Before I Die

10:00 AM

- - -

MUSIC can save someone.

Kapag bored, malungkot, heartbroken, o kung ano pang kadramahan sa mundong 'to, masarap makinig sa mga tulang nilapatan ng musika.

I looked once again at the glass door of the old audio shop before putting my glance at Gael. He handed me a cute pink cassette tape. I supposed, it contained the records he did during our abrupt interview or something else beyond my knowledge.

"What is this for?" I curiously asked.

"Uh, remembrance?" he mumbled, mukhang 'di sigurado. "Kapag malungkot ka, pakinggan mo lang," dagdag niya pa sabay kamot sa batok.

"How are you so sure that I'll still have time to listen for this?"

"Yes you'll have because you'll live," pinal niyang sagot. And for how many times, he smiled.

I had this habit of counting people who crosses my path and remember them with their most remarkable feature. Gael was actually the seventh person I ever seen so photogenic. I mean, of course, people smile but his was so... captivating to my eyes. He was as lively as the shining sun. Just like his smile, it radiated and blinded my sight. But others often say, the happiest people are the most broken ones. Well.

I smirked. "Try me, then."

He grinned mischievously. "That would be your greatest mistake."

Oh right. Mistakes. Could I create more?

I put the tape inside my gray jacket's pocket.

"Marunong kang magbisikleta?" biglaan niyang tanong.

"Yes, why?" Umaliwalas ang mukha ni Gael.

"Ayos, tara!" He pulled me again without any consent to a rent shop for bicycles near the old audio store.

He got blue while I got pink. I almost cringed upon the girlish color but end up shutting my mouth for I never paid him even a single cent. I did not have a right to complain.

I just followed his track. Dumaan kami sa masikip na daan sa palengke. Luckily, there were just few people in the market. I busied my eyes watching the peaceful chaos when he suddenly stopped and I hit his bike. I almost lost my balance but Gael's too quick to help.

"Thanks," I mumbled softly.

Magtatanong na sana ako kung bakit kami huminto pero naunahan niya 'ko. "Ice cream tayo."

We locked our bicycles on the small post leftside in front of the store.

We entered the small ice cream shop with a minimalistic theme painted with white and pink. Hindi karamihan ang mga taong nasa loob pero ayos na rin.

"Hep! Hep!" Akmang kukuha na ako ng paborito kong ice cream doon sa may malaking freezer nang bigla niya 'kong pigilan.

"You must follow the rule."

"What the heck is that rule?" I abruptly asked, pissed.

"Bago ka kumuha d'yan, mag wish ka muna." Pardon?

I crossed my arms over my chest. "Are we in a movie? Who knows you're secretly hiding a camera somewhere then you want to make a story or a film perhaps about a suicidal girl who attempts to commit suicide. But then an idiot like you came into the picture to ruin my plan because you want to show the world what it takes a day with me. Is that it?" I took a breath for a moment. "And if that so, I'm quitting this game."

But after all my rants, the bastard just laughed at me.

Para siyang mamamatay kakatawa. His face became red, even his ears.