Lumipas ang one hour, nag tytype padin ako parang ayoko gisingin si Kuya, ang sarap kasi ng tulog nya at pagod talaga sya at parang bad mood sya. Mas papangit ata mood nya pag gisingin ko sya ,kaya ko pa naman to, wag ko nalang muna sya gisingin.
I took a break from my work, napatingin ako sa natutulog na Ezra, mukha syang bata, nakatagilid sya matulog at nakaharap na sya saakin, kanina tinalikuran nya ako nung sinabi nya na wag daw ako masyado maging masaya kasi may kapalit na kalungkutan.
" Ano ba pinagdadaanan mo ha..." Nilapitan ko mukha nya para tignan syang mabuti. Pain. Ang cute nya matulog, ang amo ng mukha nya and he looks peaceful, Bukas nalang kita gigisingin. Napangiti ako nung nakita ko syang ngumiti habang tulog sya at nag marka dimples nya. So cute naman this boy. Nakangiti ako dito na nakaupo sa harap ng sofa parang creepy na stalker, sinampal ko sarili ko at bumalik ako sa upuan ko. Mali to Noreen, Professional ka at tandaan mo, Kuya mo sya.
7 minutes ago...
He was awake and my feelings were at stake,
he's not what I thought he would be
now my heart is thumping hard
I don't understand what this means
30 minutes later...
"Nababaliw na ako" Sabi ko sa sarili ko, habang nagnanakaw ako ng tingin sa kanya.
I closed my laptop, pero dahil ayoko makatulog at hindi ko magawa ang mga gampanin ko sa buhay, binuksan ko ulit at nag open ako ng bagong blank na page.
Noreen's guide to happiness...
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Einstein's POV
" Kuya, tara " Sabi nya saakin, nakangiti sya punong puno ng ligaya mukha nya at hinawakan nya kamay ko at hinila nya ako papunta sa merry go round. Nakalugay buhok nya at ang ganda nya, masaya ako, nakangiti ako at maligaya ako na kasama sya, ayoko syang mawala. Nakipag taguan sya saakin sa merry go round, Ng umikot sya, hinabol ko sya hanggang sa hindi ko na sya makita, nahilo na ako at hindi ko na alam gagawin ko.
Nagising na ako, napadilat na ako bigla at maliwanag na sa sala. Nakatulog pala ako dito, bumangon ako ng dahan dahan ng naisip ko Si daddy! Si Noreen! Sabi ko gisingin nya ako, Hindi ako ginising ng bata na to.
Nakatulog sya sa kabilang sofa, na alarma ako at dumiretso ako sa kwarto ni daddy, wala na sya doon. " Nasaan sya..." Sabi ko, malinis na ang kama nya at nakaligpit, dumiretso na ako sa kusina dahil may narinig ako nag uusap.
Tumakbo na ako kasi mamamaya nasaan na sya.
"Oh, Goodmorning Apo" Sabi saakin ni Daddy na nakaupo na sa dining area at si Manang nagluluto, Kumakain sya ng oatmeal habang nag babasa ng newspaper.
" Goodmorning po daddy...Manang..." Sabi ko.
" Oh, bakit gulat na gulat ka palangga? Kumain na kayo dito ng kaibigan mo" Sabi ni Manang.
" Opo " Sabi ko.
Buti naman at kilala nya padin ako, at alam nya kung saan ang kusina, naligpit nya kama nya. I felt glad and I was actually smiling.
Binalikan ko si Noreen sa Sala, she was sound asleep. Gigisingin ko ba tong bata na to? mamaya mahimatay to sya, puyat pa naman ata sya, Nilapitan ko sya at chineck kung humihinga pa ba sya.
Even when she's asleep she looks happy, hew face is swelling.
Bigla ko tuloy naalala, You were the pretty girl back in my dream. Dreams are our thoughts that could be repressed that shows our hidden desires or fears which could mean that...
No. Hindi pwede.
" Wake up kid" Sabi ko, Inalog alog ko sya. "Noreen, gising " Sabi ko, madali naman sya gisingin at nagbangon sya agad, kinuskos nya mata nya at ningitian nya ako. "Goodmorning kuya" Sabi nya.
