That Moment
Written by: AyamiLu
Genre: Drama/Tragic/Romance
Word count: 2993
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"KYLE, ready ka na?"
Umangat ang ulo ko mula sa sulat na binabasa ko. Andrew grinned while he patted my back playfully. Hell yeah! He's laughing at me right now. Kung bakit ba naman kasi ako napunta sa situwasyong 'to.
"Don't be an ass."
He just laughed. Like I found this a bit hilarious. I sighed and looked down at the letter I had been staring at for a while now. Ilang minuto na lang at babasahin ko na ito sa harap ng maraming tao. They will know her name that was long forgotten.
I still remember those days when I first met her, Keira. She was five and I was seven. It was the summer of 1995. Nag-outing kami ng pamilya ko. I was out picking up seashells along the seashore when I heard a small cry somewhere. Nakita kong may batang babaeng nadapa, hawak ang maliit niyang manyika. She looked so cute, that's why I decided to help her.
I ran towards her and helped her stand up but she still kept on whining and crying. "Tahan na. Wala ka namang sugat, o." Pinagpag ko pa ang binti niyang puno ng buhangin. Pero lalo lang lumakas ang iyak niya.
We were catching people's attention already and they all looked at me like it's my fault or something. I didn't know what to do then. Naisip ko na iwan na lang siya doon at hayaang umiyak. But she suddenly stopped crying and touched something on my palms.
I looked at the seashells where her small fingers held. She looked at it with awe. And then she slowly beamed.
"Gusto mo?" Inalok ko sa kanya iyong mga napulot kong seashells. Sumigok-sigok pa siya habang kinukuha ang isang malaking shell sa kamay ko. Mas malaki pa iyon kaysa maliit niyang kamay. I smiled. Right at that moment, I told myself I'll never let go of that small hand.
Pag-uwi namin, nakita ko iyong kotseng sinakyan ni Keira. It turned out na kapitbahay lang pala namin sila. Their house was a few blocks away from us, pero walking distance lang naman. Naging magkakilala na rin ang mommy ko at si tita Helen, ang mommy ni Keira, and they became the best of friends. I still find that amusing until now.
Palagi na kaming nasa bahay nila kapag wala si daddy at kapag nasa work siya. So I watched Keira grow. She also became my best friend through time. Iisa rin ang pinasukan naming school since gusto ni Tita Helen na bantayan ko si Keira. And I was willingly happy about it.
Habang lumalaki si Keira, lalo siyang nagiging kamukhang kerubin. Pero iyong ugali niya, parang nagiging katulad ko, brusko. I know it's my fault. Pinapagalitan ako ni mommy sa tuwing sinasali ko si Keira sa mga larong panlalaki. Kapag sinasaway ko si Keira na huwag sumali, nagtatampo naman siya. What could I do? Ayoko namang magalit siya sa'kin. Iba pa namang magalit iyon, talagang walang kibo. Para kang hangin kapag galit siya sayo. In so many ways, I admit, Keira was spoiled from me.
When I graduated in highschool, doon lang kami nagkahiwalay ni Keira. I was kind of worried then because I thought she might feel alone without me beside her. Pero mabilis siyang nakahanap ng kaibigan, and I was glad they were girls. She needed friends her gender. Baka matuluyan na siyang maging tibo kapag sa'kin pa rin siya nagdididikit.
I was staying in our college dorm throughout my college days, kaya tuwing weekends lang ako nakakauwi sa bahay. I still saw Keira as my best friend. Infact, siya ang unang taong sinabihan ko tungkol sa balak kong panliligaw kay Maxine at siya din ang unang nakaalam no'ng sinagot niya ako.
