"Alam mo naman na kahit anong mangyari naandito ako, kasi, besfriends tayo!"
"Cece!"
"Hindi lahat ng oras nakatuon siya sayo, intindihin mo na muna ngayon."
"Ate Leslie?"
"What's you see in their face isn't what's in their heart, hindi mo malalaman kung sinong pagkakatiwalaan mo, and that's what make our lives interesting."
"Mr. Lawyer?"
"I'm just a tap away."
"No! Ate, I thought—"
Bigla nalang ako nagising, it's a faceless dream, it happened years ago, I just imagined them lying their dead body infront of me, and this is my childhood trauma.
"Ahhhh-hhaaaaaa." Hikab ko. Umupo ako sa kama at napaisip.
5 years has passed, pero parang kahapon lang nung nawala si ate. Ba't ganoon, mula noong namatay si ate, lahat ng tao kinalimutan na siya, kahit yung jowa niya, at ako lang ang tanging nakakaalala sa kanya.
Tumingin ako sa bintana at maganda ang simoy ng hangin ngayon, may mga batang nagpapalipad ng sarranggola, may mga batang naghahabulan at yung mga matatanda naman ay nakiki-tsismis, hayy buhay.
Bumaba na ako para kumain ng almusal at pumasyal kung saan-saan.
"Ang aga niyo ah, sige upo na kayo." Sabi ni mama.
Agad kami naupo at naghintay ng kakainin. Nagtinginan kami ni Ezekiel at ngumiti siya.
"Kain na." Masayang sabi ni mama.
Kumain na ako ng mabilis para makapag-uli ako ng maaga sa Perez Park. Focused ako sa pagkain nang tinanong ako ni mama.
"Anak, hindi ka ba gagawa ng project ngayon?" Tanong ni mama.
"Ma, tinapos ko na po yung mga iyon nung weekdays pa." Sabi ko.
"Ba't ayaw mong gawin ngayong weekends?" Tankng sakin ni mama.
"Gusto ko mag-enjoy ma, yung tipong walang project na pwedeng gawin kapag weekends, ika nga sabi nila, 'enjoy the weekend'." I explained and smiled.
"Hayst, sige na nga, basta papayagan kita hanggang 5." Sabi ni mama. Pumayag ako at tumaas na para maligo.
Mga ilang minuto din ako naligo, mga 15‐30 minutes? So, dali-dali akong naghanda palabas para i-enjoy ang nalalabing oras ko bago mag-Monday ulit.
"Bye ma!" Sabi ko.
"Oh sige, baka naman pagbalik mo may jowa ka na." Sabi ni mama na parang may tawa ng witch.
"Ate pati yung pasalubong ko!" Sigaw ni Ezekiel.
"Oo na," sabi ko. "Bye na."
Nag-abang ako ng tricycle papuntang Perez Park. Tumingin-tingin ako at yes, sa sobrang inip ko, naglakad nalang ako pa-akyat, ang hirap pa naman ng ganito.
Naglakad ako kung saan-saan na para ba akong si Dora the Explorer na walang nagsasalitang bag—o nagsasalitang mapa (exclude natin si Google).
Pumunta ako sa Cathedral and I prayed, it's a regular Sunday and we always pray in the morning. Once I was done, I kneeled down and went out.
Naisipan kong pumunta sa SM, kaso sarado pa pala yun, so wala akong choice kung hindi pumunta muna sa Perez Park. Nag-abang na ako ng jeep at nakasakay sa unang jeep (kasi kadalasan ay sa hapon dumadagsa ang tao, antok pa daw sila sa umaga eh).
Nagbayad na ako ng 9 pesos para sa biyahe at nag-enjoy sa ride. Nag-sign of the cross ulit ako sa Cathedral Church and umarangkada na yung jeep.
May mga batang sumakay, mga matatanda, at siyempre hindi magpapatalo yung mga pasaherong maraming dala sa biyahe. Marami nang bumaba bago pa nakapunta sa Perez Park yung jeep, at nalaman ko lang na kakaunti lang pala ang bababa sa Perez Park. Bumaba na ako pagkadating ng jeep sa kapitolyo.
Unknown POV
"I'm here, it's fine Alesia." Sabi ko.
"Takot ako!" Alesia said, sabay umiyak na siya.
"Okay lang yan, aww, gusto mo bang samahan kita?" I asked. Tumango si Alesia at ginabayan ko siya pababa.
