It Started Last Summer: A One-Shot Contest

Entry 32

Naghihintay, Summer

TAHIMIK ANG MGA YABAG HABANG TINATAHAK NI SUMMER ANG PILAPIL PAUWI NG KANILANG BAHAY. Kagagaling lamang niya sa simbahan na may isang kilometro ang layo.

Notwithstanding the humid condition, this is the season when Summer feels harmonious with her heart and mind. Not only she got busy from the previous semester in the school as a nursing student, but also she'd love to enjoy this time for herself.

With her round coal black eyes, she caught a glance at someone familiar coming closer to her. Her rosy lips curved into smile as she realized it is her friend Lara.

Nang makalapit ang kaibigan ay siya naman ang pagkunot ng noo niya. Lara is smiling widely and even mimicked body language. They put a halt to walk and gazed at each other.

Mula pagkabata ay sila na ang mga magkakasama kabilang ang dalawang iba pa na nasa Maynila na't nagtatrabaho para may ipantustos sa pamilya.

"Ano'ng mayroon, Lara?" asked Summer, frowning.

"Summer, may ipakikilala ako sa 'yo," replied Lara, touching her both cheeks while giggling.

Summer held against her chin and afterwards extended her index finger. "Korean ba 'yan? May bago ka bang KDrama diyan?" she guessed, getting her looks back to normal.

"Hindi," Lara answered and rolled her eyes. "Isang basketball player lang naman."

Summer moved her hands forward that seemed to be protecting herself. "Not interested, Lara. 'Tsaka alam mo namang wala akong panahon sa mga ganiyan."

Nagpatuloy siya sa paglalakad samantalang ang kaibigan naman niya'y ipinagkrus ang mga braso at sumunod na rin sa paglalakad.

"Summer, twenty years old ka na. Tandaan mo, hindi ka bumabata. Kailangan mong mag-entertain. Huwag mo kasing isipin ang—" Lara stumbled over her words, realizing her mistake from almost opening up a topic about Summer's past.

"Siguro... tama ka nga, Lara Huwag kong isipin 'yong nangyari noon pero kasi... kusang pumapasok sa isip ko 'yon at sa tuwing naaalala ko kung paano ako iniwan ni Greg, bumabalik 'yong sakit," she gruffly stated, sounded reminiscing.

"Uhm..." Lara strangled.

Summer ran hands through her hair. "May balak yata tayong magbilad sa araw, 'no?" she chuckled to divert her sudden feeling of metallic.

Natawa na lang din si Lara. "Mabilis ka namang pumuti. E, ako? Kahit anong gamitin kong whitening soap, walang epekto."

Three years ago, Summer had a five-month relationship with Greg who she found out about him cheating on her. She's devastatingly brokenhearted, considering that she loved him so much and even took risks of not studying in the city and losing her passion in dancing.

It was when she began to write poems with her melancholic heart and treated those men who tried to woo her as humbugs. Even so the years have passed by, she never forgets that there was once a boy who fooled her.

As Summer got home, she immediately went to her room and changed her clothes. Kinuha niya ang laptop sa ibabaw ng bedside table at nahiga sa kama.

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MASAYA ANG BUNGAD NG UNANG ARAW NG MAYO. Ang mga barangay officials at mga volunteers ay nagtutulungan sa pagsabit ng mga banderitas. Ang mga mamamayan naman ay nagkukuwentuhan at nagpaplano kung paano sasalubungin ang ika-sandaang anibersaryo ng barangay. Ang mga tinuringang mag-aayos sa patron ng Divine Grace ay nakahanda na rin maging ang mga palamuting gagamitin.