Encountering The Normy

Enigma

"Starting at 200. Clear" sound of waves can be heard in the background "Raise to 300. Clear"

"Still no vitals doc" 

"Raise to 400.Clear" 

"Pulse is back"

oOo

"Kapal nguso gising na" somebody lightly shake my shoulder. I pull down my headphones. Sa pagbukas ko ng mata nakita ko si Normy. 

"Tulala ka na naman. Ganda ko no?" 

"Tulala ako kase you're so ugly"

"Aba loko to a!" She was about to hit me when my mum called. 

"Anthony hindi ka ba bababa?" 

"Coming" kasabay kong bumaba si Normy. 

"Where were you awhile ago?" mahina kong tanong. 

"Ha? andito. Ikaw nga tong di namamansin. Tinulugan mo pa ko." The dream I had seems to real. Mas pinili ko nalang manahimik.

"Anong hapunan?" I walk faster para hindi siya makahabol

"Hoy Tonio pinagmamayabang mo ba yang mahahaba mong biyas? Dali na anong hapunan?"

"Pritong daliri" On my peripheral vision I saw her puff her cheeks. I can't help but grin. 

"Madapa ka sana" 

"Hindi ako kasing lampa mo" She stick her tongue out. 

"Maiba lang, anong gagawin mo ngayon?" tanong niya

"Susulat ng kanta" 

"Nagsusulat ka rin pala ng kanta?"

"I just want to try" When we get inside, I watch her sit in a corner simply looking at me. 

"What?"

"Wala"

"Are you sure?"umiling siya. "Pramis wala lang to. Maligo ka na nga muna bago mo gawin kung anong gusto mong gawin"

"Coz you want to perv on me again?"

"Hello, daig mo pa ko ang kapal ng foundation mo sing kapal ng nguso mo"

"Basher ka talaga!"

"Dali na, dapat nakakahinga yang balat mo"

"Gusto mo lang makita yung abs ko e"

"Buti alam mo. Masama akong pinaghihintay. Bilis!"

"Weirdo" Lately I cannot really stop smiling at the way she talks. Her humour is just different. 

Kahit medyo naiirita kong nagmamando siya, half of me enjoys it. It's refreshing. Iba pala yung pakiramdam when you can act around somebody without being judge. Yung pwede kang kumilos at magsalita ng base sa gusto mo. Hindi kalkulado. 

"Bilisan sabi maligo e! napakagigi" 

"Oo na mas matindi ka pa kay mummy e"

oOo

I am drying my hair with a towel noong maabutan ko siyang pinipindot pindot yung keyboard ko. She's playing the birthday song. Napakamot nalang ako ng ulo. Naglakad ako papalapit saka umupo sa tabi niya. I hang the towel on my nape. 

"Tabi, papakita ko sa'yo kung papano talaga dapat tugtugin yan" Tumabi naman siya kahit na uungot ungot. 

"Kaylan birthday mo nguso?" I glared at her. She really has this habit of calling me nguso these days. "February 10. Ikaw hindi mo ba talaga alam kung kailan yung birthday mo?" 

Normy did not answer. I watch her bite her lower lip. Nakunsensya tuloy ako ng wala sa oras. 

"Today is 5th of April, Halos kalahating buwan na tayong magkakilala. Dahil mabait ako at dahil may amnesia kang babae ka, I will officially make this day your birthday. From now on we will celebrate your birthday every April 5. Ayos ba?" She look at me and grinned. 

"Promise?" tanong niya. 

"Promise" I assured her. Funny how fast I get used to her presence that somehow I feel like she will stay with forever and to be quite frank, I think I will be fine with it. 

"Happy birthday Normy"

"Thank you Kapal Nguso" Saglit akong tumigil. Without much thought, I reach her cheek and pinch it. 

At this point, I am hearing her, I am seeing her and I can feel her. I don't care about other people anymore, nawala na rin yung takot ko from the first time I saw Normy. How will I continue being scared when she's the opposite of what I thought she is. 

oOo

I stopped forming lyrics for the song I want to release. I listened to my song Save You instead. There's only one week left before we record again. I was about to turn off the light when I saw Normy sleeping on my bed. 

I watch how ugly she is while sleeping. Halos sakupin niya yung buong kama ko. If she's not wearing my sweat pants, her position will look awkward. Gusto ko sana siyang kuhanan ng picture pang troll but I realise, the lens will not capture her. 

I took my charcoal pencil and my sketch book then I draw her sleeping face. 

It's already 2 am when I finish sketching. I quietly move next to her. I closed my eyes and listened to her breathing. 

"You're an enigma. I was sure before that you are haunting me. I even called you a nightmare but now...I feel like you are a puzzle I cannot figure out."

I froze a bit when I felt her move close to me. Her lips is pressed against my neck now. In my entire Twenty two years of existence I was never bold. Just now when I hold her hand and intertwined it with mine.

Will I be okay with you right beside me holding your hand?

"Good night Normy"