A one fleeting encounter

V

"Celise?" As I was walking my way inside where the ceremony will take place, suddenly, a person with a familiar voice calls out my name.

She's here, syempre.

Napahinto ako sa paglalakad papasok at panandaliang lumingon, at tama nga ang hinala ko. Si Amanda. She haven't changed that much, but the evident line from her lips no longer bears any hint of resentment or even anything at all. She just called me out and plainly smiles.

"Hi." I gestured my hand in greetings. She reciprocated it and walks near my side. She enclosed our gap and said something I hopefully wish to hear out again.

"I know we're not that close... nagkaron tayo ng hindi pagkakaunawaan dati," she awkwardly reach out to her nape and shrugged before continuing, "but just so you know, ally migrated to pursue her career in theater." Tumango siya at nagisip, weighing probably the next words but then, she eventually caved in and dropped her motive in approaching me, "I think, you should know her number. She's been looking out for you, eh, the entire time that she's here. And to make it up to you, for my bad behavior dati... pwede kong ibigay yung number niya if gusto mo?"

We're no longer the same people back in college, so for me I no longer feel or hold any grudge towards her. I accepted her offer and even her apology, but at the back of my mind, I wished I can see the person she's pertaining to. I wish I had saw her before migrating. "Umalis na pala siya," I nodded in sad realization. Hinanap ko yung phone ko sa bag at iniabot sa kaniya habang nagmamadali dahil pa-umpisa na rin yung program, "You wouldn't mind kung ikaw nalang mag-type?"

"Oh, of course. Let me.." she accepted the phone and quickly typed the number. I didn't know that they've both became close friends to get really in touched with each other.

sobrang dami ko nang hindi alam sa mga nangyari.

Ibinalik niya rin agad yung phone and I just casually said 'thank you' before excusing myself. She didn't move for a while, as I saw her from the side of my vision—probably weirded out and stunned by my sudden appearance. I mean, Who wouldn't be? But I still carried on and walked my way in despite of the stares coming from the familiar faces, that even though I don't know their names, I can still quite remember seeing them once or maybe twice. I also saw Arch conversing with different people while holding his phone and checking it from time to time, and the way he does it, one can already insinuate that he's getting nervous because he knows that there's so many people who'll watch him speak in front.

While inspecting the place, nahanap nang mga mata ko yung taong nag-approached saamin kanina, and she's seated at the back, near the wall and to the other necessities for a funeral. Walang gaanong tao sa pwesto niya, at siguro dahil na rin umiiwas akong makakuha pa nang atensyon, naglakas loob nalang akong maglakad at tabihan siya kahit pa alam kong hindi kami magka-kilala personally.

As she saw me walking directly to her place, she invited me with a smile and ushered the mono block chair beside her for me to sit in, "Celise... come, dito free pa."

I thought, as I walked past the crowd, that people by default should find a comfortable space where they can ensure a good spot for viewing, but here I am, finding a spot where every head of an individual will be the first thing I will get to see instead of the person in front. "Salamat." I silently said before settling down.

"So, ikaw pala si celise." She muttered absentmindedly.

"Oo... ikaw? Sorry, I can't call you by name. hindi ka naipakilala ni Arch kanina." I said apologetically as I looked at the elevated part of the place and realized that there's already a person who's holding a mic, prepping for the start. He walked towards the podium and speaks for the opening of the ceremony. I looked at Arch—seated alongside of the other speakers who're probably the diseased close friends, school administrators, and other former students.