Noel
“When are you coming back?”
“After a few days, honey. I’ll be back, promise.”
She then turned her back from me and walked away. All I heard was the sound of her luggage as its wheels screeched against the floor.
“I’ll be back, promise.”
“What? W-Where can we find her?”
“Ano’ng problema, Dad?”
“Your Mom’s plane crashed!”
Fuck.
“I’ll be back, promise.”
“I’ll be back, promise.”
“I’ll be back—”
My eyes flew open as I started chasing my breath. I could feel my heart as if it would thump out of my chest.
Shit. Napanaginipan ko na naman.
After a while, I took a deep breath and decided to shake it off my mind.
Mom, I love you. But please don’t appear in my dreams again. It brings the pain back.
Pumikit ako nang matagal at nakita ko ang nakangiting mukha ni Mom. I forced myself to smile. I know she’s at peace wherever she is right now.
I opened my eyes and roamed it around my surroundings. The yellowish light coming from the small light bulb in the front provided me a chance to see even though it wa still very dark.
Napatingin ako sa digital clock na nakapatong sa ibabaw ng dashboard. It’s only 4:56 in the morning.
We’re still on the road. Mukhang malayo na ang narating namin.
Lilingon sana ako sa iba pa naming kasama pero napigilan ako ng ulo ni Jessica na nakapatong sa balikat ko. I glanced at her from my peripheral vision as I let out a sigh.
She’s still beautiful even while sleeping.
Dati, nako-corny-han ako sa mga nagsasabing mas masayang bumiyahe kapag may lovelife, pero ngayon, I think it’s probably true.
Personally, I’d prefer to be alone while travelling. But since Jessica came, she’s the only one who can make my road trips much more enjoyable.
Napatingin ako sa kamay namin na nakatulugan na naming magkahawak. Kinuha ko naman ang isang earphone na nalaglag sa tainga ko at ibinalik ito. We’re sharing a pair of earphones where she plays her favorite songs, particularly those Korean girl group songs na nagustuhan ko na rin sa kapipilit niya sa aking makinig. Maganda naman ang taste niya sa music, and I love her recommendations.
I found myself gently nodding my head as a response to the beat of the song. I love moments like this. ‘yong magkatabi kami, tahimik lang at nakikinig ng music.
Once again, I peeked at her. A while ago, my heart was pounding very fast because of my dream, but now it is because of her. Totoo rin pala talaga na kapag mahal mo ang isang tao, you will never get tired of being with them. Gugustuhin mo na palagi mo siyang nakikita, naaalagaan, at napagbubuhusan ng pagmamahal.
I just thought of one of the corniest things I can never say out loud, but yeah. I really love my girl. Really.
Meeting Jessica was a great turning point in my life, and she continues to be my signpost to reach my happiness.
Noel Derringer is just a cold and snobbish person a few years ago. Unfriendly, shy, contented to be a nobody. I even thought that I’ll just be single until I die.
But Jessica came, trying be close with me. She came off as an annoying rich girl to me as she invaded my personal space and stayed with me almost everyday. Hindi ko talaga naisip na aabot kami sa ganito. I even wanted to shut her away by being blunt and brutal with my words but I didn’t. I still respect her as a girl even she’s so desperate to get my attention.
Days and months passed. Napalambot niya ang matigas kong personalidad. Though I’m still not that sociable, I learned how to have fun with others. I learned how to be a friend. A genuine friend.
At first, she was just a very good friend of mine. We became bestfriends who support each other. Napansin kong madali naman pala siyang pakisamahan kaya ayos lang sa akin. Then, I guess it’s unavoidable. One of the teenage trends nowadays are couples who were friends-turned-lovers, and we are one of those pathetic cases. Nahihiya pa rin ako sa sarili ko kapag naaalala ko ang moment na nagtapat siya sa akin.
Yes, Jessica was the one who confessed. While me, a person who was almost void of feelings, suddenly reciprocated her feelings with a kiss.
Shit. That was my first kiss.
