Ephemeral

xxxviii

a/n: sobrang sorry for not updating this story. masyado kasing busy sa school at malapit na ang first sem examination, wish me luck though. andddd, 'wag masyadong mag-expect. nakamamatay.

— Shiela

"Shiela! OMG!"

Napahinto ako sa aking ginagawa at napailing na lamang nang makita ko si Zianna, best friend ko, na tumitili at tumatalon papunta sa akin.

"Shiela!!!" she squealed.

"Why?"

"Si ano."

"Sino?"

"Basta si ano!"

Napakunot ako sa inaasta niya. "Huh?"

"Basta! There's someone waiting for you outside." tinulak niya ako palabas ng room. "Bilisan niyo baka maabutan kayo ni Prof."

Magsasalita pa sana ako nang tuluyan na akong makalabas at tumambad sa akin ang isang pamilyar na mukha. Sobrang pamilyar.

My heart automatically burst. Nakasandal siya sa pader at nakalagay ang dalawang kamay sa bulsa.

Ngumiti siya nang makita ako.

"Zeke, what are you doing here?" I asked.

Lumapit siya. "Can't we just escape for a while?"

Hindi ako sumagot at natigilan. What does it mean?

"Huh? Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

He smiled and held my wrist. "Samahan mo akong tumakas."

.
.

"Cemetery? Seryoso ka Zeke?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko sa kanya. Kasalukuyan kaming nasa loob ng kotse niya. And he didn't even answer my questions.

Hindi naman sa ayoko sa sementeryo pero kasi I didn't expect this! It's just so weird.

"Tara na?" he signalled kaya naman bumaba na ako ng kotse.

Ilang minuto rin kaming naglakad hanggang sa marating namin ang isang puno kung saan may lapidang nakalatag.

"Amelinda Motarde." I whispered as I read the name.

Inilapag ni Zeke sa puno ang bulaklak na dala niya.

He beamed a smile. "I want you to meet my Lala Amelia. She's my grandma."

"You're Lola's boy pala. Hi po Lola—" hindi ko pa natatapos ang sasabihin ko nang magsalita ito.

"She wants to be called Lala."

Napangiti ako. I remembered Mason. He calls me Lala for no particular reason.

"Oh. Good afternoon po Lala, it's nice meeting you. Your grandson is so mabait, minsan he's experiencing change of moods na parang may period but I know that he's kind talaga."

He looked at me as if he's not happy for what I've just said. Oh come on, I'm stating a fact.

Ilang saglit lang ay nagsalita rin siya.

"Hey Lala, I want you to meet Shiela. She's the girl I like and I want to be with her."

Wala sa oras akong napalingon sa kanya.

"Z-zeke?"

"Shiela," he's staring at me and I could feel his sincerity. "Can I court you?"

#EPHEMERAL

votes and comments are highly appreciated.

p.s.     3 more chapters to go before the epilogue, i guess? or maybe 2?

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