Art of Serendipity

08

"I...I'm..." I can't find my words. Akala ko ay aware siyang umalis ako kaya hindi na ako nagpaalam pa sa kaniya, masyado kasi siyang busy sa paglalaro kaya hindi ko na siya ginulo. "I'm sorry, na-bored ako roon e and besides, bakit ka naman malalagot? Kanino ka malalagot?"

I asked my last question because I cannot really understand that one. My Dad is not strict and he trusted me. Tsaka kapag nawala naman ako ay pwede niya akong tawagan. Duh. We are in modern world, tsaka ano ako? Bata para mawala? Levi is just overthinking about this. Nadamay naman tuloy ako sa pago-overthink.

He just shook his head and glanced at the claw machine. Kinuha niya sa akin ang card at kung anong hirap kong makakuha ng plushie roon ay s'yang kay dali naman niyang makuha ang isang plushie! Nakaisang try lang siya pero nakakuha agad siya ng plushie! Like what the hell? It is so unfair!

"Oh. Do you want more?" Iniabot niya sa akin ang plushie na nakuha niya. It was a polar bear plushie. Umiling ako at kinuha ang plushie."Bagay sa 'yo, ah, polar bear, parang ikaw."

The plushie was so soft and cute. I remember my childhood. I am so obssessed with teddy bears. Mom spoiling me with plushies that is why I have a collection when I was still a kid. Ngayon kasi ay hindi na kakayanin pa sa kwarto ko kaya pinatago ko na lang muna.

My brows furrowed. "Ano?"

He just chuckled and dragged me somewhere again. Naglaro naman kami ng air hockey this time. Nakipagpustahan pa siya na kapag nanalo raw siya ay ililibre ko siya bukas .That is what I offered. Ayaw pa nga niya pero pinilit ko siya. Okay lang naman na ilibre ko siya, pero wala naman akong maisip na consequence kung mananalo ako. I still have a chance, though.

"Save it next time, wala akong maisip ngayon, e," I just said after hitting a hockey. He was waiting for my response.

We played. Dalawang beses lang kami maglalaro dahil iyon na lang naman ang kaya ng card namin. Hindi na kami mag-a-avail ulit dahil uuwi na kami. Anong oras na rin at masyado na kaming nawili sa kakalaro. I will not get scol

"I won!" he announced after winning our first game. Lumapit siya sa akin at isinenyas ang nilalaro namin.

"Fine, I'll treat you tomorrow." I crossed my arms and pouted. Ayaw ko ngang kasabay sila tapos heto ako at manlilibre pa. Yung totoo, Ayannah Miles? Are you really trying your best to avoid them, or you are just making excuses?

I just realized that it felt so good to find a good friend. Kahit nakakainis… Kahit hindi ko matanggap na nasisiyahan nga akong kasama ang isang kaibigan tulad ni Levi.

Wala na akong pag-asang manalo sa pangalawang game namin dahil wala talaga akong maisip na consequence but I still felt competitive. So, when I hit the last hockey…

"I won!" I announced happily when I won over him in the second game. Napatakip naman ako sa bibig ko dahil napalakas ata ang pagsigaw ko. I looked around, but I guess everyone are minding their own businesses. Buti naman.

"What's your consequence then?" tamad niyang ani. Para naman itong wala pakialam na natalo ko siya.

Nag-isip ako ng matagal pero wala talaga akong maisip. "Next time na lang talaga. I can't think of anything yet, e."

He just giggled. I looked at my wristwatch. Almost 6:30 pm na pala at, hindi man lang namin namalayan ang oras. Though, maaga-aga pa naman but I'm sure, ready for dinner na sila roon sa bahay or baka nga tapos na. Well, it is also fine if I will not be able to eat with my father and Tita Donna. Kaso lang ay baka hinihintay na ako ni Nanay Luz. Baka hindi pa siya kumakain.

Inilagay na ni Levi sa kotse niya 'yung painting pagkalabas namin. Hindi man lang ako naka-angal nang makapasok na ako sa kotse niya. Sinabi kong magpapasundo na lang ako, but he refused, according to him, its his fault. We didn't talk while he's driving because I'm telling the directions to him going to our house.

Pagdating sa mansion ay kukunin ko na sana ang painting sa kaniya pero nauna na niya itong kunin at pinagbuksan pa ako ng pinto. Inilibot niya ang paningin niya sa buong bahay nang makalabas na ako sa kotse.

"Mabigat ang painting, may pwede bang kumuha nito?" he asked while we are walking towards our gate. Hinayaan ko siyang pumasok sa loob at iwan muna ang kotse.

"Where's Kuya Nolly po?" I asked our guard. Kuya Nolly is our house helper and also, our driver.

"Nasa loob po ata, Ma'am. Tumutulong din po sa pagaayos ng mga painting na inuwi ng Daddy mo po," magalang na sagot ng guard namin, nginitian niya rin si Levi.

I just nodded and turned to Levi. "You can go inside."

"Hmm?" His bedroom eyes widened a bit.

"Nasa loob daw yung pwedeng kumuha or ako na lang magdadala if you don't want to go inside." I was about to get the painting but he immediately took it away.

"Ako na." I see consistency on his eyes.

Umismid na lang ako at nauna nang pumasok sa mansion at nakita kong busy nga ang lahat para sa paglalagay ng paintings. Daddy and Tita Donna are nowhere to be found, so I immediately went to Nanay Luz and hugged her a bit.

