Write About the City

Chapter 4 - Sant Jordi

JESSIE HAVE NO ONE TO give flowers nor books for today’s feast. Umuulan ng mga tindero’t tindera ng iba’t ibang klase ng mga bulaklak at libo-libong libro. Puno ng tao ang malawak na boulevard, sinara rin ang ilang kalye kung saan bantay ang ilang kapulisan, kinulayan ng banderitas ang mga poste, at pirmi ang ingay na maririnig mula sa mga nagsisigawang tindero at halakhakan ng mga nagsasayahang mamimili. 

Ngayon lang siya nakadalo sa pistang idiniriwang ang santong si Jorge na ganito kalawak at kalaki ang mga aktibidades. Bukod sa pagbaba ng presyo sa mga libro at paglipana ng hardin ng mga bulaklak, sa kabilang kalye na isinara ay kasalukuyang itinatayo ang malaking stage. Mamayang gabi ay tiyak na dudumugin iyon ng maraming tao upang panoorin ang mga talentong sasabak sa entablado. 

Nagpasya siyang tawagan ang numero ni Mel habang sinasalubong niya ang dagsa ng mga tao. “Hey, good morning. How’s Matthew?” kumusta niya sa anak nito. 

Mel sighed on the other line. “He’s fine now. Bed rest pa rin dahil ayokong mabinat. Buti ay lagnat-laki lang,” balita nito.

“Napauwi tuloy kayo agad. We’re celebrating Saint George here.”

“I insisted on coming back. Mas importante ang anak ko. I know his Lola can take care of him, but it was an excuse to see his cute little face. Too bad I can’t be there with you! I’ve never celebrated Saint George before?” si Mel.

“Same, sis. Nag-uumapaw ang mga libro at iba’t ibang uri ng bulaklak! Hindi sila nagtipid sa banderitas, mukhang may pondo talaga sila para rito. May color fun run pa nga, nakita ko sila kanina, hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa tapos pero dumiretso na ako rito sa Rizal Boulevard. Mars, ang daming afam. Bet ko iyong isa.”

“Bakit hindi mo tawagan iyong manunulat?” suhestiyon nito.

A sheepish smile crawled slowly on her face. “Ako pa ba, Mel?”

“OMG, friend?! Talaga ba?!” 

Tumatawa na siya mag-isa habang patuloy lang sa paglalakad. “Oo nga, dito raw kami magkikita. Ang tagal nga, eh. Sabi ko pa naman magkita kami sa tindahan ni Manong Segundo, naging instant kaibigan ko na nga si manong. Nabagot ako at sinabi kong babalik na lang ako dahil may hinihintay akong kasama.”

“Girl, I’m proud. You’re going out there. You better put it back on the market quickly. God knows who else he’s hitting.”

Napalabi siya. “Kaya nga. Unang tingin mo pa lang, alam mong iba ang personality. Sa panahon ngayon, at sa edad kong ito, women would kill for that kind.”

“I see,” ani Mel. Mahina ang naging pagtawa nito. “You’re not bummed we’re not there. In fact, you’re happy dahil walang asungot sa inyong dalawa. You just have to let me know how much of a slut you are.”

“Am not,” si Jess. “It’s been two years, Mel. Like you said, I’m back on the market.”

“Cheers to that! Send my regards.”

“Will do.”

“And the trilogy with his signature?” pahabol nito.

“I’ll send you a receipt. Nothing is free anymore.” They ended the call.

Kanina pa siya nakabili ng librong ibibigay kay Lucas na binili niya kay Manong Segundo. Hindi nga siya sigurado kung magugustuhan nito ang napili niyang libro. Crime/thriller ang pinulot niya at ipinagkibit-balikat na lang niya kung gusto nito ang mga ganoong uri ng babasahin. Mabagal ang ginawa niyang pagbalik sa tagpuan nila. Hindi siya nabigo dahil katulad ng usapan nila ay inaabangan na siya ni Lucas sa tapat ng tienda ni manong. Hindi ito nag-iisa.

Agad niya itong nilapitan at inabot ang makapal na libro. Ang hawak naman nitong isang tangkay ng rosas ang iniabot sa kanya. At least they know that part of the drill during Saint George. Roses for women and books for men. But ultimately, it is one’s choice what they want to give to whoever they want to on the day of Saint George. 

Ipinakilala siya ni Lucas sa kasama nito. “Jessie, this is my good friend, Lois.”

Inabot niya ang kamay ni Lois. “Pleasure to meet you,” aniya.

