A Girl with a Million of Stories ||COMPLETED✔||

Chapter 17- Lantern Show

Nasa labas na kami ng Piazza, mula rito tanaw ang mga taong nagsasayahan.

People walked in every direction. Maraming mga booth na tinatapos pa kahit gabi na. May mga couples din na naghaharutan.

Chan hold my hand as we entered the place. Baka may makakita sa amin rito. I pulled my hand out of his, he looked confused

“What’s wrong?” he asked then held my hand tightly.

“Baka may makakakita sa atin rito?” he grip my hand for a second and he moved his faced towards me. I can even smell his vanilla scent. Gosh I hate vanilla! Pero bakit ang bango naman sa kanya. Hmpp ang unfair.

“Then let them see, I’m not making this secret I told you I will protect you” as if that will make me feel better. Bahala na nga kung may sasapak sa akin edi sapakin ko nalang din.

We walked through the piazza, kahit may mga hindi pa natapos makikita mong pinaghandaan ang araw na ito. Noon kasi hindi masyadong dalawin ang opening ng La Villa but today is different mas attractive dahil buong lugar ay pinalilibutan ng iba’t ibang lights.

A meter away from us is a beautiful blue fountain na lalong gumanda dahil sa reflection ng iba’t ibang lights. 

Merry go round is not yet completed as well as other rides. Aunt Malory is one of the boards of La Villa Summit Organization, and Uncle Ross is the President, whom this kind of event are their priority, ika niya nagkaroon ng problema sa mga materyales at maging sa gobyerno kaya’t kahit hindi pa natatapos ay kailangan ng simulan.

“Punta na tayong hall, mukhang magsisimula na” he nodded at nagsimula na kaming maglakad papuntang hall kung saan gaganapin ang programa.

La Villa Mayor is having his warming speech. I saw Aunt Malory and Uncle Ross sitting at the table in the front as well as the other La Villa Summit Organization Boards.

I can’t find Alonzo baka hindi na ito sumama hindi naman iyon mahilig sa ganitong mga okasyon at isa pa his parents are strict of him specially that occasion like this are crowded and it cannot benefit them much.

After Mayor Saviente gave his speech, Uncle Ross stood up to address the opening of the La Villa 108th Anniversary. It is his job after all as the President of the org.

After the ribbon was cut the lights were out and the crowd roared and clapped. Chandler handed me a candle. Saan niya naman ito nakuha?

People lit their candle as we walked to a meadow, which are kilometers from the Piazza. This is a tradition of la Villa, a candle parade to a meadow.

“Saan mo ito nakuha?” tanong ko kang Prince. His other hand is holding mine while the other is holding the candle.

“May nagbigay kanina” ika niya. He looks around as if finding for someone or something at ng may nakita siyang babae binitawan niya ako at umalis.

Walangya! See that, his not a Prince at all. GRRRRRR! Pinagpatuloy ko ang paglalakad habang hindi ko na siya matanaw. Talagang iniwan niya ako para sa babaeng iyon.

Sino ba iyon? Nililigawan rin niya? Para kahit ireject ko siya meron pang isa so for him win-win?

Mainit pa rin ang ulo ko sa kanya ng may humawak sa braso ko. Paglingon ko ay si Chandelier Walangya.

I glare at him. How dare you?

“Why did you leave me?” huh! So you think I’ll wait until you’re done to her? at siya iyong nang-iwan

“What do you think? Sa tingin mo titingin lang ako sa inyo habang naglalandian kayo?”

“Who?”

“Yung bagong babae mo!” he looked confused but then a minute later he smiled widely. Tsk. Sa tingin niya madadala niya ko sa ngiti niya! HUH! “Sino ba kasi iyon?” I tucked a hair in my ear and calmly look at him.

“Hindi ko kilala. I asked her for a paper” tatanungin ko sana kung para saan nang kinuha niya ang kandila sa kamay ko.

He put a hole in the paper at pinasok roon ang kandila then he handed it to me.

I’m stunned with what he did. So iyong pag-alis niya kanina ay para rito. How brilliant, in this way hindi ako mapapaso kapag may sa wax na tutulo.

Tinignan ko si Chandler, ngayon ko lang napansin ang tangos ng ilong niya at bumagay ang medyo kulot niyang buhok. Every time he smiles it makes my heart drop from confusion, heartache and all my obstruction.

I know that were like a Mafia and nobody, a Boss and waitress, an Alpha and common, an Aristocrat and peasant, in other words we aren’t good together. But is that how the world works? Do two different people can’t be compromised?

When I was in the orphanage before, a kid approached me. His features are blurred to my memory but his words would never leave my retention.

“People are judgemental you can never change that. It is a human nature not to be satisfied with things but you know what, a person could do. Hindi man maganda sa paningin ng mundo but who cares, some simply aren’t worthy to listen that’s why it’s up to us, people who believe in themselves despite what other said. “ aniya.

I looked at Chandler, will I ever be enough to you?

Binigyan kami ng dalawang lantern pagpasok namin. Naghanap kami ng pwesto kung saan may puno sa likuran para hindi ganong malamig.

He lit the lantern as the countdown begins.

5

People shouted and then he held my right hand.

4

Hinalikan nito ang kamay ko.

3

His lips are still in my right hand. I can even feel the wetness there. Baka may Covid siya?

2

Binaba niya ang kamay ko at nakangiting tumingin sa akin.

1

And before we let the lanterns fly, it’s a belief to cast a wish. So my wish again is that I can finally meet my parents.

I let go of my lantern and wave a goodbye. I smiled as I see it fly with other lanterns. The sky is so beautiful with those stars and now with this lanterns brighting with them. I look at the people who’s happily enjoying this moment. Kahit sino naman mamamangha sa ganda ng kalangitan ngayon. Actually these times are my best memories.

Itong activity lang kasi ang pinupuntahan ko tuwing anniversary ng La Villa.

Tinignan ko si Chandler ng mapansing hindi pa rin niya pinapalipad ang kanya. He was looking at me the whole time kaya ngayon ang awkward na.

“Oy, hindi ka pa tapos magwish?” tanong ko. Umiling ito at hindi matapos-tapos ang ngiti niya.

Problema nito, hindi ba sumasakit bagang niya. Naghum lamang siya at pinalipad na ang lantern.

“What did you wish?” he asked.

“To finally meet my parents. Ikaw, anong hiniling mo?” he held my hand again at tumingin ulit sa papalayong lanterns.

“To finally be recognized by someone” ha, sino naman iyon? Babae na naman!

“Babae?”

“Hindi ko alam, mukha kasi siyang lalake” pagkatapos ay tumawa siya. Hindi na lamang akong nagtanong kung sino baka humaba pa ang usapan.

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Salamat po!