"Where's Daddy?" I asked.

"Nasa taas na, hija. Bakit ngayon ka lang? Hindi ba't sama-sama kayo umalis kanina?" She looks so concern.

"Uh..." Isinenyas ko si Levi na naroon lang sa pinto habang pinagmamasdan ang kabuuan ng mansion.

"Sino yan? Nobyo mo? Naku..." Lumapit agad siya kay Levi.

"Nay!" pagpipigil ko sa kaniya pero huli na dahil nakalapit na siya kay Levi.

"Magandang gabi, hijo," ngiti niya kay Levi.

"Magandang gabi rin po." Levi even bowed a bit.

"Nobyo ka ba nito ni Ayannah? Nako, napakagandang lalaki mo naman." Nanay Luz even touched Levi's biceps.

Oh, my god, Nanay!

"'Nay Luz, he's not my boyfriend. He's just a friend. Inihatid lang po niya ako para po sa painting na 'to." I can't count how many times they mistakenly thought that Levi is my boyfriend. Nakakahiya na ito!

Nakita ko ang dismaya sa mukha ni Nanay Luz. "Ay, akala ko pa naman..."

"Uh, saan ko po ilalagay ito?" Levi said politely. I guess he is getting uncomfortable too.

"Kuya Nolly!" I called our houseboy. "Pakiakyat naman po sa kwarto ko, please. Thank you."

"Sige po, Ma'am." Maingat niyang kinuha kay Levi 'yung painting at agad na iniakyat sa taas.

I turned to Levi. He's looking innocently around our house. Hindi ako kumportable dahil ngayon lang ako may dinalang kaibigan dito dahil una, wala naman akong naging kaibigan at pangalawa, ayaw ko lang. Nagtagal pa ang tingin niya sa portrait namin sa gitna.

"You should go home na, gabi na," I told him while nearing a bit.

Doon lang napabalik ang tingin niya sa akin. Ang tingin niya ay parang nagdadalawang isip sa hindi malamang dahilan kaya napakunot ang noo ko. Anong iniisip niya?

"Yeah, I'll go now," he said softly. Nanay Luz heard that she so immediately went to him.

"Hindi ka ba kakain muna rito, hijo? Uuwi ka na?" Nanay Luz invited him.

I pursed my lips. I don't want to be rude though. Mas mabuti sigurong kumain muna siya dahil ang last naming kain ay kanina pa. I didn't say any word to convince him. Bahala siya kung gusto niya.

"It's okay po. Busog pa po ako, maybe next time," he said as a sign of refusal.

Hindi siya kakain dito? Excited pa naman akong ipatikim sa kaniya ang luto ni Nanay Luz but it's okay. May next time pa naman daw. Wait, what? Next time? E 'di may balak pa siya na bumalik dito?

Hindi na umangal si Nanay Luz kaya inihatid ko na lang sa labas si Levi. Kung nasaan ang kotse niya. Nang makalabas ay hindi muna siya pumasok sa loob ng kotse niya.

"Do you have class for tomorrow?" he asked.

"Hmm..." I looked at my phone to see my schedule. "Meron sa morning, but it ill be just halfday classes."

"Alastrid wants you to, uhm..." he scratched the bridge of his nose.

"Hmm?"

"Labas daw kayo tomorrow. After your class. He'll wait for you," dire-diretso niyang saad.

"Huh? Eh?" I pointed at myself. Ako? Bakit naman niya aayaing lumabas? "Uh, why? Am I missing an occasion? Birthday niya ba?"

Saktong may biglang nagmessage sa akin sa phone ko. Hawak ko pa rin yung plushie.

From Alastrid:

Are you free tomorrow? Let's hang out outside.

"Uh... He actually messaged me just now." Ipinakita ko pa sa kaniya ang phone ko but he didn't bother to look at it.

"Wala rin ako bukas, I'm busy," he informed me casually.

"Uh, okay..." nasagot ko na lang. So, he's not coming with us tomorrow? Hindi pa nga ako pumapayag na lumabas kami ni Alas e.

"I'll go now. Enjoy kayo bukas," he managed to smile while going inside his car.

But I stopped him. "Here, you can have this." I gave the plushie to him. Wala naman akong gagawin doon dahil hindi bagay sa kwarto ko. Sa kaniya na lang sana or kapag hindi niya tinanggap, e'di ibibigay ko na lang sa kahit kanino.

Kunot-noo niya akong tinignan. "I got that one for you. Why are you giving that to me?"

"Wala naman akong gagawin dyan, e. Ipapamigay ko lang din kaya sa'yo na lang." I shrugged, still handling the plushie to him.

Unti-unti niyang kinuha 'yung plushie sa akin. "Hmm. Thanks then."

I smiled. "Don't worry, ako pa rin 'yan kung gusto mong ako 'yan. You can go now, have a safe trip." Tumalikod na ako pero humarap muli nang may maisip pang sabihin. "Anyway, Lev. Thank you for this day. I had fun. Thank you for making me feel being a child again. "

Masarap pala maging bata ulit. It is so good to play with things that was keeping you happy when you were young. It is okay to miss those times. Masayang balikan ang lahat, hindi man sa lahat ng pagkakataon, pero nakakapaghatid ito ng kakaibang pakiramdam.

And I am glad that I am with him.

He stepped once in front of me and patted my head. "Do not let the child in you go away, especially that adulthood is a bit rough way to go through. Good night, Aya."

~~~