Habang pababa ng hagdan ay hindi niya alam kung bakit biglang nanayo ang mga balahibo niya sa batok.
Kasabihan ng matatanda sa pamilya nila na kapag bigla ka na lang pinanayuan ng balahibo ng walang kadahilan ay may nagmamasid sayo na hindi mo nakikita. Ayaw niyang takutin ang sarili pero nawala lang ang pananayo ng balahibo niya ng tuluyan na siyang makalabas ng bahay.
Don't tell her there is some entity together with that mirror?
She shrieked internally.
Ilang taon na siyang nakatira sa apartment at wala naman siyang nararamdamang kung ano. Although being alone does make your mind think crazy things at times. Inisip na lang niya na marahil dala nang panibagong kagamitan sa bahay, an antique for that matter, kaya marahil kung anu ano ang naiisip niya.
"Alesandra!" napukaw ang pag iisip niya ng marinig ang pagtawag sa kanya.
Yes, it's her.
Yes, it's not her name.
Pero sa hindi na mabilang na beses na pagtatama niya ay hindi talaga matawag ni Mrs.Willins ng tama ang pangalan niya.
Nakatira siya sa isang two-story apartment building at kapit bahay niya ang biyudang si Mrs. Willins.
Ang sabi sabi ng iba nilang kapit bahay ay ito daw ang pinakamatagal na residente doon kasama ang asawa nito bago sumakabilang buhay ang huli. Marahil dahil ito nga ang pinakamatagal sa lugar, kusa na nitong inatasan ang sarili para maging presidente ng non existent home owners association nila.
Minsan ay tolerable ang matanda pero madalas ay hindi.
Nakaplaster na ang isang pekeng ngiti sa labi niya ng lingunin niya ito.
"Yes, Mrs. Willins? Good morning to you too."
"Yes. It's supposed to be a very good and quiet morning before my neighbor starts screaming her lungs while making out with the sun all up and bright. Where are your decency young lady?" nakabusangot na saad nito sa kanya.
She felt her eyebrows twitch. Umagang umaga pero pinapasakit nito ang ulo niya. Huminga muna siya ng malalim at nag ipon ng pasensya bago sumagot at magpakumbaba na lang sa matanda.
"My apologies Mrs. Willins. Aside from my constant chatter that Dustin and I are not in that kind of relationship, I wouldn't dare scream till you hear me making out." The thought is unnerving. "I saw a snake in my bathroom and it scare the lights out of me. I promise to tone the noise down in the future." sabi niyang may plastic pa ding ngiti sa mga labi kung ngiti pa din nga iyong maituturing.
Kitang kita niya ang unti unting pamumutla ng mukha nito at pag alis ng katarayan sa katawan sa sinabi niya.
For all the old lady's grumpy and snarly attitude, surprisingly there is one thing she can't deal with.
She's afraid of snakes.
Nakatayo ang apartment nila sa isang developed hill land ngunit sa likod ng apartment ay may malawak na bushes area kung saan may mga overgrown na damo at mga puno. Although bibihira namang mangyari, pero last year ay may naligaw na ahas sa kusina ni Mrs. Willins at doon niya lang nakita kung paano mawala ang pagkamatapobre nito.
She know she's bad bad for telling a lie like that pero pikon na siya sa araw araw na pangingialam nito. Worst is siya lang ang nakikita at palagiang pinupuna nito because it so happens na sila lang ang magkatabing bahay. The rest of the folks lives at least a kilometer away habang sila ay garage lang ang pagitan.
"Did you manage to kill it?" tanong nito.
"Oh I wouldn't dare. I heard they are very intelligent creatures and would remember faces of people that would try to harm them." sagot niyang kunwariy may takot sa boses.
Walang sabi sabing basta na lang siya iniwan ng matanda at pumasok sa loob ng bahay nito. Nagmamadali.
She just shrugged her shoulders. Looks like her neighbors owe a good long weeks of no Mrs. Willins thanks to her.
Last year ng mangyari ang insidente ay agad agad umalis ang matanda at nakitira sa kapatid nito sa katabing subdivision. Ngunit sadyang gusto nitong mapag isa at kahit na nandun na halos ang buong pamilya ay bumalik pa din ito sa apartment makalipas ang isang buwan.
Well partly she thinks she understand her, that house is where the last memory of his husband resides after all.
Nagmamadaling sumakay na siya sa kanyang kotse at kanina pa naghihintay ang kausap niya. It took her ten minutes to arrive at pagkadating sa restaurant kung saan sila nagkasundong magkita ng kaibigang at editor na si Jackie ay agad niya itong hinanap. It didn't take long for her to spot her at the corner of the restaurant wearing that peculiar hat that seems to drawn everyone's attention. She can't help but smile.
