Art of Serendipity

10

"But honestly, you should make more friends. You don't have any aside from us... or me. Paano kasi, inuunahan mo ng kasungitan mo."

"I don't need more friends." I rolled my eyes. Kung makikipagkaibigan sila dahil sa pangalang mayroon ako, no freaking thanks.

"Okay ka na sa amin kung ganoon?"

I was taken aback. I just realized that I keep on saying that I don't need friends, pretending that buddy's doesn't exist but hell, I have. Its Levi and Alastrid. Kaibigan ko naman daw sila diba?

"I don't regret not having friends. I mean, I showed them what's the real 'me', una pa lang ipinapakita ko na. It's up to them if they can accept my attitude or flaws. I don't have to keep pushing myself to them, it's not worth my time." I still explained.

Oo nga naman, una pa lang. I showed them what's the real me pero si Levi at Alas lang ang nagtyaga at nagtiis. Silang dalawa lang ang hindi nagalit sa akin despite of my attitude towards them.

"Friends..." he laughed sarcastically. He murmured something that I can't really understand.

"Ano?"

"Nothing." He glanced at me and then silence filled the whole place but I didn't feel the awkwardness. Somehow, it soothed me.

"Aya, what is your plan for the future?" he suddenly asked out of nowhere. Wala na ba siyang matanong?

"I don't know. Maybe, taking care of our business. That's it. How about you?"

Napatingin siya sa akin pagkasagot ko no'n. Mga tinging nangungumbinsi. Totoo naman. Wala akong ibang plano kundi alagaan ang business ni Mommy at Daddy. I don't want anyone else to take care of it aside from me.

"That's it for your plans? I mean, plano mo 'yon para sa ibang tao. Anong plano mo para sa sarili mo?"

I stared at him just to think. "Wala... Ano pa bang magiging plano ko?" dahan-dahan kong ani.

Saglit pa siyang tumitig sa akin bago umiling. "Nevermind."

"Ikaw? What's your plans?" I gave back the question.

He folded his arms across his chest. "Do you see me as a great painter?"

Si Levi, I see the determination and hardship in him. 'Yung passion niya, abot-kamay na niya. Noong nasa Art Gallery kami ay hindi ko talaga maiwasang humanga. I can see clearly the love of what he's doing.

"Yes, I can see you as a great painter," I answered honesty. I'm true to my words.

"Really? Are you my fan now?" he scoffed.

Nawala bigla 'yung ngiti ko. "Asa ka! And besides, you have fangirls, you have a lot of them. May stalker ka pa dyan sa tabi-tabi. I wonder, did they like you because they know your talent? Sabagay, fine arts student ka nga pala."

He laughed upon hearing that. I glared at him and waited until he finish laughing but everytime he's looking at me, nadadagdagan lang 'yung tawa niya.

"What's funny, stupid?"

"You sounded like a mad woman, are you?" tatawa-tawa niya pang ani.

I recalled what I told him earlier. Wala naman akong sinabing nakakatawa ah? What I stated are facts.

"Are you crazy?" I asked sarcastically.

"I think I am." His brows moved up and down.

I winced. We stayed like that until his next class came. I let him go and I immediately went home since I don't have classes anymore. Mababagot lang ako kapag nag-stay pa ako sa campus, maliban sa library ay wala namang magandang tambayan doon na mag-isa lang.

Tomorrow came and I went to the park where our meeting will be held. Na-email na sa akin kagabi ang location kaya pumunta na lang ako ,though I'm not familiar here. Pinauwi ko na rin 'yung driver namin at magpapasundo na lang ako mamaya after our meeting.

Umupo ako sa isang bench doon sa bandang gilid. Puro puno itong part kung nasaan ako at masasabi kong maganda ang lugar na ito. I love the peace and fresh air. Pwede ko 'to tambayan minsan. Hmm.

Nalibang ako sa pagtingin-tingin kaya hindi ko na namalayan pa ang oras. Bahaya na ring dumilim ang kalangitan, mukhang uulan pa yata. Wala naman sinabi sa balita, ah? Oh well, I am not watching news anyway.

I checked my phone for the possible message from my groupmates but I can't see any. We do not have group chat, or baka mayroon pero hindi na nila ako naisipan pang isali at ayaw ko ring sumali.

I waited another hour in the part but no one really came so I messaged the girl from yesterday if there is still a meeting or is it being cancelled already and they failed to let me know. I waited for their reply and it came after 20 minutes . My patience is now being tested.

From Bianca:

Wait.

Iyon lang ang laman ng message kaya hinayaan ko na lang. Baka matagalan lang talaga sila kaso naramdaman ko na ang iilang mga patak ng ulan sa balat, hanggang sa lumakas ito. Ang malamig na hangin ay humahampas na ng malakas sa katawan ko.

I took out my umbrella and still waited patiently. Sa hindi kalayuan ay may nakita akong isang pamilya na pilit pinagsisiksikan ang mga sarili sa maliit na karton para lamang hindi mabasa.

