SAY IT 07 : Two persons from the past

SAY IT 07 : "Two persons from the past"

NASH KLEIN

If I clearly remember, when me and Nile were still a 6 years old elementary school boys. We met a girl named Sofia at the same play ground here in this park were we at now.

Sofia is very talkative and brave, she's always being mistaken as a guy because of her hair that is short as ours.

11 years ago, at the park.

"Nakakainis!"  bulalas ng batang nagngangalang Sofia sabay sipa sa ginawa niyang sand castle sa may sandbox.

"Bakit Sofia?"

"What happened?"

Alalang tanong ng kambal sa batang babae.

"Napagkamalan na naman akong lalaki!" aniya, sabay na nagpigil ang kambal ng tawa nang marinig ang dahilan niya dahilan para samaan niya ito ng tingin, agad naman na tumigil ang dalawa.

Ang batang si Nile ang unang nagsalita, "Sof, ayaw namin magsinungaling sa iyo kaya naman, I think totoo ang sinasabi nila."  wika nang batang Glenn.

Tumango sa tabi nito ang nakatatandang kapatid na si Nash, "Yeah, I also think that way. you really look like a boy Sof, but that doesn't change the fact that you're a girl."  wika nito.

Wala nang ibang nagawa ang batang babae kundi mag-pout dahil sa sinabi ng dalawa.

"Pero.. hindi naman panget tignan diba?"  tanong nito sabay hawi sa buhok.

Mabilis na napailing ang dalawa.

"Hindi ah!"

"Of course not!"  magkapanubay na sagot ng dalawa.

"Paano niyo naman nasabi?"

"Well, ang cute mo kaya."  sagot ng batang Glenn.

"Nile's right, you're cute Sof."  nahihiya namang sagot ng batang Klein at pilit na iniwas ang paningin habang namumula ang pisngi.

Napansin ito ni Glenn at ipinag-walang bahala na lang, saka muling tinuon ang pansin sa batang babae.

"How about this, for the next 5 months ay hindi ka magpapagupit and you'll also use a shampoo that can help you grow your hair faster." suhestiyon niya kay Sof at binigyan ito ng toothy smile.

"Let's see what will happen after 5 months."  wika ni Klein at maayos nang tumingin sa babae muli.

"Okay!"  wika nito saka binigyan ang kambal ng isang matamis na ngiti at sabay na niyakap ang dalawa, dahilan para manlaki ang mata nito pareho at mabilis na tumibok ang kanilang mga puso.

End.

I have a strong feeling na si Ray at Sofia ay iisa pero syempre hindi ko naman maga-guarantee na iisa nga ang dalawa, I mean, they're really similar to each other; from head to toe.

"Hey, Ray." I called her, we were walking all together papunta sa burger center para mag-breakfast. Bago iyon ay iniuwi muna ni Ray ang aso niya, which is very good for my heart.

"Hmm?" she hummed at patuloy parin ang pagtingin sa may daanan, me walking on her right at nauuna naman si Glenn para i-guide kami.

"I wanted to ask, if you ever played in that playground before when you were a kid with someone." If she said yes then malaki ang chance na siya nga si Sofia, and guess what? I like Sofia even until now, hindi ko lang alam kay Glenn pero ang alam ko ay crush niya din ito noon dahilan kaya madalas kaming nag-aaway.

11 years have passed pero hindi ko man lang ito nakita after namin maghiwalay, kahit anino o sulat mula sa kaniya ay wala. It's like she never exists anymore.

She only exists, inside my heart.

"Yeah, when I was six years old I used to play there kasama ang isang batang lalaki na hindi ko kakilala." she said, my eyes immediately widened dahil sa sinabi niya.

batang lalaki na hindi kilala? does it mean na isa lang? then who is it? there's a high chance na si Glenn ang batang iyon.

"Do you still remember him?"

She shakes her head, "Nahh, six years old pa lang ako noon kaya wag mo i-expect na maalala ko pa ang batang iyon, but still, we grew closer kahit na saglit lang kami nagkasama."

I mentally sighed, what am I thinking? impossible naman na siya si Sofia dahil malinaw na Raychel ang pangalan niya. Baka nagugutom na ako kaya ko naiisip ang mga bagay na 'to.

"Bakit mo nga pala naitanong?"

"Nothing.."

After saying 'nothing' at napa-pout ito, my chest suddently tightens because after seeing her pouting face. She really looks like Sofia after all.

