TRY . jinlia

024

[ CHOI LIA'S ]

I glanced at myself in the mirror one last time before proceeding down stairs. It's the first in November, Sunday. Kami ni Papa ay gagayak papuntang sementeryo kung nasa'n ang puntod ni Mama. I was wearing my simple white t-shirt and black pants with my black bullcap.

Pagbaba ay tapos na rin mag-ayos si Papa. "Let's go?" usal ko, nauna nang tumungo sa pinto.

"Saglit lang. I'm still waiting for someone," sagot niya at inayos-ayos pa ang kuwelyo ng polo niya. My brows shot up but the both of them immediately knotted.

"Po? Sino naman?" I asked exactly when somebody knocked on the door.

"Ah, nandiyan na siya," he answered instead before walking to the door.

Nagbuntong-hininga naman ako at hinintay lang siyang pagbuksan 'yon. Nanigas ako sa kinatatayuan ko nang maamoy ang pamilyar na pabango. I looked up and saw the familiar blue hair tied in a low bun. Hindi ko alam kung masisiyahan akong makita siya ngayon. Wala na kasi akong narinig simula sakaniya kahapon at nung gabi pagkatapos ng auditions. I didn't bother to text or call her. I busied myself with projects instead just so I could not think of her pero tuwing gabi ay hindi siya maalis sa isip ko, dahilan para hindi ako makatulog.

I heard her greet my Dad pero hindi ko pinansin 'yon. I just watched her mouth mutter words I could't hear. I missed her. It's been two nights and one day without a glimpse of her and yet I already miss her so much.

"I called Ryujin to come with us. I want your Mom to meet her, I hope you don't mind," usal ni Papa nang makalapit ito sa'kin.

I gulped before avoiding Ryujin's gaze. Hindi ko siya pinansin at nilampasan lang nang lumabas na ng bahay. I don't know, but... nagtatampo ako. And hell, I know the reason why! I just didn't expect myself to be that selosa. 

Ipinark ni Ryujin sa garahe namin ang kotse niya dahil ang kay Papa ang gagamitin papuntang sementeryo. Tahimik si Ryujin, sasagot lang kung magtatanong si Papa o kung may sasabihin. Hindi niya rin ako pinapansin that I don't really mind kasi baka kung ano pang masabi ko kung nag-usap na kami after two nights and one day. Pilit ko ring iniwasan ang pagtingin sakaniya.

Tahimik ang biyahe. Ryujin and I sat in the backseat. Puno kasi ng papel galing trabaho ni Papa ang passenger's seat sa harap. Nakikita kong sumisilip si Papa sa'min sa rear view mirror, tila nagtataka kung bakit tahimik kaming dalawa dito sa likod. I ignored him the whole ride and just plugged my earphones in.

Hindi nagtagal ay nakarating na kami. Sabay kaming bumaba lahat nang maipark na ang kotse. I took the flowers in my hand before standing beside Ryujin.

Ngumiti ako ng pilit nang magtama ang mga mata namin at gano'n din siya.

"Kailangan mo ng tulong?" she asked, referring to the flowers in my hands.

Umiling ako. "Kaya ko," sagot ko, namamaos.

Tumango naman siya at agad na sumunod kay Papa nang senyasan niya kaming sumunod na sakaniya. I bit my lower lip before half running towards Ryujin's side.

★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★

"Hello, Ma," Papa greeted before putting the flowers beside my Mother's grave. "Nandito ulit kami ni Lia. You must be wondering who's the pretty girl with a blue hair with us. Well, she's Shin Ryujin, your daughter's uhm... friend," usal niya at tumawa pa.