An introvert reader. An online writer. A nostalgic short story.
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An introvert fanboy develops a crush to his favorite online writer, who doesn't even know his existence. Instead of following her on her social media accounts, sending her long swee...
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Dear Calliope,
Meeting you yesterday was still surreal.
Today was the last day of the book signing event but we decided to not attend because of an important event. Wedding anniversary nina Tito ngayong araw at gusto nilang nandito kami during the celebration.
Ayos lang daw kay Ate since nabili naman din niya lahat ng gusto niyang bilhin kahapon. Isa pa, may autograph na rin lahat ng books at T-shirts niya. Oo, kahit mga T-shirt niya pinapa-sign pa sa author. Wala siyang specific na favorite writer kaya gano’n na lang siya kung gumastos. Sana all may pera.
“Sorry, bunso kung hindi muna makikita pa for the second time si calliope ngayong araw,” pang-aasar ni Ate sa akin.
“Sana kasi sinulit mo na kahapon ‘yong moment ninyo,” dagdag pa ni Ate April.
“Si Ate kasi, kainis!”
“Anong ako? Tumawag lang naman ako para hanapin ka dahil nag-alala ako ng husto sa’yo kapatid,” she said in a sarcastic manner.
“Baka kung saan na naman mapunta ‘yang bangayan ninyo. Don’t worry, itu-tour ko kayo mamaya sa night market,” Ate April ended our little war with that.
“Paabot ako ng balloon, bebeboy,” pang-aasar ulit ni Ate.
Glaring, I threw the balloon on her and went to Ate April’s room after. Gusto ko munang magkulong sa kwarto. Ayoko munang makita si Ate dahil alam kong hindi rin ako mananalo laban sa kanya. Nakakainis talaga ang babaeng ‘yon!
I locked the door and started playing my favorite online mobile game for three straight hours just to ignore the world for the meantime. Hindi ko napansin ang sunod-sunod na pagkatok sa pinto nina Ate at Ate April halos isang oras pagkatapos kong pumasok sa kwarto. That’s why she called me on the phone instead.
“Tangna naman, Ate, naglalaro ak--”
“She’s here!” she almost shouted on the other line.
“Wala akong pak-- you mean s-si . . . calliope?” I asked, hoping that it was not a prank.
“It’s a prank!”
Suddenly, a devil’s laugh echoed on the outside. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang una kong gagawin pagkatapos nang ginawa niya. Gusto ko siyang sugurin pero wala naman kami sa bahay para gawin ko ‘yon.
“Paky--”
“Dong, kakain na.”
Tatlong katok mula sa pinto ang narinig ko pagkatapos magsalita ni Tito Daniel. Narinig niya kaya ‘yong muntik ko nang pagsigaw? Ayaw pa naman ni Mama na nagmumura kami sa bahay. Baka bawal din ‘yon dito sa bahay nina Tito. Patay yata ako kay Tito. Bwesit na Ate.
“Opo, palabas na po!”
Inayos ko muna ang kama ni Ate April pati na rin ang sarili ko. Nakakahiya naman kung mukha akong ewan paglabas ko.
I was expecting of meeting strangers since Tito Daniel probably invited some people and their relatives. But to all the stranger people inside the house, I saw a familiar face.
I saw you, again.
“Baka maihi ka na niyan kapatid.”
Turning my face to the right side, I saw my sister standing beside me with a grin on her face.
“I’m not dreaming, am I?”
“Gusto mo, sampalin kita?” her grin suddenly changed into a devil-like smile one.
“Thanks, I just got awakened by your suggestion.”
Now, I can finally smile again. But wait, bakit ka nandito? Ang mas nakakapagtaka, hindi mo rin kasama sina Ate hersaint. May kakambal ka ba o sadyang nananaginip lang talaga ako? But I’m not dahil bigla akong hinila ni Ate April para kumain.
Most of the time, sa’yo lang ako nakatingin. Baka kasi kapag tumingin ako sa iba, bigla kang mawala. Hindi pa ako nakaka-move on sa mga nangyari kahapon at ayokong pati ‘yong ngayon araw ay masayang ko.
“Huy, baka matunaw,” pangungulit ulit ni Ate sa akin.
“Baka nakakalimutan mong galit ako sa’yo?”
“Hala, ‘wag mo akong pagdramahan kapatid. Baka iwan kita rito sa bahay nina Tito.”
There.
Bigla akong napalingon kay Ate and glared on her pero sa pagbalik ko ng tingin sa pwesto mo, hindi na kita makita. Sinubukan kong tumayo para hanapin ka kaso marami na masyadong tao. Nakakainis talaga ang kapatid ko. Kung pwede lang sigurong ibenta ‘to, ibebenta ko talaga. Pero mukhang wala ring bibili sa kanya.
“Ate April, bakit siya nandito?”
“Ah, si Ate Ellie-- I mean si Ate calliope? Kaklase siya ni Ate May sa grad school,” she stated. “Nalaman ni Ate na nandito rin siya sa Davao kaya inimbita na lang niya ito dahil may book signing pa nga sina hersaint sa SM at wala siyang kasama sa apartment nila. Ngayong araw ko lang din nalaman na kaklase pala siya ni Ate. Gosh! Goosebumps!”
That’s make sense. Bigla namang tumayo ang mga balahibo ko sa braso at kamay dahil sa kwneto niya. Dapat kasi kanina ko pa tinanong si Ate April at hindi ang Ate ko.
Nakita kitang muli kasama sina Ate May at marami pang iba. Probably, mga kaklase niyo rin sa grad school. Pero ayos na rin ako sa ganito. Kahit hindi man kita maka-usap, nakikita naman kita. Dati kasi, nag-e-exist ka lang sa isip ko.
Sumapit ang gabi at nandito ka pa rin sa bahay pero hindi mo pa rin ako nakikita. Hindi pa rin kita nakaka-usap. Pero sadyang mapaglaro talaga ang tadhana. Sabi kasi ni Ate April, sabi raw sa kanya ni Ate May, kasama raw namin kayong pupunta sa night market. Maybe this will be my last chance para maka-usap ka ulit.
Marami akong gustong itanong sa’yo regarding to your writing style and some tips. May mga gusto rin akong itanong sa’yo about your stories, at the same, gusto kong magkwento sa’yo. Gusto kong ikwento kung paano ko nagustuhan ang mga gawa mo. I want to tell you my thoughts about your stories.
But at the back of my mind, I was too anxious.
Takot ako na baka ma-creepy-han ka sa akin because at some point, I think alam ko ‘yong rason bakit mo sinusulat ang bawat story mo. I mean, part of them, mostly, were from your own story in reality. And some of your characters’ thoughts and emotions were coming from your true feelings.
For instance, like the main characters from your coming of age series. For me, each story from that series was almost all yours. I would say you divided yourself into four persons.
Just like Vanessa, the first girl on that series, you were probably at the top of your class but you hated it because gaining the attention of the people around you was not your cup of tea.
Also, just like Jessie, the second lead girl, you don’t want to be on the spotlight because you were afraid to disappoint the people around you, especially those people who were special and close to your heart.
And like Alex, the third girl, you were avoiding to be involved in any misunderstanding especially to the people who already gained too much attention.
Lastly, like Hanna, the fourth and final girl, you want to live a normal life but your passion in writing won’t get easy on you because there are people who wanted to enter your world.
Just like me.
Did I guess them all right? Or probably not? Do I even make sense to you, calliope?
