Fifteen Grace

FG - 52

FIFTEEN

“This will do,” sambit ko sa sarili at ibinalik sa rack ang ibang mga damit na kinuha ko.

I am here at a certain boutique shop na malapit lang sa bahay namin. It is just my sudden decision to shop for some clothes tonight. Walang alam si papa at Natalia na umalis ako ng bahay. Papunta na ako sa cashier nang biglang may humarang sa’kin.

“Here,” the girl with a long dark hair said, offering me the paper bag she’s holding.

“I’m sorry?” sambit ko at humakbang paatras sa kanya. She looks familiar. I wonder where I’ve seen her.

“Here,” sabi niyang muli at mas lalong inilapit sa’kin ang paper bag. Sandali kong ineksamin ang weirdang babae. She’s wearing a floral dress hugging her perfectly curve hips and a faded pink ballerina shoes. “Tanggapin mo na,” naiinip na niyang usal at tumingin sa wristwatch niya. “Consider this as a gift,” she smiled at me.

“You,” I whispered, finally recognizing her. “You’re the owner of the restaurant Natalia and I–”

“I am,” she confirmed, cutting my sentence. “Consider this as my appreciation gift for being my customer for almost three years.”

I arch my brows in surprise, “how’d you know?” She got a lot of customers everyday at para malaman niya kung gaano katagal na niya kaming customer ay nakapagtataka. “Are you stalking us?” I asked with a hint of accusation when she still didn’t answer.

“Dear,” she laughs, “I am not.” She grabs my hand, forcing my fingertips to grip the paper bag holder. “The Observant,” she murmured, “they call me, The Observant.” She again smiled at me. The glint of playfulness in her eyes is too evident, like she knows what’s literally running on my mind at this moment. The way she speaks tells me that she knows everyone’s story – including mine

...and that unnerves me.

“Okay, The Observant,” dahan-dahan kong sambit at tuluyan nang tinanggap ang binibigay niya, hindi na ako nag-abalang tignan o tanungin kung ano ang laman nito, marahil siguro ay damit dahil ang nakatatak na logo sa paper bag ay ang logo ng boutique shop na ito. “Thank you.” Mas lalong lumawak ang ngiti niya’t sinabayan pa ito ng pagpalakpak.

“Good.” She taps my cheeks. I stilled for a moment, surprised how soft her hand is. “Enjoy your night, Fifteen,” she muttered in a soft voice, it sounded like a lullaby in my ears that my eyelids suddenly became heavy. I close my eyes in a brief second and when I open them – she’s gone. I look around and found her stepping outside the shop. I want to run after her but I can’t move my feet. What?

Tinangka kong igalaw ang paa kong muli at sa pagkakataong ‘to ay sumunod na rin siya. Agad akong tumakbo papuntang entrance ng shop upang habulin siya ngunit huli na ‘ko. Hindi ko na siya masilayan.

How did she know my name? Tanong ko sa sarili.

“Excuse me,” sambit ng dalaga na naka-pwesto sa cashier station. “Are you okay?”

Ilang beses muna akong napakurap bago nakasagot. “Yes,” I breathe, “Yes, I am.” Lumapit ako sa kanya at pilit na ngumiti. Binigay ko sa kanya ang napili kong dalawang pares ng damit at inabot ang bayad sa kanya. Na hindi niya tinatanggap. Bagkus ay nanatili lang siyang nakatitig sa’kin at unti-unting ngumiti.

Here goes another pretty weird woman.

“How’s Natalia?” she beams, like she finally recognize me.

“You know my sister?” dahan-dahan kong tanong.

“She’s my best friend!” she relayed excitedly, hands were clasp under her chin, “we became classmates in all of our accounting subjects!” Sa gulat ko ay bigla niyang kinuha ang wallet at pinakita ang picture nilang dalawa ni Natalia: magkayakap at kapwa nakasuot ng toga at graduation gown. “BFF goals!” I almost laugh at how animated she is, no wonder na magkaibigan nga silang dalawa. “Pero,” ang saya sa kanyang ekspresyon ay napalitan ng lungkot, “ilang buwan na rin kaming ‘di nagkikita. Nanakawan ako ng cellphone, hindi ko naman siya ma-contact sa mga social media accounts niya dahil nag-deactivate na siya.” Huminga nang malalim, yumuko. “Nakalimutan na niya ‘ata ako.”