Love can really drive people to do the impossible. Some would travel miles and miles, endure sadness, loneliness, despair for months or years for their loved ones. Some would defy time and space to be able to love and be with that certain person, bu...
There are no secrets that time does not reveal - Jean Racine
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Faith
"What's happening?" Hiroshi curiously asked while we were watching sir Mendez and Coreen intimately talking to each other sa harap pa mismo ng front door nila Jasper! Kinabahan ako, paano kung may makakita sakanila?! Kasi naman etong si sir Ace at Coreen e, magkikita nalang dito pa sa maraming tao.
Pero parang umiiyak si Coreen.
Lalapitan ko sana sila nang bigla akong pigilan ni Hiro, "Let them be." Mukhang naiintindihan niya na yung sitwasyon. Lalong nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang biglang niyapos ni sir Ace si Coreen at ikinulong ito sa yakap, tapos hinalikan niya ito sa noo. Nakita ko naman na medyo kumalma na si Coreen.
Yes, sir Ace Mendez and Coreen are together, maliban sakanilang dalawa, kami lang ni Andi ang nakakaalam, that's why I can't help but to get worried. Tapos dito pa sila magmo-moment. Tumingin ako sa palagid, nakahinga naman ako nang maluwag nang masiguradong walang ibang tao dito sa labas.
"Let's go." Sabi ni sir Ace kay Coreen, habang pagala gala rin yung tingin niya sa paligid. Kahit naka-jacket na si Coreen, ipinatong pa rin ni sir yung jacket niya sa kaibigan ko, inalalayan niya rin ito papunta sa sasakyan niya, nilagyan ito ng seatbelt bago pumunta sa driver's seat at umalis.
Hinarap ko si Hiro. Seeing the two of them together here made me a little sober. Buti nalang at mukhang wala namang ibang nakakita sakanila.
I placed my index finger on my lips and gestured "Shhh" to Hiro. "That's a secret. You must not tell anyone, okay? Promise?" I said, offering my pinky finger.
"Say promise and keep it!" Pangungulit ko pa.
Ngumiti siya. "I wont tell anyone. Promise." He responded with a pinky finger.
"You're drunk." He placed his jacket on my shoulders and asked if I can walk.
"Oo naman. Nagising ako nang konti nang dahil kay Coreen at sir Ace." I whined, I guess the alcohol's still in my system, bumaba lang nang kaunti.
Naglakad kami ni Hiro papunta sa playground malapit sa bahay nila Jasper. Pinaupo niya ako sa isa sa mga swing. "Wait here. I'll buy you something to drink." he said, tumango lang ako dahil inaantok na rin ako kaya dumiretso na siya sa convenient store sa harap ng playground.
Napasandal nalang ako sa chains ng swing habang hinihintay si Hiro. I can still taste the bitterness of the alcohol in my system. Sana masarap ang drink na bilhin ni Hiro.
Nilibot ko yung mga mata ko buong playground. I have tons of memories here as a kid. Dito ko rin unang nakilala sila Coreen at Andi at yung iba naming kaibigan. Even sila Jasper and Ford. I was so sleepy but I managed to smile looking back at the memories.
But that smile quickly faded when I gazed upon the seesaw. Hindi ko alam pero napalitan ng lungkot yung nararamdaman ko. Napahawak nalang ako sa dibdib ko.
"Faith, bakit ka umiiyak?" Nagulat ako nang biglang magsalita si Hiro na nasa tabi ko na pala. Umiling lang ako at pinilit ngumiti. "Here." He poked the box using the straw and handed me the banana milk.
"Thank you." I responded. "How did you know that I like this?" I asked. Sakto kasi favorite ko 'to maliban sa yakult.
Ngumiti ulit siya, "I just know." Masayang usal niya. Pagkaubos ng iniinom ko, tumayo ako mula sa swing at umupo sa damuhan sa gilid nito, matapos makaramdam muli ng hilo, hindi na ako nag-atubiling humiga sa may damo, malinis naman dito. Ginaya naman ako ni Hiro.
I just gazed up on the stars above me and felt the calm wind against my skin. Napangiti nalang ako nang bahagya dahil nae-enjoy ko talag ayung katahimikan.
"How long have they been together?" Biglang tanong ni Hiro. "Coreen and Sir Mendez." He continued.
"Almost 2 years. Since when we were in grade 11." I answered shortly. "Hey, you promised that you wont tell anyone. Hindi pwedeng malaman ng iba yun. Mabait yung daddy ni Coreen, pero mahigpit na ipinagbabawal niya na mag boyfriend si Coreen ngayon. Mayor ang daddy ni Coreen dito at kasisimula lang magturo ni sir Ace sa Crayson High, sayang naman kung mapapatanggal agad siya dahil sa relationship nila."
Napabuntong hininga ako, "It's sad how they can't show the world their love for each other." I didn't know where those words came from, they just slipped out of my mouth. Narinig ko naman na napabuntong hininga rin si Hiro.
"Hindi naman kailangan alam ng buong mundo na mahal mo ang isang tao, eh. Ang mahalaga lang, eh ramdam ng taog mahal mo na mahal mo siya." Seryosong sagot nito.
Hiro and I talked about random things for a while until I felt so sleepy I couldn't talk anymore.
Antok na antok man, bahagya akong humarap sakanya. "Can I ask you something?" Tumango siya at ngumiti.
"Have you ever dreamt of something that you feel that has happened before?" Napaisip siya. I can't help but to ask him, my dreams have been bothering me days.
"I don't know, Faith. I can't remember most of my dreams. But dreams are just--" Hiro wasn't able to finish what he's saying when our phone beeped at the same time.
"Shit."
"What the hell."
We said in unison looking at our phones.
Someone posted a picture of Coreen and sir Ace on Crayson High's site. Hugging. It was taken a while ago nung nakita namin sila.
