BETTER BETTER
"Every day, I lived like I was dead but you became the reason for me to get up. Once more, you made me wanna open my eyes . . ."
*****
Sa isang dako, may isang babae na nakatayo sa gilid ng streetlight habang may binusisi ito sa cellphone niya. White sneakers, faded blue denim jeans, and gravity-printed white t-shirt. The girl was wearing a peach-colored baseball cap that' s why only a silhouette of her face could be seen.
Why she keep on pacing backwards then forwards as if she' s looking for or probably waiting for something? Why she keep on taking a glance at her phone while pacing inwardly in all directions then backwardly again?
This thoughts keep on running my mind like I' m on a running marathon while gazing at her opposite to my position. Seriously, ano bang problema ko at sa dinami-dami ng nakapaligid sakin siya pa talaga ang napansin ko.
"For what reason, Ashii? Ganyan ka naman talaga whenever you' re curious about something. You keep on examining, searching, analyzing, understand the scenario then make a quick and reasonable conclusion. For that reason, naging madali lang sa' yo ang umitindi sa galaw ng isang tao."
I suddenly heard a faint voice like some kind of insect right in front of my ear. As I' m about to mildly slap the outer part of my ear when another sound invade my ear canal again.
"🎶Every day, I lived like I was dead but you became the reason for me to get up. Once more, you made me wanna open my eyes ...🎶"
Okay, I' m such a stupid person for forgetting that I was actually listening to some of DAY6 songs here on my earphones. Glad that my superband distracted me from looking at the girl again.
"🎶Just your smile alone makes me breathe. Because of you, I'm better, better, better baby ...🎶"
"🎶Only your love makes the frozen me jump up again. Higher, higher, hig-🎶"
I got up from the bench then decided to take a short walk while waiting for my sundo to arrived when I saw a cat walking and purring cutely on my peripheral view, I immediately looked back in the opposite street at nakitang pinaglalaruan ng babae yung pusa. I guess it' s probably her pet.
Nanindig ang balahibo ko ng wala sa oras nang biglang tumawid ang pusa sa daan. Agad nagkagulo ang mga sasakyan at may nagsigawan pa, buti nalang hindi nasagaan ang pusa at patuloy lang 'to sa pagtakbo papalapit saki-teka! Ba' t papunta sakin ang pusa.
I' m allergic to cats kaya dali-dali akong tumungo sa poste ng kuryente at nagtago. Ilang sandali, lumingon ulit ako pero wala akong nakita na pusa. Sa' n kaya 'yon nagpunta?
"Meow . . ."
Nagulantang ako sabay napatili ng wala sa oras. Shit!? Sa tanang buhay ko ngayon lang ako tumili ng sobrang lakas. Asan na ba ang pagkalalaki mo, Ashii? Ah!? Ah!? Ah!?
Napitlag ako nang may tumawa ng mahina sa likuran ko. I slowly tilted my head and saw the gravity t-shirt girl chuckling right at me. Anong nakakatawa sakin?
"K-kuya, ang cute niyo po tumili." Tumawa ulit siya ng mahina.
H-ha? Po? Am I that old for her to say that?
Napatitig kaming dalawa sa isa' t isa at 'di namalayang nasa tabi ko na pala ang pusa. Tumili ulit ako at dali-daling lumapit sa babae at nagtago sa likod niya. Tawa lang tawa ang nagsabi sakin ng 'po' at hindi ko napansin na gumaan ang loob ko nang dahil sa ngiti niya.
-- The End --
"Just your smile alone makes me breathe. Because of you, I'm better, better, better baby. Only your love makes the frozen me jump up again. Higher, higher, higher baby . . ."
- (Better Better, DAY6)
