Look At Me

Chapter 31

"Okay.. Let's escape this messy world." I offered my right hand, asking for his hand.

We're going to escape, we're going to a place where we can rest— where we can find peace for a little while.

Escaping from everything for a little while doesn't mean weakness. Running away from the things that makes us weaker doesn't show cowardliness— sometimes we just have to run and escape for the sake of our peace of mind and take some rest.

Tatakas sandali para kumuha ng lakas at haharap ulit sa buhay na parang walang nangyari. It takes us time to get the courage.

"How did you know this place?" Zen asked while roaming around the place.

It's a picnic yard near our university. Isang oras lang ang byahe kapag traffic. It's one of the most peaceful place I know next to my room and my friends' company.

Isang coffee shop 'yon pero may picnic yard sa labas kung saan tanaw ang city lights kapag gabi, matatanaw din hindi kalayuan ang taal volcano. May mga books din na offer at pwede magbasa habang nasa loob.

"It's my favorite place.. Special place namin ni Lolo." sabi ko habang hinihintay ang order namin na milkshake.

"It has a nice ambience," he commented, slowly losing the sadness in his voice.

"That's why I love this place, tahimik pa." sabi ko.

"Faith, hija?" napabaling ako sa boses na 'yon. Isa sa owner ng café, my mom's closed friend. I'm not that close to her since I'm not really good at entertaining visitors in our house, it just happened na she's nice to me.

"Tita.." bati ko saka nagmano sa kanya.

"It's been a while, what brings you here?" she said and hold my hand. What a sophisticated woman.

"Wala po kasing klase, and I miss my Lolo so.." sabi ko saka nilibot ang tingin sa paligid. Some things changed but most of it remains the same.

"I'll reserve a place for you, sa laging pwesto niyo ni Tatay." she's referring to Lolo, tatay ang tawag sa kanya ng mga kaibigan ng mga anak niya. She threw a glance to Zen who's silently observing the place. "A boyfriend?"

Mabilis akong umiling para tumanggi, "A friend po,"

She just maliciously smile and glance, "Okay, then. Kara, bring one picnic mat outside!" utos niya sa tauhan, she excuse herself to assist her staff.

While waiting for our order, lumapit ako sa mga bookshelf para maghanap ng librong pwedeng basahin.

"You know the owner of this place?" tanong ni Zen habang naghahanap din ng pwedeng basahin.

"She's my mom's closed friend.. saka madalas kami dito n'ong buhay si Lolo," sabi ko. "Try to read this book," dagdag ko nang makita ang isang librong nabasa ko na dati.

Inabot niya ang libro na sinabi ko, "My reasons to live.." he read the title, his eyes darted to the book.

"Tara?" aya ko bago ituro ang labas kung saan may mga picnic mat.

The leaves of mango tree saves us from the sunlight. Kaunti lang ang mga tao dito hindi gaya nang huling punta ko dito. There are some families eating and laughing together, there's a group of friends chitchatting, and some are dating.

The world had fallen silent around us. It was barely midday. Hinayaan kong manahimik si Zen dahil alam kong 'yon ang gusto niya. He's silently sipping his drink and watching people nearby.

I rested my back on the tree as I get the book. He did the same. We started reading our book and that's how I escape my reality. I feel so free whenever I'm reading, I got a chance to live differently because of the characters I'm reading.