Paradise To The Future

Paradise: Thirty Seven

"I have no idea that suits for gift..." I shrugged.

"Find him a motor robot!" halakhak ni Yumine.

I'm hopeless. Kanina pa 'ko tambay sa mall, strolling, desperately, just to find something to present for Toni's birthday.

"Can you at least give me a proper suggestion, Yumine. I'm shitty frustrated here," nawawalang pag-asang wika ko.

Nailayo ko ang phone sa tainga dahil sa lakas ng halakhak n'ya. Gosh!

"Claribel, you really aim sa gusto ni Toni?" this time, she sounds serious.

"Hmm, of course, Yumine. You think I'll sacrifice to stroll this mall around if I had already knew what's the best for Toni?" I said sarcastically.

"Then, wrap me! Ako lang naman kasi ang gusto ni Toni!" napapikit ako sa iritasyon.

"Damn you, Yumine, swear, I'll kill you!"

"Gaga, easy there! I'm busy kasi! Nasa'ng mall ka ba?!" malabong sigaw nito. Halos hindi ko na maintindihan.

"Vento' Mall..."

"Ugh, Clari! Ang layo mo! Hindi ka ba sinamahan ni Lance?!" naiiritang aniya.

Darn it!

"Uh, nope. Akala ko kasi madali lang makahanap ng i-reregalo."

I heard her sighed.

"Can you wait...um, at least 30 minutes?"

medyo lumiwanag ang mukha ko. Not bad. Kakain na lang muna ako while waiting.

"Sure, sige!"

"Text me your spot. Patayin ko na, nasa spa ako..." halakhak nito.

"Thanks!"

True enough. I ate in restaurant there for almost 15 minutes, hindi pa 'ko nabusog. I thought that it would be great for my friends. Ang laki ng pagkukulang ko sa kanila, at pagkatapos ng lahat, pinatawad nila ako at muling tinanggap which is exactly I failed to expect.

After a few minutes, tumawag si Lance. Naipikit ko ang mata ko. I almost forgot that I promised him na sabay kaming kakain ng lunch dahil saglit lang ako. But then, heto...Still struggling for Toni's gift.

Tumikhim ako sinagot, "Where are you?" Simula n'ya.

"Still at mall. I failed to find a gift that fit for Toni, that's why..." kibit balikat ko.

"O, is that so? Sayang, I prepared our lunch here. But anyways, puntahan na lang kita riyan,"

Agad akong umiling, tila makikita n'ya 'yon.

"No, no! You eat your lunch there, Lance. I'm fine here. One thing, I've decided which one to give him, too..." I lied, 'cause actually, wala pa talaga akong naiisip. I'm still waiting for Yumine.

"You, sure?" he asked with a bit sounds amused. "Hmm, yeah..."

"Alright. Sana naman sa dinner sabay na tayo. I'll wait you here!"

I ended the call.

I received one message from Yumine, saying to wait a bit.

Sa isang bench ako humalukipkip at tahimik na naghintay. I stared blanky in random people. Paano kung isa sa kanila riyan si mama? Damn, how would I know. Would I feel some luksong dugo to help me determine?

What if, I already met her through the months and years passed? Until when, then? Hanggang kailan ko huhulaan ang identity ng Mama ko? Hanggang kailan ako bubuo ng ideya sa isip ko para unti-unting pagdugtong-dugtungin? It sucks!