"Don't do that, hindi bagay sa iyo,"  wika ko saka dinuro ang pisngi niya, mahina itong natawa dahil sa ginawa ko. I chuckled.

How cute..

"But I still wonder if he still remember me, I hope that he still do dahil may promise kami sa isa't-isa," I froze after hearing her saying that, she made a promise? at ano naman kaya ang promise na 'yon?

"Klein? hoy ayos ka lang?"

"Kuya Nash?"

Is there really a possibility na iisa lang sila? I want to believe.. I want to believe na iisa lang sila para naman muling mabuhay ang loob ko. After losing Sofia, my heart scattered in multiple pieces and If ever that Ray is Sofia..

She's the only one who can build my broken heart. Not to mention that I am the one who build hers years ago..

Specifically two years ago, inside that hospital room.

"Klein!" I can hear Ray calling out my name, and a freezing cold feeling all over my body. Hindi naman niya yata ako binuhusan ng  malamig na tubig right?

I'm wrong..

She really does.

"What the?" basang-basa ang damit ko kasama na ang buhok ko, everything is.

"Sorry! nananaginip ka kasi habang gising!" wika niya, a worried expression plastered on her face. They really looked like the same person. If that's what it goes then..

I'm glad that Ray is here. I don't care if she's Sofia or not, having Ray by my side is enough. Maybe I can finally forget about her and start a different chapter with Ray.

It's not that hard to like Ray, because I am already starting to.

"Sorry!"  she said like a child at itinaas ang dalawang kamay just like what criminals do after being caught by the police.

"What happened to you Kuya Nash?" Glenn asked worriedly, uhh, I can't imagine my face doing that worried expression. It looks very gay, sorry Glenn.

We're on a grassy ground, a big tree behind us three. Siguro ay dinala nila ako dito kanina. Can't believe na nag-space out ako nang ganoon ka-tagal.

I shake my head at isinuklay ang buhok pataas, exposing my forehead, "Sorry, I was thinking about something, thanks Ray for doing that. But I need to change, ipagluluto ko na lang kayong dalawa," 

Both of their eyes lightened up after hearing what I said, so they really liked my cooking. I sat up at sabay na inakbayan ang dalawa at mahinang natawa dahil sa pinag-gagawa ko.

"C'mon you two, bilisan natin bago pa ako magkasakit,"

In the end, hindi kami nakapunta sa burger center kundi ay umuwi na lang kami sa unit namin ni Glenn. I quickly change my clothes to a new one saka agad nang dumiretso sa kitchen para mag-handa ng almusal para sa aming tatlo. Silang dalawa naman ay nasa living room habang nanonood ng tv, well they're specifically watching Code Geass R2.

"You know, favorite kaya ni Kuya Nash si Lelouch, he even named his cat after him!" mula sa kitchen ay rinig ko ang kwentuhan ng dalawa, nakinig lang ako sa kanila habang nagluluto.

"That's so cute! sana pala ay Lloyd na lang ang ipinangalan ko kay Kaze!" wika ni Ray, so she likes Lloyd the 'Earl of Pudding' well.. he's good.

"Whoah! favorite mo si Earl of Pudding?!"

"Yeah! ang cute niya kasi! I really liked his voice!"  I agree.

"I also like him because he's the one who made the Lancelot y'know kasama si Cecile-san," 

"Yeah, I also like C2 because she is the best girl of the show,"  I highly agreed!

"Mmhmh she really is!" 

"Ikaw Glenn, sinong favorite character mo?" Ray asked him and I already know the answer,

It is..

"Si Suzaku! he's freaking cool lalo na kapag pina-pilot niya ang Lancelot,"

Ray agreed at nagpatuloy lang sila sa pagku-kwentuhan, I finished making our breakfast saka sila tinawag para sabay na kaming tatlo kumain. Both of them let out squeals of happiness after taking their first bite, they're overracting over my cooking.

"This is so good!"

"Talo mo na si Gordon Ramsay!"

"Sino yun Glenn?"

"A famous chef... famous because of his sharp mouth,"

"Bruhh bawal magsabi ng bad words kapag nasa harapan ng pagkain!" 

"That's the point!" 

I just ignored those two, hindi rin ba nila alam na bawal magsalita at magdada-daldal habang nasa harapan ng pagkain? I finished mine saka inilagay sa sink ang plato na ginamit at dumiretso sa living room.

