The Candle of Love

Chapter 16: Berliner Fernsheturm

Truly, mabilis lang talagang lumipas ang araw. It feels like yesterday, we're just stressing ourselves with our assignments and group presentations. But now, the three of us, Blaine, Alondra, and me, are already having the time of our lives. We're having a movie marathon right now. At mag o-overnight silang dalawa ngayon dito.

Last week pa nag-start ang Christmas vacation kaya naman we're just enjoying the days like what we are doing right now.

"Manunuod ba tayong Paskotitap bukas?" Alondra asked while she's busy munching her popcorn.

"Manunuod o sasama sa parade?" si Blaine naman.

Paskotitap is an every-year event. The much-awaited event here in Pasig every December. There would be a parade where different floats, usually cartoon characters sponsored by different companies, ang bida.

Pero bukod doon, highlight din ng Paskotitap ang dance performance ng iba't ibang school. Of course, our school joined this year's Paskotitap again. Nu'ng may pasok pa ay nakikita ko silang todo ang pagpa-practice sa covered court namin. That's a competition and as far as I know, the grand prize is huge. Kaya naman ine-effort-an talaga nila.

"I don't feel like joining the parade. Na-try na nating sumama last last year, 'di ba? That was very tiring. Manuod na lang siguro tayo," sabi ko.

Sumang-ayon naman agad ang dalawa.

Bigla kong naisip si Berlin. I wonder if he knows about Paskotitap.

Zephorah:
Do you know Paskotitap?

I sent a message to him.

Berlin:
Yeah. Why?

Berlin:
Hindi ka pa natutulog?

Zephorah:
My friends are here. Overnight. Manunuod kaming Paskotitap bukas. Wanna come?

Berlin:
Is it okay for me to come?

Zephorah:
Oo naman.

Berlin:
Alright. I'll fetch you.

Sinabi ko kina Blaine na sasama si Berlin.

"Si Berlin lang?"

Napakunot ang noo ko sa tanong niya. "Oo?"

"I invited Arden. Sasama raw siya. Pati na rin sina Prague at Moscow," sabi ni Alondra habang nakatingin sa kanyang cellphone.

As usual, kapag nag-overnight dito ang dalawa ay hindi sila nauubusan ng chika. Well, we all want to be updated with each other's lives.

"Ikaw ba, Blaine? Sabihin mo nga sa amin, lesbian ka ba?"

Muntik nang masamid sa iniinom niyang tubig si Blaine dahil sa tanong ni A na 'yon.

"What?"

"Hindi ka pa nagkaka-boyfriend. So... baka iba ang type mo?" Si A habang taas-baba ang dalawang kilay.

"Hindi lang nagbo-boyfriend, lesbian na? Paano kung gusto kong makapagtapos muna ng pag-aaral bago ang mga bagay bagay na 'yan?"

"Wushu. Hindi na uso 'yan. We all need the inspiration to survive our studies."

"Pwede namang iba ang inspirasyon ah. Hindi lang naman boyfriend," sagot ko kay A.

"Palibhasa kasi boyfriend niya lang ang inspirasyon niya," natatawang sabi ni Blaine.

"You don't get me. Being in love is a different kind of inspiration. Parang laging buhay na buhay ang dugo mo. You are always motivated."

"Kaya kapag nasaktan ka, mawawalan na rin ng buhay ang dugo mo? Gano'n? You'll feel like you died?"