Maaalala mo pa ba ako bukas?
Was the first joke I learned when I was nine. I remember my ate tickling me mercilessly after I asked her this question for the nth time:
Maaalala mo pa ba ako bukas?
A knock-knock joke that never ages. To me, it was the funniest one-liner, always good for a laugh-especially from those who'd never heard it before. Its timeless charm lay in its simplicity: a joke so pure, one telling was enough to bring joy.
Maaalala mo pa ba ako bukas?
Was the first joke I told to my first love. She looked puzzled when I asked her:
Maaalala mo pa ba ako bukas?
"Oo naman."
"Kahit sa susunod na linggo?"
"Yes."
"Kahit sa susunod na buwan?"
"Yes!"
"Kahit next year?"
"Oo."
Knock knock?
"Who's there?"
"Akala ko ba di mo ako malilimutan?"
It took her a moment to catch on, but that laugh-oh, that laugh! It replayed in my mind and heart, a melody of joy that drove me wild.
Maaalala mo pa ba ako?
Were my last words before she left. It was a sunny morning, perfect for a swim at the beach. The birds chirped and the breeze was warm, but for me, it rained tears. The contrast was jarring; cheers surrounded me while I was losing everything. My love faded into the horizon, where I thought we'd end up together.
Naaalala mo pa ba ako?
Was the question I heard years later, as I finally found my footing. I looked up to see her with that same beautiful smile, a child in a stroller, and a diamond ring sparkling in my eyes. So much had changed since we last met.
Naaalala kita.
Was all I could say. I couldn't force a smile; she saw through every façade. Inside, I was screaming, wanting to vanish. Her eyes, once beloved, now felt like a spotlight exposing my vulnerability.
Naaalala ko ang lahat.
I wanted to say. The pain I thought was gone surged back, tears swelling as if a bomb had exploded. It was as if I was trapped in a scene without a script, the echoes of our last summer morning lingering.
Naalala mo na?
Was the question you asked as you walked towards me. You were my knight, pulling me from deep waters, showing me the beauty of spring in December and summer in monsoon. I saw the anticipation in your eyes, understood your desire for the joke I had repeated so often.
Maaalala mo pa ba ako bukas?
YOU ARE READING
Vivid
ŞiirA collection of poems bound by visceral emotions and vivid imagery, this book captures the raw essence of the human emotional landscape. Each poem delves deep into the complexities of all emotions, revealing the intensity of sensation in every word.
