Lost In You

kabanata 5

Kabanata 5

Umupo sya sa tabi ko at tumingin rin sa langit. "Why are you here?" I asked. "And please, don't ask me if may pangalan ko ba 'to." pinangunahan ko na sya.

I heard him gigled at that. "I followed you."

Natahimik ako nang ilang segundo.

"Why?"

"I don't know, either.."

"Is that even possible?" nilingon ko sya. Nakatingin pa rin sya sa langit, tila iyon ang pinakamaganda bagay na nakita nya sa buong buhay nya.

Instead of answering my question, he smiled while looking up. "You know, it's my first time appreciating the beauty of the night and stars." he said.

Tumingin rin ako sa langit, napangiti. "Lagi akong nabibilib sakanila." sabi ko naman.

"Can I ask why?"

"They're alone but they still shine." I said.

"But they're not alone, they still have each other." sagot nya.

"They have each other, but still alone."

Natahimik sya. I saw him nodded at my peripheral vision. Guess, he got my point.

"Didn't know you're that deep." he said after a few minutes of being silent.

"You didn't know me." sagot ko naman.

"Guess so.." he sighed. Natahimik kaming pareho.

"You know what's the meaning of my name?" I asked him at nilingon ko sya. Lumingon rin sya sa akin and he shook his head.

"Jamais is a french word means never and I considered Craya as Cry since it's actually my nickname. So my name means 'never cry'." I looked up again. "I never cry.." sabi ko pa.

"But craya means hot.." he said.

"Alam ko. Hot ako, e." biro ko at tumawa kahit peke. He didn't laugh tho.

"My name's Theodoro Gael." he said out of nowhere.

Tumango lamang ako. "Cool."

Nakita ko sa gilid ng mga mata ko ang mabilisan nyang paglingon. "That's it?" he asked.

"What?"

"What 'what'?" tanong nya pa.

"Why? Do you want me to praise your name?" halakhak ko. He's not making any sense.

"No. I actually expect you to laugh at my name." napatigil ako sa pagtawa. "Theodoro's too old, you know.." he continued.

He's serious right now kaya't nagseryoso rin ako.

"Why would I? That's your name and I have no say about that." sabi ko. It's the truth. Para naman akong tanga kung pagtatawanan ko yung pangalan nya just because it sounds old, right?

Natahimik sya at tumikhim pagkatapos. "It's the first time.." mahina nyang sabi at umiwas ng tingin. "You're the only person who didn't laugh at my name." dugtong nya.

"People who laughed at it are nonsense." sabi ko habang nakatitig pa rin sakanya.

Ngumiti sya ng maliit, "Yeah.." nilingon nya 'ko. "Theodoro's really meaningful to me. It's my Lolo's name and I really want to share it to other people but they find it funny." pagkwento nya.

"If it's meaningful, bakit 'di mo ginagamit?"

"As per what I said, people find it funny and I don't want them laughing about my Lolo's name so I decided not to use it again. They just call me Theo or Gael, and never Theodoro."