"Jackie!" masiglang tawag niya sa babaeng nakatuon ang pansin sa pag picture sa inorder nitong kape.
Nagtaas na tingin ang babae habang ina adjust ang frame ng salamin nito upang sinuhin ang tumawag dito. Ng makita ang mukha niya ay masayang gumanti ito ng bati sabay kaway sa kanya upang lumapit agad siya.
"Alesi! Look look, the crew gave me a coffee after I said I'm waiting for a friend--which is you! How come your so hook up on Cole when Timmy is so head over heels for you? Girl, put that pretty face of yours on good use." she said rolling her eyes finally sipping her coffee, holding it by her other hand while the other one is busy uploading the photo she just took on the internet with the caption: 'Someone just happen to be hit by my cupid's arrow. *wink*'
What's with that caption? Jackie is the sweetest yet most peculiar person in her circle. Kitty says she herself is weird but admittedly said that Jackie came from a different universe.
"Who is Timmy?" she asked sitting down across her friend. She is a regular at this coffee shop so she knows everyone unless they hire a new employee which is very unlikely because Karen is one hell of a cheapskate.
The place offers good food and coffee together with the good service kaya sure syang hindi pinapabayaan ang quality at employees. It's just that only few people frequent the place dahil na din sa lumang interior nito at nasa likod pa ng mga newly opened na coffee shop which follows the trends nowadays.
She raised it to the owner Karen since sa dalas niyang magpunta ay nakapalagayan niya na ito ng loob at nakaka kwentuhan but she seems not so keen on changing anything about the store kahit na paunti na ng paunti ang customers.
She just said she don't want to spend a lot of money for the renovation when the whole store is still good and maintained well. True to her words, the whole place is always clean and well lit so she didn't push the thought more on her. She may be a graduate of Business Management but she don't know how to run a business, not even a simple vending machine so she figures she's not one to talk.
"The one on the counter with the cute dimples. He's not so tall like Cole but still taller than you by a few inches so all is well my friend!" she said cheery.
Lumingon siya sa counter upang tignan kung sino ang tinutukoy nito at hindi na niya kailangan pang maghanap ng dimples dahil isa lang naman ang barista na nandoon. It's Tam, he's only twenty years old and a part timer. Napamulagat na lumingon siya pabalik kay Jackie.
"Jack! I'm not so desperate for a hook up to pick a minor!" kung tama ang tanda niya ay kaka twenty lang ni Tam.
"He's twenty so he's not a minor and your still twenty something yourself so your still far from being a cougar. Love does not look on age dearest." she said accusingly.
"That's the problem as there is for sure no love going around. I just talk to Tam not Timmy yesterday and I may be dumb about Cole but I definitely know if a teeny likes me." saad niya at pinandilatan ito.
"Oh spoil sports! Just go and order your brunch as you're now looking like a dragon ready to flare flames at me." saad nito.
Well yeah she's hungry. It's already past twelve and when she's hungry she seems to really get fired up rather easily kaya sinunod niya ito at tumayo na para umorder.
Coming face to face with Tam and assessing his reactions of her, really, there's nothing in there.
"Hello Tam, I'd like to order the regular." she said giving the normal smile everytime they greet each other.
"Two toast with bacon and scrambled eggs, copy Alesana." he said all smiles but he did that to every customer so there's nothing special about it.
Itinukod niya ang siko sa ibabaw ng counter. "Mind if I wait here?"
"Of course not!" saad nito at ipinagpatuloy na ang pag prepare sa order niya.
"I heard from my friend that you gave her a complimentary coffee, how about making my coffee free too?" she teased. To her surprise Tam's ears started to redden.
Don't tell her na crush nga siya nito? He's so sweet he don't want to be the one to break his heart by saying no.
"Ahm, she said she is your friend and.."
"And?" she asked leaning on the counter dahil pahina ng pahina ang boses nito, she's afraid she will not hear his whole confession and make it awkward for the both of them.
"And I just find her really pretty thinking if it would be okay to ask for her number?" nahihiyang saad nito sabay kamot sa ulo.
Matapos ang pagpigil sa hininga ay natawa siya ng malakas at nahampas ito sa braso. "Whew! You scared me for a second there brother."
Nagkunot ito ng noo at ng mukhang may ma realize ay sumabay ito sa pagtawa niya. "I believe you had too much coffee as of late but I think you need more caffeine to get nervous on those thoughts of yours." anito na parang nagpapasaring na hindi sila talo.
"Indeed I am." aniyang may malawak na ngiti sa labi.
"So about the number of your friend?"
Muli siyang napahalakhak.
