The Wordless Her

The Orphan

The sun touches Shimitzu's rosy cheeks as she stepped out onto the balcony of her room. Breathing in the nice breeze that came from the woods is one of the things she used to do before going around.

" Napaka aga mo naman atang mag - ayos ngayon Shitmitzu?" tanong ni Anna habang pinagmamasdaan itong naghahanda ng isusuot.

" I'll be attending an important event today with someone Anna." masayang sagot ng dalaga sabay paghawak ng mahigpit sa kanang kamay nito.

Agad naman napabalikwas si Anna sa nakitang expression sa mukha ng dalaga.

“Sandali lang, wag mong sabihing… may date ka?!” saad ng matanda na napatakip pa ng bibig sa pagkagulat.

Ngunit nginitian lamang sya nito.

"Naku, itong batang ito. Kelan ka pa natutong makipagdate?! Huh?" sabay pagtalon talon sa kaba na hindi maintidihan kung saan paroroon.

"Mitzu... Wag mong sabihing ako lang ang walang alam sa mga nangyayaring ito...?" dugtong nito sabay lapit sa dalaga.

"Mitzu...? You know that you can share anything to me... right? I won't ever get mad, I promise...." dugtong nito.

Nagpatuloy lang sa pagpili ng isusuot ang dalaga at pinabayaan ang kasama na magsi-ikot sa loob ng walking closet nya.

" Mitzu...?" wika uli nito.

" Hmmmh? I'm almost done... We can talk later." sagot ng dalagang nakangiti.

" Okay..." sagot nitong pinilit kumalma.

In a while...

"Ehhhhh!!" reklamo ni Anna matapos marinig ang explanation ni Shimitzu.

"Why do you look unsatisfied?" nakangiting tanong ng dalaga.

" Oo nga, so mas gusto mo na tama ang assumption mo?" singit ni Tessa sabay paglagay ng gamit nito sa loob ng sasakyan.

" Noooooo..." hirit naman nito sabay iwas ng tingin.

" Hmmmh, sigurado yan huh. " dugtong ni Tessa.

" I have to go, can't be late today. " masayang paalam ni Shimitzu.

"Alright, pakamusta mo nalang kami. " wika ni Tessa.

There they watched Shimitzu's car leave.

"Am I the only one? I notice she doesn't use her car often.” Anna said.

"Yes…" Tessa replied that's when she thought about it.

"Isn't her school far from here?"

There Tessa remembered the condition of her shoes recently when she last cleaned her room and audibly sighed.

Sa isang kilalang shopping district sa lugar, naroon sila Camille at Samantha na abalang namimili ng ilang kakailanganin sa darating na event sa school.

" Patapos ka na ba Camille? " tanong ni Sam na mukhang naiinip na sa paghihintay.

" Almost..." sagot ng isa na abalang nakatitig sa mga brushes na malapit sa pinto palabas ng shop.

" Camille, niyaya mo ba talaga si Shimitzu sa lakad natin today...?" nakasimangot na tanong nito.

" Why don't you give her a call? "

" Hmmmh..." sagot nito sabay titig sa kausap na may pagdududa.

Natawa naman si Camille at nagpatuloy sa paghahanap ng brushes ng bigla itong nahinto sa kinatatayuan.

" Ohhh, na pano ka dyan?" tanong ni Sam ng makitang napakagat sa brush si Camille habang nakatingin sa labas.

" I think..."

" You think what?" dugtong ni Sam.

" I think, you don't have to give her a call..." wika nito sabay turo sa labas. " She's outside."

" Ehh!!" sigaw ni Sam sabay silip sa labas agad.

" See? I told you... she'll be busy today. "

Agad hinablot ni Camille ang dala-dalang bag pack nito upang pigilan sa paglapit nito kay Shimitzu.

" Ooh? " nagtatakang tanong ni Sam.

" Quiet... she didn't mention why she'll be busy today. " wika ni Camille.

" Kaya nga natin sya lalapitan para tanungin, di ba?"

" Kaya nga..."

" I don't get it. "

" Haaaay.” she just audibly sighed.

Walang nagawa ito kundi ipakita ang naging convo nila from yesterday.

" Hahahahaha!! hahahaha!! " tawa lang naibigay nito ng makita na naseen lang si Camille ng tanungin nito kung anong meron ngayon.

" Tumawa ka lang, baka may mapala tayo sa pag tawa mo dyan.. " wika nito habang binabantayan si Shimitzu mula sa bintana ng shop.

" Hey, don't tell me you're planning to... "

" Shhh! " sita ni Camille.

" Haaaay. Fine. "

" Don't act like you're not interested. " bulong nito.

" Okay, okay... I'll be quiet... " sagot nalang ni Sam ng makita ang pagkainis ng kasama.

Pinagpatuloy nila ang pagbuntot dito.

" She looks stunning with her Ivory Essi tulle-trimmed crepe midi dress ..." bulong ni Sam na napakagat pa sa panyo nito.

" Exactly, it perfectly matches with her light khaki floppy hat that emphasizes her wavy black long hair..." dugtong ni Camille.

