Butterflies
“Lila?” someone called her.
Lumingon siya at nakita ang binata.
“Pat? Anong ginagawa mo dito?” she asked.
He looked troubled. What's up with him?
“Gusto ko sanang makausap si Shane," he said.
Nakaramdam siya ng konting inis dito. What does he want this time? Her friend is finally alright. That fiasco with Quinn really took a toll on Shane.
Pinagtaasan niya ito ng kilay. “Oh? Tapos? Hindi dito ang room nila.”
Medyo nakonsensya siya sa kanyang pananalita. She didn't mean to be so rude towards Patrick. He's a nice person but but as a man, Lila doubts it. What he did to Shane isn't something she can easily forget.
He fidgeted on his feet. “Sa tingin mo, gusto niya pa rin ako?” tanong nito.
Lila sighed. Pinagmasdan niya ang binata. She looked at his face.
“Why don’t you ask her? Nasa third floor yata siya ngayon," sagot niya.
Akmang aalis na sana ito ngunit tinawag niya ulit si Patrick.
“Do you even like her sincerely? Hindi ba siya rebound lang this time?”
He paused for a moment and then a thin smile formed on his lips. Lila wished nothing for Shane but happiness. And if Patrick can give that to her, then who is she to hinder the two of them? But she swore to herself that if Quinn would make an outburst again, then, she won't back down this time.
Second subject for the morning and Lila already felt drowsy. Pero nilalabanan niya dahil nasa pinakaunang row siya nakaupo. One of her classmate is reporting in front. Hindi niya na halos mabasa ang sinusulat sa notebook. Ngunit nagising siya nang biglang pumasok si Ewan sa kanilang classroom.
What is he doing?
She's only a meter away from him. Pinanlakihan niya ng mata ang lalaki. But he didn't mind her.
“Good morning, sir," bati nito sa kanilang professor.
“A-anong...” she whispered.
“Javier needs to be excused today po," he added.
Napatingin ang kanilang professor sa kanya saka sa papel na binigay ni Ewan.
“Para saan 'to?”
Did he purposely made up some kind of document?
He scratched the back of his head and replied, “Confidential raw po eh. Inutusan lang po ako.”
Wow, he's such a good liar, she thought. He didn't even bat an eye.
“Okay, Javier, you may go now," sambit ng kanilang professor.
She gulped and got her stuff inside her bag. Lumabas siya at nakita si Ewan na nakangising naghihintay sa gilid. Agad siyang lumapit dito saka tinampal ang braso nito. But then he only pulled her away.
“Baliw ka ba? Saan mo ‘ko dadalhin?” singhal niya.
“May importante nga tayong lakad.” He was laughing.
Anong nakakatuwa sa pinaggagawa nila?
“Saan ba kasi tayo?” inip niyang tanong habang nakasunod pa rin dito.
“Confidential sabi sa’kin. Hindi ka talaga nakikinig," he said and frowned.
Napapikit siya. Is he really going to keep the act?
“Pinag-absent mo ‘ko!” she exclaimed.
He stopped midway and grinned at her. She looked away and pursed her lips, suppressing the smile escaping from her face. She can never get mad at him. Kahit anong arte niya ay hindi niya kayang mainis dito.
“Huwag mo nga akong daanin sa ngisi mo," mariin niyang sabi.
He chuckled. “Aha! I’ve found your weakness.”
“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes. She's not going to give him the pleasure of winning. But in the end, she still went with him.
“Here we go.”
They arrived after almost an hour of taxi ride. Nakita niya pa lang ang pangalan ng lugar ay napaawang na ang kanyang bibig. Napatingin siya kay Ewan. He looks so proud of what he’s done.
“Let’s get inside," he said and led her in.
The staff opened the net to let them inside the area. Dumapo sa kanyang kamay ang isang dilaw na paru-paro. Bahagya niya itong nilapit sa kanyang mukha. She was in awe. After a few moments, its wings flap and it flew away revealing a paradise in front of them.
“Wow... Ewan!” she exclaimed as she feasted her eyes with the beautiful sight of butterflies. The area depicts a big garden. There’s a pond on the far end and a monument erected in between. The flowers and the plants were placed strategically. But the highlight were the butterflies. The different patterns and colors splashed together was a whole masterpiece.
“Sabi mo kasi last time, wala ka nang masyadong nakikitang paru-paro. Do you like it?”
