Ghost in the Present

Chapter 8

"You're close with your org's president?" Harvey asked while driving, agad naman akong umiling dahil hindi rin naman talaga totoo 'yon.

"Hindi naman, same way kasi kami kaya magkasabay kanina."

I'm still bothered by the way he looked at me earlier, it's like there's something else, and as the person that I am ay kung anu-ano nanaman ang tumatakbo sa isip ko.

"Happy Birthday, Amil."

My eyes widened because it suddenly flashed inside my mind. Like heck? How did he know about my nickname? Wait...

I looked at Harvey while driving and shook my head because of disappointment.

Oo nga pala, he called me by that name earlier, but I know I couldn't blame him. He's totally innocent.

I sighed heavily pagkababa ng sasakyan at dumiretso na sa kwarto ko bago pa ako makita ng mga pinsan ko. My heart's beating so fast because of the things that are running inside my mind but I'm trying my best to discard all of them.

"Hindi siya 'yon...hindi siya 'yon." I repeatedly said to myself. But I couldn't stop myself from remembering what happened exactly 4 years ago.

It was my birthday but no one at school greeted me at hindi ko naman sila masisisi, after all they doesn't know about it. At okay lang naman, nasanay na rin naman ako.

Muntik na akong mapatalon sa kinauupuan ko dahil sa pagvibrate ng phone ko. I immediately smiled when I saw a message from him. We've been texting and calling each other for like 4 months, I'm comfortable sharings things with him at gano'n din naman siya sa akin, we study while calling each other, minsan nga ay nirereview pa niya ako, we also share each other's works, and there's no day that we doesn't talk. Honestly, my day is not complete without talking to him.

I am so thankful that he came into my life because he made everything better. He's my first friend, my best friend, and sometimes...I feel like he's more than it...that he's like my family.

Can I call?

I smiled because of his message at ako na mismo ang tumawag sa kanya.

"Hello, akala ko may klase ka?" Nagtataka kong tanong, binigay niya kasi sa akin 'yong sched at sa pagkakaalam ko ay may klase siya sa ganitong oras.

"Wala 'yong teacher namin, absent eh."

"Ah, gano'n ba."

He cleared his throat at pagkatapos nun ay nakarinig ako ng tunog ng gitara.

"I-I prepared something for you...please listen."

Oh? I furrowed my brows because of curiousity and confusion ngunit agad din naman 'yong nasagot no'ng marinig ko na nga ang pag-strum ng gitara mula sa kabilang linya.

"Boiji anneun, neol chajeuryeogo aesseuda..."

My eyes widened when I heard him singing at Miracles in December pa ng EXO. I was greatly surprised by his voice, it's deep and cold at the same time...that it was able to touch my heart.

It was the very first time na may kumanta para sa akin na hindi inuutusan and I appreciate it so much.

"Deulliji anneun, neol deureuryeo aesseuda..."

I'm already teary-eyed when he finished singing. Akala ko ay tapos na talaga siya pero may pahabol pa pala.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you..."

My tears started to fall when he sang the happy birthday song. Akala ko ay hindi niya 'yon naalala dahil isang beses ko lang namang nabanggit at no'ng unang linggo pa 'yon ng pag-uusap namin...but he remembered it.