Inspired by Moira Dela Torre's song "PATAWAD"
Paano nalimutan ang lahat
Na kahit konti, walang pasabi
Paano nalimutang banggitin
Na nagbago pala ang pagtingin
Ooh
Ooh~
~
"HELLO?!"
"Oh"
"Tham?! Kingna. Ano na?! Asan ka ba??"
"Baki-"
"Bakit?! Gaga ka ba?! Ilang araw ka nang wala tapos bakit?! Gague yu?! Kingina. Bumalik ka na dito ngayon din!"
"Baliw." I giggled.
"Gaga ka! Asan ka kasi?? Bakit ilang araw ka ng wala? Kailan ka babalik? Miss na kita kahit may halong kaplastikaaaan. Wala na kong kasabay papunta sa school, recess, lunch, break time tsaka uwian! Ano na?? Alam mo bang artista ka na dito? Pinagpipiyestahan pangalan mo! Kesyo tinanan ka na daw. Buntis ka daw. At kung anu-ano pang katarantaduhan! Tapos si Hale palagi kang hinahanap sa akin! Tinanong ko na din sila Tita kaso wala daw silang alam. Ano ba'ng nangyayari sa'yo ha??", mabilis at mahaba niyang sabi. I laughed.
"Inhale. Exhale. Sige hinga pa. Inhale. Exhale." I giggled as I heard her following me.
"Ano ba! Inuuto mo na naman akong babae ka!" I laughed again.
"I'm okay. No need to worry."
"Haaays! Kailan balik mo? Kingina ka. Ayoko ng ganitong trip mo."
"Tss. Sige na. Ubos na oras ko. I'll call you. Bye."
"Ho-" I ended the call as my Tita called me.
"Sino yun?"
"Kaibigan ko lang po."
"Ahh. Sige na. Oh heto, table 9."
"Sige po." I moved as she left me.
~
"Kaya pa Nam?", Arym asked, katrabaho ko. Nasa counter siya.
"Dugay pa." We laughed. Medyo madami customers ngayon. Palibhasa summer na naman. Agad akong pumanhik sa table 9.
"Marhay na aga! What's your order Sir?" I smiled as I approached the customer.
"I wanna try this colonial spaghetti and pan de burger, vegetarian spring rolls, and I'm interested with this sili ice cream", I beamed. Naka-sunglass pa si Kuya. Pero mukhang fafa.
"Let me repeat it Sir. Colonial spaghetti and pan de burger, vegetarian spring rolls, and sili ice cream. Am I correct Sir?" I asked as I listed his order.
"Yes."
"How about drinks Sir?"
"Hmm. Bigyan mo ako ng sa tingin mong kasing-sarap mo", he winked after putting down his sunglasses. Wew. Kinilabutan ako bigla.
"I think iced tea would do Sir." I forced a smile.
"Sure thing", at binigyan pa nga ako ng malagkit na tingin. Manyak pa nga. Tsktsktsk.
"Okay Sir. Again, colonial spaghetti and pan de burger, vegetarian spring rolls, sili ice cream and iced tea. Is that all Sir?".
"Mm-hmm", he's smilingly idiot. Scary.
"Let me serve it within 5-10 minutes Sir. Marhay na aga po gilayon."
At naglakad na ko pabalik sa counter. Tiningnan ko sa counter si Arym at bahagyang sumenyas ng thumbs down with poker face. She looked disappointed. I silently laughed. Isa kasi iyon sa sign languages namin kapag fafa ang customer pero bastos o pangit ang ugali. Tsktsktsk.
~
"Out mo na?", si Iya, kasamahan naming sa counter din nakatoka. Tumango ako.
"Aww sana all." Nanlulumong dagdag ni Arym. I laughed. Mamayang gabi pa kasi ang out niya. I waved at them as I leave. Haaayy. Kapagod.
Wala na rin naman kahit na balikan
Wala na ang tamis nung ika'y nahagkan
At sa huling paalam naintindihan
Na sa ating dalawa
May ibang nakalaan~
~
I am here at my usual place, looking at the sky, waiting for the sun to set. Sa likod ko ay isang makasaysayang simbahan na isa sa dinarayo ng mga turista sa lugar na ito. I leaned back my hands to the floor, embracing the familiar feeling everytime I come here. This is just my favorite time of the day. It makes me feel at peace. It really comforts me.
I was just taking my time, when in a sudden, someone passed by in front of me. I followed him with my gaze. I saw him sitting down to the floor too. He also leaned back his hands to the floor, tilted his head up and closed his eyes. I just looked at him for a while. Kumunot lang ang noo ko ng makitang may tumulong luha sa nakapikit na mga matang iyon. Wow. What a view. Seeing a guy silently crying is something I didn't imagine. I immediately looked away when I saw him opened his eyes and turned his eyes to my direction. Tumingala na lang ako't parang tangang tinuru-turo ang mga ibong nalipad. Then in my peripheral vision, I saw him lying down. As I again slowly turned my eyes to him, nakatakip na yung kanang braso niya sa mata niya. Wew. That was close. What a scene though. People really do have different battles to fight with. I just look at the sky again, mesmerized by its beauty. Until I felt a drop of water fell on my skin. I immediately grab my cap and backpack and started running to the nearest waiting shed as I feel droplets of water pouring in. Nang makasilong, I looked again to the guy who seems numb, still lying on the floor, ignoring the pouring rain. 'Nong lumakas pa ang ulan, 'tsaka pa lamang sya bumango't umupo. I was baffled when he looked around, like looking for something. Mas naguluhan ako nang huminto ang mga matang iyon sa aking direksyon. As I look back at him, I thought, what's with you? Do you know me?
