October 9, 2020
@_aesthella
"Lucid dreaming."
"What?! She died because of that?"
"She was found dead, smiling."
"That's creepy."
I was secretly listening at the two girls that's talking at each other. They're so close to me I can clearly hear their voices, hindi ko na ito pinakinggan at muling humarap sa babaeng kaharap ko.
Napangiti ako habang pinagmamasdan ito, I slowly put her strands of her hair behind her ear that's covering her face. She smiled. Natigilan ako, it's still the same impact, her smile still makes me stop for a moment. I'm captivated.
We're in high school back then,
"Hoy tangina mo, kanina ka pa hinahanap ni ma'am!" Calista called.
I automatically smiled when I saw her angry expression.
"Oo papunta na, saglit lang!" Agad kong dinampot ang bag ko at isinakbat sa balikat ko. Tumakbo ako papalapit dito at napahiyaw ako sa sakit ng bigla nitong hatakin ang tenga ko.
"Aray! Aray! Babe naman masakit e!" Sigaw ko, napukaw din namin ang atensyon ng mga taong nasa labas ng canteen pagkalabas namin.
"Magcucutting ka pa ha, susumbong kita kay tita." Sabi nito habang hatak-hatak ang tenga ko.
"Anong tita?! Mommy mo na den yon bobita ka."
"Pasaway ka talaga." Galit nitong sabi.
"Mahal mo naman." Natatawa 'kong sabi.
"Hindi kita mahal, pinagtritripan lang kita kaya kita sinagot."
Natigilan ako.
"Oh? Nyare sayo?" Natatawa nitong sabi. "Joke lang tanga ka."
"Ang panget mo talaga magbiro Calista!" Nakanguso 'kong sabi
Mas lumakas ang tawa nito, maya-maya'y tumigil din at ngumiti sa'kin.
Natigilan ako, ramdam na ramdam ko din ang mabilis na pagtibok ng puso ko. It's not my first time seeing her smile. It's still the same feeling.
I'm fascinated by her smile, I'm enthralled. Deeply captivated.
—
It was the graduation day. Finally, we can both fulfill our dreams.
"Eli! Picture tayo dali!" Calista called me, bakas ang saya sa mukha nito. Agad akong lumapit dito at nilingkis ang braso ko sa beywang nito. I felt her stilled.
"Babe, congrats sa'tin." I said and rested my chin on her shoulders.
"I love you." She said, my heart skips a beah
Saglit akong natigilan at napangiti din kalaunan, "I love you most." Sabi ko at hinalikan ito sa kanyang labi at agad na binitawan.
"Korni mo, Eli." Natatawa nitong sabi na ikinatawa ko den.
I watched her laugh, her smile, on how she grins on me. All I know is that I love her.
I was so happy and I never thought that something would happen. Something bad and traumatic.
—
I woke up strangely, I felt the bed moving. I faced my wife. She was showing different expressions on her face.
I tried to wake her up. Her body is slightly moving. Her fingers are tapping on the surfaces of the bed sheet.
"Calista wake up!!" I yelled at her, shouted directly on her face.
