MEMORIES IN THE NOTEBOOK

CHAPTER TWO

Who's the owner?

"2 am na" Bulong ko sa sarili.

Hanggang ngayon ay hindi parin ako makatulog kakaisip kung paano nya nalaman ang adress ko. Binabalikan ko lahat ng nangyare ngayong maghapon pero wala talaga akong maalala na sinabi ko sa kanya kung san ako nakatira, kaya paano nya malalaman ang address ko eh ngayon ko lang sya nakilala?

Hindi kaya stalker ko sya?

Umiling ako sa sarili kong iniisip. Ano ba naman itong mga iniisip ko sa kanya? Mukhang bang sobrang gwapo ko para sstalk nya, sikat nga daw sya sa university namin.

Hays.

Pinili ko na lang bumalik sa study table ko at magbasa na lang ulit, hindi na siguro ako matutulog anong oras na rin naman. Kukuhanin ko sana ang isang libro para sa subject ko bukas, but the blue notebook caught my attention.

Isa pa sa problema ko ito kung paano ko ibabalik sa may ari without knowing even the little owners informations.

Malapit na ata ako mabaliw sa mga nangyayari sakin, Una kay Ben tapos itong libro.What if bukasan ko ulit ito? I thought, staring at it as if it might open on its own. i bit my lip.

"Is it really okay to look again?" i muttered, trying to convince myself to either open it or put it down.

"But... what if it has something important? or a name, maybe a contact? that can help me to find the owner?" Nangangati ang kamay ko kung bubuksan ko ba ito o hindi.

But then again, if it were personal. reading it would be wrong right?

"Ugh, why did someone leave this here?!" I murmured again. What if there's no way of knowing who it belongs unless i check?

I take a deep breath, i made up my mind. "okay... Isang page lang naman." Just a quick look

"Pag may pangalan lang" I reasoned out loud, trying to convince myself. Slowly, I opened to the second page.

As I flipped through the pages of the notebook, my fingers stopped on a particular entry. The handwriting was careful, the ink slightly smudged as if written with a heavy hand, or maybe a little shakily.

"I saw him on a rainy night at 7/11. His hair was a mess, his eyes half-closed, and his steps all over the place. Drunk out of his mind, barely able to stand. But something about him... I couldn't walk away."

I paused, already drawn in. Whoever wrote this had a clear image in their head, like it had all happened just yesterday.

"Nasa tabi siya ng mga inumin, nakasandal sa isang ref. Isang saglit siyang tumingala, at kahit magulo ang mga mata niya, may lambing sa tingin niya. It was then I knew, i had to help him"

The next part made me smile as I read it, imagining the scene unfolding, sanaol.

Hey, you okay?" I asked him, stepping closer. He looked at me, confused. Binabasa ko na ng malakas ang bawat nakasa-ad sa motebook na ito.

"Huh? Who are you?" he mumbled, his words slurring.

"Just... someone who doesn't want to leave you here," I said, trying not to sound too eager.

"Do you know where you live? Can you give me your address?"

"Sa tuwing natitisod siya, tumitingin siya sa akin na may ngiti, yung ngiting parang matagal na kaming magkakilala. Pagdating namin sa building niya, alam kong iba na ang tingin ko sa kanya. Alam kong hindi niya ito maalala bukas o sa susunod na araw, magiging ordinaryong gabi lang ito para sa kanya, at ako ang stranger na tumulong sa kanya pauwi. Pero para sa akin? It was love at first sight."

The words struck me, filling me with a strange sense of warmth and mystery. This person had experienced a single vivid moment with someone they didn't even know, and it left such a deep impression.

Whoever you are, sabi ko sa isip ko habang dahan dahang isininasara ang notebook.

You had the courage to write down how you felt. Maybe one day....

I'll find you.

Ibinalik ko ang libro sa lamesa at humiga na sa kama, ilang minuto pako nag isip isip sa mga nakasulat sa loob nito.

Hanggang sa nilamon na ako ng antok.