Mere Words

Chapter 10

I slowly loosen my hug when I realized how embarrassing I was.  Maybe it was because of too much emotion I have felt. Even up to this moment, I can feel the jubilance knocking my system.

"Uh... S-sorry," 'pag hingi ko ng paumanhin nang makabitaw na at bumalik sa dating pagkakaupo.

Garius smiled at me. Pagkatapos ay ginulo niya ang buhok ko.

"I missed you too."

I bit my lower lip, trying to stop myself from smiling. But there was just something in him na hindi mo magagawang maitago ang tunay na nararamdaman.

Maybe because he is my guardian angel, as to what he had said. Thus, I feel at home with him. And when we feel at home, we tend to let ourserves be who we are, without being affraid of the prying eyes of the world. It is maybe conflicting, but there is freedom from feeling at home. That's how I see it.

Pababa na ako sa hagdan habang namamangha pa rin sa kabuuan ng bahay. This Gretchen is probably from a well-off family. Mga chandellier pa nga lang nila, hundred-thousand na ang presyo.

I almost missed a step in the stairs nang maramdaman ko ang higpit ng hawak ni Garius sa palapulsuhan ko. Hinila niya ako pabalik.

"Watch out!" para siyang nakakatandang kapatid na pinagsabihan ang walang kamuwang-muwang na kapatid. Napakamot na lang ako sa ulo dahil sa pagkapahiya.

"Oh, Gretch! Natulala ka jan? Baka gusto mong bumaba na rito? Hindi ka nasa shooting ha, ipaalala ko lang."

Sa baba ng hagdanan ay ang morenong lalaki na kasama nung grupo na nakilala ko sa tabing dagat nang una akong mapunta rito. Nakapamulsa siya at kunot na kunot ang noo habang tinatanaw ako.

"Gretchen."

"Ha?!"

Gulat akong napabalik sa ulirat dahil sa bulong ni Garius sa akin na nasa tabi ko lang din.

"Tsk, tsk. I think you totally lost it," the moreno guy sneered before he turned his back at me and started walking away.

It was my chance to frown. Lito sa sinabi noong lalaki. Muli akong napatingin sa katabi ko nang marinig ang halakhak niya.

"It's only you who can see me, Gretchen. People will think you're crazy if you don't stop acting that way."

Parang may umilaw na bulb sa itaas ng ulo ko nang marinig ang sinabi ni Garius. Oo nga pala! Ako lang ang nakakakita sa kaniya. And people here knew me as Gretchen, not as Laurie. I should start acting as one.

Pero sino nga ba talaga itong si Gretchen? I don't even have a clue of who she is so how can I act as her?

Basta ang alam ko lang, tinangkang magpakamatay nitong si Gretchen sa dagat na iyon nang una akong mapunta rito. If I could remember it right, that moreno guy is her brother, and that group from that day was probably her friends.

I shrugged. There's no point to ponder on this when I don't even have a single clue about this Gretchen.

"Malalaman mo lang ang buong katotohanan kung uusad ka," sagot ni Garius na para bang nababasa ang nasa isip ko-- teka!

"Nababasa mo rin ba ang mga iniisip ko?"  I asked. My eyes were in a slit while looking at him. Doubtful of whatever he's about to answer.

Pero nagkibit-balikat lang si Garius at naunang naglakad pababa ng hagdan.

"Garius, teka!"

Bumelat siya sa akin at tumakbo paalis. Are angels capable of such actions? Napailing na lang ako at tumawa ng marahan. Maybe Garius is a special case.

I walked to where the moreno guy and Garius went. I was still checking the interior of the house on my way. Natigil lang ng may mabigat na kamay na dumagan sa aking ulo.

"Papa?" gulat kong tanong kay Papa na ngiting-ngiti sa akin.

Why is he here?

"How's my princess, hm?" He was still smiling, something that he doesn't often do. Ah, no scratch that! Papa never smiled this warm as far as my memory can serve me correctly.

"H-how come-? Paano ka napunta rin dito, Pa?"

Papa frowned at my question. He pinched both of my cheeks. Isa pang ikinagulat ko.

"Pa!"

"Stop pulling some tricks on me again, Gretchen. Hindi ko pa nakakalimutan ang ginawa mo last week."

Papa was still pinching my face playfully when we were stopped by a laughter from a woman. I was even more shocked to see Mama's face. How come they are here?

"Stop picking on your daughter, Gilbert. You wouldn't want her mad again, don't you?"

I was like a lost child in the wild. I was a little bit awkward when Papa pulled me to him, at inakbayan niya ako.

"Gretchen can't stay mad at her most favorite Dad in the world. Right, Gretch?" he joked. Hindi ko alam kong tatango na lang ako o sasagot. Though, he has my Papa's face. I knew exactly that he is an entire different person. He is Gretchen's warm-hearted father, not mine.

"Well, Gretch loves her Mommy more." Umakbay din sa akin si Mama habang nakatingin sa akin, expecting for a good answer.

"Oh no, no. Sa akin nagmana si Gretch kaya dapat lang na ako ang mas mahal niya," Papa rebattled.

"Gretch, don't fail me," pananakot naman ni Mama ng pabiro.

Because of the liveliness Gretchen's parents are showing, the awkwardness I have felt just awhile ago subsided. Namalayan ko na lang na nakangiti na rin ako kasabay nila. Never knew that I could feel more comfortable with strangers than with my own parents.

"Pwede ba, nagwawala na ang sikmura ko. Hindi naman mawawala 'yang pangit na 'yan. Can't we just eat already?" Sumulpot ang morenong lalaki mula sa tingin ko'y ang dining area at mukhang bored na bored.

"Aw, my baby Geoffe is jealous." Mama went to the moreno guy and gave him a hug.

"Ha? Hakdog," that Geoffe guy teased that earned a soft slap on his arms from Mama. "Aray, Mommy ha! Pag sa akin brutal kayo. 'Pag kay Gretch, ang sweet. Aba may favoritism! Lalayas na ako!" Pabirong nagwawala yung Geoffe. Kami naman ay natatawa ni Papa sa nakikita.

"I thought you are leaving, Geoffe? Ba't sa kusina ka pupunta?" Papa teased, habang nakaakbay pa rin siya sa akin.

"Kakain muna ako saka lalayas!" sigaw pabalik ni Geoffe.

Natatawang napapailing na lang si Papa at Mama. Pagkatapos ay sumunod na rin kami sa kaniya papunta sa kusina, kung saan ang dining area.

Bago makarating ay natapunan ko ng tingin si Garius na nakangiti lamang sa tabi. For the first time since we met, I smiled at him warmly. Gusto kong ipahatid kung gaano ako kasaya at ka-thankful sa nararanasang buhay ngayon.

Whoever this Gretchen is, let me borrow your colorful life for awhile.