Dead Sea's Abalone (Brad's POV)

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Sabayan mo lang yung mga alon.

Ginawa ko.

Pumikit ako. Nagpatangay sa alon, sa bawat hampas ng hangin sa katawan ko, sa bawat galaw ng surf board ko..

Pero pakiramdam ko.. nalulunod ako kahit nasa ibabaw naman ako.

Nasa'n ka? Hindi ka ba sasabay?

Tapos na..

Ha?

Nauna na 'ko.

What d'you mean-

I've survived the waves, Brad. And you're right.. sobrang peaceful dito. Things really do get better after the waves, huh?

Hanggang sa nahulog nga ako.

Humigpit yung kapit ko sa tubig. Pilit na inaangat ang sarili. Panandaliang na-tanga sa paglangoy. Nakalimot sa kung anong dapat gawin.. kapag wala kang makapitan.

•••

Sabi nila kailangan ko raw ng kausap.

Pero siya lang naman talaga yung nakikinig.

Ayaw ko naman talagang pumupunta dito sa group Open Discussions ng org namin. Kaso required. Care Starts With Sea is the name of the club. We help keep the beaches, falls, lakes, rivers, -and the likes- clean. I'm cool with that. But can't they drop the drama talk? This shitty-mushy confessions?

Tuwing ganito na, nananahimik na lang ako. This part helps in keeping our bond stronger daw. Thing is, I'm not one who talks about my personal issues. And fortunately, they let it pass pag sinasabi kong wala akong maishe-share. Hindi naman din kasi sapilitan mag-open up, pero required ang attendance sa mga org's activities na gaya nito. Just our org's way to keep our minds healthy, away from depression, lalo na at dumarami daw ang may ganun ngayon. Letting us all know that we have each other's back. Like a family.

As the rule goes, things shall be kept confidential. Sabi nga, What you see, what you hear, when you leave, leave it here.

That goes for both the ones who shares and the ones who listens.

Me? I prefer to just lend my ears.

I've always believed I'm the listener.. except that I'm not. I've realized I haven't been listening well.

Sabi nya, kaya raw di natin marinig maigi yung iba, kasi busy tayo sa pakikinig sa sarili natin. Kasi marami rin tayong gustong sabihin.

And now, maybe.. it's time to get this off my chest.

Time to share my piece.

•••

Shell.

Some of you may already know her. That's her org name.

I never really got to asked her why she chose that. Binibiro nga sya ng iba na bagay sa kanya yung Shellfish -sounds like Selfish- kasi halos sya lang nakakaubos ng stocks naming butter cookies at wafer sticks na kasama sa mga monthly supplies ng CSWS.

See, we have this water-related nicknames kasi dito sa org. Sa batch namin we got, Red for Red Sea, si Bes for Celebes Sea, may Blue Sea rin. Sel as in Mussel, si kuya Callo for Scallop, and syempre si Roe, which is what fish eggs are called. We also have Gray for stingray. Andyan si kuya Cho for Anchovy, si Shark, si kuya Whale, si Coral, Dolph as in Dolphin, Ate Pas meaning Pacific, and so on.