Wish Catcher (Completed)

Chapter 2: The Mission

Chapter 2: The Mission

Present

"Ikaw ba talaga yung falling star kagabi?" I asked, still unconvinced of what the guy told me earlier. "Ibig kong sabihin, hindi ka naman hugis star. You look like a normal human being. Paano nangyaring ikaw yun?"

Nakaupo ako sa aking kama habang isinusuot ang magkabila kong medyas. Late na ako nito dahil sa biglaang pagdating ng falling star na to. Tsk. Buti na lang at hindi ko nakalimutang Monday at may pasok nga pala ako ngayon. Hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa mga nangyayare. Parang kanina lang kinikilig pa ako habang kinakausap ko yung picture ni Trace tapos bigla na lang may lalake sa kwarto ko at sinasabing isa siyang falling star?

Nice.

Huwag naman sana akong mawala sa katinuan ng ganito kaaga.

"How many times do you want me to answer that?" tanong niya habang nakaupo sa gilid ng aking kama at nakatingala sa aking kisame.

That same genuine smile never left his lips habang pinagmamasdan niya ang mural sa ceiling ng kwarto ko. It was a painting of an evening sky with stars on it. Parang replica lang iyon ng kalangitan tuwing gabi. That mural was made by my Dad as his birthday present for me on my fifth birthday and I so love it. Iyon ang madalas kong tingnan kapag hindi ako pinapayagan ni Mama na umakyat sa bubong para mag'star gazing. Tuwing gabi, pinapatay ko lamang ang ilaw sa kwarto ko at viola! My ceiling glimmered the same way an actual night sky looked like. Kapag tinitingnan ko iyon, it felt like the stars were just within my reach. And as I watched them just above me, I always feel like I am closer to them.

Remembering these things, I suddenly missed my Dad.

Before the sadness took over, I stood and walked towards the mirror hanging on my wall beside the door. I checked my reflection and stared at my eyes, the only weird thing that my gene pool can't even explain. I asked my Mom what my eye color was and she said it was brown. I asked the same question to Kuya Josh, my older brother, and his answer was the same as Mom's.

Brown.

Funny thing was, I once saw my brown eyes changed color. When I was still a kid, I actually thought that they were a pair of grayish, silver orbs. But then I might've just imagine it because my eyes were brown as of the moment. I blinked and they were still brown.

I sighed.

Inayos ko ang aking necktie bago mag'salita.

"Hindi lang talaga ako makapaniwala. Kasi naman di ba? Nakakabigla! I mean, hindi ko lang talaga akalain na ang isang nilalang na katulad mo eh mapapadpad sa kwarto ko tapos sasabihin mong isa kang falling star?" sabi ko.

Matapos kong makita ang maayos kong repleksyon sa salamin ay naglakad ako patungo sa study table ko kung nasaan ang aking backpack at ilang mga gamit sa school. Inilagay ko ang mga gamit na dadalhin ko sa loob ng aking backpack at pagkatapos ay isinukbit ko sa aking balikat ang straps 'non. Then I went back in front of the mirror to assess myself once more. Inayos ko ulit ang lagay ng buhok ko.

Nagpatuloy naman siya sa pagsasalita.

"Yung wish mo, sabi mo kagabi gusto mong mapansin at magustuhan din ni Trace. Tama?" tanong niya.

Napatigil ako at napaharap bigla sa kanya at feeling ko bigla akong namula. Pa-paano niya nalaman?!

Nakita niya siguro ang gulat na expression sa mukha ko kaya napangiti siya.

"I told you." he said, giving me a knowing look. "I'm that falling star that you wish upon. I heard your wish. Kaya, here I am. Tutulungan kitang mangyari yung wish mo."  pag'eexplain niya.