Sta. Barbara

Kabanata 11: Black and White

Matt just received a text feom Ezikiel's dad na pasakay si Ezikiel sa barko papuntang Mindoro and probably gonna reach Iloilo by tomorrow. He just can't believe it. Why the hell choose a longer route if he can just ride a plane? In less than an hour Matt is already standing in Iloilo International airport and for 10 minutes or less he'll be reaching Sta. Barbara. An historical town, a great place but he has a lot of questiins. He could've waited kay Ezikiel pero he needs to investigate first para malaman nya talaga ang nangyayari. For years na mag kasama sila, he knows something is wrong with Ezikiel and just by saying her name just like that it triggered his friend. Athelstane huh? Who are you? Ano ba talaga ginawa mo kay Ezikiel na ganun nalang ang epekto mo sa kanya. There's no time to waste he just needs to familiarize the place and ask questions. He looked at his phone and smiled. It's Erielle's face on his lock screen. They're seven years apart but he just can't help but be awed by her charming smile and cute personality. He'll wait if he has to but for now kailangan nya munang maintindihan kung ano man ang nangyayari. Sumakay sya ng tricycle papunntang Sta. Barbara.

Wait for me there Athelstane.
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Kasalukuyan silang na nonood sa may footba field sa may plaza. Ezikiel is just staring at Athelstane. She's fixated sa panonoof ng mga football players na nag te-training, or is she really watching? Or just imagining things? Then, may lumapit sa kanilang bola. Athelstane looked at it hanggang sa makarating ito sa kanyang paa. Kukunin na sana ni Ezikiel ang bola ng may lumapit da kanilang nag te-training na football player. Ngumiti ito sa kanila. Numero 13 ang kanyang Jersey at pag talikod nito ay nakalagay na "Sed" sa kanyang likod.

For 20 minutes katahimikan lang ang pumapalibot sa kanila. Di alam ni Ezikiel kung papaano uumpisahan o saan nya ba talaga dapat simulan. Honestly, he just likes to stare at her kahit gaano pa katagal. Pero he needs to say something to know her even just for a little bit. They're a couple of feet apart kaya minabuti nyang lumapit. Habang lumalapit ay naka titig ito kay Athel. He was distracted na di nya namalayan na sobrang lapit na nya pala. Nagulat si Athelstane and now their faces are only inches apart. They're just looking.

The humming of the wind.

The chirping of the birds.

And the silent beating of their hearts.

Ezikiel thought Athelstane would just give in sa moment na yon pero she moved away from him. She's not like other girls

"I'm sorry" Ezikiel said

A long pause.

"Why are you like that?" Dugtong ni Ezikiel

"Like what?"

"Just staring at things"

Athelstane shrugged.

"Di ko alam. Mahilig kasi akong tumingin sa kawalan. Imagining things, asking questions, at gumawa ng mga senaryo sa aking utak"

Ezikiel smiled. Sa buong pag-kikita nila it's the first time na sinagit sya no Athelstane ng maayos. Is she already allowing him to know her.

"At kung iniissip mo na komportable nako sa iyo. Napakalayo. Madalas ding tinatankng sakin yun at madalas ganun din sagot ko"

"Why do you have to be so hard on me?"

"Ang tiwala di ganun kadali makuha. Sino kaba para pag katiwalaan ko?" Mahinahong tanong ni Athelstane

"Wala. Just a nobody. Pero let me show you things you've never experienced before"

"Believe me, I've already experienced them all"

"Then let me na ipa-experience sayo ulit yun... Let me color your world"

"Mas gusto ko yug black and white"

Ezikiel almost laugh. She's very amusing anf instead na lumayo, mas nagbibigay pa si Athelstane ng rason upang mas mahikayat sya na makilala nya ito. Di nya naman ma sisisi si Athel. She's just guarding herself. But he'll try to break her walls little by little.

He let her be with her own peace. Wala naman syang pake alam kung di sila mag usap buong hapon. Staring her is enough.

They both looked at the football players na nag te-training sa gitna ng field. Mga takbuhan, ang pag sipa at ang mga patak ng kanilang pawis. Now he knows why Athelstane is fond of looking at things. She loves details. The tiniest of minutiae interests her. She's a deep person and being alone is what she loves.

A complete opposite.

He was used to the noise and people. Can't even imagine to be with someone as extrovert as her. Pero sabi nga nila, "opposite attracts".

He'll get used to this, he has to. Ezikiel thought.

Mistulang ang atensyon ni Ezikiel ay nabaling na ss mga nag te-training sa field.

Pero while he was watching,

Without him knowing,

Athelstane stared at him for a short time and smiled.

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Sasakay ulit sila sa isang bus para maka abot sa port na syang dadala sa kanila sa Katiklan at mula doon sasakay naman sila papuntang Sta. Barbara.

"When will this end?" Ezikiel complained.

"Isipin mo nalang na konti nalang, maabot mo narin yung hinahanap mo"

Yvette said while smiling.

Ezikiel nodded. It's a bit disturbing dahil mistulang nag iba si Yvette. The loud and clingy girl is now timid, a bit quiet, mistulang di komportable at parang natatakot. Something is off. Pero bago paman sya maka tanong ay agad nang sumakay si Yvette sa bus kaya umakyat nadin sya sa bus. Again, before even finding her, the bus started kaya umupo nalang sya sa upuan na pinakamalapit sa kanya.

What's wrong Yvette. What's happening?