" We also rarely see her wearing makeup ... Haaaay, she looks lovelier today! " nanggigil na saad ni Sam.

Tumango ang kausap bilang pagsang - ayon, ngunit biglang na alarma si Sam ng may pumasok sa isip nya .

" Hey, magtago ka nga ng maayos! " sita ni Camille sabay hila dito.

" Camille... " bulong nito.

" Ohhh.."

" Camille..." dugtong nito.

" Oh, bakit naiiyak ka dyan?"

" She's dating someone. " umiiyak na saad nito.

" We're not sure about that...” sagot nito sabay balik ng tingin sa binabantayan. “and wait a second! Will you stop crying?" sita nito kay Sam.

" Ehhhh, how can I stop crying? She's! dating! some! one!" wika nito na habang nagpipigil sa gigil sa kausap.

" As I told you, we're not yet still sure about that, right?!" sagot ng isa na halos batukan ang kausap.

“I will kill him. " sagot agad ni Sam.

" Baliw ka, eh ikaw nga itong date ng date dyan kung makapagsita ka... "

" Shut up, that's my mom's doing...not mine. " sagot nito sabay balik sa pagsilip kay Shimitzu na abalang namimili ng bulaklak habang may bit-bit na paper bag.

" Ayan... may tumatawag. Siya na kaya yong memeet ni Shimitzu? We better look around- that person might be around here... " saad ni Camille.

" Tama ka..." sagot naman ng isa.

" I'm on my way now... " nakangiting sagot ni Shimitzu over the phone.

" Shocks... Camille... nanggigil ako... she looks so excited!" naiinis na saad nito.

" Alam ko, kaya tigilan mo ang paglukot mo ng suot ko... " sagot ni Camille sabay hampas sa kamay ng kaibigan.

" Ouch! "

Agad silang nagtago ng mapalingon si Shimtzu sa kinaroroonan nila.

" That's close. " bulong ni Camille.

" Haaaay... " napabuntong hininga nalamang si Sam.

Makalipas ng ilang sandali, umalis na ang dalaga sa shop at nagtungo kung saan iniwan ang sasakyan. Piniling iwan nila Camille ang mga saksakyan nila upang hindi ito makilala.

In an enormous convention center in the city, many people from all ages gathered to witness the upcoming new season of “International Little Chef Cooking Competition" of the year that is being premiered every Saturday @ COX Channel. Children ages from 8-13 years old can come and compete to face the challenges prepared by well-known Chefs to show case their skills set and creativity at their young age over the table.

Sa labas ng waiting room ng mga contestants.

"Look who's here?" wika ng isang batang lalaki sa kapwa contestant na kanina pa nakatayo at naghihintay sa hallway, ngunit hindi siya nito pinansin.

" Oww, he's ignoring you now Atsumu.." dugtong ng kasamang si Gerald.

" Hpmt! We'll find out who'll get the first place this time..." wika ni Atsumu sabay bangga dito.

" Loser! " sigaw naman ng isa dito.

" Oh Shinomiya... Hi! " bati ng isang batang babaeng kadarating lang at bahagyang nakita ang nangyare.

Tinanguan lang naman ito ng bata bilang pagbati at muling tinignan ang cellphone na dala.

" We still have 30 more mins left before we can start... " wika ng batang babae.

" I know. " sagot nito habang nakatingin sa hallway.

" Are you waiting for someone?" nakangiting tanong nito sabay silip din sa hallway, hanggang sa may bagong batang lalaki ang lumapit sa kanila.

" Kazuki. Why don't you leave him alone? He always wanted to be alone... right Shinomiya?" saad nito.

" Kevin...you're here. " sagot ni Kazuki.

Nagtinginan lang naman si Shinomiya (11 years old) at Kevin (13 years old), ngunit ni isang salita binigkas ang batang si Shinomiya.

" I thought you're in the US?" tanong ni Kazuki.

" Well, I heard that someone's back on the stage... so I requested to come and see it myself. " sagot nito habang nakatitig sa tinutukoy.

" Kevin... " sita naman ni Kazuki ng makita na nagiging uncomfortable na ang tinutukoy.

Agad kinwelyuhan ni Kevin si Shinomiya, ngunit hindi parin sya nito pinansin.

"Yamete kudasai..." (Please stop it.) pakiusap ni Kazuki.

"Tsk." agad naman itong binitawan ni Kevin ngunit lalo itong nainis ng makita lamang niya itong inaayos ang nalukot nitong kwelyo.

"Shinomiya." ito nalang ang nabaggit ni Kazuki sa nakitang itsura nito.

Sa loob ng waiting room.

" It's seems like you just wasted your time coming here ..." pang aasar ni Atsumu kay Kevin.

" Shut up. " seryosong sagot nito.

" Hmmmh, I think... Atsumu's right, because as you can see Shinomiya looks wasted today, right?" natatawang wika ni Chris (12 years old) na isa sa naroon, ngunit agad nagbago ang expression ng mukha nito ng ibalik ang tingin sa pinag uusapang nasa labas ng silid. " but I'm wondering what kind of serving he will show us later... ", seryosong dugtong nito.