“Ang ganda!” dagdag niya pa na halos mangiyak-ngiyak.
He let out a breathy laugh and said, “Ang ganda nga." Something flashed around them. "Oh shit. Naka-on pala.” Napakamot ito sa ulo habang nakahawak sa cellphone na nakatutok sa kanya. He was about to take a photo of her.
“You’re a bad stalker.” Napahakhak siya.
“Aren’t all stalker bad?” he argued.
Nagtagal pa sila sa loob. They took a lot of photos together. Ngunit ginawa naman siyang model ni Ewan. Siya ang naging subject sa lahat ng corner sa lugar. Nang mapagod sila ay agad naman silang lumabas. There was a little meadow outside and a whole line of gazebos. Iniwan siya sandali ng binata and when he got back, he was already holding a small box and a tote bag.
Binuksan nito ang box at may kinuha sa tote bag. He revealed a chocolate ice cream cake and three small balloons. Nalalaki ang kanyang mga mata lalo na nang magsimula itong kumanta.
“Happy birthday to you... Happy birthday to you...” he sang.
“Paano mo nalaman?” gulat niyang tanong.
“I know bukas pa pero nakalimutan kong i-change ang schedule nito,” he replied.
Wala siyang masabi. Her heart felt full. He’s so good at this. He grinned at her as he lighted up three candles on top of the cake.
“You don’t like crowds? Tayo lang nandito...” he said. But the trickling sounds coming from the hose few meters away from them and the man holding it caught their attention. “At si manong na nag-didilig ng halaman.”
Both of them laughed.
“You don’t like grand gestures? A small cake with a little candle and a few mini-balloons,” ika nito. “Happy birthday, Lila.”
She blew on the candles. Napayuko siya ngunit di niya na napigilan ang sarili. Niyakap niya ito. She buried her face on his chest as she tightened her embrace.
“Oh! Huwag masyadong mahigpit,” he joked.
Ilang sandali na ang lumipas ngunit hindi pa rin siya bumibitaw.
“Are you crying? Na-touch ka na dito?” he chuckled.
She shook her head and sniffled.
“Just a little bit more,” she said.
He pulled away and stared at her. “Don’t think about it. Take all the time you need.”
They got so engrossed in the moment that they almost forgot the ice cream cake. This might be the best birthday she ever had. She’s glad that she was with him. Lila wished for more birthdays like this.
“Hi...” he said when he arrived.
Napatunghay siya dito at agad na ngumiti. She tapped the empty seat beside her. Nasa library sila at dito niya na lang piniling mag-aral.
“Are you busy?” he asked.
Napasimangot siya habang nakatingin sa notes na nakatihaya sa table.
“Kailangan kong mag-study eh,” sagot niya.
“We can study at our place?” he suggested.
She frowned knowingly at him.
Agad itong humalakhak. “Anong mukha ‘yan? Mag-aaral nga lang tayo.”
Bumaling siya kay Shane na nasa counter na nakaupo. Napatingin din ito sa kanila. Ngumisi ang kaibigan niya saka winasisawas ang kamay tila tinataboy sila paalis. She laughed at her face.
“Tara na nga,” aniya saka nagsimulang ayusin ang mga gamit.
”Nasaan mom at dad mo?” tanong niya nang marating nila ang bahay nito.
Sinundan niya ito hangang sa lumiko sila sa kanang bahagi ng bahay.
“Si dad, business trip. Si mom, I honestly don’t know. They go here and there. I can’t really keep up.”
Ang layo pala ng hitsura nito noong una niyang punta. Maaliwalas ang white at cream colored na motif. Ang floor to ceiling na bintana ay agaw pansin lalo na sa pastel green nitong kurtina. She saw their family portrait. Nakilala niya agad ang magkapatid at ang kanilang mga magulang. Sa gilid naman ay ang mga litrato ng batang Ewan na naka-bow-tie. His toothy smile is endearing even as a kid.
Pinasadahan niya ng tingin ang kwarto nito. It’s not as messy as she thought it would be. Marami nga lang mga libro at papel kung saan-saan. May diagram pa na nakasabit sa gilid ng dingding.
“Dyan ka muna. Kukuha ako ng snacks," he said.