"Oh diba, hindi naman nakakatakot." I said.
"Can I try one more time?" Alesia asked, tumango naman ako and we slide a couple more times, sino pa naman ang hindi papayag diba?
"Gusto ko naman sa merry-go-round! Please?" Sabi niya.
"Huh? Sige, okay lang naman." Sabi ko at sinundan ko siya papunta sa merry-go-round.
Ako nga pala si Emmie, pero ang tawag sakin ni Alesia ay Christie. Si Alesia, anak siya ng kaaway ko, funny, right? Pinunta ko si Alesia, hindi si Margarette, multuhin ko pa yan eh.
"Christie?" Sabi ni Alesia.
"Coming," I said. "I can't make the merry-go-round twirl, but I can sit with you here."
"Okie." Sabi ni Alesia at tinawag niya si Aiden.
"Daddy! Can you make the merry-go-round twirl?" Rinig kong tanong ni Alesia.
"Okay, hold on tight." Sabi niya at umikot yung merry-go- round na hindi ko mandin alam.
"Yay!" Sabi niya.
"Ang bilis!" Sabi ko.
"That's what makes it fun! Faster faster!" Sabi ni Alesia at umikot at umikot ang paligid ko.
And 'yung daddy ni Alesia? Pangalan niya ay si Aiden, ang pogi niya kahit may anak na, his wild and spiky hair still remained the same, his bright hazel brown eyes, and his manly body, but he became humble and strong-willed after Alesia was born.
Ilang segundo pa at tumigil na rin ang pag-ikot. Bumaba na ako at may nakita akong babae. Pamilyar siya at parang nakasama ko na siya—si Kira ba yun?
"Mommy let's go and play!" I heard Alesia said.
"Later anak, I'm busy." Margarette said.
"Tama na yan, dali na, kaya nga pumunta tayo diba?" Sabi ni Aiden.
Tumingin si Margarette kay Aiden and she rolled her eyes on him.
"Okay fine." She said with a straight face, not interested with anything about her daughter.
I focused to the girl sitting on the bench, I neared her and it is Kira. She was looking at the family, with a bit of sorrow in her eyes.
"What have I done?" She asked herself.
"It's not your fault." Bulong ko.
Kira POV
"Ate Kira!" A voice shouted.
"Oh hey!" I said when I realized it was Alesia.
"Watcha doin'?" She asked.
"Oh, nothing, just came here to enjoy the morning." I said.
"What are those?" She said, looking at my notebook. Na-realize ko lang na pictures 'yun ni ate Emmie kasama ako.
"Nothing, just remembering something." I said as I bit my lower lip.
"A secret huh?" She said. "Anyway, kailan daw po kayo pupunta sa bahay?"
"Maybe when both of your parents are busy." I said and smiled. She smiled back and waved her tiny hands as farewell.
Ang lungkot naman nito, tiningnan ko yung oras sa cellphone ko, 9 na pala, isang oras nalang pwede na ako pumuntang SM.
Naglakad-lakad ako sa buong Perez Park para naman mapagod ako at may magawa, syempre featuring ang playlist ko.
Tumingin ako sa mga sign na nakapaligid sa Perez Park. Iba-iba siya, ang weird, pero yung naalala ko talaga ay itong nakasulat:
You'll sleep in a dream where you can fix your sister's past.
Ang weird tapos tumingin ako sa playlist ko, lahatng songs ay sabi "5:00 am" and then sa music ko may bigla akong narinig na parang wala sa kanta.
Wake up now where you can see—a dream that fixes her past.
Wala na akong ginawa, at ayun, 9:30 naman na, so tinabi ko na yung cellphone at earphones ko at umalis na sa park. Habang naglalakad ako, nakita ko si kuya Aiden at si Margarette kasama si Alesia. Ang saya nila, samantala nakalimutan ni kuya Aiden si ate Emmie.
Sumakay na ako sa tricycle papunta sa bayan ulit para makahanap ng masasakyang jeep papuntang SM. Ang haba ng biyahe, wala naman akong ginawa, so, pagkababa ko, naglakad na ako papuntang Russel at naghanap ng jeep na masasakyan. Sumakay ako sa jeep na medyo puno na para umalis na agad.
Hindi ko na babanggitin yung biyahe ko, basta at least nakarating na ako sa SM na bagong bukas palang.
