Goodbye, it's Okay

Chapter Eight: Pin the Tail

Chapter Eight

FINNEGAN DELA TORE

February 23, 2020

After two years...

Life in Singapore had been difficult at first but after some months, I was able to adjust to the new environment. Thanks to my family and to the people I have met here. I had been living with my tita who is actually based here in Singapore because of her work as marketing officer in a Singaporean Company. Since she doesn't have plans in having family, kami muna ni kuya ang focus niya. She's still young at the age of 32 anyway.

I am studying at Stamford American International School located at Off Upper Serangoon Road but since we are living at Chai Chee road, I have to take the Mass Rapid Transit or the MRT every day. Hindi na gaya ng dati na nilalakad ko na lang kapag umuuwi ako. Scratch that. Baka may maalala naman ako.

I am already at Junior College. Equivalent yon ng Senior High School sa Pilipinas. Next month, graduation na namin kaya pinag-iisipan ko na rin kung saan ako magcocollege.

I have been doing well academically, socially, and physically pero the bad news is that I have developed a Post-traumatic Stress Disorder brought upon the accident I had two years ago. Frequent pa rin ang disturbing thoughts or feelings na bigla bigla na lang umaatake sa akin but through counselling and medications I was able to cope up whenever I have panic attacks.

Ang hindi ko lang maregulate at maiwasan ay ang mga nightmares ko. Well, I am not sure if I should call them nightmares since they are a replay of what had happened to me two years ago. Yung unti unti kong paglulubog sa ilalim ng ilog, ang pagkakatali ko sa upuan na hindi ako makagalaw o makasigaw man lang. Basta, ayoko ng ibigay ng buong detalye ng panaginip ko kasi kasama pa rin siya sa mga ito.

Naglalakad ako ngayon dito sa Paragon mall para kitain si Genesis, isa sa mga naging kaibigan ko dito sa Singapore. Sabado kasi ngayon at napag-usapan naming manood ng sine. Dalawang taon na rin kaming magkakilala ni Genesis at masasabi ko siya ang naging best friend ko dito. Pinoy din siya pero dito na siya sa Singapore na pinanganak at lumaki.

Nung nasa food court na ako, nagring ang cellphone ko at sinagot ko agad ito.

"What's up buttercup?" Genesis said.

"Anong what's up buttercup?" sabi ko. "Ang usapan Genesis 2:30 pero alas tres na at kanina pa ako paikot ikot dito wala ka pa din."

"Sorry na," he replied. "May nakita kasi akong street performer malapit dito sa Sentosa kaya napatigil ako."

Facepalm. "Ang bilis mo talaga madistract Genesis. Anyway, I already bought tickets. Alas kwatro na yung nakuha kong timeslot kasi for sure di natin mahahabol yung alas tres sana."

"Sige sige. I am already almost there anyway. Pababa na ako ng MRT." He said and then ended the call.

I almost groaned. I decided to walk around in the department store baka may makita akong gusto kong bilhin pampalipas ng oras.

As I was searching for some t-shirt hung in a clothes rack, I saw a figure stand in front of me. I looked up and discovered it was Kun, one of my Chinese classmates who had been pestering me around lately after he confessed that he likes me. Ang nakakaloka pa sa buong campus nya inamin during a school event. Sounds familiar?

"Hello Finn," bati niya. He was smiling at me and I smiled back.

"Hi Kun," I replied. "What brought you here?"

"I went here to buy something to wear for our graduation and also to look for a gift that I would give to you as a graduation gift."

I threw a surprised look. "You don't have to do that Kun, lah."