Chapter 4 - PART THREE

Muli ay napasinghap si Arkin, kasabay niyon ay ang pagbalot ng ingay sa paligid dahil lalo pang bumuhos ang malakas na ulan. Marahan niyang ipinikit ang mga mata at nilunok ang tila malaking bara na gustong umalpas mula sa lalamunan niya.

Wila was his college schoolmate. They met at their university library. Naiwan nito sa mesa ang piraso ng papel na punung-puno ng listahan ng mga OPM song, at halos lahat ng kantang nakalista roon ay nasa playlist ng account niya sa isang online music platform.

"Excuse me? Can I have that note? That's mine." He could still remember that sweet voice of her. When he lifted his head that moment, he saw her angelic face despite of her toneless expression. A piece of earphone was on her left ear, while her right hand holding the other pair.

He had never started a personal question to a stranger, but he found her as an exemption. "What's your online music account?" He asked, looking at her lovely ebony eyes.

Her forehead creased.

He smiled at her, at siya lang ang unang babae na hindi niya pinagdamutan ng madalang niyang mga ngiti. "Halos karamihan ng kantang nakalista dito ay nasa playlist ko. I am also an OPM song enthusiast. I hope you wouldn't mind if I'll send to you the link of my playlist, para hindi ka na mahirapan maghanap at mag-add sa playlist na mayroon ka ngayon."

She then painted a ray of sunshine on her face. That could be the loveliest smile he had ever seen from a girl she had just met. Umupo ito sa tabi n'ya at doon nagsimula ang lahat.

Namalayan na lang niya ang sarili na naging malapit na niya na itong kaibigan, hanggang sa sabay silang nakapagtapos sa kolehiyo. In a span of year, he got a chance to know Wila more. Hindi ito mahirap pakisamahan, at ang malala pa, napagtanto niya na hindi pala mahirap mahulog ang loob niya para sa isang katulad nito. He just found himself that Wila became one of the significant persons he wanted to see everyday. Madalas niya itong nakaka-kwetuhan sa kabilang linya at marinig pa lang niya ang masasaya nitong tawa ay gumagaan na ang pakiramdam niya. He also found himself investing plenty of memories together with her. Riding the roaller coaster, eating street foods, watching horror movies, buying lipstick for her friends, and even sharing the same earphone because they both love OPM.