Sandali // FayeYoko

Chapter 2

I returned to the garden the next morning, drawn back by something I couldn't quite name. Siguro kasi, dito ako nakakahanap ng konting katahimikan, a moment where I could just breathe. It was early, the sky still tinged with a soft orange as the sun peeked over the horizon. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, and for the first time in a while, I felt a sliver of calmness settling in my chest.

But as I rounded the familiar path, something caught my eye. A girl was there, crouched by the flowers, her fingers gently brushing the petals. Her head was tilted slightly, as if she were listening to the soft whispers of nature itself. She didn't seem to notice me, too lost in her quiet admiration of the blooms around her. There was something serene about the way she moved, as if she belonged to this place, like another part of the garden.

She looked so peaceful, her expression one of pure contentment, like the garden was hers alone. The way the sunlight kissed her hair, creating a soft halo around her, made her seem almost ethereal—like something out of a dream.

I stood frozen, unsure of what to do. Dapat ba akong bumalik? Leave her to her moment? Pero parang may humahatak sa akin to stay, to watch. There was something about her—something that made the garden feel alive in a way I hadn't felt since I was a child.

Then, as if sensing my presence, she glanced up. Nagkatinginan kami, and for a brief second, neither of us moved. "Oh! Hi!" she called out, her voice full of surprise but unbothered. She stood up slowly, brushing her hands against her dress, and smiled—a smile so bright it made me feel a little less awkward about being caught watching her.

"Uh... hi," I mumbled awkwardly, caught off guard by her sudden approach. I didn't expect her to approach me, but she did, walking over with a lightness in her step.

"I didn't expect to see anyone else here. I always come here when I want to feel alive, you know?" she said, flashing a wide, toothy grin that seemed to brighten the entire garden. Her eyes, a vibrant shade of brown, sparkled with a kind of energy that made me blink.

"Yeah, it's... a peaceful place," I managed to reply, feeling a bit self-conscious under her bright gaze. I wasn't used to strangers—especially ones who radiated so much positivity. It was a little overwhelming. I wasn't sure what to say next, but she didn't seem to mind the silence.

"I'm Yohana, by the way," she said, extending her hand towards me without hesitation, as if we were already friends.

"Faylene," I replied, taking her hand. Her grip was warm and firm, comforting in a way that made me feel a little less awkward. She smiled again, and I couldn't help but notice how infectious it was.

"Madalas ka ba dito?" she asked, stepping back and looking around as if the garden was the most magical place in the world. "I mean, I've been coming here for years, but I don't remember seeing you." She glanced around, her eyes sparkling as they took in the flowers once more.

"Actually... I used to come here a lot. When I was younger," I admitted, glancing around at the flowers that were slowly coming back to life. "Ngayon lang ako bumalik ulit."

"Ah, kaya pala," Yohana said, nodding as if that made perfect sense. "It's one of those places, you know? Yung parang kahit anong mangyari sa buhay mo, it's always here. Waiting for you."

Her words struck a chord in me. I hadn't realized it until she said it, but that was exactly how I felt about this place. The garden had always been my sanctuary, a constant in a world that was always changing.

"I didn't expect anyone else to be here," I said after a moment, trying to sound casual, pero totoo lang, hindi ako sanay na may ibang tao dito. It had always been my secret escape.

Yohana laughed, a light sound that reminded me of the chimes in the wind. 'Ako din! I thought I had this place all to myself. Pero okay lang, it's nice to have company sometimes. The flowers are beautiful, but they don't talk back." She smiled at me again, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Medyo awkward nga lang."

I chuckled, surprised at how easily she could acknowledge the awkwardness. "Yeah, I guess it is a little awkward."

"Don't worry," Yohana said, brushing off the moment like it was nothing. "We'll get used to each other. You seem cool."

There it was again—her unshakeable positivity. I didn't know how to respond to that, so I just smiled back. It was hard not to, lalo na when she looked at you with that kind of light in her eyes.

We stood there for a while, just taking in the garden together. There was a strange kind of comfort in the silence between us. Yohana didn't fill the space with unnecessary chatter, and I appreciated that. It felt like she understood without me having to explain.

"You know," she said suddenly, breaking the quiet, "when I was a kid, I used to pretend this garden was a secret kingdom. Like... I was the queen, and the flowers were my subjects." She grinned, her eyes twinkling with amusement at the memory.

I laughed softly. "Me and my friends used to pretend the same thing. Except I was a warrior... and the trees were my army."

'Seriously?" Yohana looked at me with wide eyes, her face lighting up with excitement. "That's so cool! I love that. A warrior and a queen—sounds like the start of an epic adventure."

"Maybe," I said, smiling despite myself. There was something refreshing about her. Her energy was infectious, and for the first time in a long while, I felt lighter, like I could breathe a little easier.

"So, what brings you back?" Yohana asked suddenly, her tone a little softer now. The brightness in her eyes dimmed just slightly as she looked at me, curious but not pushy. It was a simple question, but it hit me harder than I expected.

I hesitated, not sure how much to reveal. "Just... life, I guess," I said vaguely, hoping that would be enough.

But Yohana wasn't the type to let things slide easily. She gave me a look, one that told me she wasn't buying it. "Come on, there's gotta be more to it than that. No one just comes back to their old haunts nang walang rason."

I bit my lip, unsure of how to answer. Should I tell her? This girl I'd just met? But there was something about Yohana that made it feel safe to open up. Maybe it was her warmth, or maybe it was just the garden—this place had a way of making me feel like I could be honest with myself, and with others.

"I guess... I'm trying to figure things out," I admitted quietly. "I've been lost for a while, and I thought maybe coming back here might help me... find myself again."

Yohana didn't respond right away. Instead, she gave me a small, understanding nod. "Yeah... I get that," she said after a moment, her voice soft but steady. "Sometimes, the places that mean something to us are the only ones that can help us find our way back."

Her words hung in the air between us, heavy with meaning. I hadn't expected her to understand so easily, pero parang ang dali niyang basahin kung ano yung nararamdaman ko. It was a little unnerving, but also comforting in a way.

"Thanks," I said quietly, not really knowing what else to say.

Yohana smiled at me, a soft, genuine smile that made me feel like I wasn't as alone as I thought. "Anytime," she replied simply, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

We stood there for a while longer, neither of us speaking. The garden buzzed with life around us, the scent of flowers filling the air, the gentle rustling of leaves creating a symphony of sound. It was peaceful, and for the first time in a long while, I didn't feel so lost.

"Well," Yohana said finally, breaking the silence, "I guess I'll see you around, Faylene. This garden's not big enough for just one of us anymore, so I'm sure we'll run into each other again."

I smiled at that. "Yeah, I guess so."

As she turned to leave, I felt a strange pang in my chest, like something had shifted. Yohana was a bright light in my life, even if it was just for that short moment. I didn't know why, but I had a feeling that meeting her was just the beginning of something. Something I couldn't quite put into words yet.