Ng matapos ni Tam ang order niya ay sinabi niyang siya na ng magbibitbit nito papunta sa lamesa nila at mukhang nadismaya ito but she wants to see her friends face when she burst the bubbles in front of her.
"You seem to be enjoying your talk with the kid I could hear your laughter from here." she teased already half way with her coffee.
May inilapag siyang tarheta sa tapat nito bago umupo muli sa upuan niya at ilapag ang pagkain. Malaki pa din ang mga ngiti sa labi na nag umpisa na siyang kainin ang almusal slash tanghalian niya.
"Why are you giving me his number?" she asked puzzled looking at the card. "You want me to be a bridge between the two of you?"
"I didn't give you his number Jackie." saad niya.
She tilted her head as if what she said was absurd as it's clear as day na siya ang nag abot noon dito. "Then Timmy gave me his number then, cool!" she said as an attempt to joke until she says.
"Bingo!"
Nagtinginan muna silang dalawa bago sya muling napahalakhak sa hitsura ni Jackie. Her friend was only older by her by a year but he only dated matured men.
She was a picture of a person having a constipation and she can't help to find the whole situation hilarious.
"You're on a good start Jack, you already have a pet name for him. How sweet is that?" she said, time for her to tease.
"Alesana!" saad nitong nahihindik.
Oh poor Tam. Looks like her friends preference won't change anytime sooner.
Pagkatapos ang ilang pang mga asaran at pag discuss sa sinusulat niyang libro ay nagpa alam na din sila sa isat isa dahil pareho pa silang may kanya kanyang lakad.
She was a writer not by profession but for a hobby. Her full time job is a librarian at the local library and both speaks about her love for books. The smell of paper and the feel of it's texture whenever she turns the pages fills her with happiness. Marami ng nagsulputan na ibat ibang online site para makabasa ng libro at mas accessible na din dahil sa internet pero iba pa din talaga ang pagbabasa ng libro para sa kanya. Jackie and her became friends through that when she became the assigned editor for her. They hit it off real quick to the point na she's already also part of her circle of friends and join their night outs.
"Alesi, I need to go. I also need to meet one of our writer who I don't want to meet, but have to to get my paycheck." she said blandly clearly not thrilled to meet whoever it is.
"Okay, byie Jack. I also need to drop by the church after this hoping to see Father Joseph." aniya at tumayo na din kasunod nito.
"Oh, please pray for my sin's as well dearest." anito at nagmamadali ng umalis ng makitang papalapit sa kanila si Tam. Her big backpack was bouncing while scurrying out of the shop she look so cute no wonder Tam mistakenly thought that they are of the same age.
"Your friend seems to be in a hurry." saad nito habang inuumpisahan ng ligpitin ang pinagkainan nila.
"She can't deal with cute guys you have to understand." she said giving him a look that he seems to catch easily.
"Oh. So she prefer older guys huh. Too bad." saad nito na hindi naman mukhang masyadong ininda na wala itong pag asa.
Tumango tango siya bago nagpa alam na din dito. "Bye Tam. I'll drop off again next time."
"Have a nice day Alesana!"
Pagkalabas ng coffee shop ay sumakay siya ng sasakyan patungo sa malapit na simbahan kung saan siya madalas bumisita tuwing linggo. Nag choir siya doon noong kolehiyo dahil sa pamimilit ng ina at kaibigan nitong pari na naka destino doon pero kalaunan ay nag enjoy din siya lalo na at mababait ang mga naging choir mates niya.
It only took her twenty minutes to reach her destination. She turned the engine down and get off the car when a familiar voice calls for her.
"Alesana?"
Napalingon siya at agad napangiti ng malaki ng makita kung sino ito.
"Father Joseph!" masayang bati niya. Agad niyang inabot ang kamay ng matanda at nagmano. Mukhang namayat ito simula ng huli silang nagkita. She hope he didn't get ill during those times that she was not able to visit him.
"What brings you here dear, did you attend the mass this morning?" nakangiting tanong nito sa kanya.
Alanganin siyang ngumiti. "I haven't Father, I'm actually here to ask you a favor." kulang na lang ay mapakamot siya sa batok for being shameless. Completely forgetting or rather not attending the weekly mass at kung kailan nagpunta siya ay para pa humingi ng pabor dito.
"It's been long since we saw each other. Why don't you tell me about that favor inside over a cup of tea? Father Peter bought chamomile leaves, you should try it." he said so eagerly that she can't seem to turn the offer down even if she really don't like the taste of leaves on water.
"I think that's a good idea Father." She white lied and smile sweetly but in her mind: I'm so sorry Father in Heaven for I have sinned.
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~ meow 🐈⬛
SEOLWAH