Elva

Nababahala ka ba sa sinasabi nila, El?" Tanong niya.

Napatingin ako sa kaniya. Ah.. Bakit ka pa maghahanap, El? Isang tao lang ang kailangan ko.

Ikaw lang ang kailangan ko, gusto kong sabihin sa kaniya.

Tiningala ko siyang muli, sa pagkakatong ito hindi na nang-aanalisang mata ang nakatitig sa akin kundi gulat. Simula ng magkakilala kami sa loob ng pasilidad, ngayon ko lamang naintindihan kung bakit ito ginagawa ng pangkaraniwang tao.

"Hindi." Sagot ko habang nakangiti sa unang pagkakataon.

•••

I look up at the sky and saw a moonless night. I was once an ignorant child. A child who doesn't know what happiness and pain are. He taught me about the world outside those walls that I always and hopelessly look up to, thinking that no human being, sane enough, will climb and tell me about the outside. He sparked curiosity and life within me. Because of him, I learned how to understand people. I met people. People who are genuinely smiling for the first time. People who are afraid of pain and death destroying the peace that they love. I learned to love people, especially him.

•••

Taglish