10 Years Ago
"DJ! DJ! May sasabihin ako!"
Daniel (who was only seven years old back then) turned around and saw his best friend, Kathryn, running excitedly to his direction.
"Kath!" Daniel stood up and urged to smile. He was currently in their backyard, sitting on the grass.
Kathryn stopped in front of him, panting. "M-may..sasabihin..ako."
"Huminga ka nga muna bago ka magsalita!" Daniel joked.
Kathryn giggled, then spoke clearly. "DJ, alam mo namang dream na dream kong pumunta sa States, diba?"
Daniel nodded. "Oh, tapos?"
"Alam mo, matutupad na yung wish ko na yun!" Kathryn beamed. Her smile got even wider as she jumped up and down.
Daniel, meanwhile, looked down with a frown on his face and Kathryn noticed.
"Di ka ba masaya para sa'kin, best friend?" Kathryn asked disappointingly.
Daniel sighed. "Syempre, masaya." The two sat down on the grass together.
"Eh, bakit ka nakasimangot?" Kathryn peeked over Daniel, who was still looking down.
"Kasi, iiwanan mo na 'ko." This time, Daniel looked up at Kathryn's face.
There was silence between the two of them. Thank heavens, Kathryn had the courage to speak.
"Babalik naman ako eh." She looked away.
Another sigh from Daniel was heard. "Babalik ka nga, matagal na matagal naman."
"DJ, mas okay na yun, kaysa naman din ako babalik, diba?" Kathryn asked, trying to make Daniel smile.
And she succeded. "Pero, wala na akong kalaro. Wala na akong kasabay kumain ng ice cream pagkatapos ng school."
This time, Kathryn sighed. "DJ, ganito na lang. Isipin mo, araw-araw, na kinabukasan, babalik ako agad. Sa ganung paraan, di ka na mahihirapan."
"Eh, pano kung di ko kaya?" Daniel asked.
"Believe in yourself, DJ. Makakayanan mo din yan! Saka, ako din naman mahihirapan, ah. Dun sa States, iisipin ko din na kinabukasan babalik na 'ko. Para naman pantay tayo." She said with a smile.
"Talaga?"
"Talaga."
"Kelan ba alis niyo?" Daniel was anxious for Kathryn's answer.
Kathryn looked down. "Bukas na."
"Bukas na? Hm, ibig sabihin, may isang araw na lang tayong natitira. Anong gusto mong gawin?"
"Ewan." Kathryn shrugged. "Ang sami ko pang di nagagawa na gusto kong gawin."
"Alam ko na, tara." Daniel smirked, pulling Kathryn's hand, and running away.
"DJ! San ba tayo pupunta?" Still, the two kids were running. Kathryn was getting tired.
"Malapit na!"
Suddenly, DJ stopped. Kathryn's jaw dropped as she saw such amusing sight in front of her.
Daniel had brought her to the carnival.
"Daniel, pano tayo makakasakay sa mga rides, eh wala tayong pera?" Kathryn asked as they walked in.
Daniel smirked. "Meron akong pera, hehe."
Kathryn smiled, still holding Daniel's hand.
The two spent the whole afternoon playing and getting into different rides at the carnival (even though Kathryn almost vomited when riding the Octopus, good thing Daniel was there).
"Nagugutom ka na ba, Kath?" Daniel asked as they both climbed down the ferris wheel. Kathryn just nodded.
"Tara, kain tayo ng paborito mo, siomai." Daniel once again held Kathryn's hand and bought food.
The two found a table and sat, talking about their lives (and other people's lives, too), and other things that they could think of. All of a sudden, the conversation got serious.
"Kath."
"Oh?" Kathryn looked up from her plate.
"Promise mo di mo ako makakalimutan."
"Oo naman! Ikaw pa, best friend kita, eh!" Kathryn confidently said.
Daniel just smiled.
THE NEXT DAY
"Kath? Male-late na tayo sa flight, ipadala mo na kay manong yung bags mo." Kathryn's Mama Min instructed as she peeked through Kathryn's bedroom door.
"Yes, mommy." Kathryn sighed. She still couldn't believe that they're already moving away.
Kathryn stood up from the edge of her bed and walked over her dresser. She picked up a charm bracelet she bought for Daniel as a remembrance. It was a silver bracelet which read, "DANIEL".
"Kath! Kath!"
Kathryn stood up and ran out of the house as she heard Daniel's voice from outside. "Daniel!"
They hugged each other tightly.
"Daniel, may ibibigay pala ako sa'yo." Kathryn muttered, showing him the sparkly silver bracelet.
"Eh, Kath, masyadong malaki pa sa'kin 'to, oh." Daniel complained jokingly.
"Para pagtanda mo, magagamit mo parin." Kathryn smiled.
"Ako din pala, may ibibigay."
"Talaga?" Kathryn was shocked.
Daniel nodded. "Talikod ka."
Kathryn did what she was told to do, and tears started to fall from her eyes as she saw Daniel give her a necklace with a peace pendant on it.
"Salamat, ha, DJ." Kathryn sniffed.
"Kath? Alis na tayo." Kathryn's dad called as he entered the car.
"Ito na yun." Daniel said sadly.
"Oo nga. 'Bye, DJ."
The two hugged once again. "It's not really goodbye after all." Daniel said.
Kathryn then broke the hug and walked over to their car. Daniel was left behind, waving his right hand as he watched the car drive away.
-
i really don't know how to end a chapter sorry. pero, at least nakapag-update ako haha. hirap pala maghanap ng pictures ni kath at daniel na bata pa sila O______O thank goodness nakahanap pa din ako lol. so watchu think? XD comment, please! =)))))
