Timeline

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Forget

I just walk freely where people go. I don't know where I should go, where to meet Morley after what happened earlier. I felt the cold wind that touches my skin, it makes me frozen. Somehow I realized where I am heading. I'm heading in the university and when I figured out what I'm wearing, my jaw dropped when everything suddenly change.

I'm on a spaghetti strap red dress, which was fitted and it's above on my knee. If I'm not mistaken, when I'm traveling back time clothes stays the same. Nakakapanibago lang dahil hindi naman dapat ganito ang mangyayari.

I headed to the ballroom hall where I was greeted by a lot of my schoolmates. Oh, yes! This is the alumni homecoming for us. It's been eight years since I got my degree. I'm excited to see them, of course.

"Calia!" nang may tumawag sa akin ay hinahanap ko naman iyon. Nakita ko na lang na papalapit si Lyke sa akin. "Good you came earlier."

Napangiwi naman ako saka ko siya niyakap, "yes, what about now? Where are Saki and Chanya?"

"She goes to the wash room," aniya. "Chanya, I don't know if she would come."

"Why?" tanong ko naman sa kanya.

Napakunot noo naman si Lyke sa akin, "you don't remember? Chanya has her night shift tonight, so maybe she would come an hour before midnight."

I nodded to him, "that's better."

"How about you, where's your date?"

"Date?" taka ko namang tanong sa kanya, "actually, I'm alone—"

Hindi ko pa man din natatapos ang pagsasalita ko ng biglang may kamay na dumaloy sa aking bewang. Agad naman akong napatingin sa lalaking nakangiti sa akin saka ako hinalikan sa pisngi. I was intimidated by him, I don't know what to react because in the first place, I don't know who he is.

"Who are you?" ngiwi ko pa sa kanya.

Natawa naman ito, naramdaman ko naman ang pagpisil nito sa pisngi ng aking pwet. Nanlaki na lamang ang mata ko sa gulat ko pero hindi ko na lamang pinahalata. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit.

"You look young tonight, my wife."

"Huh?" natanga naman ako sa sinabi niya. "Wife? Husband kita, gano'n?"

Napakunot noo naman ito, "Acalia Laster, are you with me ba? Seems like you're not." Aniya.

And so I make a fake smile and laugh, I pinch his cheeks. "Kidding hubby, sige, puntahan ko lang si Saki sa wash room."

Nang makaalis din naman ako doon ay nakahinga na lang din naman ako ng maluwag. Binabati naman ako ng ilang kilala ko sa mukha habang papunta ako sa wash room. Nginingitian ko lang sila saka kilala nila ako pero kahit isa sa kanila ay hindi ko matandaan. Even that guy who called me his wife.

Nang makarating naman ako sa wash room ay nadatnan ko si Saki na nagre-retouch. Tiningnan lang niya ako at ngitian ko siya pero binalik niya agad ang tingin sa salamin. Lumapit naman ako sa kanya at tiningnan siya sa kanyang suot na dress.

"You're pretty with that black dress, Saki." Papuri ko pa dito pero hindi naman niya ako pinapansin. "I know you're coming."

Napataas naman ako ng kilay sa sinabi niya, "huh?"