Seeking Serendipity

Kabanata 05

Kabanata 05

Friend

"Aleng, maghintay ka nga!" sigaw niya nang inunahan ko siyang maglakad.

Narinig ko naman ang mahina niyang tawa habang sinusundan ako. This guy is really exhausts me. Nakakairita na.

"Sumali ka kaya sa VBC para may kasama naman ako." he requested.

"Hindi mo ba kayang sumali mag-isa?" mataray kong tanong sa kaniya.

He chuckled. "Siguro."

I leave a deep breathe. Hindi ba siya napapagod magsalita? Hindi ba siya napapagod na makipag-usap sakin?

"Ano bang gagawin mo sa sementeryo?" pagtatanong niya ulit.

"Ano nga ba ang gagawin pag pupunta don?" sarkastiko kong tanong pabalik sa kaniya.

"May dadalawin o bibisitahin," sagot niya.

"Alam mo naman pala e, tapos nagtatanong pa." mahina kong bulong.

I heard him laughed and continue, "I mean sino ang dadalawin mo?"

Huminto ako sa paglalakad at hinarap siya, "Gusto mong sumama diba?" I asked in a usual tone.

"Oo naman,"

"Ganun naman pala e, kung gusto ka pang sumama sakin, puwede ba tumahimik kana?" iritado kong sambit.

He nodded and zip his mouth with the caressed in his hand. Idiot. Mabilis akong naglakad para hindi na niya ako kukulitin. When we arrived in the cementery, I gazed at Laurence, wretchly, but I only received him a boyish grin. Umupo na ako sa puntod ni Sean at hindi pinansin ang presensya niya. I slowly get my ballpen and paper from my bag.

From my peripheral vision, I noticed that Laurence is staring at me curiously as I write my letter and thoughts in this day but I don't let him peek for what I'm writing. Kalalaking tao pero chismoso.

Day 9

Dear Sean,

It's almost April, bud wake up! We're gonna join the VBC. Just want to tell you and say for the nth time that my life is a big mess without you. You know I feel like standing below the water. Please come back and see my pain, I feel so lonely in vain.

But hey, there is a void that I'm living through. Do I need to become friendly to this annoying guy? John Laurence del Real, sounds cringe, right? He's our new neighbor and look at this fate Laurence and his family are currently renting your previous condominium. How irony. Everytime that I looked at him It reminds me of you. You and Laurence have a the same taste in arts and music. Scratch that, I hate myself for being unconscioused in writing about him. Just remember that you're my one and only bestfriend, nothing will change that. Ily and Imy.

Sincerely,
Lauren Jean

Agad ko itong tinupi at ipinasok sa butas ng bote. I nap for a moment.

"What's that? Letter for dead?" Laurence asked me with interest.

He forgot what I have reminded to him earlier. Napabuntong hininga nalang ako at hindi siya pinansin.

"Iyan ba ang rason kung bakit nawalan ka na ng interes sa pagpinta?" he asked sincerely.

I looked at him helplessly. Gusto kong mapag-isa. Ayoko ng maraming tanong kahit ngayon lang.

"She's your bestfriend?" tanong niya ulit. "Don't get me wrong but I read your letter."

Napalunok naman ako sa laway ko. Itinuon ko ang atensyon ko sa mga kahoy at bulaklak. Ayokong marinig ang mga hinaing niya tungkol sa sinabi niya. It's like he caught me off while backstabbing him silently.

"I'm just hoping that your bestfriend won't be sad in heaven." I feel the pain in his voice. "If I am Sean I will be mad at you."

Lumingon ako sa kaniya. Malungkot at natataka ko naman siyang tiningnan.

"I will be mad at you because you don't pursue your passion and dream that I had taught you." he purely intricated.

Mas lalo lang niyang pinapapabigat and pakiramdam ko. His words are slowly cracking my heart and soul. Ramdam ko ang pangingilid ng luha ko na pinipigilan kong hindi papatak.

"But you're not her!" I almost shouted.

"Yes, I'm not her. But as what I have read in your letter, we have a the same characteristics. Siguro isa ito sa magkaparehas namin."

I hate him for being on point. I can't really get along with this guy. Madali kong pinunasan ang mga luha ko na nag-uunahang pumapatak sa mga mata ko. He's invading my privacy again.

"P-please stop." nahihirapan kong sambit. "Tama n-na."

Narinig ko naman ang mabibigat niyang hininga at ang mga yapak niya papunta sa gawi ko. Umupo siya sa tabi ko at tiningnan ang tanawin sa labas.

"You may not considered me as a friend but I considered you more than a friend, Lauren." he meaningfully said. "You're like my twin, my little sister."

"One year ago, I lost my twin. She's a girl who's always craving and longing for arts. The world and the universe were always be the highlights in her life." pagkwekento niya habang sumisilay ang ngiti sa kaniyang labi. "But in just a snap, I lost her. We got into a car accident at hindi pa nga nadala sa hospital ay nawalan na siya ng hininga. I survived, but she didn't."

Mapakla siyang tumawa at tiningnan ako. The light in his brown eyes became weaker and immediately replaced by pain and sorrow.

"Just like you, I lost the interest for living in this cruel world. Pero biglang sumagi sa isip ko na, magiging masaya kaya yung kapatid ko pag maging basagulero ako? Pag nawalan na ako ng gana para mabuhay, ano kaya ang mararamdaman niya? Siguro ang sagot diyan, hindi, hindi siya magiging masaya. Kasi pagmahal ka ng isang tao hindi ka talaga niyan hahayaan na mawalan ka ng landas sa buhay. Darkness is all around us but don't let this darkness can cover your brightness in the future." he smiled.

Nag-uunahan ulit sa pagbabagsakan ang mga luha ko. When Sean died, the happenings and situations for each day were always the same, but this time It's different. He's pointing me out that I must live my life as a revolution and not just a process of an evolution.

I hate for being how straight forward a kind of person you are, Laurence.

"You're not even my friend but you always invade my privacy." pahina ng pahina kong bulong sa sarili.

I heard him chuckled a little. "So can I apply on that friend position?"