Napako yata ako sa kinatatayuan ko.
"Clarida..." Masayang lumapit sa akin ang lalaking nagpakilalang si Casper.
"Hey...It's me... Casper." Sabi nito.
Hindi ako kumikibo.
"Hey, It's me. Remember, I said you were the most out of tune person I've heard."
Of all the things he will say, iyon pa talaga ang sinabi niya.
"Casper?"
"Yes..." Bahagya siyang tumawa. "It's me... It's really me. I'm alive." Sabi nito. Niyakap niya ako.
"You're alive." I murmured. Hindi ako makapaniwala...Totoo ba ito?
"Yes...We did it..." Bumitaw si Casper at lumapit kay Arnold na nagpapahid ng luha.
"Master." Sabi nito. Niyakap din siya ni Casper.
"Can we eat? I haven't eaten for more than 20 years." It's already past 2 am and he wanted to eat.
It's surreal... Yet terrifying. What if this news comes out? Casper will be under the microscope. Or worst, he will be persecuted by people who do not understand what happened. And because they do not understand, they will be in defense... Afraid of this discovery.
Arnold prepared a sandwich for us. I watch Casper eat. He closes his eyes and savors the sandwich.
"This is so good." Sabi ni Casper.
"Casper..." Tawag ko sa kanya. Hindi ako makakain.
"What will you do now?"
Ngumunguyang tumingin sa akin si Casper. His eyes are full of life.
"First, I need to buy clothes. This is what I wear during my funeral." Sabi niya. Nanlaki yata ang mata ko dahil natawa siya.
"Then, I need a new identity so I can walk around and do my things."
"Master, I already established your identity. Ms. Angeline advise me to do so. I filed a late registration for your birth certificate after you...err rest for a while. I even took online courses and named after you." Sabi ni Arnold. Lahat napag-isipan ni mommy. Lahat nasa ayos niya.
"What is my name now?" Tanong ni Casper.
Pinigilang ngumiti ni Arnold. "John Casper Montgomery."
Tumahimik ang paligid. Napanganga si Casper. Tuluyan ng tumawa si Arnold. Napahagikgik ako.
"She just put John on your real name." Dagdag pa ni Arnold.
"You will be the only son of the late Dr. Casper Montgomery to an unknown girl. You were given to me to raise. You were homeschooled because of your illness." Pagapatuloy ni Arnold na story na bubuuin nila ni Casper.
"Which is?"
"Asthma." Sagot ni Arnold. Amazing... planado talaga. I chuckled at what they were saying.
"Did I graduate with a degree?" Tanong ni Casper.
Umiling si Arnold. "Sadly, I am not as intelligent as you."
"No worries. I can manage from here. Thank you for your help, Arnold. And to you Clarida." Sabi ni Casper.
"It's getting late. You all need to rest especially you Clarida. You drive since morning."
"It's Clary." Naiinis na ako sa buong pangalan ko.
"Now, off to your room, child. Listen to elders." Biro nito. Doon ko naramdaman ang pagod sa katawan ko ng pinaalala ni Casper ang mahabang biyahe namin.
Nakatulog akong iniisip ang nangyari. Nakatulog akong iniisip si Casper. Buhay si Casper.
Kinabukasan, katok sa pintuan ang nanggising sa akin. Pupungas pungas akong bumangon. Binuksan ko ang pintuan at nakatayo doon si Casper.
"Where did you get that?" Tanong ko. Mukha siyang lolo sa damit niya.
"This is the only modern clothes I can find." Sabi niya. He is wearing jeans that are way to lose and a checkered shirt.
"It's so 90's. You look like a grandpa." I said. Bumalik ako sa kama at dumapa.
"Hey... That's why I need your help to pick me some clothes. Come on..."
"Can you ask Arnold if he can lend you? I don't want to be seen with you wearing that."
"What?! This is cool before I died." Sabi nito.
" Exactly. That was before I was born." I said. Casper rolled his blue eyes but smile never the less. He likes to smile. Not like that ghost that likes to snort.
"Fine... Children nowadays." Sabi nito bago lumabas ng kwarto ko.
Bumalik si Casper na naka straight cut jeans at t-shirt na sakto lang naman sa kanya pero hinihila niyang pababa.
"This is too small." Reklamo niya sa suot na black t-shirt. Hapit iyon sa balikat niya. Bakit maganda ang katawan nito? Nag-gy-gym ba ang multo?
"That's not small. It's just right." I said.
"This is how men wear shirt now?"
"It's called a tight shirt. I will just fix myself. You owe me a cup of coffee." I said before I went to the toilet.
"It's almost lunched, Clarida. I can't believe you like to sleep the whole morning." Sabi nito bago ko isarado ang pintuan ng toilet.
Oh Lord... Bakit ang gwapo ni Casper sa totoong buhay? Sasabunutan kaya ako ni mommy kapag nalaman niyang may crush ako sa iniibig niya?
BINABASA MO ANG
Casper (Completed)
Fantasy[Longlisted at Wattys Award 2018] When I was a child, I used to watch the movie Casper...and my mom cried every time Casper choose not to be human just to save the girl's father. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit umiiyak si mommy noon. But when she d...