After that, it seemed that we went under a relationship seminar. Because I don’t even have an idea on how to be a ‘sweet’ boyfriend, Jessica taught me about how should I treat her. Tinuruan niya ako kung paano humawak ng kamay, paano siya ipakilala kay Dad, pati kung paano bumanat ng cheesy lines. It was just so funny.
I failed to notice that as time passed, she became a great part of my life already. It’s like I can’t live without her now, I mean, I’m already comfortable with her and I’m used to her presence beside me.
She is the scientist who programmed my robotic heart to have human feelings. And how to use those feelings well.
I am very lucky to have her. And I will never let her go.
Well, enough of this cheesy love discussion.
Napansin kong gising na ang iba naming kasama. Tanaw ko na pupungas-pungas si Alvin at narinig ko ang hikab ni Kayne.
“Pahiram ng cellphone. May ite-text lang ako, dali.”
I was somewhat surprised when those words echoed through Kayne’s voice. As far as I know, she hates phones. Or maybe just socializing itself. Then why is she always squeezing herself with us, right?
“Here, ibalik mo na lang kapag namatay ang screen. There’s a password, eh.” Jane stretched her hand holding her phone which Kayne responded to.
The van became quiet later on.
Kayne is one of the people whose attitude is really turning me off. She’s always acting savage and superior, even though we haven’t even ‘made friends’ with her properly. One day, she just popped up along Catherine whose amiableness is out of place sometimes. I personally think that she is very naive. She can be friends with a criminal without her knowing.
Back to Kayne, she’s just... upsetting. Her plain demeanor is enough to gather hate from other people. Ang sakit niya kasing magsalita.
May isang beses nga na nagkasagutan sila ni Jessica. Jessica’s sharing a story in her usual sassy way of talking, and Kayne, who didn’t seem to enjoy that, straight up called her ‘daldalera’. Jessica was caught off guard and blasted her anger. And so a word war began.
That’s just one of the numerous times she got through our nerves. Iisang taon pa lang naming kasama pero isinusumpa na agad ng grupo. She’s not even a friend to any of us. A better term would be a simple nagger who wanted to show the devil inside us.
There’s a devil inside every person. They just don’t show it. But with people like Kayne? I won’t hesitate to show my devilish side if she tries to attack Jessica again. Just like that time.
Ugh. My mind just ran on its own again. I really hate it when I give an internal commentary about a person I dislike, my annoyance just grows larger. I just decided to indulge to the music playing through the earphone.
After a while, I felt a slight press from Jessica’s hand to mine.
“Good morning.”
I smiled automatically as I heard that whisper.
“Good morning too,” I answered. Iniangat na ni Jessica ang ulo niya mula sa pagkakasandal sa akin at naramdaman kong pinisil niya ulit ang kamay ko.
Nilingon ko siya at katulad ng dati, hanga ako sa ganda niya. She woke up with her elegant beauty that mesmerizes me every single day.
“Kirei,” I mumbled one of the Japanese words I knew from watching anime. Narinig niya yata ‘yon at napangiti sa akin.
“Wakatteru.”
Those words mean ‘pretty’ and ‘I know’ respectively. Napabuntonghininga na lamang ako at iginiya ang ulo niya sa pagsandal muli sa akin.
I caressed her hair as we continued to enjoy our moment together. I closed my eyes as I wanted to sleep again.
“Jessica, Noel. Pahiram ng phone.”
Pagmulat ko ay bumungad sa akin si Kayne na nakalingon sa amin.
“Why?” replied Jessica who even released a yawn.
“Basta,” Kayne monotonously answered. Jessica and I just gave each other a ‘she-is-weird-but-okay’ look.
Jessica got up from my shoulder and searched for her phone in her bag, then gave it to Kayne. I was about to give mine too but she already turned to the front so I let it be.
I adjusted my glasses before closing my eyes again. Gusto ko pa talagang matulog.
.
.
.
Blag!
Irritably, my eyes flew open. The van came to an abrupt stop that almost threw us to the front. What happened?
I heard Jessica’s low-toned grunt indicating that she’s also awakened by the sudden disruption.
Steve went out of the van and checked the situation.
•••