“Thanks. The pleasure is mine. He told me about you. You’re a fan,” anito.

Matipid ang naging pag-ngiti niya. “I am. Guilty as charged.” 

Ipinagpatuloy nila ang kwentuhan habang tumitingin ng mga libro. Ipinapakita rin nila sa isa’t isa ang mga good finds nila. Nalaman niyang kararating lang ni Lois ngayong araw para maki-celebrate ng Saint George kasama sina Lucas at Cielo. Inimbitahan siya ng dalawa na sumama mamayang hapon, ang siyang simula ng tugtugan. Agad siyang napapayag dahil ito naman talaga ang ipinunta niya. Makita at maranasan ang mga gawain at aktibidades ng mga locals dito. Higit sa lahat, ang mapalapit kay Lucas. Bukod sa pagpa-fan girl niya, alam niyang single din ito dahil sinabi iyon sa kanya ni Cielo. Natunugan nito na may gusto siya sa kaibigan nito kaya ito ang sumusog at gumawa ng paraan para makapagpalit sila ng numero. Her wingman. Kapag nagkatuluyan sila, ito ang kukunin niyang best man. Napangisi siya sa sariling kalokohan. Kung saan-saan na siya dinadala ng imahinasyon niya. 

Although at some point, Jessie’s not sure whether to feel intimidated by Lois or what. Iba ang dating ng ‘good friend’ na pakilala sa kanya ni Lucas. No one introduces their friend like that. Who says good friend anyway? Unless they have history. Lois breathes and smells like a whole f*****g history of war and heartaches. 

Pinagana niya na naman ang imahinasyon niya. Lois is a pretty woman. The way the two converse is borderline casual and flirtatious. This is why she can’t stay in a relationship for so long. Ang daming pumapasok sa isip niya. 

Lois took off to buy waffles for them. Naiwan sila ni Lucas sa gitna ng plaza. Hindi niya pa narinig si Lois na tinawag si Lucas sa tunay nitong pangalan. 

“Thanks for the book,” ani Lucas. “I only bought a f*****g rose. You could tell a lot about how cheap I am.”

She rolled her eyes. “I know, right? Is that how you treat your fan?” biro niya. Pareho silang natawa. “But thanks for seeing me today,” dugtong ni Jessie. “Sometimes I feel like imposing. But you’ve been very accommodating with me since the episode at the airport. Isa pa, not all fans get to experience this with one of their favorite authors.”

Pilyo itong ngumiti. “I see. Hindi ako ang pinakapaborito mong author. Good to know.”

Napahiya siya. “I mean—No, that’s not what I mean—”

He dismissed it immediately. “I know what you exactly mean. I’m only teasing you. Relax.” 

Lois sashayed her way back and brought them waffles that smelled so good. “Oh, wow, thank you, Lois.” pasasalamat ni Jessie. “I haven’t had a waffle in months. This is a sure ticket of me becoming a regular.” Her first bite didn’t disappoint. 

“Foodgasm,” ani Lois.

“So, tell me about yourself,” ani Lois makalipas ang ilang kagat. 

Hindi niya napigilan ang pagtaas ng kilay. “I’m sorry?” Naimbiyerna lang siya, feel niya ang magtaray bigla.

Lois smiled sweetly. “I’ll be staying here for a few days. I don’t know anyone else except for Luke and Cielo. We can go out if the guys decide to have their own gala time without me.”

“And you will decide that we can definitely go out if I pass your little ‘tell me about yourself’ test?” si Jessie.

“She doesn’t mean anything by it,” sala ni Lucas. “She’s always hostile with my fans. I prefer the term friend. Although, at one point, a group of ‘friends’ took advantage of that term and organized a small book signing event and managed to cash out some big money from other fans.”

“No harm in being careful,” si Lois.

Tumango siya. “Let me finish this really delicious waffle before I go on with my life story.” Sumang-ayon naman ang dalawa. 

“Its title is ‘Aberya’. Was already featured in MMK.” pagpapatuloy niya. Nakatingin lang ang dalawa sa kanya. “My father came up with that title. It fits perfectly.” 

Sinubo na niya ang huling piraso ng waffle. “I was dating a guy named Ignasi. We were together for more than two years. I have a step-sister that I love so much. My sister thinks I didn’t love my ex, she thinks I loved my best friend. My best friend got engaged with a wonderful woman. I got this tattoo and have no recollection of it. By the way, we all got tattoos the same night and still have no clear memories from that night. I have a gay couple friends. 

