Limang Minuto: Mga Liham para kay Ginoong Mabini ꞁ ✓

epilogo: emmanuel [ 2 / 2 ]

Huminga ulit siya nang malalim. He remembered meeting Apoline for the first time.

Manuel has no idea why he's even here. Natyempuhan kasi siyang nagbabasa nang nag-aya si Emmett. He was so absorbed with what he's reading na napatango na lang siya kahit hindi niya alam kung ano nga ba ang tinanguhan niya.

Iyan tuloy, next thing he knew, andito siya sa poste katabi ang isang vineplant. May hawak siyang plastic cup ng coke na hindi niya pa binabawasan. Hinawakan niya lang pang-props. Inilabas niya naman ang phone niya at pinagpatuloy ang pagbabasa ng e-book ng This Book Will Save Your Life by A.M. Homes. Emmett, after all, in all his good graces, asked him pretty please to not bring a book in his girlfriend's birthday party.

Pero ayun na nga, hindi naman siya pwedeng samahan ni Emmett na tumambay sa gilid kasi ito ang boyfriend. Kaya pagkapasok na pagkapasok nila at pagkabati na pagkabati kay Samantha, girlfriend ni Emmett, ay iniwan na siya ng huli. Hindi niya naman alam kung asaan si Ysadore. Nakita niya lang kanina pero mabilis ding nagpaalam sa kanya.

So, here he is, beside a vineplant, reading a book in his phone while holding on a paper cap for props.

Medyo ewan na yung props dahil mukhang wala naman talagang gustong kumausap sa kanya. He was like air. Walang nakakapansin ng existence niya kahit pa sabihin na siya lang naman ang nag-iisang heir ng isang multi-billionaire company.

Funny. Hindi niya naman iniisip iyon. In fact, only a few people knew who he was. And he's good enough to stay on a very small circle that includes only two people: Emmett and Ysadore.

Sabi nga ng dalawa ay hindi siya masyadong friendly. At singit pa ni Emmett na kung ngingiti lang daw siya ay baka marami nang pumili o baka magrambulan para lang pag-agawan siya. Ysadore shook her head in disbelief. Emmett, on the other hand, laughed.

Hindi siya nag-react. Women won't like him, probably. Baka ang habol lang sa kanya ay pera kung sakaling may makatiis man sa kanya. Ang naisip niya nga ay kung single man si Ysadore once he's 30, he might propose to her. He did treasure his friend, but he's not in love.

Kaya kahit napapansin niyang may nararandaman ito para sa kanya ay nag-stay siya sa friendly distance. He wouldn't want to give her false hope. And somehow, he thinks she understood.

Kung tutuusin, ngayon nga ay may nanliligaw kay Ysa.

"Wow, that book is quite old," komento ng isang babae. Napapiksi siya at muntikan na niyang mabitawan ang hawak na prop. Liningon niya ang dalaga na tumabi sa kanya at ngayon ay nakatingin sa phone niya. Kumunot ang noo niya.

Where did this person come from? naisaisip niya pero mas nag-focus ang mga mata niya sa hitsura nito. She had waist-length hair kept in a loose braid. Natural ang pagkakayumanggi ng balat niya. Tall nose. Gentle eyebrows. Long eyelashes. A soft smile in small pink lips.

Tumingin ito sa kanya. Dark-brown irises. They were expressive as if she's really happy to see someone who read the same thing.

"Nabasa mo na?" hindi niya napansing biglang bulalas niya. He's not the type who talks to anyone aside from the ones close to him. Most people either ignore him or he ignores them deliberately. And yet... she got him to speak.

She smiles widely. "Yep. Are you still reading or re-reading?"

"Reading. No spoilers, please."

Marahan itong natawa. Doon lang niya napansin na pwede palang maging musical ang pagtawa ng isang tao. At pwede ring magtunog na may buhay. It was so genuine. He was so used to people just laughing at his sentiments in an attempt to please him or act close or be polite. But she laughed and she meant it.