KAYLE
Upon reading his message, my heart thumped hard.
Is it possible?
I quickly lifted myself from the bed and typed on the phone.
Me:
Isn't it because of Crystal?
After sending the message, I composed myself and rested my back on the headboard.
Not long until my phone beeped.
Cal:
Haha, no. It was a coincidence I found her outside.
Somehow, something inside me lit up.
I smiled to myself.
Me:
Oh okay.
I said. Wanting to end the conversation, I don't know what to say. But at some point, I want to talk to him more.
Luckily, he texted back.
Cal:
Ok yeah.
I rolled my eyes heavenwards! My goodness.
I frowned.
I wanted to talk more! After how many weeks, this is the only decent conversation we had.
I just stared at his message. What else could I say?
Nonetheless, I accidentally dropped my phone when his name appeared on the screen-asking for a voice call.
I jumped out of the bed and took my phone into the room's balcony.
I answered it right away.
"Hello?" I said.
"Hey," he said.
"What?" I answered, hiding my glee.
"We'll start tomorrow right?" he asked, referring to the project.
"Yup," I answered, trying to stop my smile.
I rested my arms on the balcony's railings.
"So, anong oras kita susunduin?" masaya nitong tanong.
"Baliw ka ba? Magkatabi lang tayo ng bahay," sabi ko at lumingon sa bahay nila na alam kong kita naman galing sa pwesto ng kwarto ko.
Muntik na akong mapatalon sa gulat nang makita kong nasa balcony rin pala siya ng kwarto niya-na pareho ang lugar ng kung nasaan ako ngayon!
Narinig ko siyang tumawa nang tumawa.
"Ha.ha, Cal!" I said, throwing him a deathly stare.
Tawa pa rin siya nang tawa. "Ugh!"
"Hahahaha, look at you in your pajamas," he said, laughing.
I rolled my eyes, still facing him.
"Whatever, Cal. You creep!" I ended the call and walked inside.
When I closed my phone, that's when I saw in my reflection that I'm actually smiling.
Whatever Cal. Well at least I made him laugh again.
If you only knew how many times you saw me on pjs.
Umiling na lang ako at sinarado ang pinto palabas sa balkonahe.
Humiga ako sa kama at matutulog na sana nang bigla siyang tumawag ulit.
"What?" I asked in an annoyed tone.
Is he gonna tease me again? Better no.
"Naka-move on ka na ba kakatawa?"
Napatawa siya ng bahagya. "Binibiro ka lang, Kayle."
"Duh. May sasabihin ka ba? Ba't ka tumawag?"
"Oo. Pupuntahan na lang kita bukas ah? Hintayin mo ko diyan."
"Alangan naman? Saan naman ako pupunta 'di ba eh nasa tabi lang naman bahay niyo."
Tumawa siya, "Sabi ko nga."
Natahimik kami.
Tumikhim ako. "Oh ano? May sasabihin ka pa?"
"Wala na. Sige matulog ka na."
"Okay."
"Goodnight Kayle."
I hung up.
See you tomorrow, Cal.
Just when I thought I could sleep in peace now, my phone beeped again, flashing his name.
Cal:
Where did you buy it?
Me:
What?
Cal:
The pjs.
Me:
Why? Found it lovely, huh?
I laughed at myself after sending it. Ha! Don't tell me he changed his gender too?
Cal:
No. I think I've seen it before.
My eyes widened as I looked at my clothes-these are my favorite pjs which I always use.
I didn't text back, it's enough now Cal. We'll take this slowly.
I don't want you to be hurt again by remembering me.
***
Kinabukasan, nagising ako nang panay ang tuktok ni Ate Tess sa pinto.
I groaned.
"Ate? Bakit po?" sabi ko habang naglalakad papunta sa pinto.
Pagbukas ko, nakita kong nandun rin sila mama.
"Ma?"
"Baby, good morning," hinalikan niya ako sa noo at niyakap.
Ginulo naman ni papa ang buhok ko, "Morning baby."
"Anong meron, Pa?"
Umalis na si Ate Tess at pumasok kaming tatlo sa kwarto ko.
"May business trip kami ng mama mo," sabi ni papa.
"Saan?" umupo ako sa kama.
"Cebu City, sweetie," sabi ni mama.
"Oh okay. What's new?" I sighed.
"Baby," they hugged me. "Don't be like that."
"Like what, ma?"
