WP New Stories' One-Shot Story Contest

Entry 14: Send it to Him

            “Ice, you’re here. Come on, join us on our dinner,” pagbibiro ng isa sabay ngiti ng nakakaloko.

            “Thanks,” sagot ni Ice saka hinawakan ang braso ng babae na nagpupumilit na makawala. “But I am not hungry.” Sabay suntok sa mukha ng lalaking kaharap nila at sipa naman sa sikmura ng taong nasa likod nila.

            Hinila nya ang babae papunta sa kanyang motorbike para maka-alis sila sa lugar na iyon. Akala ng babae na kasama sya ng masasamang lalaki kanina, buti nalang at tinulungan sya nito. But Ice couldn’t believe that he still have an urge to help someone.

            “Hold tight,”utos nya sa babae nang paandarin nya na ang bike. Humawak naman ng mahigpit ang babae sa bewang nya dahil sa mabilis na pagpapatakbo ni Ice ng motor. Takot lang nya na mahulog sya. But there’s something in that touch that made him flinched, yung bigla nalang may pumitik sa dibdib nya. “San ang bahay nyo?” he asked, distracting himself from his crazy feeling. Tinuro naman nang babae sa kanya kung saan and with less than ten minutes, nakarating na sila sa tapat ng bahay nila.

            “Ah thanks nga pala for saving and sending me home safe,” sabi ng babae pagkababa nya sa motorbike. Ice did not bother to answer, pinaharurot nya ang motorbike nya at umalis. But one thing is for sure, he couldn’t take off that stupid smile plastered on his face. That was the first time someone thanked him.

            The next day pumunta na naman si Ice sa park with the same reason; to unwind after nyang makipagbakbakan. But as usual, he is just still in his favorite spot observing a bunch of happy people. As much as he can, ayaw nyang makipaghalobilo sa iba

 He stared at the calmness of the sky nang saktong may puting lobo ang lumitaw na halatang kakalipad lamang.

“Ice!” Napatingin sya sa babaeng tumawag sa kanya napakalapad ng ngiti habang kumakaway sa kanya. “Oy, bakit dyan ka nagtatago sa puno? Nagmumukha kang loner dyan.”

“Hindi ako nagtatago,” walang emosyon nyang sabi nang makalapit na ang babae sa kanya.

“Ows? Halika, dun tayo sa may ice cream. Ililibre kita dahil sa pag-save mo sakin kahapon.” Gusto sanang pumalag ni Ice pero hinayaan nalang nyang hilahin sya ng babae. Pagkatapos nilang bumili ng dirty ice cream ay umupo na sila sa bench.

“Teka nakalimutan kong magpakilala,” she said, breaking the ice between them. She’s right; they don’t have a formal introduction. She just knew his name because she heard it from those guys yesterday but he doesn’t know hers. “I’m Cassandra Salvaleon, pleased to meet you Mr. Ice.” Ngumiti sya at inilahad ang kanyang kamay kay Ice. But he just stared at it kaya naman si Cassandra na mismoang kumuha ng kamay nya at nakipagshake hands dito.

“Since we already know each other, which means that we’re friends now.”

“Friends?” he asked, still confused.

“Yep, friends.” Once again, she smiled saka nilantakan ang kanyang ice cream.

He should be happy because he finally found a new friend which he didn’t have before, but part of him tells that there is something wrong. How could she befriend someone whom she’d just met yesterday?

He didn’t have a fight on the succeeding days but he still goes to the park not just to relax but to meet Cassandra, ang kanyang tanging kaibigan na nakakatagal sa kanya. Hindi nya alam kung bakit ang gaan-gaan ng pakiramdam nila sa isa’t-isa. Marami silang pagkakaiba at palagi ring nagbabangayan pero naiintindihan nila ang isa’t-isa kaya madali lang silang magkasundo.

Pagdating nya sa park ay agad namang bumungad sa paningin nya si Cassandra na itinatali ang naka-rolyong papel sa lobo saka ito pinalipad. Lumapit si Ice sa kanya.