Chapter X.
The Walk
Tumigil kami sa Manila bay at lumabas ng sasakyan niya. Habang naglalakad, wala pang nagsasalita sa aming dalawa.
"You want to try the streetfoods, my treat." Iyon na lang ang tanong ko. Meron kasing stands ng mga street foods na makikita sa paligid.
"Okay. But I will be the one treating you. I was the one who invited you anyway." So lumapit kami sa mga stands at pumili kung alin doon ang bibilhin na kakainin namin.
After naming kumuha ng makakain namin, nagpunta na kami sa mga benches na nandoon at naupo. Mabuti lamang at kakaunti ang tao ngayon. Inilapag ko ang bag ko at ang juice na binili sa gitna naming dalawa ni Mike.
Hindi ko maalis sa isip ko kung ano ang gusto niyang pag-usapan naming dalawa. Medyo nagtataka lang ako kung ano mismo ang pag-uusapan namin, at parang malaking bagay iyon sa kanya. Nang tignan ko siya ang lalim kasi ng iniisip niya. At parang nag-aalinlangan pa siya kung sasabihin niya ba iyon.
"Sorry I took my time looking for you. I had a hard time searching for your school and even your house. I never thought that your family would be moving out the place." He blurted out of the blue after finishing his food. Medyo naguluhan ako doon sa sinabi niya. Hindi ako maka-catch up kung anong point niya.
True, we moved out the subdivision we used to live during my childhood days. Taga-doon din ba si Mike noon? Eh bakit hindi siya pamilyar sa akin? Sabagay, hindi naman ako mahilig lumabas ng bahay. Kung lalabas man ako sa garden lamang namin at hihintaying dumating yung kalaro ko.
"I guess you would be confuse. Or maybe you have forgotten me already." Sa maliit na boses niyang tinig. "Of course, who would still remember someone from their past. How I wish you would still remember me." Dugtong pa niya.
I really am confused right now. ano ba pinagsasabi niya. Past? What is he talking about?
Sure, I can't clearly remember everything from my childhood days. But mayroon pa ring intact sa memories ko from that time before we moved out from the village. All I can remember are just fragments of my past.
Don't tell me he's someone I know from the past. But who?
"Have we met before? You're talking like you've known me from the past. Pasensya na if ever man na nagkakilala na tayo dati, pero hindi kita maalala. I barely remember my memories from when I was still small." Pag-amin ko sa mga sinabi niya. Tsaka bakit pa niya kailangan sabihin ngayon yan.
"We've met before. Or more like we're friends before. We used to play everyday. Actually we used to be neighbors. But as I've said, your family moved out Greenbit Village and we haven't seen each other ever since that day. One year later, we migrated to America, then stayed there for how many years." Kwento niya. Nakangiti siya habang inaalala niya yun.
Wait. Play everyday? Neighbors? Greenbit Village?
It slowly dawned to me. I remember it now. Yes, I used to play with a boy. Yes, that boy was just a block away from our house. He would always knock on our gate to come and play with me. Don't tell me...
Nanlalaki ang matang napatingin ako sa kanya. "I-Ike?" I blurted out in a small voice. Buti na lang at nakayuko lang siya at nakatingin sa sapatos niya. And I don't know if he heard me or not. And buti na lang hindi napalakas ang pagbigkas ko. I'm still not sure, if he's that boy I knew.
But there's the possibility na siya nga iyong batang iyon. Base na rin sa mga kwento niya. But kung titignan siya ngayon, it's hard to believe. Images of those memories are still blur in my mind. I better check later after I get home.
I didn't say anything of me recalling about it instead I just asked him. "So you're saying that we're like childhood friends?" Indicating both my index and middle fingers in the air quoting what I said.
"Yeah." Was all that he said.
"Oww-kay. It's still hard to believe but I know you don't have anything against me that will be the reason for you to lie about it." Was all I could say to ease the tensiom he's feeling right now.
