Suche

4

Writer's note: try to listen to the song above while reading for more 'feels' haha. Enjoy!

*****

I went to the office of the condo para i-follow up ang request ko about the wall, or at least if there's available unit to be rented. Unfortunately, all rooms are now occupied, and since it is weekend, there are no available people to fix the wall.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am. Wala rin pong available na tao para ayusin ang wall since it's a weekend. Maghintay na lang po tayo sa mga susunod pang mga araw."

"Seriously," I whispered to myself. I smiled at the lady, "Ganoon po ba? Just inform me when you could fix the wall na. Thank you po."

Sumakay na ako sa elevator, dala ang mga binili kong instant food, bread, sandwich spread, beverages, and hygiene products. I also bought a box of cigarettes, thinking that this will ease my feelings. Ang kailangan ko na lang sigurong gawin sa ngayon ay pigilan ang sarili kong maiyak. Sabagay, it was just last night na umiyak ako nang malakas.

I just frequently cry silently, but that dream last night was just really horrible.

Papalapit na ako sa pintuan ng unit ko nang saktong may bumukas na pinto sa kabilang room. It's the guy last night. He smiled brightly at me, na parang wala siyang problemang kinakaharap sa buhay.

"Sawahasseyo!"

Tinaasan ko lang siya ng kilay.

"Ito naman! It's a greeting in Thai and Korean. Pinagsamang Sawadeekap and Annyeonghasseyo. Sawahasseyo!" And he burst out of laughter.

Iniwas ko na lang ang tingin sa kaniya at pumasok na sa unit.

Sinimulan ko nang ayusin ang mga pinamili ko nang biglang may nag-doorbell. Pagkakita ko'y itong kapitbahay ko na naman pala ang naroon, grinning.

"What do you need?"

"Glad that you sense I need something."

I looked at him impatiently. He just kept on wearing that grin.

"Kailangan ko sana ng palaman sa tinapay. Meron ka ba riyan?"

"There's no available food for other people -"

"Hala! What goes around comes around, sige ka." Pagbabanta niya. "Nakita ko kaninang may sandwich spread kang binili, eh. Pahingi naman ako, oh. Nakalimutan ko kasing bumili no'n kahapon noong nag-grocery ako. Kung okay lang naman sana sa 'yo."

Are we even close? "Hindi ko naman siguro obligasyong sustentuhan ka ng palaman, tama ba?"

A ghost of smile was seen on him, "Sabihin na lang natin na neighbors should help each other."

Tinaasan ko na lang ulit siya ng kilay.

Napapalo siya nang mahina sa kanyang mukha, "What I'm trying to point out is, you may feel like there's no one needs you, or you'll feel that you don't need anyone to be with you, pero feeling mo lang 'yon. Nobody can live by himself alone forever. We need to help each other. Ganoon ang buhay."

Just for the sake of a sandwich spread, he tells those words.

"By the way, I'm Paolo." His mischievous smile showed again. Wala na akong nagawa kundi ibigay sa kaniya ang sandwich spread. "Yes! Thank you so much, uh..."

"Sapphire."

"Great! Thank you so much, Sapphire. So ngayong kilala mo na ako at kilala na rin kita tapos binigyan mo na ako ng sandwich spread then bibigyan kita ng fried rice, can we be friends?"

I don't know, I really don't know.

"Okay, I'll take your silence as an affirmation. Thank you ulit, Sapphire! Hintayin mo 'yong kanin." He waved at me and disappeared from my sight.