Distance Is Just A Number [Taglish]

Prologue

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PROLOGUE

 

“Drei?”

I turned my back and sniffled.

“Cheer up, Drei. Me going away doesn’t mean we’re not going to be friends anymore,” a blue-eyed, black-haired boy told me.

I wiped my tears using the hem of my shirt. “Pero... We won’t be able to play like this anymore.  You’ll be far away,” I hiccupped. He smiled sadly and drew circles on the sand box where we’re playing.

Yung mga laruan ko? Tinapon ko kanina kung saan-saan sa playground on a fit of temper.

This was our last day together. Bukas, flight na ng family niya papuntang London. His father was British while his mother was half-Filipina and half-Spanish. He got his beautiful blue eyes from his father.

“I’ll still be there for you.”

“But... It won’t be the same. Who’d punch the bullies on the playground?!” I sobbed.

Reeve shook his head. “You’re a big girl now, Drei. You’re better than all of them. Don’t let them bully you. You’re way smarter than them anyway. Always hold your head high. But if they still bully you, do you still remember everything I taught you on how to punch?” he asked.

“Oo naman! Tumba sila sakin!” I shouted. Then, I flinched.

Nakalimutan ko na half-British nga pala sya at hindi nakakaintindi masyado ng Tagalog. Kailangan ko bang ulitin yung sinabi ko?

“Mabuti!” he answered in Tagalog and I laughed. Naintindihan naman pala niya eh. Pero nakakatawa din siya magTagalog kasi parang ang weird pakinggan. Englisero kasi. But it was because of him that I really studied hard what my English tutors tried to teach me. I wanted to understand my one and only friend.

He told me that he also talked to his yayas and asked them to teach him Tagalog. I guess he was learning. A bit.

And, yes. Si Reeve lang ang kaibigan ko. Sakitin kasi akong bata noon pa man at hindi talaga ako pinapayagan masyadong lumabas o maglaro with other kids. Ang mga yaya ko dati nakamask pa talaga. I’m awkward with other children because of this. Di ako sanay makihalubilo sa kanila.

Pero business partner kasi ni Papa ang Daddy ni Reeve kaya lagi syang nasa bahay. At nasa iisang subdivision lang kami. High-end, exclusive subdivision. So our parents scheduled our play dates while they had their brunch meetings in our garden.

I guess awkward na bata din si Reeve. It took us three visits to each other’s house bago kami talaga nag-usap. But when we did talk, we hit it off like he was the peanut butter to my jelly and I was the milk to his Oreo cookies.

“You can do it, Drei. Just close your hand, aim and then throw your whole weight into the punch! You’ll get punished but at least make them pay before that happens,” payo niya.

This made me smile. I nodded and he laughed. “But when Tita Grace asks, it wasn’t my idea okay?”

I rolled my eyes and he laughed harder.

“I promise, we’d still be friends. I’ll find a way. I’ll even call you every day!” he said sincerely.

Nawala ang ngiti ko dahil naalala ko nanaman na aalis na sya. My 6-year old self pouted and more tears fell down my cheeks. “Promise?” I whispered.

“Pinky swear.”

I raised my hand and offered him my pinky. He took it and wrapped his finger around mine. We still wore our candy rings that time. Mine was pink and his was blue. We matched. We always did.

We both smiled kahit na tumutulo yung luha namin pareho. Pati sipon ko pa nga tumutulo nun. Pero wala akong pakialam. Bata pa eh. And losing one’s best friend was really, really hard. It felt a thousand times worse than breaking or losing one’s favourite toy.

“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” Drei asked.

“Kakayanin.” I replied. Sumimangot si Reeve. “Err... That means, I’ll manage,” I told him.

“That’s my girl,” he replied and then pinched my cheeks.

Aray ha.

Pero ngiti na lang ako. Huling araw na to e. Babaunin ko lahat ng memories na kaya ko kasi alam kong matagal bago kami magkita ulit. Napatingin ako sa stuffed toy sa tabi ko. Stuffed toy na dog. I’ve always wanted a dog kaso hikain ako so hindi pwede. So I had a lot of stuffed animals na dog instead. And take note, hypoallergenic ang fur nila.

I held the toy out to Reeve.

“Here, take Fluffy. He’ll watch over you in London,” I told him. His eyes widened. “Are you sure? Fluffy’s your favourite!”

I shook my head. “You need him more. He’ll keep you safe. I have lots more in my room but you have none so you take him.”

Hinawakan na ni Reeve si Fluffy. Masakit sa puso na bitawan siya dahil nga sya ang paborito ko. Siya kasi ang pinakacute eh. Pero kailangan. Kasi aalis na si Reeve. Si Fluffy ang magiging bantay nya at memory nya sa akin.

“Okay. But Fluffy’s just on loan. When we see each other again, I’ll return him to you. Promise.”

I nodded. Di na ako makapagsalita kasi naiiyak na ako talaga. So naglaro na lang kami sa sandbox ng tahimik. Maya-maya pa, tinawag na si Reeve ng mommy niya.

Tumayo kami pareho at tumulo nanaman ang luha ko.

“It’ll be okay,” ulit nya.

“Yeah. It will.”

At niyakap niya na ako ng mahigpit na mahigpit. Tapos lumakad na siya papunta sa mama niya. Bago siya pumasok ng pinto, humarap siya ulit sa akin at kumaway. Kumaway din ako pero hindi ko na siya gaanong nakita dahil sa mga luha ko. Kasabay din nun ay ang pagtulo ng sipon ko. Pinunasan ko gamit ung towel. Pag-angat ko ng ulo ko, sarado na ang pintuan nila Reeve.

Kaya umuwi na din ako na ang bigat bigat ng nararamdaman.

That was the day I last saw my best friend.

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Kamusta naman for my first Taglish story? haha. Sana nagustuhan niyo. Please vote po! :)