Glimpses (special chapters)

Glimpse 03: Yo te Cielo

Special Chapter 02: Silence Means Yes?

Me acogiste destrozada y me devolviste entera, íntegra.

You took me in broken and you returned me whole.

-Frida Kahlo

***

Miho ended her review class a little late; paano kasi, hindi siya tinantanan ng mga estudyante sa mga tanong. They were nervous for the upcoming proficiency exam. Andami niya tuloy diniscuss sa loob ng dalawang oras. Lumagpas pa ng kinse minutos pagkatapos ng dismissal time.

She was pretty much exhausted but she liked the feeling. Masarap kasi yuong pagod ka sa trabaho pero may feeling of fulfillment. And then after work, it's time to relax. Yuon ang inaabangan niya lagi tuwing pagkatapos niyang magtrabaho.

These past weeks, she has been spending her evenings with Pat. Yuon ang oras para magpahinga siya na kasama ito. They would often have dinner together. Hindi na kasi sila nagkakasabay mag-lunch dahil nagkaiba ang schedule nila. Madalas din na duon siya natutulog sa unit ni Pat, minsan naman sa lugar niya ito nakikitulog.

A little before 6, Pat came. Akala niya kakain lang sila sa labas, pero dinala siya nito sa Bulacan. She was clueless at first, nuong napansin niyang antagal na nila sa daan ay nagtanong na siya.

"Anong meron?"

"Maiba lang," he answered with a smile.

Oo nga naman, they're staying too much in the city. Minsan mas masarap din sa tahimik na probinsya.

When they arrived in his home, Manang Pina already prepared their dinner. The first thing that they did was to eat Bulalo.

"Hija, kain ka lang, marami pa," Manang told her.

True enough, marami nga siyang nakain. Ang sarap ng pagkakaluto kaya naman halos naka-dalawang tasa ng kanin si Miho at dalawang tasa rin ng sabaw.

Pagkatapos ng hapunan ay niyaya siyang lumabas ni Pat.

"Just for a few minutes or an hour."

"Saan tayo pupunta?" she wondered as she glanced at him.

"You'll see when we get there."

Nadaanan nila ang mga bahay duon at napansin niyang may iilan na mukhang makaluma ang itsura. Maya't maya may maririnig na tunog ng tricycle at mga taong nag-uusap, pero huhupa rin iyon bigla at mababalot ng katahimikan ang lugar.

They were walking side-by-side, her hands entwined with his. Pat remained silent and his hand that she was holding felt cold.

"Okay ka lang?" she asked him. "Nilalamig ka, ah."

"Yup, I'm okay," nakangiting sagot nito sa kanya.

They stopped in front of a familiar place— the Our Lady of Assumption church.

"Magsisimba tayo?"

He shook his head. Dinala siya nito sa loob at naupo sila sa may pinaka-dulong upuan. There was no mass at that time, just a few people were inside, praying.