= Chapter 2 =
I was focused over what I said to him that I forgot to answer my Mathematics assignment. He's just like the cliff and I am the sea. I can't reach him unless my waves will be like of a tsunami.
Well, from what I did, I am a tsunami.
"Bukas pa General Mathematics natin, Fayre. Huwag kang mag-alala," sambit ni Joy nang kukunin ko na sana ang notebook ko sa General Mathematics.
"Salamat sa pagpapaalala, Joy. Nakalimutan ko talaga," I replied with a painted smile on my face.
"Walang anuman, ikaw pa."
"Uy, kain tayo ng kwek-kwek mamaya, ha. Punta tayong plaza, saka buko na rin," aya ko.
"Sige!" Nasiyahan siya sa sinabi ko. "Pero pagkatapos na dapat ng klase, Fayre."
All I thought was, our next class would be General Mathematics. Well, that was what I thought before I knew it was actually Organizational Management.
Matapos ang klase ay dumiretso na kami agad ni Joy sa plaza. Hindi na kami naglinis, hindi naman kami ang cleaners, e.
"Ano ba ipapares mo sa kwek-kwek mo, Joy?" tanong ko habang bitbit-bitbit ko na ang dalawang kwek-kwek na nakalagay sa isang bowl. "Gulaman? Buko? Lemonade?"
"Buko na lang," sambit niya.
Naghanap na kami ng upuan sa plaza kung saan kami makakakain.
"Makakatulog kaya ako nito ngayong gabi?" bulong ko sa sarili ko.
"Sa tingin ko, hindi," rinig kong sagot ni Joy.
"Bakit naman?" I asked.
"Tumingin ka roon," she said as she pointed something from afar.
Shit!
Sinapak ko siya nang malakas at tumayo. Lumipat ako ng puwesto dahil nakita ko na naman siya.
"Invel," I whispered. "Stop driving me crazy."
"Hoy, ba't ka ba lumipat?" tanong ni Joy.
"Coincidence lang ba o sadyang ba't palagi ko siyang nakikita ngayong araw na 'to?" Inayos ko muna ang pagkakaupo ko at tiningnan si Invel mula sa malayo.
Nakita kong niyaya siyang kumain ng mga kaibigan niya, pero parang humindi at piniling hindi magsalita. Ganito ba talaga siya?
Pagkatapos naming malamon ang mga kwek-kwek namin ay isinauli na namin ang bowl doon sa may-ari. Afterward, we went near the road and waited for a tricycle to come over.
"Barangay Talisay po ako, doon sa may crossing sa hilltop," sambit ko.
"Yung kasama mo?"
"Ah, si Joy? Doon lang po siya sa Barangay Triangulo, sa may JR Gasul na hardware," sabi ko.
Sumakay na ako, pati na rin si Joy. Sa front seat ako sumakay dahil gusto kong maalala yung nangyari kaninang umaga.
I just can't. . . ugh.
"Dito na lang po ako," I said as I arrived in front of my house after minutes flew away. "Mauna na ako sa'yo, Joy."
Pumasok na ako ng bahay mag-isa dahil nagtatrabaho na naman si papa ngayon sa opisina niya. Hindi bale, gusto ko namang mapag-isa, e.
Pero dapat kasama siya.
Ano ba 'yang iniisip mo, Fayre?!
"Okay, okay. Sasagutan ko na lang asignments ko," I said to myself.
After everything's set up, I decided to go to bed to rest.
"Papa, where's mama?" I see a kid asking the question to my dad. Both of them are sitting at the sofa, facing the television. But the girl is sitting on my father's lap.
"There she is. Look!" As I lean a profound stare over the girl, she turns her head to me as dad also looks at my direction. "Are you willing to look like her, Fayre baby?"
"Yes, papa!"
Ibig sabihin ba nito'y ako ang batang hawak-hawak ni papa ngayon? Why haven't I recognized myself as a kid? Is this the time I was only two or three years old, the time where several memories came to happen but I can barely remember any from those?
"Even if you're still a kid, you look just like your mother so as you grow up, you'll eventually become like you mother..."
Like your mother.
Like your mother.
Like your mother.
At every corner inside my mind, that phrase keeps on making me feel empty. I feel like dad has something he didn't tell me about mom.
"Fayre!" Someone shouted from behind.
The sound of the alarm clock beside my bed, which my dad I think, bought for me yesterday rang loudly. I picked it up, even when my eyes are closed and quickly disentangled its batteries from behind.
Umalis ako sa higaan ko at pumunta sa aking mesa. Nang makita ko ang orasan na nasa mesa ko, napa-ungol ako sa sobrang inis.
It's still 3 a.m. in the morning, like what should I do with myself this early?!
I went out from my room. Dinala ako ng isip ko papunta sa rooftop ng bahay namin. Gusto ko munang magpahangin. Umupo ako sa isang bench dito sa rooftop namin. I looked at the sky with thoughts going around in circles inside my head.
I can't seem to understand anything. If dad do want me to become like my mother, then what did I just see in my dream? Bakit napanaginipan ko ang magandang alaalang iyon? Alaalang nagsasabing hindi ganoon kasama siguro si mama at nagawa pa ni papa ang sabihing: I will grow old just like my mother.
Dala-dala ang aking selpon ay naisipan kong sumilip sa Facebook. I was just scrolling my news feed when someone added me. I checked the account but it seemed like the holder is a girl. Hindi ko na lamang pinansin dahil parang hindi naman iyon real account. Anime lang yung profile picture, e. Paano ko magagawang paniwalaan 'yon kung kengkoy naman pala magiging kausap ko kung sakaling mag-cha-chat kami?
Afterward, I came up with the greatest idea!
I thought of checking Invel's account. . . if there is.
I hope so.
I got so excited when I saw that he really has an account. Bakit hindi ko 'to alam? I sent him a friend request and in a matter of minutes, he accepted it immediately. Ibig sabihin ay gising na siya sa mga oras na 'to.
Gusto ko ulit humugot ng lakas, pero hindi na mula sa bibig ko kung 'di mula na sa mga daliri ko. Gusto ko kasi siyang i-chat, e. Ngunit tila may bumabagabag sa akin na nagsasabing mababalewala lang niya ako.
Of course, he'll ignore me just like what he did yesterday.
Napahiya tuloy ako. Sigurado akong mamaya sa klase, tutuksuhin ako saka magkaroon ng maraming kaaway dahil sa sinabi ko. Malalaman nilang ultimate crush ko si Invel!
My phone suddenly rang. I checked what notified.
It's more than words can ever describe how happy I am now! Muntik ko na ring matapon ang selpon ko dahil sa saya na aking nararamdaman.
Due to so much excitement, I thunderously and unconsciously moaned the words: "Shit, he chatted me!"
Tiningnan ko kung ano ang kaniyang ni-chat sa akin.
"I love you, remember that," he chatted.
Dahan-dahan kong nilagay ang selpon ko sa bench dito sa rooftop. Nagtatalon-talon ako sa kilig na 'di ko malaman kung ano'ng klaseng pakiramdam ito. Okay, kalma Fayre, baka pinapaasa ka lang niya.
Pinulot ko ang selpon ko dahil nais kong tingnan ulit ang kaniyang message pero...
"Hala, I'm sorry. Wrong send."
+++
I would like to dedicate this chapter to @nugear for unexpectedly sending me a book cover for this novel of mine. I'd also like to sincerely thank the people who are continuously supporting my writing career.
Note: If you saw any typographical error or there's something wrong with the story, please do let me know for me to be able to revamp it. Thank you so much