" Uhh... Kain na daw " Sabi ko.
" Ay hala, anong oras na?" Sabi nya. "OH! HALA! PATAY!" Sabi nya.
" Bakit?" Tanong ko.
" Late na tayo sa schedule! 8 na, kailangan ka na naming picturan, tara na!' Sabi nya, agad agad nyang niligpit gamit nya." Hinahanap na ako no Aries ,kuya tara na" Sabi nya
Kuya, tara na...Ahh! Yun siguro meaning ng panaginip ko kanina.
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Noreen's POV
Nakatulog ako, ang galing ko talaga kahit kelan, kung kelan kailangan mong manatiling gising doon ka nakatulog. Tuloy, nalate ka pa sa schedule at dahil dyan wala kang ligo, at wala man lang hilamos, toothbrush or pulbo.
Pinauwi ko muna sa Kuya Ezra, para maligo because he requested so, pero ako dumiretso na talaga ako sa studio para mag check at pupunta pa kami ng school para mamili ng setting for the photoshoot.
" Bakit naman ngayon ka lang!" Sabi ni Aries na nakapamewang sa harap ko. Binugahan ko sya ng morning breath ko, tinakpan bya ilong nya at hinawi nya ang hininga ko palayo sa kanya . " tiisin mo , nag sulat pa ako kagabi I need my layout manager" Sabi ko.
" Andun si Leo, Na save mo na ba ng 50 times? Kulang pa pictures at may corner pa doon na blanko" Sabi ni Aries.
"Mm, Meron na akong special corner doon and yes nasave ko na, 100 times pa , Our model will be here in 20 minutes please ready his wardrobe" Sabi ko.
Pumunta na ako kay Leo, Nakaharap sa sa tatlong monitor, editing our layout for the magazine, pinasa ko na mga articles ko, he was doing a good job at it and I have a huge amount of confidence with my team , mapropromote kami.
" Junior journalists convention in London one week from now " Sabi ni Aries saakin pagbalik ko sa setting.
Dumating na si Kuya Ezra at nagbihis na sya sa tent na sinet up nila sa school grounds. Lisa gestured na nasa loob daw si Ezra nagbibihis.
" Paano mo sya napapayag ulit?" Tanong ni Lisa saakin.
" Hindi ko din alam" Sabi ko.
Nag tipon na mga tao during the shoot, I was monitoring the shots kahit na hindi naman ako kagalingan sa photography, I was still looking.
" Pawis na sya " Inabutan ako ni Lisa ng tissue. " Huh? Bakit ako?" Tanong ko. " Ako inassign ni Aries, takot ako " Sabi ni Lisa. " Kaya na nya sarili nya " Sabi ko.
He was doing well, parang nagawa na nyabto dati, he wasn't awkward and he looks pretty...good." Punasan mo na bilis, Close naman kayo" Sabi ni Lisa, na tinulak ako palapit kay Ezra.
" Take 5" Sabi ni Cecille, the photographer.
" Punasan mo pawis mo kuya" Sabi ko, inabot ko tissue sa kanya. " Thanks " Sabi nya, sabay hablot saakin ng tissue. " Touch up" Sabi ng make up artist sabay abot saakin ng make up.
" A...ako?" Tanong ko tapos iniwan na nya ako. Ningitian ko nalang si Kuya Ezra, Bakit ba parang takot sila hawakan sya. Pinowderan ko mukha nya gamit brush, at nilagyan ko ng lip balm mga labi nya gamit brush, He was staring at me but I was avoiding eye contact at nag focus nalang ako sa pag make up kahit hindi ko trabaho to.
" Funny " Sabi nya saakin. Pagkatapos ko syang make - upan , he palpated my wrist, Pulso ko pala, nagulat ako at nanigas , hindi na ako nakapalag he was staring at the floor. "Hmm, Normal. Bakit sila kinakabahan?" Tanong nya saakin, then he looked at me.
" Uhh...huh? " Sabi ko.
" Nahihiya sila saakin? " Sabi nya.
" Ahh...Oo ata kasi ako pinapalapit nila sayo?" Tanong ko.
" Hmm... well wala na ako magagawa doon " Sabi nya.