"They all complete me. Until things started to get rusty and shitty and ugly. I thought they would complete me. You know in some ways you have this perfect image in your head of every person close to your heart. But that is your version of them. Isang araw, malalaman mo na lang na iba ang version nila sa ‘yo. They complete me, they do. Pero ako ba, do I matter to them? So anyway, my father told me to get a life and start looking for a job abroad. This is where your good friend, Lucas, saw me crying at the airport.”

“Oh, yeah, Lucas told us about it,” si Lois. “Alfons was there, his nephew. He’s such an interesting kid, wasn’t he?”

“He is,” sang-ayon ni Jessie.

“What happened with you and Ignasi?” tanong ni Lucas.

“I wanted to marry the guy. He said a thousand times no. He doesn’t want to compete with my best friend, he couldn’t take that. My best friend is happily married now. That’s why I’m here. A clean slate. A new beginning… I hope,” she added in a whisper.

Lois elbowed Lucas. “Tell her.”

“Ano ‘yon?” usisa niya.

Pinag-isipan pa ni Lucas kung sasabihin nito o hindi. “I’ll be staying here until I finish the book I’m writing now.”

That got her excited. “Akala ko bakasyon ka lang dito?” aniya.

“This place inspires me,” anito.

She saw Lois roll her eyes in a playful manner. “Maybe someone’s inspiring this guy,” tukso nito. 

“May matitirahan ka na ba?” tanong niya kay Lucas. It was met with a knowing grin.

“Nag-aalok ka ba ng bedspace?” nakatawang tanong ni Lucas.

Jessie didn’t hold back and smiled seductively. “We can pretend to be a newly married couple who’s into an open relationship and throw cash around and die at a young age,” sala niya nang makitang kumutitap ang mga mata ni Lucas. Napasubo siya ng ilang sandali doon, ah. She feels funny right now. f*****g butterflies.

“This city does that,” ani Lois. Hindi siya sigurado kung ano ang tinutukoy nito. “This morning I saw someone that made me stop in my tracks and had a flash of our imagined future.” Nagkibit-balikat ito. “Sounds crazy but it was a wonderful feeling. It means I can love again.”

Love again, ulit niya sa isip. She craves for that feeling. Alam na niya ang warning and caution labels na kaakibat niyon pero handa pa rin siyang itaya ang lahat para maramdamang magmahal muli. 

Ilang sandali silang nanahimik at nilunod ang mga sarili ng ingay ng paligid. Hindi niya pinalagpas ang pagkakataong pagmasdan si Lucas. Ang iniidolo niyang manunulat. Lumabas ang Young Adult themed na trilogy nito ilang taon na ang nakalilipas kung saan tirador siya ng nasabing kategorya. Nagustuhan niya ang mga prosa nitong laging nakaugnay kay Bathala, sa mga bumubulong na hangin, sa tamis ng tunay na pag-ibig, sa wika ng mga matitino ngunit tatanga-tangang tao kapag nagmahal. 

She found herself obsessed with his name.

Lucas.

Moreno, check.

Alun-along buhok, check.

Simple lang ito pumorma, walang arte sa katawan. Aware ito na may itsura ito kaya pigil ang mga kilos nito, pero hindi kay Lois kapag ang dalawa na ang nagkukulitan. 

Dumako naman ang tingin niya kay Lois.

“Were you in his book?” tanong niya. Let’s see. There’s the best friend na nakilala na niya, si Cielo.  Sa libro, Evans ang pangalan ng kapatid ng protagonista pati na rin sa tunay na buhay.  Helen’s Lucy. Who could Lois be? 

“The girl he wants but can’t have,” sagot ni Lois, mataman itong nakatitig sa kanya. 

Napalunok siya sa narinig. Jessie could call her ex right now and tell him: so, this is how you feel. 

Lois is Kaye, the girl he failed to keep. 

“Damn,” Lucas muttered. “My heart skipped a beat,” hindi makapaniwalang sabi nito.

How he could express his feelings like that is beyond her. 

Siya na yata ang pinaka-pribadong tao na kilala niya. 

“Kaka-Red Bull mo ‘yan,” ani Lois. 

“You, guys, happy Sant Jordi! I’ll go ahead and…” Saglit siyang nag-isip. “And get that tan.”

“That fast?” ani Lois. “We’ll see you this afternoon?”

“Call me,” said Jessie.

“I have her number,” si Lucas. “We’ll see you later.”