Don't Go (EXO Series II)

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Alexi Rei

I woke up a little early kahit na puyat ako kagabi. I don’t know why. Today seemed like an exciting day. Gusto ko ring makita 'yung pagsikat ng araw. Gusto kong ma-experience 'yung isang bagay na ipinagkait sa'kin ng pag-stay ko ng dalawang taon sa siyudad. Kaya kahit na ayaw pang dumilat ng mga mata ko, bumangon na ako at naglihamos.

I felt so much lighter this morning than I did last night. Siguro dahil kahit papaano, nailabas ko 'yung sama ng loob ko. I don’t want to conclude things right away, but I wouldn’t deny na nakatulong 'yung presence ni Kris. I needed someone to talk to and he freely gave his time for my rants.

Hindi ko tuloy mapigilang ngumiti nang maalala ko 'yung eksena namin kagabi. Para akong sira na naghahabol sa mabilis niyang paglakad hanggang makapasok kami sa bahay. I could see him smile in the dark kahit anong pigil niya. He’s just much cuter when he smiles. But the ‘cool guy’ image suits him well, too. Ang daya nga lang at iniwan niya ako.

“Good morning, Mister Sun,” I greeted the morning sun, spreading my arms like I was flying.

Hindi na masyadong malamig 'yung hangin tulad kahapon, pero suot ko pa rin 'yung sweater na pinahiram niya kagabi. I was loving the feel of the cloth in my body. Napaka-comfortable. Unlike sa mga body-fitting clothes na nakasanayan ko.

I smiled as I witnessed the water turning orange.

“Kyaaaah!” I squealed. Ganito pala kaganda ang sunrise! I closed my eyes and enjoyed the feeling.

Pero sa pagpikit ko, memories with Marco started to flash in my mind. Agad akong dumilat.

“No, Rei. No,” sabi ko sa sarili ko. “From this day on, you must not think or speak about him anymore. You have to move on, and you will move on. Fighting!”

No more Marco.

Simula sa araw na 'to, I will start a new life. Everything will be as if he never existed.

I took a deep breath and stared at the beautiful scenery in front of me. For two years, pollution, high-rise buildings, traffic, busy crowd, at rush hour 'yung parati kong nai-experience. This was the break I had been waiting for. And it’s refreshing how the sun seemed to have understood that I needed this.

When I had enough of nature's glort, bumalik na ako sa loob ng bahay. Nakakaramdam na rin ako ng gutom. Dumiretso ako sa kitchen.

“Good morning po, Ma’am Alex,” magalang na bati sa akin ni Ate Cory, 'yung caretaker ng beach house nila Kuya Seth.

“Good morning din po.” Naghanap ako ng makakain sa fridge.

“Nagugutom na po ba kayo?” tanong niya.

Ngumiti ako. “Opo, e. Ano po ba'ng pwedeng breakfast?” Isinara ko 'yung fridge at naupo sa bakanteng upuan sa kitchen table.

“Gusto niyo po ba ng kanin?”

“Ay hindi na po. Toasted bread na lang, Ate Cory.”

“Okay po, Ma’am.” Saka siya nag-prepare ng request ko.

Matagal tagal na ring caretaker ng beach house si Ate Cory. Wala siyang asawa, at 'yung pamilya niya, nasa ibang probinsya. Kaya naman sa beach house na niya ginugugol 'yung oras niya.

“Si Ate Bianca po?”

“Kasama po si Sir Seth, nag-jogging po yata,” sagot niya habang nilalagay sa oven 'yung 2nd batch ng tinapay.

Napangiti ako. “Ang swerte din talaga ni Ate Bianca kay Kuya Seth.”

Ngumiti rin si Ate Cory. “Pareho po silang swerte sa isa’t isa,” sabi niya. “Napakabait na bata ni Sir Seth, at ganoon din ang Ate mo. Kaya bagay na bagay sila.”