Seeking Serendipity

Kabanata 04

Kabanata 04

Sun

Beez Town, is a quite big. Kaya matatagalan kaming maglilibot dito sa aming lugar. Five Kilometers away from the north we will be able to reach the Beez Plaza, there is a huge playground for kids and a small foodhaus. While on the south, the Bee University is located. Kanina pa kami naglalakad ni Laurence at kahit pagod na ako ay hindi ako tumigil. I want him to suffer.

He's very talkative but sometimes in a jolly way. He always asks me for nonsense things but I kept on ignoring him. Nang napagod na ay tumigil na siya sa pagsasalita.

"Hay, napaka-ingay mo namang kasama, Aleng." reklamo niya. "Buti at di pa yan napapanis yang mga laway mo?" pang-aasar niya pa.

"How about you? Aren't you tired from talking?" I sarcastically asked.

Napakamot naman siya sa batok niya. "Inglis na naman. Putek." he whispered in the air.

I started to walk again but in adverse he quickly pulled my right hand. This guy really don't know about what personal space means.

"Pagod na ako. Upo muna tayo doon!" he said while pointing a bench behind me.

So what? Nagrereklamo ka?

"Please, Aleng." he begged me.

Sumang-ayon naman ako dahil kanina na ako nauuhaw at nagugutom. Kinuha ko na ang dalawang lunchbox na inihanda na merienda ni mama para sa amin. Ayaw ko sana siyang bigyan pero parang kakainin naman ako ng konsensya pag sakaling gagawin ko iyon.

"Salamat Aleng.... " aniya na nakangiti.

"Would you please stop calling me Aleng?" iritado kong sambit sa kaniya.

"Hays, Inglis na naman." natatawa niyang sambit.

I don't know if he really don't get my words in english or he's just joking around.

"Bili muna akong icecream para may ambag ako dito sa kinakain natin." sambit niya at naunang naglakad papunta sa nagtitinda ng sorbetes.

Tinitigan ko lang ang lugar na ito. This is one of favorite place here in our town. If I have some spare time I immediately go here to paint with my bestfriend. I miss the old times with Sean.

Natigilan lang ako sa pag-iisip sa nakaraan nang biglang sumulpot si Laurence sa harapan ko. He's smiling while holding a cone of icecream.

"Gusto mo? Luh asa ka." he said while acting like an idiot.

This guy is weird.

"Joke lang, ito oh baka isusumbong mo ako kay tita Loreit." saad niya pa.

I accepted the ice cream that he gave me and there I realized that this was my favorite flavor, ube. I wanted to scream bacause of joy. Matagal tagal narin simula ang huli kong kain nito.

"T-Thanks." naiilang kong pagpapasalamat sa kaniya.

"Walang anuman, Aleng!"

We were silently eating our snacks. Nang natapos ay ibinalik ko ulit ang lunchbox sa bag ko. Good thing, Laurence didn't fail to bring a bottled of water. Akala ko bibili na naman kami.

"Aleng, no offense ha, pero narinig ko yung pinag-uusapan niyo ng mama mo kanina," bigla niyang sambit.

I arched my brows while listening to him. "So?"

"Why won't you join VBC, diba marunong kang magpinta? Sorry for asking, curious lang."

Instead of being fidgeted because of his questions I immediately got surprised because of the language he uses. Pinagloloko lang talaga yata ako ng lalaking ito.

"Akala ko ba hindi ka marunong magsalita ng ingles? You dumbass!" I hissed.

Natatawa naman siyang umiling. "Sino bang may sabi diyan, papatayin ko." aniya. "I just don't like you to speak in english, para ka kasing mataray na dragon na sisibak sa digmaan."

Pinagsisingkitan ko naman siya ng mga mata. This man is getting into my nerves.

"Balik tayo sa tanong ko, bakit ayaw mong sumali sa VBC?" he asked once again.

I just shrugged. "None of your business."

“I just want to know because I'm interested to join. Pangit ba yun?”

Poor man. You don't know how peaceful and beautiful that vacation. You met some strangers na pareho kayo ng hilig. Magkakaroon ka ng maraming kaibigan. Magkakaroon ka ng maraming alam tungkol sa mga hilig mo.

"Tell me, Aleng. It seems you stuck your answers in your head." pilit niya pa.

Malungkot ko siyang tiningnan. I also hate him more. I don't like when Laurence is around me. Napipilitan talaga akong magsalita, pero ngayon pinilit kong huwag sagutin ang tanong niya.

"Wow, ang ganda naman ng sagot mo, Aleng!" he teased.

Instead of being offended, I looked away and hid a smile. Para siyang tanga. Naibalik lang ang tingin ko sa kaniya nang nagsimulang tumugtog ang dala niyang gitara.

The gently strumming of guitar made me comfortable and relax. He hummed a soft song. Henceforth, I became emotional because he's reminding me of everything about my bestfriend.

"Aalis na ako." bigla kong tugon na ikinatitigil niya.

I don't want to stuck in that kind of position. It brings me all the memories we shared together with Sean.

"Saan tayo pupunta?"

"Ako lang. May pamasahe ka ba pauwi?" asik ko.

Tiningnan naman niya ang bag niya at nakakunot niyang kinuha isa isa ang mga gamit niya.

"Ano wala kang pamasahe?" I asked.

"Parang ganun na nga." he answered without looking at me.

I open my bag and quest my wallet. But minutes elapse, I didn't find it. Napatampal nalang ako sa noo ko nang napagtanto na hindi ako nagdala ng pera.

“Damn. Kung sinuwerte nga naman.” I irritately whispered.

Don't tell me maglalakad ulit kami papunta sa condominium. Pupunta pa naman ako sa sementeryo para dalawin ang puntod ng kaibigan ko.

"Umuwi ka munang mag-isa, maglakad ka." utos ko.

Kumunot naman ang noo niya. "Saan ka pupunta?"

"Sa sementeryo," I irritately answered.

"Anong gagawin mo doon?" he asked again.

I mentally rolled my eyes. "None of your business."

Tumahimik naman siya. He slowly drummed his fingers on his guitar. Saka tumingin ulit sa akin.

“Sasamahan kita para sabay tayong umuwi.” usal niya. "Baka mapano kapa, marami pa namang loko sa daan." he continued.

Inis ko siyang inirapan. He stared at me with puppy eyes. Sarap mo talagang sakalin.

Sa huli ako na rin ang sumuko. "Fine!"

Gumuhit naman ang ngiti sa kaniyang labi. This man is shining like a sun. He's like sunshine on the first day of spring and I feel cast-off towards him.