Seven

Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Frames

After that awful pasta situation, I took a nap and woke up with the light passing through, from the sun that's already setting.

Hapon na pala nang ako ay magising. And I was greeted with the sunset's golden rays reflected in my bare face. Naiwanan ko rin palang bukas ang bintana. But I never regret it somehow. At least, I woke up with warmth and not with heaviness in my heart and tears from my eyes.

Bumangon na ako at inayos muna ang higaan ko. After that, I decided to go to the kitchen and prepare my coffee. While waiting for the hot water, the scene a while ago just flashed in my mind out of nowhere.

Wala na nga akong nakain na maayos na pagkain, nainsulto pa ako. Oh jeez.

But I cannot deny it.

While eating those overcooked pasta, I can't help but smile like an idiot. It's just so embarrassing, but I feel more of myself in that way. It's so awful and belittling, but I never feel bad about it. I just really find it purely funny.

I may feel surprised for unintentionally showing this weak side of mine, but the moment she's gone, my heart feels light. It's like I'm slowly ripping off the covers I have plastered in myself. Hindi ako natatakot maging totoong ako, when I'm in front of that cold-looking Lady Evergreen. She might pissed me off in some ways, crushed my dignity brutally, but I never feel bad being vulnerable with her.

And it's kind of odd to feel this feeling that I've buried a long time ago to someone that is purely stranger to me.

Maybe, we knew each other in our past lives.

Perhaps, we have significant roles in each other's live in the present.

Or.. it might be a red string type of connection for what will happen between us in the future.

“Who are you, Lady Evergreen?”

Words escaped in my mouth while drowning in these thought.

I shook my head.

Well... maybe it's just because of the fact that she's the only person who didn't give me attention at all. And I oddly like how nonchalant she is in seeing that unseen side of mine. Hindi nga marahil nakakahiya sa harap ng taong wala namang pakialam. I laughed in these thoughts of mine.

Naputol lang ang pag-iisip ko nang makita ko na ang usok mula sa electric kettle. Isinalin ko na rin ito sa maliit na thermos na naglalaman na ng timpladong kape.

Lumabas na muli ako sa mansyon at sinalubong ako ng banayad na hangin na payak na sumasama sa init ng araw na papalubog na. The flowers and leaves from the trees also dance gracefully because of this. Birds from the sky started to go in their home and some even sing a tune.

Napangiti ako. I could spend the rest of my life here in Evergreen. If only, I could. Even if the mystery here is undeniable, I can't disagree that this place whispers peace and sanctuary.

Ibinaba ko na ang dala kong maliit na thermos na may lamang kape sa lamesang malapit sa akin. I sipped a coffee from it and decided to clean some of the dried leaves in the ground. Hindi naman gaanong karami ang mga nagkalat na tuyong dahon sa harapan ng front door, kaya't itinuloy ko na ang pagwawalis hanggang sa gate.

Everything is peaceful and quiet when I heard the pedal of a bike and the voice from a kid that interrupts me.

“Oh, it seems a new gardener of Evergreen. Nice to meet you 10th caretaker of the alphabet garden!”

The kid cheerfully greet me with a wide smile plastered in his small face.

I didn't give attention immediately, but I feel bad. That's why I faced the cheerful kid with a smile too.