Ocean of Feathers

Chapter 94

The short story is dedicated to Aretha Blaize Khuzette Saraus. Thank you for helping me during the muting days!

Chapter 94

I was against my mom when she decided to migrate here to Japan. I was just thirteen when we moved here, but the convenience and the beauty of this place never swept me away.

Siguro nga ay bata pa ako noon ay madaling makukumbinsi o kaya'y mabilis magbago ang isip. Akala ni Mama ay masasanay din ako rito at hindi na ako maghahanap ng presensiya ng Pilipinas.

But it's not about the place— it's the person. The person I left there that I've made a promise. Maybe it was a silly promise between two kids, but who would ever blame me to dream that somewhat my life would be like a fairy tale? With those endless fulfilled promises.

But as I grew up with eyes starting to see the reality of life, slowly I'm starting to realize that life isn't all about the colors of fairy tales. Walang ganoon.

Sa tuwing wala akong trabaho ay pinipili kong mag-isa sa parke malapit sa bahay namin. What's good about parks in Japan? It's not crowded. Hindi rin maingay at makakaramdam ka ng hinahanap mong pahinga.

I sat under the tree with the white cloth I laid down on the grass, books, and few biscuits. Sinimulan ko nang magbasa ng dala kong libro habang paminsan-minsang sumusulyap sa dumadaang mga hapon.

I could see some lovers with their hands clasped together.

Nagkibit balikat lang ako. Hindi ko naisip ibato sa kanila ang libro dahil naiinggit ako. I'm not bitter, by the way.

I'd already read a few pages of my book when my phone rang. I didn't pick it up, since it was one of my friends who kept on asking me for a night out. Minsan mas masaya talaga na mag-isa na lang muna.

Ibabalik ko na sana ang pagbabasa nang mapansin ko na dumadami na yata iyong dumadaan sa harapan ko. Mostly were couples!

Pilit ko silang hindi pinansin at ibinalik ko na ang pagbabasa ko pero nang may nakita pa akong babae na may pagyakap pa sa boyfriend niya habang naglalakad iritado ko nang naibaba ang libro ko.

I thought Japanese hates PDA?!

Hindi ba nila napapansin na may nagbabasa rito? I am reading an action book and they are not helping with my imagination!

I switched my position. Iyong wala akong masyadong makikita na dumadaan, pero mukhang nagkamali ako dahil paglingon ko ay may nakalatag na rin na tela sa hindi kalayuan at naglalandian ang dalawang hapon sa harapan ko.

"Wow!"

You're not bitter Aretha, okay? Maingay lang talaga sila! Yes, of course! Why would you be bitter? Ang saya kayang maging single!

And there, with my not so bitterness, bigla na lang umulan.

"Shit!"

Nagsimulang magtakbuhan ang mga lovers sa paligid. Iyong nasa harapan ko dinala pa ang telang nakalatag at tumakbo sila together with the rainfall, wind on the white cloth while they're laughing together.

So romantic.

I smirked.

Niyakap ko iyong libro ko sa takot na mabasa, binuhat ko na rin ang basket at basta ko na lang pinagsalikop ang tela na gamit ko. Nang mas lumakas ang ulan, tumakbo na rin ako.

But unluckily, I don't have a man beside me when I accidentally tripped myself. Tumilapon ang basket ko habang mahigpit pa rin ang yakap ko sa libro ko. I allowed the rain to pour down on me while lying down on the ground with my eyes on the dark sky.

But when the rain suddenly stopped, not around me, but on my only spot, with the vision of a transparent umbrella, and a curious look a man looking down on me.

"Daijoubu?"