"I'm done! that really hits the spot Kuya Nash!" Nile said, after hearing the plates clattering sound ay naupo ito sa tabi ko saka sumandal sa balikat ko dahilan para ilayo ko ang ulo niya. That's very gay of you to do Nile.

"Are we still going to watch the movie Kuya Nash? ayaw naman sumama ni Ray eh,"  wika nito, I'm the one who suggested na sumama si Ray sa panonood namin.

I don't know, I feel very weird after that day.

Our first meeting at the hospital.

And our first meeting at St.Celestine.

This must be fate right?

"It's fine, we can just watch it together,"  wika ko, bigla ako nakaramdam ng pagkauhaw kaya naman madali akong tinungo ang kitchen, Ray was right there at akmang huhugasan na sana ang mga ginamit namin but I quickly stopped her.

"No, you're our guest kaya hindi mo na kailangang hugasan pa ang mga 'yan, I'll take care of them later," wika ko sabay bukas sa 2 door refrigerator na hindi malayo mula sa lababo.

I mumbled a curse nang malamang out of stock na kami ni Glenn ng coke, I need them right now.

"Bababa lang ako para bumili ng coke, I'll be back for a minute," paalam ko sa dalawang nagre-relax sa sofa, glad that Ray is enjoying herself here.

"Sama ako, may gusto din kasi akong bilhin," Ray said saka humabol sa akin na akma nang palabas ng pinto. She's stubborn as ever, I gave  Nile an apologized look at nag-wave lang ito ng kamay sabay thumbs up.

"Ano naman ang bibilhin mo?"  I asked Ray on our way to the nearest convenience store,

"Oh, I forgot my purse.. nandoon ang pera ko, wait I'll get it,"  I stopped her by grabbing her wrist, uhh what am I doing? silly me, agad ko naman siyang binitawan.

"Ako na ang magbabayad," 

"Eh? are you sure?"

"Of course, if you want I can also buy the whole store,"  I boasted sabay mahinang natawa dahil sa nasabi ko, but in reality, I can literally buy that store.

"Tch, yabang," she mumbled dahilan para muli akong matawa, she looks cute kapag unti-unting nagagalit, I mean it dahil totoo naman. Her expression is always priceless.

We got to our destination at nagmamadali siyang pumunta sa section ng chocolates, so she has sweet-tooth, ako naman ay dumiretso na sa mga magkakatabing I dunno what they called pero I'll just call them Ref dahil parehas naman ang purpose nila. I bought their stock of coke at idi-deliver na lang daw ito mamaya, nagbukas na ako ng isa at ininom ang laman 'non sa isang lagukan lang, ah very refreshing!

I noticed na medyo nagtatagal na si Ray doon kaya naman naisipan ko na puntahan ito, baka kasi inuubos niya na rin ang stock ng chocolate nila which is no problem at all. I can pay for them.

When I got there and saw what she was doing, angery suddenly rushed through me pero hindi ko muna iyon pinansin I instead walked normally to them habang nakapamulsa.

"Ray, are you done? c'mon ayaw kong paghintayin si Nile doon, he's afraid of being alone."  aniya ko, Ray was there and that bastard  too, ano naman ang kailangan niya kay Ray? she too also has a angered expression plastered to her face.

"Oh? hey Martinez~ long time no see~"  said the bastard at lumapit sa akin para makipag shake hands, I slapped his dirty hands away saka hinila si Ray papalapit sa akin.

I let my guard down for a moment at bigla na lang siya magpapakita dito?

"Are you okay?"  I asked Ray, completely ignoring that bastards existence. She slowly nodded her head, I'm glad that she is dahil kung may ginawa man ang salot  na iyon kay Ray ay hindi ko mapipigilan ang sarili ko na ibaon siya sa lupa.

"Wow~ completely ignoring me are we?~ Hi Ray, long time no see I'll admit it now that I missed you Ray, how stupid I am to lose you~"

I could feel Ray's hands trembling body beside me, she's not trembling dahil sa takot, she's trembling dahil sa sobrang galit na nararamdaman.

I feel the same, sino ba naman ang hindi kukulo ang dugo sa taong ito? He once ruined mine and Niles' life.

"Anong kailangan mo kay Ray?"  my voice filled with authority, I hide Ray behind me dahil baka mamaya ay ito ang maunang sumabog sa amin.

"Nothing, I just came here to see my ex-girlfriend whom I used to love so much years ago, right Ray~?"

What?

Did I.. hear it clearly?

Anong sinabi niya? ex-girlfriend? who? Ray?

