The Letter

Chapter 17

“Elmo.. Elmo.”

Hindi makita ni Elmo ang babaeng natawag sa kanya sa di kalayuan kaya sinundan niya ito. Hindi pamilyar ang babaeng iyon sa kanya kaya nagdadalawang isip siyang sundan ito. Out of curiosity and the involuntary movements of his body, he found himself following the lead of that mysterious woman. Hindi siya natatakot ng mga oras na iyon, mas nangingibabaw ang kagustuhan niyang makita ang babaeng iyon ng malapitan.

There’s this luminous hole kung saan lumusot ang babaeng sinusundan niya. Natigilan siya ng mga oras na iyon dahil natakot siya na baka may kakaibang mangyari sa kanya kapag lumusot siya sa butas na iyon. Pero kung hindi siya lulusot, hindi niya makukuha ang mga sagot na hinahanap niya. Kung sino ba ang babaeng iyon, at kung bakit siya pinapasunod nito.

After passing through the hole, he found himself standing infront of his favorite flowershop. Hinanap niya ang babaeng kausap niya but she’s nowhere to be found. Siya lang ang mag-isa sa lugar na iyon kaya naman nagtaka na siya dahil alam niyang hindi nauubusan ng tao roon.

“What do you want from me?” Sigaw niya para magsalita na muli ang babaeng kausap niya.

“I want you to remember me.”

“Who are you?!”

“You know me well, I’m sure of that.”

“Pwede ba magpakilala ka nalang?” Inis na sambit niya dahil puro boses lang ang naririnig niya. Gustuhin niya mang makita ang babaeng kausap niya pero wala siyang magawa, wala talaga siyang makita.

“Try to remember.” The voice echoed through his eyes over and over. Elmo couldn’t figure out who it was. It sounded unfamiliar and feels so lifeless. He was shaking now. Fear had almost consumed him. His eyes started to water as he looked around for some answer.

Elmo snapped awake at 3am. Right there, he realized that he was just dreaming. It was only a dream. He immediately moved next to Julie to feel comfort. He hugged her tight and kissed her lips softly and carefully, not wanting to wake her up. He was now listening to the sound of her gentle breathing, the sound that made him fall back to sleep.

***

He was warm and comfortable, sunlight turning the backs of his eyelids burning orange. Keeping his eyes closed  Elmo stretched out his muscles and rolled over into the piles of soft pillows. He breathed deeply and noticed a faintly floral scent on the sheets. It tickled his nose and the back of his memory. It was familiar but he was having difficulty placing it. It smelled like sunshine and smiles and hope and adorable laughter.

“Julie.” He said to himself. He sat up, the sheets pooling around his waist. Blinking blearily he waited for his brain to catch up with its surroundings. By the time Julie had shut off the tap and come into the room dressed in a fluffy bathrobe and judging from her still damp from the shower hair, nothing else, Elmo swallowed, he still hadn’t come up with a reasonable explanation.

"Gising ka na pala.”  Julie smiled widely at him.

"Um."

"Good morning to you too my love." Natatawang sambit niya habang pinapatuyo niya ang kanyang buhok. She always finds him cute when he’s speechless… when he’s running out of words.

Elmo just watched from the bed as she blow dried her hair that he adores and applied her makeup. He’d never before taken the time to appreciate a woman putting on her make up before. Of course Julie didn’t need make up, she was drop dead gorgeous without, as he had so clearly discovered not moments ago. But being permitted to watch her apply her shadow and bubblegum lipstick… it was surprisingly intimate. As if he was on her team against the world.