From a rich man's daughter to a struggling single mother, kontento na si Laurene sa simpleng buhay simula nang itakwil siya ng mga magulang. But her world flipped over ng madawit ang anak niya sa live fansigning ni River.
The video clip went viral a...
Melody told Laurene once that ghosts and supernatural appear at 3am.
Siguro ay totoo iyon.
Kung hindi, bakit nandito si River sa playground ng condominium, katabi niya at nilalagyan ng sauce ang hating siopao galing 7/11 para sa kanya?
In the first place, bakit ito ang naglalagay ng sauce?
Dali-dali pa siyang nagsuot ng hoodie, napasubsob sa carpet at natumba ang tasa ng kape sa pagmamadali niya kanina. Mabuti nalang at ubos na ang laman niyon.
She may look shit right now, but in her defense, it was three in the morning. Everyone looks like shit at this hour.
But not River.
Of course.
"Kumurap ka naman, matutunaw ako niyan," anito, at inabot sa kanya ang pagkain. "Wala ng bola-bola kaya asado na lang 'yan, goods na rin."
Tulala siyang tumango at kumagat. When the aroma and the flavor hit her senses, only then hunger hit Laurene right where it hurts.
Hindi siya nakakain ng maayos kanina sa resto bar, at kape lang ang laman ng tiyan niya pag-uwi.
Hindi namalayang ubos na niya ang piraso ng siopao, nakailang lagok na rin siya ng tubig at nanginginig ang kanyang kalamnan.
Inabot nito ang kalahati ng siopao na tinabi kanina. "Thank you," aniya sa maliit na boses ngunit dinig nito at nagsimulang kumain.
"'Pag kain, kain lang, walang kasamang iyak," anito.
Doon pa lang namalayan ni Laurene na tumutulo na ang luha niya, kagat pa ang piraso ng siopao.
"Kain muna?" tanong nito.
Umiling si Laurene. "Cry first."
Tumango lamang ito, nakatingin sa langit. "Go ahead then."
The small playground was filled with her sniffles, and in between, she spoke.
"I'm trying naman, you know. I'm trying really hard. I understand my lessons. But why... during practicums... and tests... my mind goes blank. I'd think, what if I fail again? What if my answer is a mali? But then it'd be too late and I get so stupid that I get everything wrong. Am I really that bobo?"
She looked up at River expecting anything to be consoled, only for him to answer, "Why are you asking me?"
Napalakas ang kanyang iyak. "Silence means yes, so nag-isip ikaw I'm bobo nga."
"'Silence means yes' na pinagsasabi mo diyan? Sumagot naman ako ah. Sabi ko, ba't ako ang tinatanong mo?"
"That's the same thing. Deflection. You can't answer me straight because it's totoo. I'm bobo nga."
"Parang engot naman to." Nag-abot ito ng tela. "Singa. Bigla kang mamatay diyan di ka makahinga barado ilong mo."
Laurene did, regretting when she realized her actions in front of her crush and possibly first love. Then she regretted it more when she realized she was blowing on the sleeves of her oversized hoodie
"I can't answer you because aside from times like these, from your morning memes and message spams, di ko alam pa'no susukatin ang academic excellence mo.
Beyond that, you are not. You are many things, but never stupid."
A moment of silence passed, and Laurene could only blink. River did the same and realized they have been staring at each other.
He looked away first and cleared his throat and said, "Panis. Mahaba-habang English rin 'yon."
Habang si Laurene naman ay mabilis na kinuha ang cellphone at nagchat sa mga kabigan.
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Hindi niya hinintay ang reply ng mga kaibigang siguradong tulog pa, ngunit nahuli niya si River, nababasa rin ang mensahe niya.
One embarrassment for a day wasn't enough, she just made it two.
She just exposed herself.
Of course alam nito ang nararamdaman niya.
Pero hindi naman umabot sa pag-ibig ang katangahan niya, ngayon lang.
"Your fault," aniya. "You're here at 3am, with ano, your siopao and leather jacket looking like a rockstar. My heart went lukso, okay."
"So, it's my fault now," he chuckled and leaned on the bench. "Parang okay ka na, halo-halo na sinasabi mo, kailangan pa i-decode."
"So what now?" ani Laurene. Hindi niya babawiin ang kung anumang nabasa nito. It was what she felt at that moment, and still now as she was eating the remaining half of the asadong siopao.
Tumingin ito sa kanya. "What do you want, Lab-lab?"
Naubo si Laurene. Agad niyang tinanggap ang bigay nitong tubig habang binabayo niya ang kanyang dibdib.
"Stop," angal niya. Lagi siyang inaatake sa puso kapag ito ang tumatawag ng ganoon sa kanya.
"Sorry, Miss."
"No, I mean... fine. Lablab, it is. Gosh, ang landi na'tin."
She didn't even notice that her cheeks were now dry of tears and that she was already smiling.
"Mas bagay sa'yo," anito.
"Bagay what? I swear to god, if you say "Bagay naka-ngiti" I'll—"
"—Bagay tayo."
Naapasimangot si Laurene. It was the same pick-up line she heard from a couple in the school ground yesterday. "Oh my god. Corny ikaw. You need a better pick up line."
"Noted," he said. "Noted, Lablab."
It didn't matter how the cold was slowly seeping into the gaps of her clothes. She was alright. She was warm all over.