So ang salot na ito pala ang tinutukoy ni Ray noon sa hospital, ang lalaking nagpalungkot sa kaniya, ang dahilan kung bakit siya nagsisisigaw noon sa madilim na daan habang umuulan, the fault of Ray's suffering.

"Shut up Sullivan, dati pa 'iyon she already moved on because you're a dirty bastard, let her be at wag mo na siyang guluhin kahit kailan, leave her alone,"  any time from now gusto ko nang basagin ang mukha niya dahil sa kagagawan niya noon.

Hindi ko siya pagbibigyan dahil sa ginawa niya kay Ray, so all this time ay siya ang dating lalaki na nagpatibok sa puso ni Ray at siya din ang nagwasak dito.

"Oh~? at bakit naman? I can do whatever I want Martinez at walang sinuman ang makakapigil sa akin, wait-- why are you even acting like a knight in shining armor? don't tell me you guys are--" 

This is the only way para mapatigil ko ang pagdadadada niya, kaya naman. I pulled Ray beside me saka inakbayan ito, she was surprised at first but I gave her a face na magiging maayos din ang lahat kaya naman ay sumunod na lang siya. I think she got it right..

I hope so,

"Yeah, you're right. Me and Klein are already dating kaya makakaalis ka na,"  I was surprised at first nang mauna siyang magsalita but that's what I liked about it. Her intelligence and bravery.

But something is off..

What happened after she said it was really surprising, I'm surpised pero napawi din iyon agad. Ray pulled my head sabay tumingkayad and the last thing I knew was Ray kissing me.

I'm no surprised at all, hindi naman sa sanay na akong mahalikan but no, in fact, this is my first kiss and I'm glad na galing 'yon sa kaniya.

She was the one who pulled first, her face is really adorable, she huffed saka ako niyakap para itago ang mukha burrying her face in my chest. She's not bad at all, well she was the one who initiated it so~ my first kiss is not that bad. Not to mention that she used her tongue which I really enjoyed.

I gave Sullivan a smug face at halos mamula ang mukha nito sa galit, so the bastard still like her after all those years of her suffering because of him. I can't let him go closer to her.

"What now Sullivan? any words to say?" 

"This is not over Martinez,"  and with that ay padabog itong umalis sa store, muli akong nakahinga ng malalim dahil sa wakas ay wala na ang presensya niya.

I lifted Ray's head na nakasubsob parin ang mukha sa dibdib ko, namumula parin ang mukha nitong humarap sa akin, not letting me body go dahil nakayakap parin siya sa akin.

Kahit na hindi halata sa mukha ko, I really like it.

"Is he gone?" tanong nito, dry tears could be seen around her eyes, so she cried.

"Yes, but not completely gone. Ray.. uhh.. do you mind?"  I said pointing at her arms around me, agad naman niya iyong tinanggal nang ma-realize ang tinutukoy ko.

"S-sorry,"  bulong nito, I mentally smirked at the sight of her. Wala na lang akong ibang ginawa kundi himasin ang ulo niya, lagi ko na itong gawain.

"It's fine, by the way.. hindi ko alam na bold ka rin pala I thought you're just an sadistic human being. I enjoyed the kiss and the boyfriend thingy~ thanks Ray~"  I teased, masama niya akong tinignan at malakas na hinampas, I faked a hurted expression saka mahinang natawa.

She has that soft side kani-kanina lang tapos magiging mapanakit bigla. Girls will be forever girls..

"Shut up, bumalik na tayo," aniya saka nauna nang lumabas. Binayaran ko naman ang mga coke na binili saka siya sinundan sa labas.

"Akala ko ba bibili ka ng chocolate?"  tanong ko sa kaniya nang sabay na kaming naglalakad.

She sighed in frustration, "Nawala ang gana kong kumain ng chocolate nang makita ang pagmumukha ng lalaking 'yon,"  aniya saka mapaklang tumawa.

"I did too.."

Silence engulfed us nang wala ng ni-isa sa amin ang nagsalita, I was thinking about Ray's past relationship with Sullivan. Hindi ko ma-imagine ang relasyon nila..

He made Ray suffer, I'll not let him do that again. I witnessed Ray's suffering inside that hospital room, she used to cry everytime kapag naaalala ang lalaking 'yon at ngayon ay nangyari pa din. It only means na hindi ako successful sa pagiging isang friendly-stranger noon, I did my best para makalimutan niya ang lalaki pero parang no effect ang ginawa ko, I even made a bet with her na humanap ng lalaking magagawa siyang samahan hanggang dulo that's why I am still waiting for my old phone to ring.

