"Hello, ako nga pala yung seatmate mo. Anong pangalan mo?" Tanong 'ko sa late enrolled 'kong kaklase. Isang linggo lang naman ang klase na hindi niya na attendan kaya paniguradong hindi siya mahihirapan.
"What's the point? You're going to forget it anyway." He said. Sungit.
We live in a world that we will easily forget the people's names. You can't write it down or type it on your computer, it will get erased after 10 seconds.
Unless, they love you.
Like, truly love you. The genuine love.
"Well, I can remember it for 10 seconds." Pagpipilit 'ko sa kaniya. I just wanna know, its not like it will cause us harm.
"Vernon. Yours?" He replied. That was a nice name, huh?
"Manila." I said.
"I did not asked where you live." The nerve, I know.
"I heard you." Well, he is not the first one who told me that. Aware naman akong kakaiba ang pangalan 'ko kaya naman hindi nila na iintindihan agad. Thanks to my parents though. I'm not complaining. I love it.
"That's a beautiful name. Too bad I can't remember it." Technically he can still remember Manila, we live in the Philippines. Ang makakalimutan niya lang na ang pangalan na Manila ay nabibilang rin sa akin.
Right after school, I went home.
My mom greeted me and called me by my name. She said that she'll do that everyday para maalala ko na araw-araw niya akong mahal.
My dad left home 5 months ago. I don't really know the reason why basta ang alam 'ko lang, isang araw... hindi na matandaan ni Dad ang pangalan ni Mommy.
Hindi naman pinaalis si Dad ng Mommy, kusa lang itong umalis. He still supports me financially though, minimessage niya rin ako minsan para kumustahin. I'm too scared to ask why he left home. Nahihiya rin siya sigurong sabihin, I'll just wait for him to open-up.
"Manila, hello! Gaga ka kanina pa kita hinihintay." Bati sakin ni Historia, one of my friends. Matagal ko na siyang kaibigan, simula junior high school.
I told her why I was late, and apologize.
Hanging out with your friend is therapeutic. We just grabbed ice cream and talk about our life. The whole name thing sucks, pero ang sarap sa feeling kapag alam mong you have someone who genuinely love and cares for you.
"Te, manood kana kasi ng anime nga, para kang tanga promise." She loves anime so much and she can't shut up about it.
"Oo nga, I'll try. Sendan mo 'ko ng recommendations. Isa lang muna." Napakamot siya sa ulo niya. I know it would be hard for her.
Last time I asked her for recommendations, binigyan niya ako ng printed paper na mayroong 30 anime titles. She is so invested with her thing. Good for her.
It must be nice knowing what makes you happy, 'no?
"Ang weird siguro kapag isang araw hindi na alam ng buong pamilya mo pangalan mo 'no? Like lahat sila biglang malilimutan name mo." Historia with her crazy imaginations.
"Ako nga alam na alam 'ko pangalan ng mga pusa ko eh, sila asado, bola-bola, neko, at dabi. I'm a good single mother don't you think?"
Hinayaan 'ko na lang siya mag salita.
"Hello, may extra ka bang ballpen?" Tanong 'ko sa katabi 'ko. Nalimutan 'kong bumili ng bago. Wala ng tinta ang ballpen 'ko.
"Sorry, I don't. But we can share, I guess?" Would be awkward but I don't have a choice. May quiz kami.
Inaabot niya ang ballpen niya sa akin kapag tapos na siya mag sagot at agad 'ko rin naman yun binabalik. Buti na lang hindi kami nasita at naisip na nag kokopyahan.
"Thanks sa help." He nods and walks away.
Inayos 'ko ang gamit 'ko and make sure it is secure, lunch break.
"Ang hirap noong quiz kanina, kahit short quiz lang. Hindi ako nakapag aral kagabi." Reklamo ni Reese habang nanguya. Binigyan ko siya ng tissue para pahiran ang amos sa bibig at kumindat siya sa akin.
"Mema ka, Reese ha. Mamaya perfect ka na naman." Jess' right. Ganiyan lagi si Reese pero laging matataas ang marka.
Ayos lang naman sa akin. Baka ayaw niya lang mag expect kaya ganiyan ang sinasabi niya.
They asked me what happened earlier. Nakita siguro nila ang pag pasahan namin ng ballpen ng katabi 'ko.
"I forgot to buy a new one. Kaya nanghiram ako." Nakita kong nakangisi sa akin si Reese. This woman, really.
Hindi naman ako naasar sa pang aasar nila dahil alam 'kong wala lang yun.
I lay on my bed, scroll lang sa social media. Mamaya na ako mag re-review. Maaga pa naman, 8:30 pm pa lang. I'll read later 9:00 pm, promise.
I got a text message from Historia.
: Hoy ano episode mo na ;)) onti lang episode niyan at hanggang season 2 lang ;))
: hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy
: ayaw kita biglain na naruto eh kaya ayan muna panoorin mo ;)))
Nireplayan ko rin naman siya agad. Sinabi ko na hindi ko pa nasisimulan dahil marami pang school works.
: shet school
: 2cool4school
: ok lang
: soon ha
: mwa ily
: MANILA!!!1 your name is manila <4-1
Lagi niya rin binabanggit ang pangalan ko. I consider Historia as my bestfriend. She's always there for me lalo na sa mga araw na nalilimutan ko ang sarili kong pangalan.
