NATSU NO SAIGO NO HI

San

We all know that Philippines has only two seasons— wet and dry season. Yet days from April to first week of June are called summer break. It doesn't matter anyway, as long as no paper works will bother me for several months.

The temperature during this season is no joke. The fact that I'm already wearing a loose sleeveless shirt yet sweat is running through my skin proves that the sun during summer breaks has no mercy. The clear blue skies are also rampaging where birds are free. I bet flying within the clouds are the best feeling ever, compare to a mere human who walks a path that seems no direction but confusions and challenges.

Tsk, being 17 sometimes is cringe. I'm suddenly being poetic without a reason. Siguro it's because of puberty or something.

Unang hinintuan namin ni Klio ay isang sari-sari store. Bumili ako ng tubig para sa aming dalawa at nagsama na rin ako ng ilang chips para may makain ako habang nakatambay sa park. Ngayon ko lang naalala na wala akong dalang bag. Bakit hindi ko naisip iyon kanina? Fortunately, the tindera was kind to lend me a small plastic bag, enough for the snacks I bought to fit.

We arrived at the park tired, o ako lang talaga ang napagod. Mukhang maligaya pa si Taquito dahil nakalabas siya. I disconnected the leash from his collar, letting him goof around the green grass while I'm resting on the benches. Hindi naman siya mahirap hulihin at alam ko namang babalik siya sa akin kapag nagsawa itong maglaro.

The park is nearly full of people. Preschoolers are flexing their two-wheeled scooters and bragging their new game consoles at home. Other couples sat on the green grass with a cloth serving as their seat mat, while others are enjoying the street food on the corner of the pavements, making me grimace at them. Adolescent girls on their Sunday's dress seated on one of the benches with tables, flipping pages of books that they're not actually reading. Some "cool bois " are taking pictures in their Pinterest inspired outfits with tote bags hanging on the shoulders.

On the other side of the park are small tents for fruit vendors that present variety of fresh fruits. Another stand offers shakes, cold drinks and finger foods. While another one is a small shop of flowers that possess burst of vibrant colors. This will certainly tell you how summer breaks are.

I drink the water from the bottle. Ngayon ko lang na-appreciate ng ganito ang malamig na tubig dahil sa init at pagod sa paglalakad. I was about to open the chips when I can't see Klio anymore. Bigla akong nagsisi kung bakit ko siya pinakawalan.

I quickly stood to start the search. Huli ko siyang nakita sa damuhan na nawiwiling maglaro mag-isa. Tinanaw ko ang buong park, baka sakaling lumayo lang ito ng kaunti.

With an empty leash, I searched around the park, hoping that Klio will show up from one of the trimmed bushes. But minutes quickly passed and I didn't find even the tip of his tail. Bigla akong kinabahan nang makitang madaming sasakyan ang umaandar sa kalye. Baka bigla siyang tumawid.

"Klio!" tawag ko. "Klio, where are you?"

Some people are already looking at me while I'm searching, but I don't care anymore. What's important right now I to find Klio before the sun goes down.

That dog has no experience being outside of this new neighborhood, he'll never make his way home on his own. Isang beses pa lang siyang nakakalabas, it was when I took him to his vet.

I searched and searched, kahit saang lugar na maisip ko na pwede niyang puntahan, sa playground, sa benches, sa bushes, sa platform, pero wala. The park is small yet it feels so big that I can't find him anywhere.

I'm on the verge of tearing up and calling my sister. My grip tightens as minutes passed by, hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin ko sa kanila kung bakit ko naiwala si Taquito. Dapat hindi ko na lang tinanggal ang tali niya.

Until I made up my mind to make a phone call. Emotions build up from the inside of my body, crawling its way to my chest and to my cheeks until it reached my eyes. My visions became blurry while looking for my sister's name on my messenger account.

"Uh, excuse me?" Someone poked me from behind. I immediately wipe anything that might fall from my eyes and then faced that someone. I was shocked to find out that it was the man who's skating at the park. "I believe this belongs to you."

My eyes fell into his hands, a brown aspin with a light spot on the right eye was occupying the space in his arms. A familiar dog collar was shining, reflecting the bright sky that helps me read what's engrave into it. He's carrying Klio!

"Diyos ko! Yes, yes! I was looking for him," I said. He slowly put Klio to the ground and the dog quickly went to me. "I saw him sniffing my shoes while I was skating. I figured out that he's lost."

"Thank you so much."

"Oh, it's nothing. You're welcome."

I connected the leash into his collar, sinigurado kong hindi ito matatanggal. My eyes went to the man's feet. He's still wearing roller blades. Don't tell me he's skating towards me while carrying my dog.

"What's his name?" tanong ng lalaki. He crouched down to meet the dog and patted him in the head.

"Klio."

"Hello, Klio," say he, "be a good boy okay? Don't do that again, your owner will cry." He laughed a little.

I glared at him but he just laughed it off. I did not cry! Okay fine, I'm on the verge of tearing up but I did not cry!

A sudden thought came to my mind. The man was still playing with Klio, it seems that he like dogs too. I was a little shy to ask him but I did try anyway. "How did you know that I'm the owner?"

He stood up. Fixing his shirt that curled a little bit, containing some strands of Taquito's fur. "Oh, that? Nakita kasi kita nung isang araw. You're walking with him, but you suddenly ran towards the convenient store. Besides, it was confirmed when I saw you holding an empty leash."

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