My Coma Girl

Chapter 19

Momo's POV

Kakauwi ko lang ngayon at kakatapos ko lang din maligo. Habang nagpupunas ng buhok ay kinuha ko yung cellphone ko. Humiga ako sa kama at nag-message kay Steven. Nagsabi lang kasi siya na hindi niya ako mahahatid pauwi kanina tapos yun na yung huli niyang message sa akin ngayong araw.

"Where are you?"

Message ko sa kanya pero wala kaagad reply. Napabuntong hininga ako at binuksan na lang muna yung TV at nanuod ng cartoons.

Maya-maya ay nakatanggap ako ng message pero hindi si Steven kundi isang unknown number.

"You did great today."

Agad na napakunot ang noo ko sa message na natanggap ko. Kay Steven ba yun galing at ibang number lang ang ginamit niya?

Kami lang naman kasing dalawa yung palaging nag-uusap using phone number instead of chatting online. We prefer that kasi maraming nag-chachat sa amin online.

"Who is this?"

I replied.

"How did you get my number?"

Dagdag ko pa.

"This is Xenon Castillo. Your classmate."

"Sorry, I don't know that guy."

Ang sungit kanina tapos ngayon biglang mag-memessage.

Syempre hindi pwedeng siya lang yung mang-inis sa akin 'no.

"How can you not know the most handsome guy in your school?"

My jaw dropped after reading his reply. Napakahangin niya naman today. Gwapo rin kaya si Steven ko.

"Maybe because you're not the most handsome guy in our school and you're just day dreaming."

"Some girls in our school said it though."

It's true. Kahit ako ay naririnig kong nagbubulungan yung ibang students about him paminsan minsan.

"You also did great today grumpy."

"I'm not grumpy."

That's a lie.

"You are."

"Not always."

"Hindi ko naman sinabing palagi."

Pero medyo madalas.

"Will you save my number?"

He asked.

"Why not? You're the most handsome student in our school, right?"

Pang-aasar ko sa kaniya then he sent me a sticker doing a facepalm.

"It looks like you."

I replied.

"Maybe, I'm just taller."

"Alright, we get it okay? You're tall."

Yabang talaga today.

"What are you doing right now?"

Tanong ko sa kaniya.

"Eating you."

He replied at agad naman akong nagtaka. Eating you? Eating me?

"Huh?"

"Eating, you*"

Ah kinulang pala kasi. Akala ko kung ano na. Muntik pang mamula ang buong pisngi ko.

"Ayusin mo."

"Ano bang iniisip mo?"

"Wala ah."

"Weh?"

Nang-asar pa.

"Ikaw? Ano bang iniisip mo?"

Pagbalik ko sa kaniya ng tanong para tigilan niya ako sa pang-aasar niya.

"Ikaw."

"Typo nanaman ba yan?"

"Tama na yan."

Hindi ako kaagad naka-reply. Parang nag-skip yata ng beat yung puso ko. Kinikilig ba ako?

Hindi pwede.

"Ewan ko sayo."

Ewan ko sa sarili ko.

":>"

Yan lang ang reply niya but I smiled because of the little smile he sent.

He's cute even in chat.

"Good night Xenon."

"Good night Clara."

Our conversation ended then I saved his number to my contacts. I just simply named him 'Xenon' with a smiley face.

I don't know kung saan niya nakuha yung number ko, but I'm glad he messaged me today.

Napangiti ako.

Xenon's POV

It's the second day of our practice and we are here at the stage again waiting for Sir Suarez. 30 minutes early natapos yung last subject namin ngayon kaya kami napaaga at nag-aantay ngayon dito.

"Hey Xenon!"

Pagtawag sa akin ni Momo at umupo sa tabi ko.

"Let's try this."

She said and showed me the thing that she's holding.

Medyo okay na kami ngayon.

"What's that?"

"It's my dad's mp3 player. I found it yesterday, together with his other old stuff. He loves keeping things."

"Nagpaalam ka naman d'yan?"

I asked.

"Of course. Anong tingin mo sa akin? Bata?"

"Yes."

Sagot ko at sandali naman siyang sumimangot.

"Try na nga natin."