I want to hear from her na successful siya sa pinapagawa ko sa kaniya, I wish na sana ay hindi na siya magulat kapag nalaman niya kung sino ang naging kasama niya noon sa hospital room na iyon.

The guy she named Aircon.

"About what Sullivan said--" panimula ko but she cutted me off immediately,

"That's right, he's my ex-boyfriend noong 3rd year ako sa middle school. Our relationship started 3 years ago and my accident was 2 years so.. makikitang hindi naman kami nag-tagal pero tandang-tanda ko pa noong baliw na baliw ako sa lalaking 'yon. Pero kapag iniisip ko ang mga panahong 'yon ay nalulungkot ako para sa sarili ko,"  I can feel it, her unbearable pain.

Just by hearing all of those, ramdam ko kung gaano siya nasasaktan.

"You don't need to, siya kaya ang may kasalanan kung bakit ka na-aksidente, remember? siya ang sisihin mo Ray, wala ka naman ibang ginawa kundi mahalin siya--"  and again, I was cutted by her words.

"Yun nga kasi, ako ang may kasalanan.. It's my fault for loving him, I'm so stupid for loving that bastard!"  she yelled, mabuti na lang ay kakaunti lang ang tao sa paligid namin.

It would be embarassing if ever na marami ang nakarinig sa kaniya and possible din na maging problema pa iyon.

"Loving someone is not a fault Ray, it means being mature enough to do things on your own and deciding what's the best for you inshort, nagagawa mo nang mag-decide kung ano ba ang gusto mong gawin sa future mo. Normal lang sa tao na mag-mahal, kailangan niyo lang talaga maging totoo sa sarili niyo," 

She huffed,

"Ikaw ba, naranasan mo na ba mag-mahal?"  she asked out of nowhere, hindi na ako nagulat dahil once na akong tinanong ni Sof tungkol sa bagay na 'yan.

"My feelings are a mistery to me 'till now, I liked someone from the past and I love my whole family, but liking or loving someone now? I don't know, well maybe I like her but not love, love is a big word after all,"  sagot ko saka binigyan siya ng inosenteng ngiti, she frowned.

"Dami mo pang sinabi.. hindi na lang direstong sabihin na 'oo Ray may nagugustuhan ako ngayon' blah blah.."  she said sarcastically,

You're being a bad girl,Ray.

"Ikaw naman, bakit ka galit kay Moon?" 

So she calls him by his first name. Naiirita pa naman ako kapag naririnig ang pangalan 'non, ang cringy kasi!

"Let's just say na may nangyari sa aming tatlo nila Nile noon na ikinagagalit ko hanggang ngayon,"  I answered, everytime na iniisip ko ang pangyayaring 'yon ay kumukulo ang dugo ko sa galit.

"Magkakakilala kayo dati?" 

"Yeah, we're classmates noong 2nd year middle schooler's palang kaming tatlo, at siya ang unang gumawa ng paraan para magalit kami sa kaniya 'till now. He then transferred to a different school noong magthi-third year na kami," 

Wala na siyang ibang sinabi pa matapos ko sabihin 'yon, nang makabalik kaming dalawa sa unit namin ni Nile ay mahimbing na itong natutulog sa sofa. I feel guilty for him,

Dinala ko si Nile sa kwarto niya para doon maayos na makapagpahinga, after doing so ay napaupo na lang ako sa sofa, slouching as ever.

"Oh, Klein I forgot to say.."  rinig kong wika ni Ray galing sa kitchen, hindi na ako sumagot dahil hinihintay ko na lang siyang ituloy ang nakalimutang sabihin.

She sat on the unoccupied space na may dalang dalawang snickers, binigay niya ang isa sa akin.

"If ever na magpakita ulit si Moon, can you help me? I mean.. the fake relationship we made kanina, can we do it kapag nandyan siya?"  I was stunned for a second at napatango na lang sa request niya, it's not that bad.

If It means na may hugs and kisses ulit kami na gagawin.. why not?

"Okay, I gave you my number na diba? just contact me whenever he's around." 

"Thank you, Klein."  she said after smiling so sweetly, and I can't help my self to just stare at her for a while.

Umiwas ako ng tingin nang ma-realize ang ginawa ko, my cheeks started to feel warm.

"N-no problem.." 

♡