one condition. Their uniform must be pink and he obliged.
So, here I am. Ready to go to the court so that I'll get to attend the parade and be the muse of my father's team. Kasali kasi si papa sa 40 uppers at ngayon lang din nagkaroon ng inter-barangay rito sa amin kaya pumayag na rin ako.
When we got to the court — where every team needs to be present so that the organizers can make sure that the parade would go well. Everyone was already there. Every team has their own beautiful muses but it never made me nervous. I was just forced to do this, why would I care? The only thing that excites me was I could get my book back after so many hours of waiting.
The parade hasn't started yet but all I really wanna do is just go home. I want to sleep. I want to read.
"Muse of the homecourt team, please step front!" The organizer announced.
Still adjusting with the crowd, my brother held my hand and lead the way to where the muse of every team line up. I looked at him, he's serious and I was shocked. Muntik pa akong matalisod dahil sa gulat. Inaalalayan niya naman ako kaya hindi ako natumba.
Angry, he looked at me. "Pogi na ba ako, kaya ka natatalisod?" He joked without humor.
Lord, tabang.
With my annoyed face I ignored him that earned him to chuckle. I can feel the crowd eyeing us as we step forward. My eyes begun to roam around with my face serious. Natamaan ko ang aking mga pinsan, they were shocked. Natawa ako sa kanilang reaksyon.
I then mouthed, "Pang-inom natin." That made them shout and laugh. My ates showed me a thumbs up while looking at me with a proud gaze. They felt it— that I was confident enough to get out of my comfort zone.
🎀
Still waiting for my Wotw book, so here it goes ^^
