Untitled Part 1

Prelude

"And they both died without saying a proper goodbye.." we murmured in a soft voice.

"I feel like I'm gonna get sick with your book, Lala"

Dahan-dahan niyang isinara ang makapal na libro na tinapos namin sa tatlong araw lamang. Bumuntong hininga kaming pareho dahil nasunod na naman ang gusto niyang ilublob ang atensyon ko sa mga hilig niya.

"Maligayang kaarawan ulit, aking apo." aniya at hinalikan ang pang-ibabaw kong ulo.

"I don't think it's my birthday Lala, we've been reading for three days. Do you think it's especial?"

"Of course it is, don't be silly. Try this on—"

"I can't do this Lala, I suppose to blow a candle not some stuff to read"

"Thank you, but I'm over with your hobby. It makes me sleepy.Matutulog na ako, La—" I yawned to convince her that I'm serious from what I said.I don't want to upset her emotions but it's freaking me out.

"This is my present,"

"W-what? What do you mean? Where?"

Ngumiwi ako at naguluhan kung anong tinutukoy niya.

She tapped her temple, as if I was stupid enough to get what she was trying to say.

"Knowledge, Adira.. Knowledge."

"Reading can make you smart, the wider the vocabulary, the deeper you get difficult to understand. I can see that—." dagdag niya at ipinuwesto ang katawan ko upang umupo malapit sa kaniya.

"I hate being observed,Lala. It makes me feel stupid and... ugh"

"Fine." pinal na tono ko, upang putulin lamang siya sa kaniyang salita.

Lala is somehow in between she may be uptight and a bit weird, but I care for her so much. We've been living together since my parents died from a disaster. She's the only person I valued more than my life so it doesn't matter if she's being naughty most of the time.

Ipinakita niya ang larawan ng isang sirena sa tabloid na hawak-hawak niya, the mermaid was half naked, it looks like a fish and it was imprisoned at the aquarium. I don't think this is true because some of it was visualized by unrealistic imagination created and done by pro-artists.

I chuckled not upset her again, I kissed her cheek and that made me stop and goosebumps when she utter a foul words.

"You'll turn into one, Adira.."pilit akong ngumiti, alam kong may halong biro ang sinasabi niya sa'kin. Hindi naman ako basta-bastang naniniwala sa mga sinasabi niya.

Her coolness fade, hindi agad ako nakabawi kaya sinakyan kona lang ang biro niya.

"I'm a good swimmer Lala, oftentimes I dreamt of my death, my inferior body really looks like a fish.." humagalpak ako sa tawa habang ang lola ko ay mukhang nakasaksi ng himala.

Her face was full of dreads and she seems scared. Bumungisngis ako dahil hindi ko matagalan na ganon nalang siya kaapektado sa sinabi ko.

"B-bakit ngayon mo lang ito sinasabi sa'kin?"may bahid iyon ng pag-aalala.

Her eyes narrowed, as if I unfold a case of trauma. I rolled my eyes, isiniksik ko ang katawan ko sa kaniya upang yakapin siya ngunit nag-iwas siya ng tingin at inalis ang luha sa kaniyang mata.