Takipsilim

Chapter 7: Butterflies

Katherina woke up to the sound of people talking.

"Her mom is coming here to pick her up." Boses iyon ni Nurse Adela.

"Ganun po ba. Mga gaano pa po kaya katagal? Baka mas okay po na ihatid ko na lang siya sa kanila? Baka po kasi mamaya pa yung mom nya. Rush hour na rin po kasi." Sabi ni Yael.

"She said she'll be here in less than 30 minutes. Don't worry, Yael."

He's still here? Pinaalis ko na siya kanina. Pagtataka ni Katherina.

Bumukas ang pintuan at pumasok si Yael sa kinaroroonan ng dalaga. He's already changed into a plain white shirt and khaki cargo shorts, plus black and white velcro Vans.

He's dressed down yet he still looks so gorgeous. Ika ni Katherina sa sarili. Naramdaman niya ang pag-init ng pisngi.

Nakangiti si Yael sa kanya. "Hi Kath. Darating na daw ang mommy mo dito in a few minutes. Ayos na ba ang pakiramdam mo? Nagugutom ka ba?"

"Kath?" Ito lamang ang nasabi ng dalaga. Nagulat ito dahil tinawag siya ni Yael sa kanyang palayaw.

Namula ang pisngi ng binata. "Ayaw mo bang tawagin kita sa nickname mo?"

"A-ayos lang naman. Maayos na rin ang pakiramdam ko. Salamat sa pagsama, Yael."

Hindi pa rin napapawi ang ngiti ng sugong Ahren. Tumitig lang ito kay Kath.

"Why are you staring at me? M-may dumi ba ako sa mukha?" Unconsciously, Katherina covered her face with her hair. Gawain nya ito tuwing makakaramdam ng hiya.

"I'm sorry to make you feel uncomfortable. Natutuwa lang ako kasi our paths crossed again." Sagot ni Yael sa kanya.

"Again?"

"Nung Freshmen Orientation, merong babae na natapilok at nahulog ang salamin sa sahig. Buti na lang, I was there to help her. Gusto ko pa sana siyang samahan noon pero hinila na ako ng kaibigan ko so I never had the chance back then to introduce myself."

"Ikaw yun?"

Lalong lumawak ang ngiti ng binata.

"Why are you smiling like that?" Tanong ng dalaga.

"I don't know why pero natutuwa ako na nagkakilala pa rin tayo, after 3 academic years. Sa laki ba naman ng Malaya, akalain mo magkikita ulit tayo."

Butterflies were dancing in Katherina's tummy. Ang kanyang first crush, kausap na niya ngayon at gustong makipagkaibigan sa kanya.

Sasagot na sana siya nang muling bumukas ang pintuan. Her mother's here.

"Kath. Let's go home."

Nagtama ang paningin ni Clara at Yael.

Hindi nalingid kay Kath ang pagbabago sa ekspresyon ng mukha ni Yael. Ang kaninang maaliwalas na mood nito ay napalitan ng pagtataka at pag-aalinlangan, ngunit bumalik ring muli ang ekspresyon nito sa normal.

Ang kanyang ina nama'y walang reaksyon at nakatitig lamang sa binata.

Tumayo si Yael at nagpakilala.

"Hi, Ma'am. I'm Yael, Katherina's friend." Iniabot nito ang kamay nya kay Clara.

Friend? Katherina thought.

A sly smile crossed the older Kataha's face. "Hello, Yael. I'm pleased to meet you. Hindi ka naiikwento ni Katherina sa akin."

"Ngayon lang po kasi kami nagkausap. I was the one who brought her here in the clinic. Good thing I was able to catch her before she passed out earlier."

"Oh, interesting." Sagot ng ina ni Katherina.

It was a very awkward moment for Katherina. "Mom, let's go." Tumayo na ito at hinawakan ang braso ng ina.

"You need help in carrying your stuff?" Yael offered.

"H-hindi na. Kaya na namin. S-salamat ulit, Yael." Kath bowed slightly when she thanked Yael.

"Okay, Kath. See you tomorrow." He smiled and waved at the girl upon reaching the clinic's door.

Katherina hurriedly went out of the clinic after thanking Yael and Nurse Adela.

Naglalakad na sila ng kanyang ina sa may parking area nang tahimik until Clara broke the silence.

"Stay away from him."

"What? Mom..."

"Just do what I say."

Wala nang nagawa si Katherina. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit ayaw ng ina na makipagkaibigan siya kahit kanino, but this is the first time that she particularly asked her to stay away from someone.

Everytime Katherina made a friend, they mysteriously lose their memories of her the following day. Nagmumukha tuloy siyang baliw dahil lapit siya ng lapit sa mga ito at ipinapaalala ang mga nangyari sa nagdaang araw.

She wonders why this happens to her. May kumukulam kaya sa akin? She knows na hindi naman siya nababaliw. Ilang beses nang naulit ito, and eventually, she gave up. Katherina just learned how to keep to herself.

And then, there's Yael.

Katherina went to her room that night, sad and afraid that Yael might forget all about her tomorrow, just like everyone else.

-----

Yael was browsing Facebook on his bed. She was trying to search for Katherina pero hindi niya ito mahanap.

Wala siyang Facebook account? Nagtaka siya. Wala na ata siyang kakilala na walang Facebook. Even his Lola Carmela has one.

The chosen Ahren just decided to sleep, tired from this very long day. He has already forgotten about Cedric and the basketball game earlier.

All he is thinking of right now is Katherina, and how he wanted to see her smile.