"'Akin na lang 'to," sambit ng isang lalaking paslit na nasa harap ko habang hawak ang bracelet na itim sa aking palapulsuhan
"Ate, ano? Ba't ka natulala d'yan?" yugyog sa 'kin ni Avi mula sa pagkatulala
"Ha?" naguguluhang tanong ko, "Sorry. May naalala lang ako. Nga pala, Avi. Sino 'yon?" Tukoy ko sa lalaki kanina
"Seryoso ka, Ate? 'Di mo kilala 'yon?"
"Tanga, magtatanong ba ako sa'yo kung kakilala ko?" Pangbabara ko sa 'kanya
"Mamaya ko na lang iku-kwento sa'yo dahil nasa grocery store pa kasi tayo, oh," pangbiibitin niya sa 'kin
"Ulul, tokis ka, e. Noong nakaraan, sabi mo iku-kwento mo sa akin yung naka momol mong stranger pero hanggang ngayon 'di mo pa rin sinasabi. Tokis, ampota." mahina pero mabilis na reklamo ko sa 'kanya
Binilisan na lang namin ni Avi bumili at nag bayad na rin agad sa counter. Mabilis kami naka uwi sa unit ko kahit may mabigat kaming dala-dala.
"So, sino nga 'yon? 'Di kita tatantanan hangga't 'di mo sinasabi sa 'kin." Pangungulit ko kay Avi nang makapasok kami sa unit.
"Baka p'wede ko munang ibaba 'tong pinamili natin bago ako mag chismis sa'yo, 'di ba?" asar na tugon niya.
Hindi na ako sumagot at nanahimik na lang dito sa couch while watching her putting everything in place.
"Hanep, tulala na naman," reklamo ni Avi nang matapos siya sa kaniyang ginagawa
"Bobo, naririnig kita. 'Di ka naman gano'n ka ganda para matulala ako sa'yo." ganti ko sa kaniya
"Daming sinabi," bulong niya habang nag lalakad papunta kung nasaan ako
"Ito na, iku-kwento ko na. Makinig kang mabuti, ha?" Sambit niya nang makaupo sa tabi ko
Tumango ako bilang sagot. I focused my eyes on her, anticipating.
"Kuya Maddix or Mad is our childhood friend. He was with us during our summer vacation back then. I'm not sure if you were in grade 7 or 8. We were in Zambales, doon sa bahay bakasyunan natin. His mom and our mom are friends. So, mom invited him and his family to join us in Zambales for vacation. Because of that vacation, I am now close to him and his older brother, Kuya James." She said
"Uhm, okay. But, what about him and me? Are we close, back then?" I asked to feed my curiosity
"You were so close! Kaya nga hindi ko ma-gets kung bakit 'di mo s'ya matandaan ngayon. Ako, even though I'm so young back then, I remembered every interaction we had," she answered
"My memory is not that sharp and the memories of us on that beach house are vivid. I can't even remember the faces of James and Maddix." I said
"How can you be a History student if your memory is not sharp? Pick a struggle, Ate." She said that with a frustrated tone
"I don't memorize, Avi." I rebutted and left. I decided to cook dinner for us. While living independently throughout my college, I need to learn how to cook. I don't have a nanny with me, I just have myself. I cooked sinigang na hipon, our favorite. I made it extra sour because I want to.
"Mag hain ka na, Avi. Malapit na 'to matapos." I commanded
My Telegram popped up a notification, Gen and Mitch are mentioning me in our GC.
genelle: sis, @/maris,r u well na? pasok ba u tom?
mitchell: sister, @/maris, wat happnd? chikabels mo nmn
BINABASA MO ANG
The Butterfly Effect
RomanceMaristela Beatrix, also known as Aris, a student at UP Diliman, got pregnant during her last 2 months in school. But she's been single all her life. Is it a miracle or a drunken mistake?