Bumili ako ng fries, drinks at kung ano-ano pa ang gusto kong bilhin, nanood ng movie, and naglaro sa arcade (kung tutuusin ang tagal kong naglaro doon).
"Score! Sabi ko na nga ba eh, isa pang tira." Bulong ko sa sarili ko.
At nung 'naubusan' na ako ng pera, tumigil na ako at binigay ko sa counter para ilagay sa counting machine.
"5,689 po mam, ano po gusto niyong kunin?" Tanong nung kahera.
Nagulat ako at nag-isip ako kung anong gusto ko, and at the end ang kinuha ko yung ballpen na may cute na animal sa loob nung lalagyan sa opposite end (actually 2 kinuha ko, 960 kasi isa nun).
Since around 3,000 ang natira pang tickets, ang ginawa ko ay tumingin sa selection ng mga panlalaki na toys (ibibigay ko yun kay Ezekiel eh).
"Ate, yung remote-control na car." Sabi ko.
Kinuha nung kahera yung car, so pinili ko ay yellow. 3,410 ang isang car, so, kinuwenta ko ulit at may natira pa akong 359 tickets. Guess what? Inubos ko yun sa pagkain, like lahat-lahat, and BOOM! Nagulat yung kasunod ko sa pila, andami ko daw nakuha sa ganoong karaming tickets, but speaking of marami, naawa sakin yung kahera at binigyan niya ako ng bag, swerte ko talaga.
Umalis na ako at pumuntang McDo. Kakaunti palang ang mga kumakain doon kaya madali akong nakakuha ng pagkain ko. Umagang-umaga, ang daming nahakot sa mga arcade games. Kumain na ako at nag-uli sa buong mall, bumili ng ice cream, sumakay sa SM train and kung ano-ano pa.
I roamed around a bit more and I found Netopia, umm, ano siya, para siyang sosyal na pisonet sa barangay niyo, pero ang pinagkaiba ay nasa mall nga lang ito.
Emmie POV
I watched them happily, trying not to break my heart. I saw Alesia staring at me. I wiped my tears and walked towards her.
"You look sad Christie." She said.
"No it's nothing Alesia, do you want to play in the swing naman?" I asked.
"Pero sad ka talaga." Alesia said.
"No don't worry, I'm fine." I said. She agreed and pumunta kami sa swing.
"So, what's the main reason why you cry?" She asked a few moments later.
"For me, sadness is a general emotion, sometimes you cry because your happy, sometimes you fear something, or may galit ka and minsan na-aasar ka that maiiyak ka nalang." I said.
"But how would you know without asking anyone?" She asked.
"It depends how you know the person." I said and wore this neutral-mad face na pang-asar.
"I'm not sabotaging okay? Just asking." She shyly said and napansin niya yung pagkagalit ko.
We went silent for a while. I was thinking to let her keep it a secret, maybe she'll tell Aiden about this.
"Won't you tell your father about this?" I asked.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"About this conversation." I said.
"Shall we keep it a secret?" She asked again. I nodded and she agreed.
We went silent for another moment, I was looking at the sky, it was blue, a nice shade of blue. I looked at her, smiling, I just thought that I have a daughter of my own, even if it takes my life to know her.
"What now?" Alesia asked.
"I don't know." Sabi ko.
"You knew my family already, how about let's talk about yours." She said.
"Good idea, what do you want to ask me?" I said.
"Do they visit you in your place?" She asked. That hit me hard, knowing na hindi na ako kilala ng mga magulang ko, si Kira nalang.
"Yes, they visit me, sometimes nakikita ko sila with my favorite foods." I lied.
"Ohh, that's nice of them to do." She replied.
We talked about more of my family and it all went good until Aiden approached Alesia.
"Alesia, come on! Let's go na." He said.
"Okie daddy," she said. "Christie come on!"
Pumayag na ako at sinundan ko sila pauwi. Iniisip ko pa rin kung ano ang ginagawa ni Kira ngayon, hindi ko na kasi siya nakita kanina eh.
Kira POV
It was 1:00 pm already, so ang ginawa ko, nag-uli ako for the last time at naghanap na ng palabas ng SM, ang crowded kasi hapon na.
Napapalingon ako kung saan-saan kaya mas natagalan ako sa SM. At last, nakalabas na din ako sa SM. Naglakad ako papuntang terminal at naghanap ng jeep na papuntang bayan. Pumila pa ako sa may parking lot ng jeep para makasakay at nakaraos din din naman, dahil nakasakay ako na may madaming dala (buti nalang may eco-bag ako).
