"He's really good in soccer."
Isang tango na may kasamang ngiti ang pinakawalan ko habang pinagmamasdan ang ekspertong paggalaw ni Brent sa soccer field kasama ang ibang grade 12 mula sa STEM strand.
"Naaalala ko noong una ko siyang napanood na maglaro ng soccer, tinamaan ako noon ng bola. Hindi man lang siya nag-sorry."
Natawa si Shiela sa sinabi ko. Malutong siyang tumawa at matinis ang boses niya. Kung sa hitsura, mas mature akong tingnan pero mas childish pa rin akong mag-isip kaysa sa kanya.
"Bakit hindi ko nakita ang side niyang iyon?" parang may patatampo sa tono ng boses niya. "Ang daya naman."
Hindi ko alam kung ano ang sasabihin ko. May parte sa akin na naiinis kapag naaalala ko kung paano niya ako asarin noon, kung paano niya ako paiyakin dahil sa mga kagagawan niyang nagpamukha sa aking hindi ako karapat-dapat maging prinsesa. Pero may parte rin sa puso ko na natutuwa kapag naaalala ko ang dahilan kung bakit niya nagawa ang lahat ng iyon. Sinong mag-aakalang may mala-Jeydon Lopez sa labas ng libro at si Brent iyon? He was indeed my fictional guy and reality man at the same time.
One year had passed since Brent and I were in a relationship. One year had passed since the very first time that I made a step inside the gates of Emerson University. I am now in my eighteenth year of age, and finally I got the freedom I wanted.
Before the proceeding school year have started, my parents enrolled me here as an official grade 12 student of Emerson. I was and always thankful for the trust and security they gave me.
Pinagmasdan ko ang malawak na damuhan. This is where the destiny led us. This is where we're supposed to be. Brent, playing soccer with other students, and me, well, sitting next to his girlfriend. Yes, five months ago, Brent and I broke up.
My reality brought to life when she snapped her fingers in front of my face.
"Y-you were saying?" Nakaramdam ako ng hiya dahil nakalimutan kong kausap ko pala siya.
"Like what I said, nakakainggit na nakita mo ang ugali niyang iyon."
Bumalik ang ngisi saki'ng labi. "I'm telling you, you don't wanna see that side of him."
Humaba ang nguso niya na parang bata. Ngayon ko lang siya nakita sa ganyang estado. Madalas ay pormal siya at parang hindi marunong ngumiti.
"But I guess I missed something because I didn't see it."
Maikli akong tumawa at muling ibinalik ang tingin sa soccer field. "You cannot miss what you never had."
Narinig ko siyang nagpakawala ng isang buntong-hininga. "I agree. Pero parang nakakainggit lang."
"Alam mo," may may tipid na ngiti sa aking labi. "Mas nakakainggit ka kasi hindi na niya kailangang idaan sa pang-aasar ang kagustuhan niyang makuha ang pansin mo. Ang sweet nga ng approach niya sa'yo, e. Nagkaroon agad siya ng lakas ng loob, samantalang ako, kailangan ko pang mawalan ng sapatos, magsuot ng mascot na beast, at masiraan ng buhok bago siya tuluyang umamin."
Bigla na lang akong natawa sa naalala. Who would have thought that everything will turn like this? Funny how I laugh at the bad times of the past like they didn't ruin me before. This is the lesson I've learned: Our broken soul has the beautiful missing pieces that will make us who we are tomorrow. It doesn't matter how bitter the past or present is. What really matters is that it will make our future sweet.
Naghari ang katahimikan sa pagitan naming dalawa, uri ng katahimikan na hindi naman awkward. Mayamaya ay bigla niya itong binasag.
"Hindi ka ba nagsisisi na hindi ka lumaban? Na tumigil kayo agad?"
BINABASA MO ANG
I'm Dreaming for a Fairy Tale
Short Story[COMPLETED/SELF-PUBLISHED] "You don't need to have a castle, a crown, and a scepter to be a princess. But it takes more than a dream to be in a fairy tale." Once upon a time, there was a girl in the city of Sangrove who wished that her life would be...