Napasandal siya sa gilid. Medyo naaasiwa pa rin. Nilatag niya na lang ang kanyang bond papers na pinagsulatan niya ng mga importanteng details. Ngunit di niya mapigilan mapansin ang mga action figures na nakadisplay sa isang glass-enclosed cases. Hindi pa nabubuksan ang mga ito at naka-box pa. He’s really that kind of fanboy. Napangiti siya sa isiping iyon.
“Have some.”
Kumuha siya sa dala nitong lasagna.
“Wow. Ang sarap naman nito.”
“Eon made this. He likes food so much.”
“Okay ka lang dyan? O gusto mo dito sa table?” Tinuro nito ang study table.
“It’s fine here. Do your thing," sagot njya.
Ilang sandali lang ay focus na sila sa kanilang pag-aaral. Nasa ikalawang subject na siya nang mapansin niyang seryoso itong nagbabasa. He’s slightly mouthing words obliviously while taking some glance on his laptop. Napapakunot ang noo nito at biglang ngingisi pagkatapos makuha ang sagot sa sinusulat. Tinuon niyang muli ang atensyon sa binabasa.
“Bakit nga ba di na ginagamit ang Latin ngayon? Well, except in movies," he blurted out.
“Ang random mo naman.”
“May mga Latin terms lang kasi dito.”
She paused for a second.
“Latin is a dead language. Hindi na kasi siya nag-evolve unlike English na buhay pa rin at patuloy na ginagamit hanggang ngayon. English is still developing and evolving. Hence, the world Englishes like Chinglish, Chinese English, Singlish, Singaporean English. Mayroon din tayo, Philippine English. It’s like how UK English and American English differs. Gaya ng cotton candy or elevator sa US while sa UK naman ay candy floss at lift," she continuously explained.
“As for Latin in movies, interesting din pakinggan ang Latin, pang-summon ng demons, right?” “Oh my gosh... I’m rambling.” Napapikit siya medyo nahihiya.
He shook his head. “No, I love it when you speak a lot—and intelligently. Hands down.”
“Sira! Intelligent ka dyan. Nawawala na tayo sa focus. Mag-aral ka na nga. Huwag mo na akong tanungin. Ang layo kaya ng course natin.”
“Fine, saan muna galing ang—oh you’re now rolling your eyes so I’m gonna stop now and read on my own.”
“Thank you.”
Bumalik ulit sila sa ginagawa.
“Let’s get some dinner," he said.
Bumaba sila pagkatapos ng halos dalawang oras na pagrereview. Dry na ang kanyang mga mata sa kakabasa. Napatingin siya sa labas. Mukhang gabi na. Tinulungan niya si Ewan sa paghahanda kahit na ayaw nito. Sabay silang kumain sa island bar ng kusina. After they ate, she insisted on cleaning the plates.
Lumabas siya sa kanilang open pool para magpahangin.
“Wanna take a dip?" he asked.
“Wala akong damit.”
He grinned. “Did you forget that we have lots of spare clothes?”
Pumili siya sa mga spare clothes raw ni Jennie na mukhang hindi ‘spare’. Nagdadalawang isip tuloy siyang gamitin ‘to. She folded her uniform on the side. Bumaba siya na nakabihis na. Hindi niya rin napigilan ang excitement. Kailan nga ba ang huling ligo niya sa swimming pool? Hindi niya na halos maalala.
“It’s warm!” tili niya nang mailublub ang kalahati ng kanyang katawan. She saw him. Naglalakad ito patungo sa gilid.
“Really? Wait for me there.”
Bigla naman nitong hinubad ang suot na tshirt. Agad siyang napaiwas ng tingin. Then she heard a splashing of the water. Pinagmasdan niya itong lumangoy patungo sa kinaroroonan niya. When he reached her, he pulled her towards the middle of the pool.
“Ang lalim na dito, Ewan!” sigaw niya.
Tumawa ito. “I guess, you have no choice but to hold tighter.”
“You planned this.” She rolled her eyes.
He chuckled and said, “Okay, I kind of planned this but—
“Ang landi mo," singhal niya.
"Di ko na lang itatanggi." Humalakhak ito.
“Di ko na abot!” she shrieked.
Kinuha nito ang kanyang mga kamay and rested in on his shoulders. He pulled her closer by the waist. Pumungay ang mga mata nito saka nagbaba ng tingin patungo sa kanyang labi.
Napalunok siya. "Ewan..." She bit her lip as he lowered his head towards her.