Ilang minuto rin ako nakasakay at nagsisiksikan kami sa jeep, edi ang sakit ng pwet ko. Phew, buti nalang nakarating na ako sa may tapat ng Jolibee. Bumaba na ako at naglakad pauwi.
Madami akong nakasalubong, may mga bata pa ring naglalaro, may mga nakikitsismis sa mga kapit-bahay, at alam mo na, yung mga kapit-bahay mong 'mayaman', hindi naman sa ayoko sa mga mayayaman na tao, eh yung ingay 'pag nagrerenovate sila ng bahay o nagpapa-upgrade ng Wi-Fi, and marami pang iba na maiisip mo na pwedeng i-upgrade.
"Ma! Pa! Nandito na ako." Sabi ko and I walked into the house. Nagbeso ako sa kanila and dropped some things at inawlas ko 'yung ibang gamit.
"Aba, narito na naman ang unica hija." Sabi ni mama. "Anong ginawa mo?"
"Pumunta po sa park, and I saw the girl who got lost last festival." I said while putting all the food on the table.
"Ate anong pangalan niya?" Biglang tanong ni Ezekiel.
"Ba't mo naman natanong? Feeling mo maganda siya ano? Hmm, wag muna magjowa." Asar ko.
"Ma!"
"Tama naman 'yung ate mo, salamat pala sa pasalubong Kira." Sabi ni mama. Ngumiti ako sa kanya at umakyat na.
"Hayy, Monday ulit bukas." I said. I breathe in and out and went to open my notebook, when...
"Wow ate! Thank you!" May sumigaw. Si Ezekiel pala yun, bumaba ako at nakita ko na nilalaro niya yung remote control car na nakuha ko sa arcade.
"Maliit na bagay," sigaw ko. "Ma, nga pala, may tinapay at softdrinks po diyan."
"Aha! Salamat Kira, ang sweet mo naman." Sigaw din ni mama. Ngumiti ako sa sarili ko at nagbasa na ulit.
Habang umaakyat ako, nakalimutan ko yung gagawin ko, so, habang pataas ako, tumingin-tingin ako at ayun na nga, nakalimutan ko na.
"Hayy buhay, advanced good morning Monday." Sabi ko and nagbasa na ako ng Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows.
I spent my time reading and reading, until I heard something fell. I peeked, and it was my notebook that fell.
"Kain na!" Sigaw ni mama. I looked at the time and it's 5:30 pm, I went down and saw my mom's delicious dinner.
Buti nalang walang bisita si mama ngayon, kasi I'm the type of person na mas gusto mapag-isa kaysa maki-halubiro sa ibang tao.
"Oh kain na." Sabi ni mama. Pumunta na ako sa dining table at kumain ng mabilis para maaga akong matulog.
"Mhmm, Ezekiel, mamaya na yan, kain muna." Sabi ni mama.
Kumuha na ako ng kanin at ulam and I started to eat. Napapaisip pa rin ako, yung tipong dinala ka na sa outer space, isipin ko lang na buhay pa si ate Emelie, I felt that I'm getting sicker and sicker everyday, even though my days on Earth are just going fine.
"Saan mo naman pala nakuha yung mga tinapay at softdrinks?" She asked again.
"Sa arcade po." I said with a slight of shyness in my voice, knowing she'll say I'm too old for it, basta walang edad-edad sa akin 'yan.
"Okay lang naman yun, ano nga?" Sabi ni mama. Ngumiti ako and I don't understand kung mahihiya ba ako o magpapasalamat sa 'papuri' niya.
Napansin ko na wala na pala akong makuha sa plate ko, kaya tumayo na ako at naghugas ng sarili kong pinggan at yung kutsara't tinidor.
"Uhmm, taas na po ako ha?" Sabi ko pagkatapos kong hugasan yung pinggan at mga utensils ko.
"Sige anak, okay lang." Sabi ni mama.
Tumaas na ako at inisip ko yung tungkol sa araw na 'to. Pagkabukas ko ng kwarto ko, nawawala yung Harry Potter book ko.
"Huh? Nasaan na yun? Iniwan ko lang yun dito ah." Bulong ko.
Sinarado ko na yung pinto at nakita ko sa side table ko yung libro. Ang weird, pero imposible naman na si Ezekiel yung nagtabi nito.
