Photograph [De la Frontera Series #1]

22: stay with me

Sun's POV:

Unti-unti akong naalimpungatan dahil sa banayad na sikat ng araw na deretsong tumatama sa aking muka.

Dahan dahan akong nag mulat ng mata at nagtaka ako kung bakit dito ako nakatulog sa couch ng sala. Napatingin ako sa itim na jacket na naka kumot sa akin at bigla akong napabalikwas ng bangon ng mag sink sa utak ko ang lahat ng nangyari kagabi.

"Cielo?" I shouted as I run around the house, hoping I could catch a glimpes of her ngunit bumagsak ang mga balikat ko sa dismaya dahil hindi ko na makita kahit ang anino nya. 

Matamlay na nag lakad ako pabalik sa sala at muling naupo sa couch. Dinampot ko ang jacket na nahulog sa carpet at pinagmasdan iyon.

"What the hell? How can she leave me like that? Hindi manlang sya nag paalam. Ni hindi ko manlang natapos pakinggan ang kanta nya." Nakanguso kong saad bago ko dinala ang jacket nya sa ilong ko at sinamyo iyon.

Unti-unti akong napangiti ng maamoy ko ang pamilyar na samyo ng panlalaking pabango na nahahaluan ng kaunting amoy ng usok ng sigarilyo. Bigla akong natulala sa kawalan. The memories of the first time that I met her came flooding in my mind and my lips automatically formed a smile. 

'What the hell? Why am I feeling so happy all of a sudden?'

And then I start to wonder... If Gio hadn't bully me, Cielo wouldn't have saved me. Our paths wouldn't cross and I won't be able to experience this kind of happiness right now. 

Muli akong napangiti. Now I feel like I want to thank Gio for bullying me.

But maybe I'm just not in my right mind. Who on earth wants to thank their bullies for bullying them? I must be going insane. 

Hinagilap ko ang cellphone ko at agad kong tinawagan si Cielo. Ilang ring pa bago nya iyon sinagot. 

"Good morning, Cielo." masigla kong bati sa kanya.

"Good morning. I see you're awake now, huh?" kaswal nyang tugon.

"Yeah. I'm sorry I fell asleep last night. You should've woken me up. Hindi ko manlang natapos pakinggan ang kanta mo." napanguso kong saad habang nag lalakad papunta sa kusina.

"You look so worn out, how could I wake you up? Hinayaan nalang kitang mag pahinga. I'll sing for you some other time, don't worry." her words sound so assuring.

Muli akong napangiti dahil sa sinabi nyang iyon. "Really? I'll look forward for it. May gagawin ka ba ngayon?"

"Yeah, I need to work until 10 in the evening. How about you?" 

"I'll just finish cleaning the house."

"I see. But I gotta go now, Sun, the customers are pilling up. If you need help with anything, just call me."

"All right. Bye, Cielo, have a nice day." masigla kong tugon bago ko ibinaba ang tawag. 

Sumimsim ako sa baso ng tubig at nakangiting tumitig sa labas ng bintana. 

The weather's good today. I sould probably finish cleaning everything.

I spent my whole day cleaning the entire house. Nag palit ako ng mga kurtina, bedsheets, maging ang mga punda sa unan ng couch ay pinalitan ko. I usually call our cleaning lady once a week but I feel like I want to clean the house myself para nadin sa pag hahanda sa pagdating nila mommy. 

It's been so long since I last saw them. I can't shake off the excitement rushing through my veins knowing that the feeling of longing will finally vanish away. This will be the happiest birthday ever.