We proceeded with the photoshoot, he wasn't smiling at all, we need a lively picture pero takot sila na mag command sa kanya. Nag signal saamin ang photographer na lumapit sa kanya. " Mukha tayobg fashion magazine, Hindi dapat ganun" Sabi nya saamin.
He was looking pretty bored, di ko alam gagawin ko at hindi din ako sure pero pumunta ako sa gitna katabi ng camera. " Kuya Ezra" Sabi ko. Ningitian ko sya, labas ngipin at pilit, sinusubukan ko namang gawin na natural pero nahihiya ako, he was looking at me, lumiit mga mata nya i think he doesn't want to smile pero ngumiti na ako, yung makatotohanan and the ends of his lips started to arch showing his dimples later on, showing his teeth.
" Okay, 1,2,3" Sabi ng photographer. Hindi ako tumigil ngumiti, pati nadin sya at nakatingin sya saakin sa buong shoot at nakangiti, medyo sumakit ang facial muscles ko.
" Marunong naman pala ngumiti" Sabi ni Lisa sa tabi ko. " Hindi ka nya tantanan tignan...Ikaw din, ano meron?" Sabi nya saakin, sabay hinarangan nya ako.
-
The shoot ended, finally may cover na kami and ready to publish na ang magazine. Pagkaligpit namin nilapitan ko si kuya ezra.
" Thank you nga po pala and ito..." Sabi ko sabay abot ng scroll sa kanya.
" A...scroll? Ano to quest?" Sabi nya. Binuklat nya ang kulay pink na scroll. " Noreen's guide to happiness" Binasa nya. " Wow" Sabi nya.
" Yes, that's a gift and I hope that you find happiness, Thank you po pala ulit" I smiled at him.
" You're like...A happy virus" Sabi nya saakin. Tinago nya ang scroll sa bag nya. " Bye kid " Sabi nya saakin at ginulo nya buhok ko. " Bye po" Sabi ko.
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Einstein's POV
She won't quit smiling at me, it reminded me of my mom and how happy I was before. I never thought I would feel this way again or is it different? Nag balik loob lang ba to? I feel happy around the kid, she's like a happy virus or... a vitamin gives me energy.
Where are you? We're going to London to meet ambassadors
It was a text from my dad, one hour ago na at alam kong hinahanap nya ako ngayon. Nandito pa din ako sa school at kakatapos lang ng photoshoot, balak ko mag review pag uwi ko pero mukhang kailangan kong umalis.
I was vigilant with every move I make, naka bantay hangga't sa pag uwi ko, wala sila dito, baka nakapunta na sila dito o baka papunta palang sila, kung ano man wala na akong oras , nag bihis na ako ng pang tulog, nag suot ng black na mask at cap, at kinuha ko mga review materials ko.
I rode my motorcycle therefore, it would be harder for them to catch me. I only thought of one place where they can't find me.
" Kuya Ezra?" Sabi ni Noreen, she was also wearing pajamas except she doesn't look refreshing, haggard sya mga fifty times. " Uhh, Hindi ba one hour ago nag bye ako sayo...tapos nandito ka nanaman?" Sabi nya. I was in front of her house carrying my books, wearing the mask and the cap.
" Makikireview lang sana ako, papasukin mo na ako please" Sabi ko.
" Ops, wait lang " Hinarangan nya ng paa ang daanan ng pinto. " Bakit kailangan dito ka magreview? Wanted ka? Anong ginawa mo? Huh?" Sabi nya.
" Tinatakbuhan ko father ko ,now let me in " Sabi ko.
" Bakit muna?" Sabi nya.
" Kasi kikidnappin nya ako at kung hindi mo ako papasukin isasama ka nya, okay?" Sabi ko.
Pinapasok ako ng bata, she was busy writing stuff at ako, dito sa dining table nagbabasa, we ordered chinese food for delivery. I turned my cell phone off para hindi nila ako matrack or macall, alam kong paalis na din sya anytime, Uuwi na ako bukas.
" Kuya..." Sabi nya saakin habang kumakain kami. " Bakit lagi mo tinatakasan father mo?" Sabi nya.
" Hindi naman lagi...most of the...lagi nga " Sabi ko.
" But, why?" Tanong nya.
