A Silent Serenade

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Fate?

May katahimikan sa pagitan naming tatlo, palihim na binangga ni Almira ang siko ko gamit ang siko n'ya.

"Ohh, feisty!" Sabi naman ni Simon na ngayon ay ibinaba na ang kamay.

Lumingon lang ako kay Almira, she looked disappointed at me. What was she expecting me to do?

"Anyways, I have to go Almira. Gabi na rin kasi," pagpapaalam ko. She then held my arm and looked him around.

"Wait, let me just look for kuya. Ipapahatid kita sa kanya--"

"No!" I stopped her mid-sentence, she was shocked at my reaction. I was shocked at myself too.

"I-I mean, kaya ko naman umuwi mag-isa. H'wag na, thank you for tonight. Happy birthday, Almira."

"O-okay, then, if you insist." She doesn't know that I liked her brother, nahihiya akong sabihin sa kanya ang nararamdaman ko.

"Bye, Almira. Enjoy the rest of the night." I said as I kissed her cheek, naalala kong nandito pa pala 'tong si Simon. I only glanced at him and just left. What a weirdo.

As soon as I got out of that place, I felt relieved. Nakahinga na ako ng maluwag. Medyo malayo-layo pa ang lalakarin ko, hindi naman madilim dahil maliwanag ang buwan at may mga ilaw naman. As I was walking, I felt my feet hurt. Kaya napa-upo ako sa isang malapit na bench. Malayo-layo na rin ang nalakad ko, tanaw ko mula rito ang bahay nila Almira. The house still looked alive, maybe it'll last for a long time. I took off my shoes, massaged my feet a little bit and stared at the moon. It's so beautiful. Back when I was young, I admired the moon so much. Narealize ko tuloy na ngayon ko nalang natitigan ulit ang buwan. Pansamantala kong nakalimutan kung gaano ito kaganda. Dahil na rin siguro hindi ko na naangat ang ulo ko para tignan ang langit, palagi nalang akong nakayuko. Look at the moon, it shines bright up there. Many people admires it, cause it's beautiful and high up above. What about those who are under it? I wonder, will it be admired too?

Habang nahuhumaling sa buwan bigla nalang...

"Can I sit here?"

"Ay put---" Napatalon ako dahil sa gulat, muntikan pa akong mapamura. Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko dahil akala ko ay mahihinatay ako dahil sa pagkagulat. Tumingin ako sa taong bigla nalang sumulpot, nagsalubong agad ang kilay ko nang ang nakangiting mukha ni Simon ang nakita ko.

"Are you following me?" Agad kong tanong sa kanya, he scoffed and sat beside me even if I didn't say that he can. He only shrugged and smiled while looking at me. 

"Sorry to fail your expectations but no, I'm not following you Emilia." He said my name with so much emphasis. Tumindig ang balahibo ko dahil doon. Titig na titig s'ya sa mga mata ko, kaya agad akong umiwas at hindi na s'ya pinansin. Hindi na ako nagsalita pa.

"I left early,--- no, I actually went MIA. A party wouldn't be complete if Simon Gideon Guidellano won't go MIA. People say I go missing-in-action cause I'm probably making-out with some hot chick, others say that I'm probably dead drunk and just passed out somewhere." He laughed. Napa-iling pa s'ya. I can see that that's what people see him as, but it's too soon to judge if he is really like that.

"But hey, today's new, I'm not making-out or dead drunk. I'm just sitting here with someone I just met, looking at the moon, all sad and sentimental." Napatingin ako sa kanya, he's not looking at me anymore. But he's looking at the moon.

"I loved the moon, I still do." Bulong n'ya, pero rinig ko parin. Matagal ang pagtitig n'ya doon, may lungkot din sa mga mata n'ya, as if the moon knows what he feels. He looks at it with his full attention. Sa tagal ng pagtitig n'ya sa buwan, hindi ko na rin napansin na matagal na rin pala kong nakatitig sa kanya. His nose was so tall and pointed, iyon agad ang napansin ko dahil side profile n'ya lang ang nakikita ko. I noticed his hair, it's a lot shorter now compared to the last time we met. He looks a lot cleaner and neater with his suit on. Matangkad s'ya kaya nakatukod ang siko n'ya sa mga tuhod n'ya at nakasikop ang dalawang kamay.