Just The Strings (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 36

#JustTheStrings

Kabanata 36

Papikit-pikit pa rin ako. He's typing. He's actually going to reply. After a month of complete silence, nag-uusap na kami... 

Parker Adrian Palma: You can now eat your cereal in peace

Mary Imogen Suarez: How did you know?

Ilang segundo ako na naghintay sa sagot niya pero puro typing... lang iyong nakikita ko. As I was waiting, I poured myself a cup of milk. Might as well drink this since binigay niya na naman sa akin... Kahit na nagtataka talaga ako kung paano niya nalaman. And at the same time, I found it weird. Bigla tuloy akong napatingin sa paligid ko kung may hidden cameras ba dito at nakikita lahat ng ginagawa ko.

Parker Adrian Palma: I... have my ways.

Mary Imogen Suarez: You do realize that you sound creepy.

Parker Adrian Palma: I know. But at least you got your milk

Napa-ngiti ako. He was right... At least, something good happened. Akala ko kasi ay wala ng magandang mangyayari sa araw na 'to. I knew I shouldn't focus on the bad things but it was so hard to do kapag puro negatibo iyong nangyayari sa paligid mo. It was like you're finding a needle in a stack of hay. It was practically improbable but still plausible.

Mary Imogen Suarez: Well thank you.

Parker Adrian Palma: You're welcome.

Napa-titig ako sa screen ng phone ko pagkatapos noon. Biglang na-blangko ako kung ano ang dapat kong gawin. It was so weird. Dati naman ay hindi kami nauubusan ng pag-uusapan ni Parker. We could talk to each other about practically everything. He was my confidant—well, he used to. Pero baka naman pwedeng maging close ulit kami.

We're still the same people. We still have the same memories together. 

Pero bakit kaya ganoon? Kahit na gaano kayong katagal magkakilala ng isang tao, dahil sa isang pangyayari, biglang mababago iyong lahat. From being friends, you would be demoted to something depressing.

We used to be inseparable... but now we're just strangers with memories.

Parker Adrian Palma: Anyway, enjoy your milk.

He must've sensed my discomfort. Hindi ko naman kasi alam kung paano sisimulan. Gusto ko siyang kausapin pero hindi ko kasi alam kung saan magsisimula. Ang dami kong gustong sabihin pero hindi ko alam kung ano ang una kong sasabihin.

Mary Imogen Suarez: Okay. Thank you.

Iyon na lang iyong sinabi ko.

Parker Adrian Palma: Good night, Imo.

I smiled and sighed.

Mary Imogen Suarez: Good night, Parker.

It was a start, still. After a month, nakapag-usap na ulit kami. 'Life was still good,' I thought as enjoyed eating my cereals. Nakatulog ako nang iniisip kung paano nalaman ni Parker na kailangan ko ng gatas. Imposible naman na psychic siya... Imposible rin naman na may hidden camera dito sa bahay dahil sobrang invasion of privacy naman iyon. Pakiramdam ko tuloy may nagsasabi kay Parker kung ano ang ginagawa ko... but that would be pushing it too far.

I should just be thankful that he was there for me. That he lent a hand when I needed someone the most. Sobrang lungkot lang kasi talaga kahapon.

The next day, we attended mass. I was praying na sana maayos na iyong mga problema ng mga tao sa paligid ko. At saka sana maging maayos na sila Mama at Papa dahil sila Finley kasi iyong mas naaapektuhan. Kung okay lang sana kami ni Kuya, malamang nagsumbong na ako sa kanya at saka humingi ng tulong. Nahihirapan kasi ako sa kambal lalo na kapag umiiyak na si Finley. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko papatahanin. Si Kuya lang ang may alam dahil siya naman iyong madalas mag-alaga sa dalawa.