Behind Every Pages

Chapter Thirteen:

Lestari

After receiving a letter from Ezra, I decided it was time to talk to him. I couldn't bear not speaking to him any longer. I messaged him immediately to apologize.

Hi

I didn't know what to say; I was biting my nails while waiting for his reply. I almost threw my phone when I saw that he had seen the message.

Ezra
Hi, how are you?
Are you okay now?

I bit my lip to hold back my tears. He still asked about me even after I hadn't spoken to him for days. Why are you like this, Ezonme?!

Sorry.
I'm really sorry if I didn't
talk to you for a few days,
something happened.
I'm really sorry.

Ezra
It's okay. I understand.

I know you have a problem; your
friend mentioned it to me. I saw her
at the event yesterday, so I asked about
you. So it's really okay. I'm not mad.

Are you okay? If you have a problem,
don't hesitate to talk to me. You supported
me for two years. Now it's my turn. My message inbox is always open if you have a problem
I understand, Lestari.

As I read his messages, tears streamed down my face. I still couldn't believe that the author I admired for so long is telling me these things. How could he understand me when I've been unfair to him all this time?

I still wanted to apologize.
I couldn't make it yesterday. Sorry,
kasi nangako akong magkikita
na tayo, tapos wala naman pala.
Sorry talaga. Babawi ako. Promise

Ezra
It's not important. I understand
that you couldn't make it. Kontento
na akong nandito ka na ulit at kinakausap ako.

I stopped when I read that.

Hmm?

Ezra
Wala po

Tumagal ang usapan namin no'n. Natigil lang dahil kailangan ko ng puntahan si Luther para dalhan ng pagkain. Sabay na kaming kumakain sa kuwarto niya dahil napagpasyahan naming hindi na sasabay kay Daddy. Hindi naman iyon pinagtaka ng ama namin dahil hindi na rin naman siya kumakain sa bahay. Umuuwi lang ito para matulog sa gabi.

On Sunday, Luther and I decided to attend church. Even though he didn't want to, we asked Dad for permission, and he just nodded without looking at us because he was reading the newspaper while drinking coffee.

Nagpigil kami ng ngiti ni Luther nang pumayag siya. Dahan-dahan kaming lumabas at nang tuluyan nang makarating sa kotse niya ay ang ingay namin.

“So saan tayo after church?” tanong ko. Sobrang excited kasi ako dahil first time kong makakalabas, maliban sa pag punta ng school at church, after isang buwan na grounded. It's also out first bonding together.

“Hmm? Any idea?” he asked while starting the engine of his car. Napaisip naman ako. Gustohin ko mang makipag kita kay Ezra, baka magalit naman ang kapatid ko. Dapat bonding muna namin ito.

“Hindi ko pa na ta-try manood ng sine.” nahihiyang sabi ko. Hindi makapaniwalang tumingin sa akin si Luther.

“What? Are you fucking serious? Grabe ang lungkot pala talaga ng buhay mo.” he laughed at me.

“Wow, sorry ah, masiyado mo kasi akong siniraan kay Daddy kaya taong-bahay ako.” nakangising sagot ko. Tumawa na lang siya at hindi na ako pinansin pa.

After church, we went straight to the mall. I was so excited that Luther teased me like a child going to the mall for the first time, but I ignored him.

“Action,” aniya nang tanungin ko kung anong genre ba ang panonoorin namin.

“Ih, gusto ko RomCom,” sabay turo sa poster ng isang RomCom movie.

“Why did you ask then?” he raised his eyebrows at me.

“Para kunwari belong ka” ngumiti lang ako at pinapila na siya, nakakagulat pa nga kasi talagang hindi siya sumusuway sa gusto ko. Nitong mga nakaraang araw, talagang hindi ako sinusungitan ni Luther, naninibago man ay natutuwa pa rin ako.

“Yiee,” kinikilig kong sabi habang ngumunguya ng popcorn. Nasa part na kasi kami na nagpapahiwatig na yung bestfriend na lalaki sa bestfriend niya.

“Tss, that's just the second lead,bakit ka kinikilig?"  angal ni Luther. Tiningnan ko siya at pabirong binato ng popcorn sa mukha.

“Sa libro kaya, mas madalas pang nakakakilig ang second lead kaysa sa main lead. Tingnan mo mas may chemistry sila,” turo ko doon sa screen.

“Manhid naman 'yang babae eh. And it's obvious that she won't choose the second lead; ganiyan naman sila,” nagulat ako nang parang may pinaghuhugutan itong kapatid ko. Tinaasan niya lang ako ng kilay nang makitang tinititigan ko siya, umiling na lang ako at nanonood muli.

Pagkatapos naming manood ay inaya ko muna siya sa book store dahil may titingnan ako roon. May nakita kasi ako sa social media na sikat na author dahil sa mga inspirational notes niya, sabi nila ay base raw ata ang iba niyang libro sa totoong buhay. Nagtatanong raw sa kaniya ang mga readers niya ng mga tanong nila sa buhay tapos sasagutin niya iyon.  Hinanap ko agad 'yoon sa books section. Si Luther naman ay nagpunta sa kabilang banda ng store para bumili ng mga canvas at paints kasi naubos ko raw yung stocks niya.

When I saw the book I was looking for, I immediately took it and checked it. Its title was "I am always here." I smiled because it seemed like she was telling her readers that she was always there for them. The author's name was Continues Salvation.

After buying it, Luther and I went home. We were silent when we found Daddy leaving the house, looking very stressed.

“Saan kayo galing?” agad siyang lumapit sa amin. Kinabahan naman ako dahil baka anong gawin niya.

“I invited Ate to watch a movie," I immediately looked at him because I was the one who invited him, baka pagalitan siya.

"Both of you listen, I'll give you three hours to pack up, we're going back to the mansion." Both Luther and I widened our eyes when he said that. The mansion he was referring to was our house before Mommy left us. We moved because we didn't want to remember our memories with her.

"Why are we leaving, Dad? Why are we going back there?" Luther asked.

"I sold this house, so hurry up and don't ask any more questions. Hurry up!" even though confused, we ran inside. I immediately went to the library. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Kuya Alistair neatly packing my books. The boxes had the names of the authors.

"Thank you, Kuya," I smiled and helped him. "Did you know this was sold?" I asked and looked around.

"Hindi naman, kanina lang din namin nalaman. Si Florence na yung nag-aayos ng gamit namin," he said referring to his wife. I nodded and hurriedly moved my books to the box.

"Ako na rito, sige na, magligpit ka na sa kuwarto mo." he said and took the book I was holding. I just smiled and nodded. I went to my room to transfer my clothes to my suitcase. Hindi ko na nga natiklop eh. I don't have a lot things in my room because my world revolved around books. I took my few pieces of jewelry, including the pocket watch Ezra gave me; I hadn't thanked him yet.

Matapos kong maggayak, pinababa ko na ang maleta ko sa drivers namin at sumunod na sa kotseng sinasakyan ni Luther. Nakasuot na ito ng earphones kaya hindi ko na ginulo.

Before leaving, I looked at our house for the last time. I didn't feel sad because there weren't any happy memories here except for the library I requested when I was a child. I settled down and fell asleep on the trip because the mansion was quite far from here, and it was also far from my school, so I didn't know what would happen to me. But there was one thing I was looking forward to the mansion I would return to. I would be close to Euradice and Harper again because we would be in the same village.

I couldn't wait to see them again.