Snicker & Tears

57: Seasonal Affective Disorder

4th day of July.

Spencer is here at Ayala Triangle Gardens. He was at the place where Sierra and him used to stay when they're killing time. He relies on the tree he was relying on before, the three where he and Sierra had their first conversation, a one-sided talk because Spencer was the only one who talked. He loves this place so much that he still chose it from those many good spots in this open park for he find this place cool and relaxing.

“Happy Birthday, Spencer!” That's what the man who called him just now says.

“Thanks,” Spencer replied as he put his cellphone near in the ear.

After the brief conversation, he lowered his cellphone and ended the phone call. As he holds his cellphone he hears loud music coming from the speakers here at the park—“Dahilan / Silent Sanctuary”.

He listens to the song until memories of the past came...

“Ba't mag-isa ka lang? Wala ka bang friends? O girlfriend?” asked Doc Cleto because no one has ever seen Spencer with him. He knew that the kid was so friendly that it would have been impossible for him not to have a friend but to be sure he had asked.

Meanwhile, the running Sierra was blown away in the whereabouts of Spencer and Doc Cleto.

“Aww!” Spencer shouted when someone hit him.

“...”

“Oh!” He was shocked to see Sierra. Sierra was also shocked to see the young man and his companion. And, all of them were shocked on what happened.

“I'd like you to meet Sierra, girl na friend ko,” Spencer smiled and proudly said. He even canted with Sierra, inclined his arm over the girl's shoulder as he introduced it to his friend Doc Cleto.

When Sierra realized that Spencer had been reclining with her, she quickly grabbed him by the hand and flung him over. She gave Spencer a strong punch in the stomach before finally leaving and running again quickly.

“Is she your friend?” asked Doc Cleto after Sierra's departure. He even looked at where the girl had run and returned the look to Spencer.

“Opo, pagpasensiyahan mo na siya Doc, may pagka-weird lang talaga siya minsan,"”Spencer replied and found himself symptomatic again. “HAHAHAHAHA!"”There is no control over his laughter.

“Kilala ko siya. Naging pasyente ko siya dati at sa pagkakaalala ko she is a person with SAD disease. Seasonal Affective Disorder.” The doctor said as he looked at Spencer's curious face.

“They are people who feel good and are normal during the summer or dry season where they acquired great amount of sunlight but they tend to get depressed or low energy during periods when there is not much sunlight available, like rainy seasons.”

Spencer was quiet for a long time as he listened closely to Doc Cleto.

“You will notice that people who are sick with this looks like they face a burdensome problem that seems to carry the world, lack of interest in activities that they used to love, low energy, sluggish or agitated, difficult to convince, feeling of hopelessness, feeling guilty always or they mostly felt worthlessness, and worst, thoughts of death and suicide. It affects their social health like school or they becomes moody or violent. 'Yon ang sakit niya dati, Peng. I don't know now,” Doc Cleto continued.

“That's too bad, grabe naman pala yung sakit na 'yan, Doc! Ayoko maging sad ang kaibigan ko dahil sa SAD, let me take care of her. And when she's fine, babalitaan kita agad. No need to worry, Doc.” Spencer made a promise to Doc Cleto he was still talking with.

“Oh, that's great. Mabuti 'yan, Peng! All right, promise me you will make her happy.” Doc Cleto smiles saying those words as if he strongly agrees with Spencer's opinion.

“Areglado, Doc! That's just a piece of cheese to me!” Spencer said audaciously.

Spencer was startled when his cellphone ringed and as such he discarded the things that were running through his mind.

“Hello! Baby? Where are you?” Darlene's mouth squeaked. Her voice was high and she seemed to have something bad going on.

“I'm here at the Ayala Triangle,” Spencer replied calmly. Suddenly the phone call between him and Darlene was cut off because the girl had ended it for no apparent reason.

His cellphone rings again but someone else calls.