SEE YOU

Chapter 2

Sobrang dami nang tao kaya naman sobrang busy ko rin. Pabalik-balik na 'ko dito sa hallway kaka serve at kung minssn ay nasa may counter ako para na rin kumuha ng mga orders. Currently, there are no more seats available kaya naman yung ibang guest ay nakatayo lang sa may counter habang hawak hawak nila ang kanilang mga assigned number. Habang ako, busy mag lagay ng mga reserved labels sa mga tables. Inaabangan ko na yung mga customers na malapit nang matapos para mabigyan ko na ng designated seats ang ibang guests. Tagaktak na 'yong pawis ko pero tuloy pa rin.

Yung ibang mga employees ay super busy rin kaya halos hindi na kami nag uusap usap dahil may kan'ya-kan'ya kaming gawain. Nang matapos ko'ng mabigyan ng seat ang guest, napansin ko na may isang lalaki don sa gilid sa labas na may hawak din na assigned number. Lumingon-lingon ako sa mga tables to check if may available na pero wala pa rin. Mukhang walang nakapansin don sa lalaki sa labas kaya nilapitan ko na.

Nakaharap siya sa dagat kaya mukhang hindi pa niya ako napapansin. Tiningnan ko yung number na hawak niya and to my surprise it was number 7. Samantalang ang last guest kanina na nasa pila ay number 58. Kanina pa dapat siyang na-serve!

"Hi excuse me sir," mukhang nagulat siya kasi nagitla siya eh. Masyado atang nilamon ng dagat yung isip. He faced me and his ears were all red. Ah, foreigner 'to. Namumula kasi eh. Pansin ko pati sa kaliwa niyang kamay may hawak siyang UV na payong. Gusto ko sanang tumawa pero baka murahin ako nito sa sobrang tagal ng hinintay niya para sa order niya.

"If it's okay with you I can take you upstairs to dine? I'm sure you're starving, I deeply apologize for the inconvenience we've caused you." May rooftop pa naman kasi itong restaurant pero for personal use kasi 'yon ni Dalta. Eh ganitong kanina pa naghihintay 'to nang order niya paniguradong wala na 'tong pasensiya dahil sa gutom.

"Oh, u-uhm...sure." he quietly followed me upstairs. Here upstairs there's only one table, the rest are flowers na inaalagaan ni Dalta. Isa kasi siyang plant-tito. So, ayaw ni Dalta na pinapapunta dito ang mga guest kasi masisira daw yung minamahal niyang mga halaman. Pero dahil wala na ngang maupuan sa baba, dito ko na dinala yung lalaki. May enough space naman para kumain at buti na lang may payong sa may table. Mukhang conscious kasi s'ya sa init. And I let him take his seat.

"Please wait a little bit as I prepare your food sir. I'll come back immediately." he just nodded and averted his eyes towards the flowers. Hindi na ata siya makapagsalita sa sobrang gutom.

Dali dali akong bumaba para i-follow up ang order niya and to my surprise hindi pa 'yon na p-prepare. Gusto ko sanang i'lecture ang pagkakamali ng mga staff pero i'm sure hindi naman nila 'yon sinasadya, ang dami naman kasi nang customers. Imbes na hintayin ko pa yung chef, ako na mismo ang nagprepare ng food niya. Simple lang naman ang inorder niya kaya madali ko ring natapos. I even added some extra dishes. Inilagay ko na sa tray lahat lahat para wala na akong babalikan mamaya pag punta ko sa taas.

Dalawang kamay ko ang busy sa pagbuhat ng dalawang tray. Kaya dahan dahan lang ako sa pag-akyat. Naabutan ko naman na pini-picturan niya ang mga halaman using his camera. Agad naman siyang lumakad papalapit sa akin habang naka-ready na ang kamay niya na kunin ang tray.

"Here let me help." he says. Hindi na rin ako umangal kasi mabigat rin naman ang dala ko. He placed the tray on the table and so did I. Ini-arrange ko na yung mga dish pati ang mga plates para naman makakain na siya. From my peripheral ay napansin ko na nakatingin siya sa akin pero I just dismissed that.

He noticed some dishes and pointed it out. "I didn't get this."

"Well, think of it as a token of our apology for wasting your time," I also pointed other dishes. "These are on the house." I added.