Kawawa sila. The mother and the father let themselves be wet just for their four children. They do not have home. Umiiyak na 'yung mga bata at patuloy pa ring lumalakas ang ulan. Naaawa ako sa kanila. I pity them to the point that I realized so many things about myself.

Can I give them a shelter? Can I give them food? A good life? Kung kaya ko lang ay why not. I will share my earnings to those who are in greater need soon. Sa ngayon, pera pa ng mga magulang ko ito, e.

But then, I realized that the life I'm hating... is the life that others are dreaming. Kung sabagay ay wala naman na dapat akong hilingin dahil kumpleto ako physically, sila, they are not financially stable, but I know… I know that there are so many times that they became so happy and contented with the life they have.

I stood up and looked at my umbrella. Malaki naman ito kaya tiyak na magkakasya naman siguro sila. I also took out my food earlier na hindi ko nakain. I walked towards them and show my genuine smile.

"Excuse me. Kunin niyo na po itong payong ko pati ito pong pagkain. Nababasa po 'yung mga bata," I interrupted them, I maximized my voice since the rain is pouring so hard, and I suppose that they could not hear me.

"Naku, h'wag na po, Ma'am. Ikaw naman po ang mababasa. Naka-uniporme ka pa naman po at mukhang may dala-dalang mga importanteng bagay. Ayos lang po kami," pagtanggi sa akin ng tatay nila.

"Okay lang po. Tapos ko na rin naman pong gamitin 'to. Here, you can have this." I gave the umbrella and food for them. I let myself be wet.

"Maraming salamat po, Ma'am. Sakto at hindi pa po kami kumakain. Hulog po kayo ng langit," the mother thanked me and even held my hand.

"You are always welcome po. Sige po. Ingat po kayo palagi." I waved at them but one kid suddenly held my hand.

"Anghel po kayo, ang ganda niyo po. Pagpalain po sana kayo." The kid smiled at me widely.

I leveled my eyes on her. Bahagya pa akong lumayo dahil baka mabasa ko pa siya. "Thank you. Ikaw din."

I waved my hands again and went back to the bench but I didn't sat since the bench is wet too. Hindi ko mailabas ang phone ko dahil basang-basa na talaga ako at ayaw ko namang basain din ang phone ko. Good thing, my bag is waterproof. Hihintayin ko na lang siguro na tumila ang ulan tsaka ako tatawag sa driver para magpasundo.

I embraced myself because of coldness. My feet is trembling and my breathing became shallow. Ang tagal pala matapos ng ulan. I also don't want our driver to pick me up at this situation because he might call for an accident, madulas na ata ang kalsada ngayon.

I wiped my cheeks with my bare hands. Hindi para sa basa ng ulan kundi para sa luhang tumulo nang hindi ko man namamalayan. I knew it. Those girls fooled me because they hate me. They hate me so much to the point that they have to put me on trouble. Hinayaan nila akong mabulok dito. Lahat na lang ba ng tao galit sa akin?

I felt so alone. Bakit? Bakit kailangan pa nilang gawin iyon? Bakit ang hirap pakisamahan ng mga tao? I thought that they really serious about our activity but why... Why did they do this?

Hindi ko sila pwedeng isumbong sa professor dahil mababaliktad lang ako. D*mn this life.

I tuck sit. Bahagya pa akong yumuko dahil ramdam na ramdam ko na ang init sa gilid ng mga mata ko dahil sa mga luha. I sobbed. Aminado akong walang makakarinig no'n. Wala nang tao sa paligid dahil sa ulan. Wala ring masilungan. Ayos pa ba ako? I looked so hopeless.

"Aya!"

Someone grabbed me and immediately put me on his chest. Hindi ko na maramdaman pa ang tulo ng ulan. I almost heard this man's fast beating heart and at some point, it reflects mine. Yakap-yakap niya ako at ramdam ko ang pangamba at proteksiyon na nagmumula sa kaniya. His familiar scent invaded my nose. Is this Levi?

"f**k it! Why are you here alone, Aya?" he whispered and I confirmed who is it. It was Levi.

Lalong bumilis ang t***k ng puso ko nang malaman kung sino iyon. I didn't answered him, instead, I squeezed him back. Hinayaan ko ang sarili kong maging mahina dahil sa yakap niya kahit ngayon lang. I feel so drained, but then he came, it soothed me.

Alam kong napakababaw ng dahilan kung bakit hinang-hina ako ngayon. Wala na ring akong pakialam kahit alam kong basa na ako pero nakayakap pa rin ako sa kaniya at baka mabasa ko rin siya.

He stroked my hair to calm me down. The heaviness in my breathing calmed. Ang lamig na nararamdaman ko kanina ay nabawasan na rin. I hugged him more and let myself be calm.

At some point, I suddenly found a place to have my peace.

~~~