Paper Memories

Chapter 2-III

Chapter 2-III

At one point I just stop.

Wala akong ideya kung kelan ako nakatulog. Kagabi kasi halos wala na akong ibang napapansin maliban na lang sa kagustuhan kong makumpleto agad ang likha ko. I'm not sure if I actually finish it or if it's really complete, or if I manage to make it perfect.

But there's some sort of satisfaction inside me...

When I opened my eyes I saw the same face of my best friend, Ellie. Ang aga naman niyang nandito, binigyan ko kasi siya ng spare key ng bahay." Shin, gising ka ba? At bakit ka pa dito natulog? May kwarto ka! Listen Sheena, if you don't want your boyfriend and Ralph to kill each other, you should come downstair immediately!"

I push her jokingly, siya pa ata ang tulog." You didn't call that you'd be here."

Halos mapasigaw siya sa taranta." Kagabi mo pa ako hindi sinasagot!"

"I was painting, I'm fine. You should calm down..." Napansin kong may telang ng takip ang pinagt-trabahuhan kong canvas, at nasa may sulok na ito. Hindi pa naman tuluyang tuyo ang pintura nun. Matagal matuyo ang acrylic. "Also I wanted to be left alone, I'm sorry I made you worry okay?"

"We were worried about you, k-kaya sinama ko na si Ralph papunta." Ellie's statement surprised me but I was most startled by her cold and nervous hands." I know you might not want that, but I started having freaky thoughts and I could make anyone help me is him! Hindi namin alam ang magagawa mo."

"I wouldn't do anything bad..."

"Also...I didn't know that... He's here."

A boyfriend she says, I involuntarily chuckled.

Tatayo na lang sana ako para alisin ang takip ng canvas ko pero hinila ako ni Ellie pababa. Halos masagi pa namin ang aquarium. Nakaamoy ako ng mabangong aroma mula kusina at tunog ng ilang kubyertos. Kahit alam ko na sino ang nandun ay kinakabahan ako. Panibagong araw na dapat to, hindi ko pa alam kung paano pakitunguhan ang Ralph na nangreject ng feelings ko. Why did Ellie drag him along? Is she pitying me? Thinks she knows what's better for me?

"Ellie, say something!" I hissed." Si Ralph lang naman diba ang kasama mo?!"

"Sheena, ikaw na ba yan?" I heard Ralph's baritone voice when we're almost at the kitchen. Nakahawak si Ellie sa balikat ko." Sorry for the late notice, gusto ka lang namin makita agad."

For some reason, my feet almost skip just to see him. Pero bigla-bigla may labing dumampi sa noo ko. Binati niya ako sa isang malambing na tono. " Good morning, Sheena. I'm glad I could finally see you."I was beyond flustered dahil sa mas matangkad siya sa'kin at maliban nung isa lang ay inaya----

I look up. Napaatras ako dahil sa halik na yun.

Yet, disgust then filled me. No, who's this? It's not Ralph.

Impossible...

Bago pa may lumabas sa bibig ko, nauna nang magsalita si Ellie ng may nalilitong ngiti habang mahigpit niya pa rin akong hawak. Nalilito ako sa pang-aasar ng bestfriend ko. " Shin, naman. It so early in the morning, you two are such love birds..."

"We're not toge--------------"

"Ralph and I made breakfast, Hon."

Mas lalo akong lumayo kahit man inosente ang mukha ng lalakeng ito. Ngayon lang napansin na ang nasa likod ng lakake ay si Ralph, he's scowling." Pasensya na, mukang nakakaistorbo pala ang maling dating namin ni El. Its just she said, you need...Us. I'm sorry...We're already here so we tried not to be a bother..."

"Are you alright, Shin?" El whispered behind me, I notice how her eyes glance between the two men in front of us." Hindi ba maganda ang pakiramdam mo?"

"Shin, you should eat." Ralph softly said.

Then as if on cue, the stranger tried to approach me. I avoided his unwelcomed touch this time, but his finger still graze me. He notice, but he kept his composure. He kept his distance this time. He was cold, he was too deprived of human warmth." Breakfast might get cold, Sheena. "

Ang lalake to, halos kamuka na niya ang taong nasa puso ko...

Parang replica, replica lang. Magkahawig sila.Nakikita ng dalawang mata ko at ng dalawang ko kaibigan ang lalakeng 'to. Kaso, ang pinaka hindi ko maintidihan ay.... Kung paano siya nandirito...Dahil...

Siya ang lalakeng laman ng painting ko.