"Lucky, lucky, lucky!" masayang singit ni Gerald na makikitang masaya sa nakikita.

Sa Hallway, naroon parin si Shinomiya at matiyagang naghihintay.

" Shinomiya-kun? " wika ng isa sa mga staff.

" Yes po?" the child asks as he looked up at her.

" You only have 15 mins left... Are you sure you're alright?" nakangiting paalala dito.

" Yes, thank you for checking on me. " sagot lamang nito na mukhang hindi nababahala sa minutong naiiwan.

Sa di kalayuan, naroon naman ang ilang staff at parents’ ng ilan sa mga lumahok.

" He's the boy from that orphanage, right?" wika ng isa sa mga parents.

" Yes, and I heard that he's currently staying at the elderly village of the same org. because of misbehaving. " sagot ng isa.

" Wondering how he polished his skills from being a stubborn orphan... " nagtatakang saad ng pangatlong ina na kasama.

"Exactly, and how did they manage to support him?" dugtong ng isang ina.

"Well, the orphanage is currently being sponsored by some huge companies recently and don't know how it happened." sagot ng kasama.

Napangiti lang naman ang isa sa parents sa narinig at piniling hindi magbigay ng opinion.

"Poor boy, completely abandoned at the age of 5..." bulong ng isang staff sa mga magulang na kasama.

"Yeah, I've heard that he was abandoned by his mom and went abroad after getting divorced..."

"Well, hindi lang daw sya basta inabandona, iniwang bugbog din daw ang bata at mukhang matagal ding iniwang walang kahit na ano... Good thing someone came and checked him out."

"Fortunately, they manage to tame the child somehow because he gave them a lot of trouble in his first year of stay..."

"Tsk. Kawawang bata..." dugtong ng staff.

Until one of the coordinators came and saw this staff chatting with these parents about the child.

" Stella... why don't you lead them outside? wika ng kadarating na supervisor ng staff sabay tingin ng masama dito.

" To our waiting area? " at dugtong nito.

" Yes Sir! " sagot ng natakot na staff.

Agad namang nilapitan ng supervisor ang batang nasa di kalayuan sa pangambang narinig nito ang mga pinag-uusapan ng ilang mga magulang.

" Shinomiya...why don't you get in? Everyone's preparing inside..." yaya nito sa bata sabay ayos ng wavy hair ng mistisong bata.

" Thank you, but I don't really think I need much of that time. " sagot nito.

Habang kausap ang coordinator, naroon naman ang isang babae na nanatiling nakatayo lang sa di kalayuan at narinig ang naging pag-uusap nila kaya napangiti nalang din.

" So please, kindly let me stay here for a while..." pakiusap ng bata sa coordinator dahil niyayaya na siya nitong pumasok sa loob.

" Alright but excites us with your dishes later. Okey? Show them what you've got kid. " sagot ng coordinator at hinaplos ang namumulang pisngi ng bata.

" Hai! Dōmo arigatōgozaimashita.” (Yes! Thank you very much.) masayang sagot ng bata sabay pagyuko bilang pasasalamat.

The coordinator just smiled at the adorable reaction from this child and finally noticed the woman waiting behind Shinomiya and decided to leave. Shinomiya was about to lift his bowed head when he suddenly stopped after recognizing the shoe in front of him. He remained in the same position for a while, gently took a deep breath and smiled before finally lifting his head.

"I'm glad you came..." masayang bulong ni Shinomiya.

The woman was pleased to see him smile so gently that even his eyes can't contain his great joy of seeing her.

" Ganbarou... " (Goodluck...) masayang bati ng dalagang nasa harap nito.

" Hai... “(Yes...) nakangiting sagot ng bata sabay pagkuha sa kanang kamay ng dalaga at marahang idinikit sa kaliwang pisngi nito.

"Ang lamig dito..." nakapikit na dugtong ng bata habang hawak-hawak parin ang kamay ng dalaga.

"He always grabs my hand whenever he's nervous..." saad ng dalaga habang pinagmamasdaan ang bata. 

Makalipas ng ilang minuto ay doon ito masayang nagpaalam sa dalaga at masayang pumasok ng silid.

"Hmmmh, this is bad. " bulong ni Gerald matapos makita ang kakaibang expression sa kakapasok na si Shinomiya.

Habang pinagmasdan lang naman ito ng ilang mga batang kalahok.

Back in the mansion in the woods.

“Tessa, I'm wondering why you're still letting Shimitzu see that child?"

Hindi naman agad nakasagot si Tessa habang naghahanda ng maiinom na tiyaa.

"...Will things be alright?” dugtong ni Anna na may pag-aalala.

“Don't ask what's obvious.”

“Uh,yeah... he's just another orphan.” sagot ni Anna.

“Anna...” pagbibigay diin naman ni Tessa.

“W-what?” sagot ni Anna habang iniiwas ang tingin sa kausap.

“That kid is more than a mere orphan…If you ask me, I rather want him to stay next to her.” Tessa said while enjoying a cup of tea.

Pinili nalang naman ni Anna ang manahimik, ngunit bakas parin ang di niya pag-sang ayon.