Ocean of Feathers

Chapter 122

The short story is dedicated to Angeline Mae D. Blasa. Thank you for helping me during muting days!

Chapter 122

It was that lazy summer Sunday afternoon. The sun was still searing hot even at 4 PM. My cousins, I, and my whole family were huddled around the porch of my house, enduring the damp and sticky summer air.

I could see the similar grimaces on their faces, how we fanned ourselves with our hands, and the sweat on our foreheads making us look exhausted even by just sitting and having casual conversations. Uncles were shirtless, dogs were wearily slumped on the floor, and the droplets of moisture on a glass pitcher filled with ice were gliding down like crystals under the afternoon sunlight, and the familiar creak of the hammock made of rattan made it feel like home.

It was our habit every weekend where everyone was lazing out, but bearing this lazy day in this weather made it more difficult for us.

Our families have been living together as neighbors in a huge compound, and this kind of slow Sunday with them has always been an anticipation every weekend. It was as if our porch were magically filled with a sudden haze, making us forget our responsibilities— and everything was just stories and our laughter.

"Hey, stop it, Angeline, kahit linggo nakaharap ka pa rin sa phone mo," sita sa akin ng pinsan ko.

"It's not work naman."

Cylvir, my cousin rolled her eyes. "It's still work. Sige na. Iwan mo na iyan, punta tayong bayan. Kain tayo fish ball. Tita, order ka milk tea, ah? Bibili lang kami fish ball at kikiam. Dito kami kakain."

Natigil sa pakikipagkuwentuhan iyong isa namin tita at tumango. Nagtungo na sa kanyang MUX si Cylvir at sumunod na ako matapos kong kunin ang pera ko. Nakaupo na sa unahan ang kapatid niya kaya doon na ako umupo sa likuran dahil madalas naman na naroon ako.

Pababa na sa compound namin iyong MUX nang may tumigil na kotse, bumaba roon ang isa namin pinsan na kagagaling lang daw sa binyagan.

"Saan kayo?"

"Sa bayan. Sumama ka na!" Sigaw ni Cylvir.

Nagpaalam lang si Venzon sa kaibigan niyang nagmamaneho saka siya lumipat sa sasakyan namin. Nagulat pa siya nang makita ako. Actually, he laughed at us, since we were still dressed in pajamas.

"Okay ka na ba, Angeline? Nakakatulog ka na ba?"

My cousins are aware of my situation right now. I have had this insomnia for years, dati'y nagagawa ko pang matulog na hindi kailangan ng sleeping pills, ngunit nitong nakaraang araw ay kinailangan ko na, at sa tuwing nakakatulog naman ako, tila ang lahat ng panaginip ko ay totoo.

I never shared it with anyone but my doctor. Sino kaya ang lalaking iyon?

I sighed. "Yes, nakakatulog na naman ako."

Nang makarating kami sa bayan, sobrang init. Hindi ko na nga gustong bumaba ng sasakyan pero kailangan dahil kami ang mga napag-utusan ng mga oldies para bumili ng meryenda.

Naghiwalay kami ng dalawa ko pang pinsan at nagtungo sila sa ibang stall ng street foods. I ordered fish ball, kikiam, squid ball, and even balot. Nasa kalagitnaan ako ng pagturo sa magtitinda nang may panibagong sasakyan ang tumigil sa tabi ng MUX ng pinsan ko. May bumabang lalaki roon at natigilan ako.

He was dressed in a white polo, wearing a shade, and with that familiar smile that I'd been seeing in my dreams. Ramdam kong napalingon siya sa akin pero pinagpatuloy niya ang pagbili sa magtitinda.

Nauna siyang umalis dahil kaunti lang naman ang binili niya, pero mas nagulat ako nang bigla siyang nagsalita bago niya buksan ang kanyang sasakyan. "Angeline!"

Nang napalingon ako, natigilan siya. He took a step forward, but he shook his head and turned his back. Bumaba ang bintana at iniluwa niyon ang nagmamaneho ng sasakyan— a woman.

"Charles, tayo na!"

"Okay, coming."

Huminga ako nang malalim at nabayad na sa nagtitinda. I don't think we're past lovers— everything was just my imagination. Nagkataon lang sigurong kamukha niya at kapangalan niya ang lalaking nasa panaginip ko.

The car began to move, but the window was still open, and I saw his head following me, in the end, he leaned on his back and rolled up the window.