Kinuha niya yung pulang earphones mula sa bulsa niya at itinusok yun sa gilid ng mp3 player. Yung isang kabila ng isang earphone ay nasa isang tainga niya habang yung isa naman ay isinuot niya sa akin.

"Paano ba 'to?"

Tanong niya sa sarili niya.

Hinawakan ko yung mp3 player habang hawak pa rin niya at sinubukang pindutin yung mga buttons. Medyo bura na kasi yung mga label kaya medyo nakakalito.

I'm aware that our hands are touching pero syempre dapat kumalma lang ako para hindi masyadong halata.

Pagkatapos kong kalikutin yung mga pindutan ay biglang may music na nag-play.

Pareho kaming napatingin sa isat-isa at sabay na ngumiti na parang bata. It's like we're kids discovering a new game.

Two old friends meet again

Wearin' older faces

And talk about the places they've been

"Nice song."

Komento niya at ngumiti lang ako.

Two old sweethearts who fell apart

Somewhere a long ago

How are they to know

Someday they'd meet again

And have a need for more than reminiscin'

She started humming the song. I looked at her, and as I looked at her, I could not help to wonder what goes into her mind whenever she looks at me.

Maybe this time

It'll be lovin' they'll find

Maybe now they can be more than just friends

She's back in his life and it feels so right

Maybe this time, love won't end

Does her heart beats fast everytime our skin touch? Mine does.

It's the same old feeling back again

It's the one they had way back when

They were too young to know when love is real

But somehow, some things never change

And even time hasn't cooled the flame

It's burnin' even brighter than it did before

It got another chance, and if they take it

I let out a deep sigh and closed my eyes for a moment. I also started humming.

Maybe this time

It'll be lovin' they'll find

Maybe now they can be more than just friends

She's back in his life and it feels so right

Maybe this time, love won't end

Habang nakapikit ay bigla kong naalala yung unang araw na nagkita kami. Little did I know that she already belonged to someone the first day we met.

She's smilin' like she used to smile way back then

She's feelin' like she used to feel way back when...

Bigla akong napamulat nang maramdaman kong may tumutusok sa braso. Tinanggal ko muna yung earphone na nakalagay sa tainga ko para pakinggan siya dahil mukhang may sasabihin siya.

"Hmm? Sorry?"

Malambing kong tanong sa kaniya.

"I'm hungry."

She said and chuckled. I find every little thing she does cute. Should I be sorry?

"Are you free later? Hindi ka susunduin ni Steven?"

Tanong ko at tumango naman siya.

See? He only wants to be her boyfriend whenever he wants to. My girl deserves way more than what he gives.

"Want to come with me?"

"Where?"

She asked.

"To the restaurant we last went together with the squad."

"Sure!"

Nakangiti niyang sagot.

"But, I have to go somewhere first. Sandali lang naman."

"Okay lang."

"After our practice."

"Okay."

She smiled.

Maya-maya pa ay dumating na si Sir Suarez at nagsimula na kaming mag-practice.

Mas totoong practice na keysa kahapon na puro script reading lang para ma-familiarize namin yung lines at ma-deliver ng mas maayos.

Momo's POV

"Water."

Pag-abot sa akin ni Xenon ng tubig pagkatapos ng practice.

"Aww thank you."

Napaka-caring na lalake. Swerte ng magiging girlfriend niyan.

Ininom ko na yung natitirang tubig sa lalagyan njya at ako na mismo ang naglagay nun sa bag niya. Sandali pa kaming nagpahinga pagkatapos ay naglakad na kami papunta sa parking lot ng school to go eat. May isa pa muna kaming dadaanan. Hindi ko alam kung saan pero saglit lang naman daw.

Pinagbuksan agad ako ni Xenon ng pinto ng kotse pagkatapos ay pumasok na rin sya. It's my first time riding his car but it feels so familiar.

Is it deja vu again?

Pareho kaming nagsuot ng seatbelt at nagsimula na siyang magmaneho paalis.

Huminto kami sa isang flower shop. I was curious why we stopped there pero hindi na ako nagtanong.

"Mabilis lang ako, just stay here."

He said.

"Hmm."

