I closed my eyes and did a long breath as I stepped out of the taxi. My eyes wandered at the surroundings. The ancestral house didn't change at all. I think my mom has no plan to renovate it because the house is intended for vacation purposes. The house looks very relaxing with vines sprawling around. I pushed the rusty metal gate with oxidized red paint and went inside. Well, the house is clean because there's a caretaker. It has been too long and seeing the inside of the house is very nostalgic. I did not hear any news when I went abroad or maybe I did. Suddenly, I was reminiscing memoirs. My phone rang and I was taken aback by my thoughts.
How did this girl find out that I was back? My heart was filled with excitement imagining of seeing her again after years. I flashed a naughty smile thinking that I'm not going to answer her calls. I can almost imagine her face in frustration. I put my phone into silent mode and slid it inside my pocket. I began unpacking my clothes and arranging stuffs. I tried to sweep the floor but I think it is useless because there is no dirt.
After I've arranged my belongings, I went to the kitchen to look for foods. I think my mom told the caretaker of this house to buy food stocks. I took all the ingredients to bake cookies. The heat of the morning sun is fiery and I don't want to go outside today. I checked my phone and I almost laughed with the hundreds of missed calls. I'm quite surprised she is not that persistent and determined like what she really is.
I sat down on the couch and opened the television. I taste the cookie and I was drowned in my reverie.
"Give me one please," a young girl with a wavy hair asked me. She's pulling the sleeves of my white polo. I pouted and quickly shook my head for disagreement. She crossed her arms. "I'll give you this in exchange," offering her chocolate drink. I slowly looked at what she's holding. The chocolate drink in its bottle looks so delightful. The materializing beads of water outside the matte surface of the bottle looks so cold.
I stared back at her eyes, "Deal." I said in monotone. I handed her the container of my cookie. She handed me the bottled chocolate drink. She smiled and her crooked set of teeth showed. I pursed my smile hiding the absence of my one frontal tooth. She has a scarf that we placed on the green grass field and both sat down on it.
"Uhm, I'm Gisela," she said in between her munches. She looked at me as if she's waiting for a response. "I'm Yeshua. Call me Yael," I gave her an innocent look then we both laughed. I don't really socialize with people because I'm shy. Now, I realize that it is not bad to create and make friends.
Every break time we meet at our favorite place at the school's oval. I'm heading towards the canteen to buy a bottled water and I'm carrying the plastic container of cookies. I was about to ask the saleslady how much it costs when someone tapped my shoulder.
I glanced at my back to see who it was. Light brown eyes with thick eyelashes is staring at me. I gave him a questionable look. He pouted his thin lips pointing at what I'm holding. I raised an eyebrow because I'm a bit confused. He rolled his eyes.
He gave me a bored look. "Tch. Shlow poke," he muttered and I noticed how he can't pronounce the word 's'. "How much ish that cookie?" He asked and gave me a lopsided smile. "H-huh? I'm not selling this." I stuttered, unsure of what to say. "But I want those," he said while pointing at the plastic container but I did not answer. I was about to leave when he held my hand and offered his bracelet. "Here. In exchange of that." I looked at the silver beaded bracelet. It looks so expensive "Are you sure?" He looked at me with bored expression, "Yeah."
"You can buy tons of cookies for sure," I gave him an innocent look. "I want yoursh." He said with finality. He took my left hand and placed the bracelet on my palm then he grabbed the plastic container out of my grip. He walked away while I was drowned with my own thoughts.
Someone suddenly slapped my shoulder and an exhausted Gisela Albinar appeared. She's holding at the handle of her trolley bag while panting. "You weren't there. Hmp!" She said whining then she looked at what's on my palm. She looked at in awe. "Wow! Who gave you this?" She took it and scanned the bracelet. She gasped and said, "A Cartier bracelet! My mom owns one!"
She looked at me and I gave her a hesitant smile. She scanned the bracelet again. "It has initials. Look!" She put it in line with my vision. It says 'K. A. D'. "Who gave you this? I know it isn't yours." She took my left hand and slid the bracelet on it. She put her finger on her lips and her forehead is creased like she was thinking. "Your initials are Y. E. A. in short for Yeshua Eli Alvero," she murmured. "Uhm, just a friend?" I answered uncertainly. She looked at me with happy eyes. "I wanna meet that friend of yours!" She replied with excitement. "I also want one!"
