“You should shave your head.”
Napairap sya sa sinabi ng kaibigan. Bagaman patuloy sya sa paggugupit ng mga kaka- deliver lang na Malaysian mums, gustung- gusto niyang lapitan ito para sapukin.
“Didn’t you hear me? I said you should shave your head Perse.”
Napapikit sya ng mariin. At inulit pa talaga.
“Well you should shut up, Gren. You could always shut up,” may halong sarkasmong tugon niya sa walang kakwenta- kwenta nitong pahayag. Sa kabila ng matinding iritasyon sa tono at ekspresyon niya, nagawa pa nitong tumawa kaya naibato niya na ang nadampot na floral tape. Nakakainis kasi talaga ang tawa ng loko. Walang makasigurado kung talagang masaya lang o nang- aasar ito sa paraan ng pagtawa.
“Grabe ka. Para nags- suggest lang nabato mo na ko kaagad,” tumatawa pa rin ito habang sinasalansan ang mga na trim nang mga bulaklak, “paano na lang kung yang hawak mong gunting ang naibato mo?”
Napailing na lamang sya. Here she was thinking she could actually draw a decent suggestion from Grendel. Nawala sa isip niya na puro kalokohan nga lang pala ang alam ng isang to. She sighed heavily. Surprisingly, she wasn’t disappointed at all.
Patuloy pa din si Gren sa pagdedefend ng suggestion niya, as if his life depends on it. Pinigilan niya na lang ang sarili na ibato ang vase na may tubig dito. She let him talk. She stood and walks toward the glass front door at binaligtad ang sign.
“Are you listening to me? I’m actually serious about what I said Persephone,” todo salita pa rin talaga ito.
“I’m trying not to hear whatever you’re saying so I could refrain from hitting you with this vase,” she responded sternly.
“Ang sungit naman nito. Malay mo naman pag kalbo ka na tantanan ka ng gago mong pinsan. For all I know he’s treating you like a shit because he’s insecure as fuck. Baka lang naman maisip niyang nabaliw ka na sa sobrang stress kaya ka nagpakalbo.”
Grendel was talking about Harris, her cousin. Four years ago when things got fucked up, she had to live with her Aunt Mica’s family. Everyone was nice to her. Except for him who had been nothing but rude to her. Nung nakaraan nga lang, Harris crashed into her shop going on about how she shouldn't meddle in his family affairs.
“Hindi kita kinausap para mas ma- stress ka sakin. At saka, ano bang kinalaman ni Harris sa usapan? Im asking you to tell me ways para di na ako pauwiin ni Tita sa kanila. I have to convince her to let me stay in this shop.”
Magsasalita pa sana si Grendel nang tumunog ang mga wind chimes indikasyon na may papasok na mga customers. A group of three girls wearing what looks like high school uniform entered the shop and began looking around. Several minutes later, napansin niyang patingin- tingin na si Grendel sa orasan at sa cellphone nito. Kinalabit niya ito.
“Are you leaving?” she asked. He nodded.
“May usapan kami ni Lyra. I think if I don’t go now I’m going to be late.”
“May date ka pero pumayag kang tumulong ngayon dito? Are you for real?” Perse glared at him. “This is why your girlfriend hates me.”
He chuckled as he took his apron off. “She doesn’t hate you. She just gets jealous sometimes.” Mas sumama ang tingin ng dalaga. Sigurado na sya ngayong pumunta lamang ito para asarin sya.
“Was that supposed to relieve me? Just you wait, darating ang araw na di na lang kita kakausapin. Do you—“
Napatigil si Perse sa pagsasalita dahil sa pagguhit ng matinding sakit sa kanyang ulo. Here goes this strange yet familiar feeling again. It was if someone was watching her, like someone’s stare weigh heavily against her. It has been going on for long. May mga pagkakataon na natitigilan na lang sya dahil sa di maipaliwanag na pakiramdam na to. Sometimes, her chest would feel weighty, like she was drowning.
BINABASA MO ANG
Soul Keepers: She Who Seeks Death
Fantasy"What-- What is this? What does this suppose to mean?" "They're black strings, honey. Bulag ka na din ba?" "You know that's not what I meant!" "They're the threads of death. Those who were planned to die have those." "T- They're going to die?" "Na...