" He makes me do things that I don't want and ngayon, I know he's bribing me to take on the business pero ayoko , I will be a doctor" Sabi ko.
" Ahh, pero baka hindi naman ganun, ayaw mo ba matry makasama sya?" Sabi nya.
" Kaso ganun talaga sya Noreen" Sabi ko.
" Baka hindi, you'll never know...Hmm, Hindi mo pa binabasa ang scroll" Sabi nya.
" It's here. Read it to me" Sabi ko, inabot ko sa kanya ang papel.
" Noreen's guide to hapiness. First, Accept yourself. Do you accept yourself?" Tanong nya, I nodded. " Accept others" Sabi nya. " Forgive yourself and forgive others" Sabi nya, she glared at me right at that moment. " Yung pagkakamali ng father mo, patawarin mo na sana sya doon at sana bigyan mo sya ng chance at sana, sa susunod na yayain ka nya for quality time try to spend some time with him, Okay?" She said, you can see from her face that she's expecting to get a yes from me, I feel pressured but her eyes were gleaming. " I'll try" Sabi ko.
" Good!" Sabi nya. " No more sad songs, pero may twist eto, you should feel happy when you listen to it, what song makes you sad? Parang depressed? " She asked.
" Who listens to sad songs and feel happy?" Nagtaka ako. " Ano ako, baliw?" Sabi ko.
" Okay, I will rephrase this, see beauty in sad songs but don't feel despair? I mean ,ihiwalay mo sarili mo sa kalungkutan kung hindi man...sayawan mo!" Sabi nya. " Okay, what song makes you sad" Sabi nya.
" Seryoso ka dito? Uhh...my heart will go on" Sabi ko.
" Okay, halika dito" Sabi nya saakin.
" Halika...saan?" Sabi ko.
Tumayo sya at sinaksak nya phone nya sa speaker nya, and she offered me a hand.
She played my heart will go on sa speaker.
" Uh. Anong ginagawa mo?" Tanong ko.
" Dance with me " She smiled at me.
This time she offered both hands to me , tumayo ako sloppily still not understanding the idea. I followed, we locked our hands then we started to dance.
" Loosen up" Sabi nya saakin. Near, Far wherever you are... It was my mom's favourite, naalala kong mabuti as it resembles her relationship with my dad. Tragic, sad but pure.
I would avoid listening to it and I would feel anxious upon hearing it. But this time ,it feels okay.
" Okay lang diba?" She said, smiling in the middle of the dance. I nodded, I twirled her around and pulled her closer, placing my hand on her waist and the other hand holsing her hand. We waltzed. We stared deeply into each other, her hands were shaking and I can tell i have a good feeling about this person. My heart is at ease and my soul was happy.
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Noreen's POV
Tanga mo Noreen, this was a bad idea. I am dying, he's staring right into my soul, naiwan na ata ako ng kaluluwa ko, my legs are trembling ,my hands are shaking. Gusto na lumabas ng puso ko sa katawan ko.
A baby face, a masculine body, a lush voice and a personality that I can't define.
Show me who you really are Ezekiel Yang.
Nakailan na ako ngayong araw, ganito ba to? Kahit hindi na nya hawak kamay ko, nararamdaman ko padin? He left by 9 p.m., sabi nya saakin nakaalis na daw dad nya and he can leave now.
I was quiet, but my insides were screaming. I smiled at him as he waved goodbye at me, he smiled back as well and this was the sixth time he smiled at me.
Upon his touch I felt weak and I questioned
why won't his fingerprints leave me so
Will he be the reason for me to bargain
or will he be the cause of my happy sorrow?
somethings are left unanswered,
the blanks aren't filled, the letters are scattered
you're the one who will fill the latter
please answer, my beautiful disaster
Nababaliw na ako, mali ata decision ko, akala ko okay lang bakit namamatay na ako sa kilig hindi naman pwede to, baka niloloko lang ako ng hormones ko.
" Anak ng tokwa Noreen, pigilan mo sarili mo" Sabi ko, nilayuan ko na laptop ko bago pa madami akong masulat at tinapon ko sarili ko sa kama ko. " Kikilalanin pa kita Ezekiel Yang" Sabi ko.