Umupo ako sa kama at antok na antok. Papikit na ako nang may makita akong lumipad. Binuksan ko yung mga mata ko at nakita yung isang papel na nilipad ng hangin.
"Papel lang pala." Sabi ko at humiga na ako.
May narinig pa akong rustles ng papers, bumangon ulit ako at may nakita akong magic. Pagkatapos buksan lahat ng pages ng notebook ko, nakita kong kusang napunit.
"What?! No! My thesis!" Alinlangang sabi ko.
At ayun na nga, nagliparan lahat ng mga papel at pumalibot sila sa akin. Nairita ako at kumuha nalang ng mga papel na makukuha.
Yung unang papel ay may nakaguhit na hour glass na gumagalaw, parang illusion.
A miracle in time.
5:00 am Sunday, June 3, 2007.
When I read the third paper, all those illusions stopped. It was over, but I still don't get it. What could this possibly mean? Well, it's from my miscellaneous notebook, I drew an hour glass and sometimes using it as a diary, a d sometimes, my scratch for my thesis, so maybe it's just an illusion of my writings.
Hindi ko na masyadong pinansin yung mga papel at natulog nalang ako.
Emmie POV
"Okay tulog na Alesia." Sabi ko.
"Pwede po bang samahan niyo ako," Tanong ni Alesia. "Please, dali na po."
"Mhmm, okay, let's go na." I said at pumunta na kami sa kwarto niya.
"Do you want me to tell you a story?" I asked.
"Yes please!" Sabi ni Alesia. Tumango ako at nagsimula na akong magkwento.
"There once was a girl who drramed to be a princess and enjoy her life as if it was perfect." I started.
"One day, she found herself inside a forest, she was lost and scared. She walked into the forest and a big bad wolf came into her!"
"But then, a mighty prince came there to save her. They introduced themselves and the prince brought the girl into his castle."
"They spent their time together until they grew up and had children. Her life was perfect, she had her one true love, a happy family and a big house to live in."
"Then, what happened? It doesn't have any conflicts at all, tell me the ending." Alesia whispered.
"In the end, the girl woke up. It was a dream, a fairytale dream, she saw the world full of danger, there was no good house or a happy family at all. Life isn't Disney Alesia, remember that." I finished.
"So in real life, there isn't any princess, nor prince? So the world isn't perfect right?" She asked. I nodded and kissed her forehead.
"Come on Alesia, tulog na, you have a big day tomorrow, you'll see your friends again, come on." I said.
Instead of covering herself in a blanket, she stared at me, confused. I thought of what she is thinking, but I can't get to her point.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Christie, do you know ate Kira?" She asked.
Nagulat ako, like where did she meet my sister? How come she would come up with this question I don't wanna talk about.
"Why?" I said.
"Well, if you were wondering, I met her in the mall, I was lost that time and she helped me find mommy and daddy." She said. What? How come she knew I want an answer to my question?
"And?"
"We were friends after she helped me. A while ago, I just saw her rummaging in her notebook and saw some pictures of you." She explained.
I didn't do anything, I just gave her a small smile and kissed her in the forehead.
"Good night na, come on, I'll sleep with ya." I said.
"You're not answering my question yet." She said.
"I'll tell you tomorrow." Sabi ko para matahimik na muna ang gabi.
"Please?" She said and made a pitiful face, naawa ako, but I can't tell her Kira's my sister. Maybe I can trust her with this.
"Okay, fine." I said. "But don't tell this to anyone."
"Okay, just go on!" She said, very interested with what I'll say.
"She was my sister when I was still alive."
She covered her mouth, and looked forward. I can't see her reaction, but I knew she was shocked.
"Sister? Alive? Human?" She said, almost stuttering. "And she looks like you!"
"Alesia, go to sleep." A voice said, I knew it was her father right away, I haven't warned her to be quiet, what a bad friend I am.
"Yeah, calm down, I' not a bad person." I said. "You're parents can hear you too."
"Yeah, you're not." Alesia said. "It's just surprising, you lived."
"I understand." I said while nodding and scooched over to her side and to sleep.
"Hey, wait, Christie don't sleep!"
"Any more questions?"
"Just kidding, I need to sleep early, just stay with me through the night." She said and went to sleep.
"Good night."
"Nighty."
"Sa minsang pagbali ng hangin, hinila patungo sa akin, tanging ika'y iibiging wagas.... at buo."
Ikaw lang talaga hanggang sa huli Aiden.