When Will It Be My Turn?

chapter 15

"We're here, Miss"

Nabalik ako sa ulirat nang biglang magsalita si Manong Ben. 

Napaayos naman ako ng upo at napatingin sa labas ng bintana at nakita ang pamilyar na bahay sa hindi kalayuan. Pinagbuksan ako ng pinto ni Manong Ben at hindi ko siya nakalimutang pasalamatan, ibinaba na rin niya ang mga gamit ko at tinulungan akong buhatin ito hanggang sa makarating kami sa tapat ng pinto ng bahay.

"Mauuna na po ako, Ma'am. tawagan niyo nalang po ako kapag kailangan niyo po ng kahit na anong tulong." Sambit nito pagkatapos ilagay sa gilid ko ang mga gamit kong dala dala niya.

"Sige po, ingat po kayo." Ngitinian ko siya at hinintay ang pag alis niya.

Nang hindi ko na matanaw ang kotse, saka ako yumuko at kinuha ang susi sa ilalim ng carpet.

Like what Isabel said, it was indeed here. 

Binuksan ko ang pinto, buhat buhat ang mga gamit ko. Napatingin ako sa kabuuoan ng bahay at kahit nakapunta na 'ko dito noon ay hindi ko pa rin mapigilan mamangha sa kung gaano ito kaganda.

Tama lang ang laki ng bahay, khaki and grey ang kulay ng interior. It gives the feeling of a home kapag nakita mo ito. It's hard to explain but the design and color of the house matches well. Some people said that a home is not a place but a person. But this house is an exception, because I can call this home. It provides some sort of comfort and I don't know why. It feels safe staying here.

- maybe because of the owner

Natigil ang paggagala ng tingin ko sa bahay nang nagring ang phone ko, tinignan ko ito and there it is. I saw her name, your bel🔔

I find myself smiling because every time I see her nickname in my phone, I remember what she said that time she changed it.

FLASHBACK--

"Give me your phone" she said as she handed her hand and smiled foolishly.

"Why do you want it ngaa?" I asked confused on why she wants my phone, e meron naman siya. mas maganda pa nga yung sakanya.

"Just hand me it, no moree questionss Celineee" she whined as she kept trying to reach my phone at mas lalo ko namang inilalayo sakanya.

"Give it to meeee!"

"No!"

"I said give i-"

Napatigil kami pareho nang mapatid siya at pumaibabaw sa'kin. We're here at her cabin, we decided to stay here for a little while kasi malakas ang ulan. kaya nandito kami ngayon sa sofa at manonood sana ng movie nang bigla siyang nangunlit na ibigay ko ang phone ko sakanya.

Pareho kaming napatahimik lalo na nang mapagtantong sobrang lapit ng mukha namin sa isat isa. I saw her gulped hanggang sa inilagay niya ang isang kamay niya sa gilid ng ulo ko at inalalayan ang sarili niya para makaupo nang maayos.

"I- I'm sorry, ikaw kasi ayaw mo ibigay natumba tuloy ako." pag aangal nito at sumimangot. napakamot pa siya sa ulo niya na tila ba parang nahihiya.

hindi ko naman napigilan tumuwa especially this is the first time I saw her being so shy.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH" 

"Why are you laughing?" She asked confused nang makitang tawa ako nang tawa.

"You're shy, you look adorable. I never thought na may ganyan kang personality." I answered as I kept laughing and laughing.

"It's not funny! Now give me your phone!"

I was caught of guard nang bigla ako nitong halikan sa pisnge at kinuha ang cellphone ko. humagikgik naman ito nang matagumpay niyang nakuha ang phone ko. Napahawak naman ako sa pisnge kong hinalikan niya habang may ginagalaw siya sa phone ko.

"What was that for?" I asked still shocked to what had just happened.

"To distract you, and look it worked." She smiled foolishly as she shake my phone playfully.

I'm stunned, I don't know what to say.

"Here" She handed me my phone.

And then i saw her nickname to my contancts " your bel🔔" I can't help but chuckle lightly. sa dami dami ng pwede niyang inickname why bell pala talaga? na as in bell? 

"Why bell?" I asked still smiling as I looked at her.

"Mhmm, you know the bell that rich people have? like those bell for service?"

"Yeah? what about it?" I asked curiously.

"Well, diba if pinatunog nila yung bell may mga tao na darating para tanungin kung ano yung kailangan nila?"

"Yes, I saw that in a movie once." I chuckled lightly.

"Well, I want to be your bel. I want to be someone you can "one call away" thing." She said sincerely and smiled while looking straight into my eyes. 

"I want to be someone you can ring up when you're in need." She added as she took my phone again and show it to me. "That's why, my name is bel."

END OF FLASHBACK---

Napabalik ako sa realidad nang muli kong narinig ang pag ring ng phone ko. 

*clank*

"Hey.." I softly said.

"It took you long enough to answer, are you okay there? Mang Ben told me na naihatid ka na raw niya."

"Yes, actually I'm just checking it here, I still can't help but admire your house."

"I'm glad you like it, anyway there's some food in the fridge. Kapag nagutom ka just cook something or if may mga ingredients na kulang, you can ask Mang Ben to buy it for you."

"No, it's okay, I'll do it. You're already helping me a lot, Bel. Thank you, really." 

"It's my pleasure, uuwi ako as soon as I finish this papers, wait for me."

"Hey, you don't have to. Hindi rin naman ako magtatagal dito atsaka mas mapapagod ka kung uuwi ka agad ng pilipinas pagkatapos mo dyan." I said worriedly. I'll feel guilty kung uuwi siya agad ng pilipinas para lang sa'kin.

"I want to, and I have some important meetings I have to attend there too." 

"Did you forget na ilang months ka magsstay dyan sa paris? Don't try and fool me, I know na wala kang important meetings here in Ph for a few weeks."

"Tsk, what a boomer."

"But hey seriously, thank you. It was a big help, I really needed it." I felt my eyes being teary as that scene flashback in my mind. How her lips met hers. It stings, it hurts a lot.

"It was nothing, I'm glad I could help. And you owe me a drink and a story, so we're quits." she said playfully.

"Fine, I'll tell you once you get here."

"Really? You promise?" I can hear her excitement on the other line.

"I promise." 

"That's a deal then." She said and I can feel her smiling.

"Ma'am Isabel, your dad is calling you." I heard someone called her at the background.

"Tell him I'll be right there and he should stop pestering me." I heard how her voice changed to soft and into a cold intimidating one. 

"Hey little one, I gotta go. Talk to you later, enjoy there." She said as she ended the call.

And I was alone again. 

I took a deep breath and carried my luggage upstairs. may two rooms dito isang master bedroom and isang guest room. Naalala ko yung sinabi ni Isabel na pinagawa niya 'tong cabin para kapag gusto niya tumakbo at mawala muna sa mundo ay may mapupuntahan siya. 

And actually, she found a good spot. The view is phenomenal, the house is just perfect, the place is also perfect. I'd love to live with a house similar to this someday. A good place and a good view. Perfect to hide on if the world is being too cruel.

I hope I can have my own place similar to this, I want to run away from everyone.