Sagot ko at bumaba na siya sa kotse at pumasok sa loob ng shop. Nakaupo lang ako habang nakatingin sa kanya sa loob. Naka glass kasi yung shop kaya nakikita ko yung loob.

Kagaya ng sabi niya ay mabilis lang siya dahil lumabas din siya kaagad na may dalang bouquet of white flower. Nilagay niya kaagad yun sa back seat at muli nanamang nag-drive.

"Last stop, then we will eat na."

He said while driving.

"Okay."

Walang buhay na sagot ko sa kanya.

"Are you okay?"

Nag-aalalang tanong niya.

"Yeah."

I answered and fake a smile.

For some reason I don't feel happy about him buying flowers. I also can't help thinking about kung para kanino kaya yun.

Humarap ako sa bintana ng kotse at pinanuod ang tanawin na dinadaanan namin.

Nakapangalumbaba ako habang ginagawa yun.

"The world is a beauty."

I said.

"Yes, it is."

Pang sang ayon ni Xenon.

"You think so?"

Tanong ko at tiningnan siya. His eyes are focused in driving.

"Ofcourse. I hope other people can see it too."

"Why do you think it's beautiful?"

I asked.

"Um... everything about it is beautiful."

"Including you."

I added and pointed at him.

Sabay turo ko pa sa kanya at napatawa naman sya.

"Me?"

"Oo, you're part of this world."

"Then you too."

Maya-maya pa ay huminto kami sa isang lugar.

Sa isang sementeryo.

"Why are we here?"

I asked.

Kaya ba bumili siya ng bulaklak?

Kung nagkataon muntik pa akong magtampo to someone who passed away. Tinotoyo na ata ako.

"To visit someone special to me."

Nakangiti niyang sagot.

When he said someone special to him, it made me feel sad. Knowing that he lost someone who seems very special to him.

Pareho kaming bumaba ng kotse at naglakad papunta sa tinutukoy niyang importanteng tao sa kaniya.

"How important is that person to you?"

Tanong ko habang naglalakakad kami.

"I will do anything just to meet her again. Even just for a minute."

Sa paglalakad namin ay huminto kami sa isang grave na may nakapangalan na Samantha.

It's a girl.

"Hi Sam. I missed you."

Xenon said.

He kissed the flower that he bought earlier before placing it beside the grave of Samantha.

One year ago pa lang nang mamatay siya nang basahin ko yung nakalagay sa puntod niya.

"I'm sorry. I know it's been a while."

Bawat segundo dumadaan ay parang nagiging iba ang ekspresyon ng mukha ni Xenon. Pansin ko ang pag-ipon ng mga luha niya sa gilid ng mga mata niya.

"I... I miss you terribly Sam... I don't..."

Hindi na naituloy ni Xenon ang sasabihin niya nang magsimulang mag-unahan sa pagpatak ang mga luha niya. He keeps wiping it pero parang walang epekto sa bilis ng pagpatak ng mga ito.

He is crying so hard that he even covered his mouth with his hand which I didn't expect.

Lumapit ako sa kaniya para patahanin siya, but the moment I touched his back ay kaagad siyang umikot paharap sa akin at ipinatong ang ulo niya sa balikat ko habang patuloy pa rin sa pag-iyak.

"Shh breathe Xenon."

He is gasping a lot.

"I missed... her."

"I know, I know."

I feel so bad, but I don't know what to do for him.

Nagpatuloy siya sa pag-iyak at ilang minuto rin ang lumipas nang humiwalay siya sa pagkakayakap sa akin at hinarap ako.

"I'm sorry."

He said and wiped his tears.

"No, it's fine. I don't mind."

"I look so stupid. I'm sorry."

"No. Crying is not stupid and you don't look stupid."

Crying is one of the most normal things in the world.

Pakiramdam ko maraming pinagdadaanan at iniisip si Xenon. You will not cry this hard with just one problem.

"What's wrong? Can you tell me?"

Tanong ko pero umiling siya.

"Can you leave me for a moment?"

"Sure."

Sagot ko at naglakad palayo sa kaniya. Lumayo ako pero natatanaw ko pa rin siya.

Now, I'm just watching him cry infront of Samantha's grave from afar.

It's not easy to watch but I hope that his tears will ease the pain after, even just a little bit.