"Successful ka na ah... Yayamanin na rin ang datingan oh."
Hindi ako sumagot kay Kiko. Nanatili akong nakatitig sakanya. Sinusuri siya, tinitignan ang bawat sulok ng itsura niya. Trying to see if I have missed something since the last time remembering his face. He ordered dessert for us kasi tapos na akong kumain. Saktong napadaan raw siya at nakita ako, he was about to have an errand but he said it can wait.
"Nakakatunaw ang tingin mo, tama na ah. Lalo na't ang ganda mo tignan ngayon." Sabi niya kaya pilit na tumigil ako at ngumiti ng marahan sakanya
"How are you, Kiko?" I slowly talked
"Okay lang naman." Kibit balikat niya, "Professional photographer na ako. Models, on weddings, events, and such. I work under a Ferish Company."
"Ah..." Tango tango ko, hindi alam kung sasagot ba o ano ang magiging reaction.
"Ikaw?" Tanong naman niya
"Well... Good. I'm doing fine." Sabi ko at pilit na ngumiti sakanya
Natahimik kaming dalawa. Wala na yatang masabi. I looke at the Banana Sundae and forced myself to eat it to lessen the awkwardness. Pero pansin na pansin ko talaga ang titig ni Kiko saakin.
"Maayos ka na ba sa buhay, Van? Masaya ka ba?" Pagbasag niya ng katahimikan.
Tumigil ako sa pag kakain ko at maayos na hinarap siya. His genuine eyes looked at me with pure innocent. He voice was sincerely asking that question as well. It was like, he has been waiting all this time to hear that anseer from me that made me feel another ache in my chest.
"Hindi ko... Masasabing masaya talaga ako Kiko. May kulang parin sa buhay ko." Malungkot akong ngumiti sakanya matapos mag sabi ng totoo
"Buti naman." Iyon ang sinabi niya. "Edi quits ka na samin ni Jam." Aniya sabay iwas tingin at tinuon iyon sa dessert niya
Jam.... "How's Jam? Do you still communicate with her?" I ask
"Oo naman. Maayos si Jam ngayon... May uh.. Pinag dadaan lang pero kilala mo iyon, Van." Tipid na ngiti niya saakin
"Oh... Uhm... Will she be okay?" Tanong ko at tumango lang siya saakin. He was giving me this kind of assurance and even though I'm not satisfied, I decided to trust him instead.
"Kamusta si Lia? Tsaka grabe yung Pamilyang Ramigo ah... Akala ko yung mga itsura nila ay yung mag susuot ng maraming ginting alahas pero parang simpleng tao lang sila." Manghang sabi niya kaya napangiti ako roon
"They're really simple and down to earth, Kiko. I assure you that they are very much good people." Sabi ko
"Nakikita ko nga. Maayos ka ngayon oh, ang healthy mo rin tignan." Tango niya saakin,
"Nasa school rin si Lia ngayon. She's on her second grade now and is doing very well. She got sick years ago, Kiko. But she has now slowly doing fine. She's taking her medicine and much. Nevertheless,she the most happy child I have know." Sabi ko at napangiti siya roon.
"Na-miss kita ng sobra, Kiko." Salita ko na ikinatigil niya sa pag kain ng dessert niya
Unti unti niyang inangat ang tingin saakin. And for that, I saw a pain in his eyes when he finally reached my gaze. Slowly, his eyes got teary that made me worried and felt pain too. Umiwas siya ng tingin saakin saka pilit na tumawa sabay tingin sa itaas saglit.
"Putcha." Bulong niya sabay tingin pabalik saakin
"Walang araw na hindi kita iniisip. Wala araw na hindi ko sinubukang hanapin kita. Hinanap kita sa Nanay mo, Van. Hinanap kita sa kung saan pero wala akong alam... Wala akong nahanap na matinong sagot... Galit na galit na saakin si Jam kasi napabyaan ko na sarili ko... Ilang linggo namin ito napag awayan ni Jam, Hindi ko kasi maintindihan kung bakit ganon siya, parang wala lang sakanya..." Sabi niya at tuluyan nang tumulo ang luha sa mga mata na
BINABASA MO ANG
Volunteers of a Lassie
Novela JuvenilALTRUISTIC SERIES #1 Vanya Rousseau Dalliero already suffered a lot of things at a young age. But complaining nothing, she continues to do the things that a 'Mother' should be the one who does it but she's the one who's doing it instead. Everything...