She frowned.
"I'm used to it," I said.
"This is for you, baby okay?" said dad.
I nod.
"Kahit sanay na ako, hindi niyo pa rin maaalis na malulungkot ako kapag wala kayo."
"We're sorry sweetie," they kissed my head. "We'll make it up to you when we get back okay?"
I smiled. Yeah right, after their business trips, they always make it up to me.
"Okay," I hugged back.
Before they left, they said something.
"And goodluck on getting Cal back okay?"
"Yeah, you can do it baby."
They smiled and said, "We love you."
I smiled back, "I love you too."
Then they walked outside, dad's arms on mom's shoulder.
Feeling teens.
I laughed at myself and went straight to my bathroom.
After an hour, I'm finally ready. Hmm, today's gonna be a big day.
After eating breakfast, I went out, with my ripped jeans and black sleevless topped with a white crop top, a satchel hung over my shoulder.
Naglakad ako papunta sa bahay nila. Ang tagal niya! Alas otso na.
I stepped out of the gate and shifted my gaze on his house's direction.
There's Cal outside, standing--staring at our tree house.
"Cal!" I called our and walked towards him.
That caught his attention.
"Morning Kayle," he greeted with a smile.
"What's up?" I asked. Hands in my pocket, standing on his side.
We both looked at the tree house.
"That's my tree house, Kayle," he smiled.
"I---yeah, okay, it looks good."
I reminded myself that he's forgotten things, and forgot that we grew together in that tree house.
"You know," he spoke. "Whenever I stare at it, images flashes on my head," he said, staring at me.
I avoided his eyes.
"Oh? Uhm, good for you I guess."
"Kayle," he called out.
"Hmm?" I answered, still looking infront.
"Look at me."
I turned, "Why?"
"Let's sit down for a while, we've got the whole day," he said, walking towards a nearby bench.
We took a seat silently, feeling the fresh air around us.
"Kayle."
"Oh?"
"Alam mo ba."
"Ano?"
"Lagi kong iniisip kung bakit mo sinasabing bestfriend kita."
Nagulat ako at tumingin sa kaniya.
He looks so sad.
"Uhm," tumikhim ako. "Cal kasi..."
"Sinasabi ng sarili ko na, baka totoo nga 'yun."
Naaawa ako sa kaniya. Naaawa ako sa bestfriend ko. Hindi niya naman deserve na maranasan 'to eh.
"Cal," hinawakan ko ang balikat niya.
"Kaya ko gustong makasama ka sa project na 'to. Dahil baka kaya mong ibalik ang mga alaala ko," sabi niya, habang nakatingin sa mga mata ko.
Kaya pala gusto niyang malapit sa akin bigla. Napangiti ako sa loob ko.
"Ayokong umasa na baka totoo 'yun. Ayoko ring isipin na niloloko mo lang ako," sabi niya.
"Alam kong may amnesia ako. Ayokong aminin 'to sa mga tao. Dahil pakiramdam ko hindi naman totoo," tumigil siya. "Pero tuwing naiisip ko, naniniwala na ako kina mama. Marami akong bagay na hindi maalala. May mga bagay na hindi malinaw sa akin."
Bumuntong-hininga siya.
"Calibre, do you trust me?"
"No."
That broke me.
A tear escaped from my eyes. But we didn't move.
Nakatingin lang kami sa isa't isa.
"Hindi kita pipilitin na paniwalaan mo ako. Pero sana alam mong nandito lang ako lagi para sa'yo."
Napangiti siya.
Katahimikan.
"Salamat Kayle."
Ngumiti ako.
Siguro, hindi man ganun kadali anh lahat, dadahan-dahanin namin 'to. Lalo na ngayong siya na mismo ang lumalapit sa akin.
"Tara na? Marami pa tayong gagawin ngayon," tumayo kami at naglakad papasok sa bahay nila.
Napatigil ako.
Ngayon na lang ulit ako nakapasok dito.
"Nandito ba parents mo?"
Umiling siya. "Nasa business trip."
Muntik na akong matawa.
Oo nga naman pala. Laging may trips parents namin.
Nilabas niya ang kotse at binuksan ko ito.
"Saan ba ako uupo?"
"Sa gulong."
Tinapunan ko siya ng masamang tingin.
"Joke! Hahaha. Dito na," tinuro niya ako passenger's seat.
Pumasok ako at lumarga na kami.
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