Before I Die

11:00 AM

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KAPANSIN-PANSIN ang arko na gawa sa kawayang sinabitan ng makukulay na banderitas. The feeling was totally nostalgic. Ngayon pala ang ika-dalawampu't walong anibersaryo ng Barangay Santa Lucia. I saw it on the large tarpaulin near the entrance. Kung hindi ko pa nakita, 'di ko maaalala.

"Natulala ka d'yan?" I was back to my senses nang mapansin ni Gael.

"Paano mo nalamang... bakit dito?" I couldn't formulate my question directly. Bigla na lang kasi niya akong inayang may pupuntahan daw kami. And the place he brought me into was never in my expectation.

"Kasi may handaan at makikikain tayo," he shamelessly replied.

"Have you... stalked me?" I couldn't help but ask.

He forced a laugh, trying to mock me. "Confidence, sis." I just rolled my eyes in response.

"Bakit mo naman nasabi?" tanong niya pabalik.

"I've"—hesitated whether I should tell him or not but words came out before I could think about it—"been here before." Ilang taon na ba ang lumipas? Six? Seven?

"Talaga? Akala ko pa naman ma-sosorprise na kita. 'Yun pala suki ka rito pero ayos na rin. Hindi na ko mahihirapan sa 'yo sa kainan. Arat!"

"Daldal mo."

He laughed heartily. "I know you're still that person," he mumbled softly but I heard it.

"What?" I tried to ask eventhough it was clear enough. "What did you mean?"

"Wala. Sabi ko tara na! Sunod ka sakin baka mawala ka. Ayoko pa namang maghiwalay tayo yiee." Napaismid ako sa kakwelahan niya.

I followed his bicycle's track. Maraming tao ang makikita: may naglalakad, kumakain sa tabi-tabi, 'yung iba namamasyal at bumibili ng mga paninda sa sidewalk. Though it was noisy, weird but I found it soothing.

Kaleidoscope-colored umbrellas were hung above the pathway. It was a beautiful set up that was why some people took selfies and pictures. Advantage rin kasi natatakpan 'yung sinag ng araw. Though mainit pa rin naman pero ayos na rin kaysa wala. Naiinitan na rin ako sa jacket ko. But I had no choice. Wala kong ibang damit at... wala 'to sa plano ko.

Ilang sandali pa'y huminto siya kaya napapreno ako. This part was spacious. There were no vendors and only few people were passing by. Halatang sinadya na pinagbawalan ang maninda sa parteng ito. For a reason and I knew it very well. Gael gestured a hand on his left telling me to come beside him.

"P'wede magtanong?" he asked as I came next to his side.

Lumingon ako sa gawi niya. "That's understatement."

He suddenly stiffled a wide smile or more like a grin.

"Kung may Ritemed ba nito?" At kinanta niya nga gaya ng sa commercial. "May Ritemed ba nito~"

I pursed my lips and glared at him. Akala ko seryoso na siya pero kalokohan lang pala. Kaya sinimulan ko na lang pumadyak sa bisikleta at iwan si Gael.

"Hahahaha hoy! Wala ka talagang sense of humor kausap 'no?" Sumunod pala siya kaya wala akong choice kun'di tumigil.

"Wala ka rin namang k'wenta sumagot," pambabara ko. I wasn't really serious by that though, a bit.

"Below the belt ka na." Naging seryoso ang mukha niya. Ako na na-guilty at uto-uto, humingi ng tawad.

"So... rry."

But, he suddenly burst into laughter. "Hayaan na nga. Totoo naman."

Nang sabihin niya 'yon, parang na-guilty na nga ako nang tuluyan. I knew he was just trying to make me laugh or even smile but I was too rude at him.