Manila
"What?!" sabay-sabay na sigaw ni Miggy at Hera habang nakahalukipkip si Terrence sa kanilang likod at guhit na guhit ang pagtataka sa mukha.
It's our second night here (also our last), and I decided to break the news to my ffriends. We were making smores gamit ang aming bonfire. Silang tatlo ay nasa harapan ko, at halos tanggalin ko sa kamay ni Hera ang kanyang marshmallows dahil itim na itim na ito.
Suminghap ako ng malakas sabay ngiti sa kanilang tatlo. Hera rolled her eyes on me, Miggy still shocked, and Terrence... Well, I can't read the expression of the guy.
"Kailangan kasi talaga Hera, eh. Uuwi naman ako sa summer." Paglalambing ko sabay tingin kay Terrence. "Baka nga sabay kami ni Terrence umuwi, oh diba. Reunion every summer!"
Sinubukan kong pasiyahin ang mood namin kaso umiyak si Hera. We're attached to each other since grade 7. Of course, she would cry. I patted her head and rubbed her back. I will miss her so much. I will them. I will miss the life that I will be leaving here. Pero kahit pa gaano kalayo ang lakbayin ko, at the end of the day, I know I'll still go back here. To them.
I also smiled and hugged Miggy because I saw his eyes filled with unshed tears. My heart felt warm knowing that my friends will miss me this bad. I mean, them crying because I will leave, speaks a lot about how they cared for me for the past years.
Naalala ko pa ang mga araw na nililibre ako ni Miggy sa canteen tuwing may vacant hours. Si Hera na pinapractice ang English ko, kasabay ko sa chika. Si Terrence na binibigyan rin ako ng baon niya, hinahatiran ng tubig. Once I go to Luzon, everything will be foreign to me. Back to ground zero.
That night, we jammed and sang. We also played card games (without money). It was a fun and memorable evening. Laughs and stories were shared as if it's gonna be the end of the world. We took a lot of pictures with our phones and polaroid cameras. We seized that moment.
As we should, because little did I know that was also the last trip that I was able to attend with them. I heard they went to Mati, but I wasn't able to go because I had to process my papers for transfer, and I had to admit that it was exhausting.
Kinailangan rin ni Mama at Papa ang tulong ko sa paghahanap ng bahay namin doon. We shipped some of our things na para makarating na doon una ang mga necessities for transfer. Good thing, we have relatives there to help us.
I enrolled myself in FEU since Ateneo doesn't accept transferees for Grade 12. I thought to myself, it's gonna be okay. I will and I can adjust. I have no choice.
Terrence helped me alot in my application. Sabi niya rin na he would tour me around there para alam ko yung daan and mga pasikot-sikot kapag nag cocommute. Kung grateful ako noon dahil may tumutulong sa akin sa Math homeworks ko, hindi ko aakalain na mas magiging grateful ako kay Terrence dahil may tour guide na ako!
"Ingat ka doon, Cring!" Sabi ni Hera sa akin habang nakayakap at mahinang sinusuntok pa ang likod ko. Napatawa ako ng mahina dahil doon.
"Ang sakit naman ng goodbye mo, Hera!"
"Huwag mo akong palitan doon ha. Ako parin best friend mong bruha ka!" Sabi niya sabay mahinang iyak. Pinipigilan ang sariling humagulhol. I cupped her face and wiped her tears. "Ikaw lang best friend ko, no promise" patol ko sa kanya na nagpatawa sa amin. I directed my attention to Miggy and Terrence in front of us.
Miggy hugged me tightly and patted my head. "Ingat ka doon, Maria Christina. Makipagkaibigan ka doon ng mayaman tapos palibre ka palagi sa canteen." I rolled my eyes on him. Para naman akong food digger niyan!
Terrence also hugged me and he just smiled at me saka ako tinulak na para makapasok sa airport. Susunod lang daw si Terrence next week kasi may aasikasuhin pa sila ng family niya dito. Inakbayan ako ni Papa at hinalikan ang ulo ko, like comforting me that everthing will be okay.
