Nagising ko sa hindi pamilyar na kwarto na may hindi pamilyar na pakiramdam. May nakadagan sa mga hita ko. May katabi ako sa kama.
Kinalma ko ang sarili at lumingo sa tabi ko. Si Casper...natutulog.
Nakatulog ako sa kwarto niya kagabi? Hindi man lang niya ako ginising para lumipat? Natapos ba nito ang pinapanood na FRIENDS?
He looked peacefully sleeping. His face is perfect. Ang sarap pagmasdan.
"I'm glad I found you," I whispered and brush my hand into his soft, brown, wavy hair.
"I'm glad you found me." He replied while his eyes are still closed.
Nanlaki ang mata ko na napaatras at muntikan na akong malaglag sa kama kung hindi niya lang ako nahatak pabalik.
"Clarida..."
Nasubsob ako sa dibdib ni Casper. Napahawak ako sa puso ko na mabilis ang tibok.
"Are you okay?" Tanong niya.
Okay ako...okay pa...
Tumango ako.
"Why did you act like you saw a ghost?" Naiinis na tanong ni Casper. Nagising yata lahat ng himaymay ng katawan ko.
"You... were awake?" Kandautal na tanong ko.
I saw him rolled his eyes before he releases me.
"You were snoring. How can I sleep?" Sabi niya.
Naiinis akong hinampas ang dibdib nito.
"I am not."
Natatawa siyang umayos ng higa. Nakatagilid siya at nakatingin sa akin. Posible bang malunod ako sa mga mata niya? Para akong nakatingin sa dagat...
God, ano ba ang nangyayari sa akin? Tatay ko ang pumatay sa kanya.
"Stop thinking too much..." Saway niya sa akin.
" I am not." I lied.
" And stop lying." He added which made me smile.
"Did you finished watching all the season?"
Umiling siya.
"You fell asleep and I don't have the heart to disturb you. So I let you sleep and I fell asleep not too long." He said.
"Sorry," I whispered.
" Don't be." He whispered back. "I like the color of your hair against my pillow."
Oh my God... Bakit ako kinikilig?
"Like a burning fire that will consume me anytime." Sabi pa niya.
"You have a way in words. Do you know that?"
"I am just stating a fact, Clarida." Sagot nito.
"Do you believe in fate?" Tanong ni Casper.
He put some of my wayward hair behind my ears.
"I...don't know." I softly replied.
"Before... I only believe in science. That there is an equivalent explanation on everything." Sabi ni Casper.
"But?"
He smiled at my attempt to ask.
"But now, I believe in miracles and magic and fate. The things science can't explain." Sabi niya.
"Do you know what I watched last night when you were sleeping? Before I fell asleep?"
Umiling ako. Hindi ko alam ang isasagot ko. Is this a dream?
" I watched, Casper." Sabi niya.
Napangiti ako. Nakasave nga pala sa laptop ko ang movie na yun.
"And do you remember what he said to Kat?"
Natulala ako. Panaginip ba ito? Huwag ninyo akong gisingin... pucha... sasaktan ko ang gigising sa akin.
"What?" Kinakabahan na tanong ko.
"Can I keep you..." Sabi niya.
"That's the most famous line from that movie," I said smiling.
Pero hindi ngumiti si Casper.
"Can I keep you, Clarida?" Tanong niya.
Nawalan ako ng kakayahang magsalita. Napatulala ako. Is he for real?
"Can I?" Tanong ulit niya.
"Is this a dream?" I whispered.
"No." He whispered back.
And slowly, he kisses my nose that made me closed my eyes. He kissed my eyes before he pressed his lips into mine. A slow, sweet kiss that melts my worries.
My eyes are still closed when he ended our kiss.
"Can you keep me?" I whispered to him.
He is smiling when I open my eyes. Surely this is not a dream.
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...