"Is that the main reason why you invited me to have a talk?" I asked him when he's still silent. Napaangat siya ng tingin at tumitig sa akin. He look upset just looking at his eyes. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin nang hindi ko matagalan ang titig niya.
"Yeah." Tumingin siya sa langit pagkasabi niya nun. "It's getting late. We should be going home." Tumayo na siya at iniligpit ang mga pinagkainan namin. Sumunod ako sa kanya ng itatapon na niya sa basurahan ang kalat namin hanggang sa makadating kami sa pinagparadahan ng kotse niya. Pinagbuksan pa niya ako ng pinto.
Habang nasa biyahe, hindi ko maiwasang antukin kaya nakatulog ako. At naalimpungatan na lamang ako ng maramdaman kong may tumatapik sa pisngi ko.
Nakangiting mukha ni Mike ang tumambad sakin. Agad-agad akong nag-ayos ng sarili at tinanggal na rin ang seatbelt. "Thank you for driving me home." Was all that I could say peeking at the window after I got out of the car.
"It's nothing. I was the one who invited you for a walk after all. I should be the one thanking you for joining me." He said smiling at me. Humarap na siya sa manibela nang lumingon ulit siya sakin. "Oh, and good night. See you tomorrow, Einah." He drove off after saying those words to me.
I was left dumbfounded there at our front gate. Really?! Einah?! Seriously, he got me there. Why bother calling me by that? I'm already okay with what he's calling me these past days with been hanging out.
Umiling-iling na lang ako pumasok na sa gate, at pumasok ng bahay. Bukas ang ilaw sa sala namin kaya alam ko na nandiyan na sila mommy. Tama nga ako, nandoon siya sa may sofa bed namin ag nagbabasa ng magazine, with the television on.
Siguro ay narinig niya ang pagbukas-sara ng pinto kaya tumingin siya sakin. Agad siyang napangiti nang makita ako. Ngumiti rin ako pabalik sa kanya at lumapit.
"Hey, mom. Sorry I've been out this late. Kasama ko si Aimi na lumabas at namasyal." Humalik ako sa pisngi niya nang pagkaupo ko sa tabi niya.
"It's okay. Minsan-minsan lang naman kayong lumalabas ng bahay. Your everyday routine since you got into college were going to school and coming home here. And you're at the right age. May tiwala din naman ako sayo." she said as if teasing me.
"Si mommy naman. Hindi ko naman po napapabayaan ang studies ko." I said almost scowling.
"I know. I know. Wala akong sinasabing pinapabayaan mo ang studies. I told you, I trust you. Alam kong hindi mo ididisappoint ang daddy mo." She said laughing then looked at our wall clock. "Did you already had dinner? Nasa fridge yung ulam, ipainit mo na lang kung kakain ka, okay?" She started folding the magazine then stood up, nagreready na siguro para umakyat sa kwarto nila daddy. "I'm going to bed. You better do too after you finish your food."
"Yes, mom." Treating me like a kid always. Paakyat na siya sa hagdan ng pumunta na ako sa kusina. I prepared the food then ate afterwards, washed the used plates at umakyat na sa kwarto ko para magprepare ng matulog.
After half hour sa banyo, I'm already at my bed thinking. Maybe I should ask mommy tomorrow. I forgot to ask her about Mike.
Sa pagtulog ko, ang daming naglalaro sa utak ko na mga ideya tungkol sa mga sinabi ni Mike. Kung siya nga yung batang iyon, why now? Is there any reason kung bakit ngayon lang siya nagbalik? I considered that boy as my first friend and bestfriend.
Well, malalaman ko rin lang naman ang mga sagot sa katanungan ko kung sakaling mag-oopen up siya sakin.
That night, sa sobrang pag-iisip ko sa bagay na iyon, kinulang tuloy ang tulog ko at nagising with an aching head. Ahhh! Pain, go away!