It's not yet sinking to me that I will be spending most of the days there. Sa Manila. I wonder what life awaits for me.
New school. New classmates. New friends. New memories.
It was a very exhausting flight. I heard the crew of the airplane told us that we just landed at NAIA. Ah, I guess this is it.
The moment I stepped my foot on the grounds of this place. I promised myself that I will be better. I promise that I will make memories here, and learn a lot of things.
***
Nakarating kami sa bagong bahay namin around 7 na ng gabi. Mama decided to order nalang for dinner because we were just too exhausted to cook and arrange plates on our table. Isa pa, wala pa ata kaming supplies kaya wala ring lulutuin.
The next days weren't as productive as I thought it would be, kasi I can't go out. I don't know the ways outside our subdivision. The only thing na ikinaproud ko sa buong linngong iyon ay ang pag jojogging ko every morning.
Like the usual, naka leggings ako and sports bra tapos itinali ko rin ang buhok ko para hindi magkalat habang mag jojogging. I also brought my pamunas with me para hindi masyadong malagkit ang feeling while doing the activity. I couldn't be more thankful na nasa isang exclusive subdivision ang kinuha nilang bahay kung kaya't confident ako na ganito ang suotin habang nag eexercise. It was Monday, I started my stretchings and commenced with the jog. It was the usual trip lang sa bahay paikot sa subdivision not until someone joined me on my run.
Napahinto ako when the guy smiled at me. Shit!
I almost panicked kasi nasa liblib na parte kami ng subdivision. I can see that it's evident on my face kasi he laughed real hard. Tumalikod ako at imbes na jogging ang gawin, parang sumali na ako sa marathon. Gwapo siya, pero wala akong pakialam. Hindi mo na alam sinong mabait at hindi ngayon.
Eh ang kaso, sinundan ako. Hiningal ako sa pagtakbo at huminto muna para makahinga nang huminto rin siya sa harapan ko habang hinihingal. Binigay niya sa akin ang pamilyar na pamunas habang nakatukod ang isang kamay sa kanyang tuhod- animo'y napagod sa paghabol sa akin.
"Miss, panyo mo... nahulog mo." He said panting. Almost out of air.
Hinablot ko sa kamay niya ang panyo and readied my stance para kapag may wrong move siyang gawin sa akin, diretso sa bayag niya ang mga paa ko. Napatawa siya pag-angat niya ng tingin sa akin.
Oh good! I probably look stupid now. With my heavy breathings, panicking face, and probably a messy hair, wala na akong pakialam kung sobrang pangit ko na sa harapan niya basta masuntok ko lang siya kung may gagawin siyang di kaaya-aya.
"Look miss, I was just trying to jog with you. Nag jo-jogging rin ako dito madalas at ngayon lang kita nakita kaya I was just curious." He said and flashed a friendly smile. I paused and later on realized na baka nga nag exaggerate lang ako.
"Wait... did you really think na pagtatangkaan kita?" I nodded shyly at him, eyes still on the ground. He laughed once again. Ang lakas niya tumawa.
"Anthony. But you can call me Anton." He said and extended his hands. I looked at him and smiled shyly bago inabot ang kamay niya. "Maria Christina. Cring for short."
"Bago ka lang dito?" He asked.
"Yep. Last week pa." I replied, trying to be friendly para mas ma ease yung first impression niya sa akin.
"Oh, I see." He said. And there was a huge pause in between, causing a very awkward atmosphere. Shit! I should go. But before I could say a word, he added.
"I won't bother you too much, Miss. I hope to see you around." He's waving and smiling at me. I just stared at him for solid 30 seconds before he was out of my sight.
Now that he's gone, ngayon ko lang napagtanto na... ang gwapo niya!
May blessing pala dito sa Manila!
BINABASA MO ANG
Where We Promised
RomanceWhen one is lonely and broken, they go back to the place where they once felt happy and complete. They go back to where they once felt loved and endeared. Where could that be? It's the place where they promised. Where we promised.
