Glimpses of Yesterday (Isla Contejo #2)

Chapter 3

PINAGMAMASDAN ko nang mabuti ang bawat nadadaanan namin ni Arsen. He was introducing every place to me by its history, reputation, and how popular it was. We stopped at a park and both sat a bench near a tree. May kids sa paligid na naglalaro. Ang iba naman ay naglalakad-lakad lang.

A dry leaf swayed its way towards my direction. It landed on my lap but since the wind was blowing harshly, it didn't stay there for long. Nagsasayawan ang mga puno na mas lalo lang nagbibigay buhay sa buong park. Sa pinakagitna ay may malaking fountain.

"This place looks so peaceful, 'no? Ngayon ko lang na-realize," I said to Arsen.

On the side of my eye, I saw him turned his gaze at me.

"This park? Yeah, it's relaxing."

I chuckled. "No. I mean... the whole Isla Contejo."

I turned to look at him. Napangiti ako nang maabutan ko siyang nakatitig sa akin. His jaw moved a little before averting his gaze.

"Mas kaunti lang naman kasi ang populasyon dito kaysa sa ibang mga lugar katulad ng Maynila," sagot pa niya.

Napatango-tango ako. "Well, buti na lang ay may house kami rito. I don't like din sa Manila, e."

Bumakas ang maliit na ngiti sa mga labi niya na para bang may nakakatawa. Tiningnan niya muli ako.

"Have you been in Manila?"

"Yeah. When we stayed here when I was a little, we visited Manila rin. I didn't like there. Lots of pollution. Crowded places. It looked magulo. Is it still the same?"

Tumango siya, "I think so. I'll see when I go there."

Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ko at mas tinitigan siya nang matagal. Nanatili lang din naman ang malambot niyang mga mata sa akin.

"Pupunta ka ro'n? Why?"

"Doon ako mag-aaral ng college. As much as I want to stay here, I can't. Good universities are mostly in Manila, so..." He shrugged.

Umawang ang bibig ko at mabagal na napatango. I didn't know but it seemed like something pinched my heart. I suddenly felt sad that my new found friend would eventually leave.

"So... you'll only be here this summer?" tanong ko pa.

"Uh-huh." He nodded. "But I'll visit once in a while when the school starts. The Contejos are here and some of my friends."

Kumunot ulit ang noo ko. "The Contejos? That's the name of this place, right?"

"Uh... yeah." He smiled a bit awkwardly. "They named this place as their own after their ancestors bought this whole province a lot of decades ago."

"Oh." Fascination enveloped my expression. "Where are they, then? Are they still here?"

"Uhm—"

"Uy, Arsen!" naputol ang dapat sasabihin ni Arsen nang may tumawag sa kaniya.

Lumapit sa direksyon namin ang tatlong lalaki na mukhang kasing-edad lang din namin. Ang isa ay may hawak na bola ng basketball. They looked at me for a while before turning their eyes back to Arsen to give him a smirk.

"Nandito ka lang pala, p're! Nagpunta kami sa inyo para yayain kang mag-basketball kaso wala ka naman do'n."

Arsen chuckled. "Kakalaro lang natin noong isang araw, Jenneson. Hindi ka ba nagsasawa sa basketball?"

Nagtawanan sila. I just silently sat there, watching them talk about the usual stuff about sports and some of their friends. Paminsan-minsang sumusulyap sa akin iyong friend niyang Jenneson then he'd look away and smirked.