Kabanata 21
Secret
That same day, nagcheck in kami sa malapit na hotel. We had two rooms. Magkasama kami ni Mariette at 'yong dalawang lalaki naman sa kabila.
And were going to rest. Kalahating araw lang naman at pagkatapos noon ay tutulak na ulit. I don't know where exactly we're heading but based on Ephraim's clue, we are heading north.
Kahit kasi tanungin ko siya nang ilang ulit kung saan-saan ang mga destinations namin, palagi lang siyang nagkikibit-balikat. So wala talaga akong ideya kung saan ang susunod na lugar. But I trust him still.
I called my Mom after Mariette fell asleep and we talked for, I guess, fifteen minutes since she was really busy with work. I miss her already.
I was about to lie on the bed when another call came. Si Calumn naman ang natawag.
"Hi!" I greeted him.
"H-Hi. Kumusta? Are you having fun? Ang lagay mo? Okay ka lang ba? Any difficulties—" humalakhak ako. "Bakit?"
"Hinay-hinay sa pagtatanong. Daig mo pa si Mommy e," I teased him. "Anyway, I'm fine. I am enjoying the trip. Sobra."
Then there silence. His heavy gasps were all I could hear but I didn't end the call. Hinintay ko kung may sasabihin pa siya. At hindi naman ako nagkamali.
"I... I'm glad, then. Have fun, Sera. Then come back to us."
Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas bago kami parehong nagdesisyon na tapusin na ang tawag. It felt good talking to Calumn. I was comfortable whenever we talk. Para bang pwede akong maging ako kahit kailan ko gustuhin. Katulad ng kung paano si Mariette at Psalm sa akin.
Bago ako magpahinga, inilabas ko muna mula sa bag ang chiseled tip pens at journal na bigay ni Mommy. Isinulat ko roon ang mga nangyari, and below were a few lines from one of my favorite songs. I closed the journal, then my eyes.
* * *
I woke up before noon. Tulog pa si Mariette na nakahiga sa kabilang kama nang buksan ko ang pinto para sana bumili ng pagkain. Muntik ko pang matapakan 'yung kung anons nakalagay sa sahig.
I crouched to pick up the bouquet of pink baby's breath. May nakaipit na brown paper sa likod. Baka dedication para kay Mariette? Or pa-welcome ng hotel? I read what's written on the note para malaman kung para kanino ang bulaklak.
On the darkest nights where stars
failed to shine, you lit up, even
brighter than the majestic moon
above us. Good morning, Seraiah.
Let's chase after the blinking stars
even on stormy summer nights.
- EphraimMy lips parted in awe. I felt the sudden warmth in my heart as I read each word that Ephraim wrote on this piece of paper. Hindi ko in-expect na may pagka-poetic pala siya.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Great Escape
Teen FictionCOMPLETED. Seraiah was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and going in and out of the hospital became part of her daily routine. Her days became dull and her condition gets worse each passing day. Until she met Ephraim, the stubborn son o...