He just looked at the dishes and looked at me. For a moment he just stared kaya tinuro ko yung spoon so he'd start. When he picked up the spoon, I bid my goodbye. I should give him time to eat by himself. Ang awkward naman kung babantayan ko pa siya kumain 'no? Pagbaba ko sa hagdan agad kong ni-remind ang isa na bumalik sa taas maya maya para kunin yung pinagkainan nung lalaki.

***

After a while ay humupa na ang mga customers at dumating na rin ulit si Kuya Dalta. At ako? Ito tapos na ang trabaho kaya pauwi na ako sa bahay. Nilakad ko na lang tutal hindi naman ganon kalayo pati hindi naman mainit dahil hapon na. At dahil nga hapon na nagsisilabasan na ang mga tao mula sa kani-kanilang mga cottage and rooms, dinadagsa na nila yung dagat. Mas masaya nga naman ang maligo nang hindi bilad sa initan. Hindi ka na naiinitan at hindi ka pa magiging brown.

I arrived at the house quite faster than I thought pero hindi ko pa man naitatabi ang sapatos ko nakarinig ako ng kanta. Mukhang nasa may rooftop 'yon nang-gagaling kaya dali-dali kong itinabi ang sapatos ko. Dumaan muna ako sa kuwarto para magpalit nang kumportable na damit. Bale naka t-shirt ako at naka pajama. Hindi na muna ako maglilinis ng katawan kasi pagod pa ako at naiintriga ako don sa kumakanta eh. Marites ako eh, ba't ba?

?People run away

it hurts when you know?

Habang papalapit ako ng papalapit ay mas naririnig ko nang maayos yung boses nung kumakanta. Infairness, maganda boses niya.

?Sky turning bitter grey

middle of July, nowhere to go?

?Won't you give me a path to take?

show me a road, few travelled by...

Finally ay nabuksan ko na ang pinto and I saw a man sitting on the floor with carpet underneath while gently swaying his body with the rhythm he strums from his guitar. His back greeted me unknowingly as he was facing the ocean view from the horizon. I sat on a chair silently as possible so I won't disturb him.

?Nothing to reciprocate

when all that I am, is all that they take...

?But clouds,

turns into storms

lets out a cry

floating ashore

Like sun,

that sets when its time has come

that bright light (orange) fades

like how the cloud's softness goes away

like how no one else can stay...

It was a sad song. There was nothing to smile about the lyrics, it was words meant to free him from sadness. Meant to unbound him of the pain he carry on his heart. And I hoped it did...give him liberty.

"That was such a nice song." I commented. He immediately stood up and faced me looking so stunned. Yeah, I figured it was him. The man holding the number 7. The one who lovingly took pictures of the flowers. He was...well, cute.

I also stood up and went near him, just enough so we can see face to face comfortably. Then I pointed the crumpled papers sitting on the floor. His gaze followed.

"Perhaps its unfinished?" I added.

"Uh," he was scratching the top of his head while looking a little lost. Again, namumula na naman siya. Embarassed, I guess? "How long were you listening?" He asked while frowning at me.

"Ah chill ka lang, kakarating ko lang naman kaya konti lang narinig ko." pag dedepensa ko. Baka kasi sabihin na pakielamero ako. Eh siya nga nandito sa bahay. Nasa rooftop pa ha.

"Eh ikaw? ba't nandito ka sa bahay?" Pag ku-kuwestiyon ko. Mas lalong kumunot yung noo niya. He even gulped and bit his lower lip. Shoot!

"Ano ba Joreign? kitang foreigner 'yang kaharap mo eh!" panenermon ko sa sarili ko. Sorry! HAHAHA. Mukhang wala kasi siyang na-gets sa pinagsasasabi ko, mukha tuloy siyang bata na naliligaw.

"Ahh, ano...I meant to say I just got here. And you? why are you here?"

He put the guitar in its case before he replied, "I currently stay here," And zipped the guitar case. "For a while."

"Oh? do you know Dalta?"

"He's a friend, yeah."

"Well he's my brother." I stated.

He picked all the mess at pinagpagan pa nga niya yung carpet. Papunta naman 'to saan?

"I didn't know he had a sister?"

"Ahh, to be exact i'm his cousin. But we both treat each other like siblings so.."

"Well, good for you guys. It was nice to meet you. Bye." and he stormed off. Madaling-madali?

May naisip pa naman ako na verse na pwedeng idugtong sa kanta niya. I wanted to ask him about the song, but I guess it was uncomfortable for him. Oh well, pareho ata kaming introvert. Pero mukhang mas introvert pa siya kaysa sa akin.