Seeking Serendipity

Kabanata 03

Kabanata 03

Laurence

Naiinis akong bumangon dahil sa ingay na nanggaling sa salas. I heard the strumming of guitar and the voices of my family. Hindi ko man malinaw na naririnig ang mga kinakanta nila pero nakakaistorbo pa rin sila sa tulog ko. Iritado kong binuksan ang pinto at nakita ko sina mama at papa na masayang kumakanta habang si John Laurence naman ang nag-gigitara.

When they saw me, they immediately stop.

"Goodmorning Aleng," bungad agad sakin ni Laurence. He really meant it to be a joke by calling that nickname but I don't find that funny.

Naiinis akong nagpakawala ng buntong-hininga. "Ano ba, gusto ko pang matulog!" I hissed them.

Their faces became more light up. The hell. Maybe light up were already flowing in their veins kahit pa nakakairita na sila ng tao.

"Lauren Jean Beaunavista, we're just nagkakanta. Kasi nga yung anak ng neighbor natin is marunong palang mag-guitar. Diba, hon?" conyo na pagkakasabi ni mama.

Natatawa namang tumango si papa, "Kumain kana lang muna, anak."

"Kumain kana Aleng, nangangayat kana e," sabat pa ni Laurence.

I mentally rolled my eyes to him. Feeling close.

Nagpatuloy naman sila sa pagkakanta habang kumakain ako. I looked at to Laurence, he's having fun with my family. In some point, my bestfriend popped in my mind. He looks like a boy version of Sean. Mabibigat ang buntong-hininga ang pinakawalan ko.

Nang natapos akong kumain ay umakyat ulit ako sa kwarto at naligo. Nang lumabas na galing sa banyo ay agad kong nakita si mama na nakaupo sa higaan ko.

"Aw, your room is so lonely na." she said while pounting.

Hindi ko na siya pinansin at kumuha na ng mga damit sa cabinet. I hurriedly dressed up before I comb my long straight hair.

"You know ba anak, na Laurence will join the Vacation Bee Camp??? Diba It so near na, I think It will be in April nu?" masayang sambit ni mama ngunit may pag-aalalang mga mata.

"Yes. But I am not interested to join." matamlay kong sagot.

If I'm still my usual self, hindi siguro ako matutulog kahit malayo pa ang VBA. Pero sa isang iglap ay nagbago lahat nang iyon. Tila nawalan na ako ng interes sa pagpinta.

My mom even pouted more, I frowned.

"Uhm, Laurence went here pala earlier. You know he's just new, and I recommended you na samahan siya na mamasyal at gawin kang tour guide here in our town," patanong na pagkakasabi niya.

I whipped my head to the face of my mother. I just plan to contrade but my mom immediately cut me off.

"No Buts, Lauren." mataray niyang pagsasalita at tinalikuran ako.

What. The. Hell. Is. Happening.

I buried my face on my pillow because of the irritation that I had felt. Bakit ba nirekomenda pa ako sa lalaking iyon? I didn't even finished my rants when suddenly the door knocks. I buried my face in the pillow even more because of the thought that It was my mother again who keeps on pushing me to be friend of our ‘annoying’ neighboor.

"Lauren Jean, please be hurry na, Laurence is waiting!" she shouted.

Iritado at matamlay akong tumayo saka kinuha ang maliit kong bag. Nanlaki naman agad ang mata ko na nasa loob na pala ng kwarto sina mama at Laurence.

“Hi Aleng,” he said smoothly. I rolled my eyes in disbelief.

"Okay, I need to umalis na ha because magre-ready pa kasi ako sa snacks niyo!" saad naman ni mama sa napaka-masayang tono.

"Mama!" I shouted. What the hell? Did she just leave me with a stranger?

"Aleng, namamaga yung mata mo, Anong oras kana ba natulog?" he said in a light tone as if he wants to piss me off.

Wow, he have the guts to piss me pa talaga ha? Gayung nasa teritoryo ko naman siya.

Inilibot naman niya ang mga mata niya sa silid niya, and when he saw my ceiling I immediately saw his eyes an awe. "Ang ganda," he commented. "Ikaw ang nagpinta lahat nito?" tanong pa niya.

“Yes.”

His smirk turned to a fascinated grin. "Ang galing mo."

His brown eyes lights up with amazement when he saw my unfinished painting besides the vase in the right corner in my room.

"Wow, Aurora Borealis? Pero sayang at hindi pa tapos." dagdag pa niya.

Oh man, I don't have a plan to finish that painting. I saw him slowly walking towards the paint and gazed it with fingers, gently. He became lost when he saw my arts, he even forgot that he's a trespasser in this room.

"Nakagawa ka ng mundo gamit ang mga kamay mo. Ibang klase." he looked at ne with boyish grin.

He's charming but he invade my own space. Bakit ba siya nandito? We're not even friends.

"Lumabas kana," saad ko sa malamig na tono.

He nodded, "Opo Aleng."

I'm mad that he's getting along with my family. Wala pa ngang isang linggo simula nang lumipat sila dito ay agad silang naging close ng pamilya ko. He's like a sun, parang walang problema na inaalala. And because of his rays and lights he slowly burn me down. That's the real reason why I hate him.

Nang nakita kami ni mama na bumaba ay agad siyang napangiti ng malaki. She's really happy because of the thought that I am going out with someone. I can sense and see it with her hopeful gaze. Naglagay na ako ng papel at ballpen dahil bibisitahin ko ang puntod ng kaibigan ko mamaya.

"Aalis na po kami tita Loreit, tito Prime, at Edhyle." magalang na pagpapaalam ni Laurence sa aking pamilya.

I waved them.

“Wait, You almost forgot ang hinanda kong snacks!” my mom said, irritately.

Inilagay naman niya ang dalawang tupperwear sa bag ko. "Take care kayo ha." paalala niya.

Tumango naman ako. "Yes."

Nakita ko pang sumaludo si Laurence bago umalis. He's wearing a black V-neck shirt, ripped jeans, and a white sneakers. He got a jolly air that causes me sick. Gusto ko na siyang sakalin dahil masyado na siyang sipsip sa pamilya ko.

Author's Note:

Happy New Year! May you have a wonderful journey for this year. May you repair whatever damage you brought upon yourself. May you overcome the pain and sorrow you'd felt from the past year. May Lauren and Laurence will set your precious heart ablaze. 

Here's a short poem for y'all from this story:

If you learn to accept the present,

And let go of your past,

And is happy for the future,

Then I guess you have won the battle of your life.