Aryana Solenn Valencia
Music has been Gaia’s escape from reality. Simula noong bata pa siya ay iyon na ang naituturing niyang kaibigan.
“Shet! Ang ganda pa rin pakinggan! Para akong nakikinig sa Apo Hiking Society nang live.”
She told me that music is the air that she breathe, it’s the blood that pumps through her veins, and that keeps her alive.
Sa kalagitnaan ng katahimikan ay nagsalita si Ralene matapos akong sikuhin. “Your standards were too high, why is that?”
Umawang ang labi ko saka napangiti nang maalala si Dylan. “Setting your standards too high doesn’t mean you're looking for a perfect man but respecting your value as a woman.”
She smiled sweetly. “You had a point, though.” She let out a small laugh before eating a sandwich.
Siniko akong muli ni Ralene. “Is she really your friend?” nagtataka niyang tanong.
I nodded. “Of course, yes. Why?”
“Asal kalye.”
Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mga mata. “What the hell are you saying? Anong asal kalye?”
“She’s asal kalye naman talaga!” she unconsciously shouted.
Agad na napatingin sa amin si Gaia na kumakain nang tahimik. “I am not.” mariin namang sagot ni Gaia.
“I’m just used to live in a squatter area but I am not asal kalye.” she defended herself.
Ralene went quiet. “Pardon me, Aia.” She immediately apologized for what she just said.
“I don’t need your apology. I am used to it.” Gaia said seriously.
Agad na napatingin sa akin si Ralene, naguguluhan. “I sincerely apologize. I don’t mean it. You looked good and respectful—”
“Don’t sugarcoat your words. It’s okay.” Gaia responded. “I am Gabrielle Aia Lopez, don’t forget my name.”
Gaia glanced at me. “Mauuna na ako. I have classes pa and I’ll meet my grandfather later.” She sweetly smiled at me.
Inayos na niya ang bag niya bago kami talikuran at tuluyang umalis. Agad akong napatingin kay Ralene saka siya inilingan.
“She was abandoned by her father. Her mother died a month ago. Her sister has a leukemia. Her life is miserable.” I said.
Her eyes immediately filled with amusement and pity. “Are you serious? Her life messed up! How can I help her?” agad-agad niyang tanong.
Nagulat pa ako ngunit agad ding ngumiti. “Bayaran mo lahat ng hospital bills na hindi niya mabayaran nang mamatay ang Mama niya. As easy as that.” I smirked.
“What?!” she exclaimed.
“And now, you’re—”
“No! I mean— iyon lang ba?” nagtataka niyang tanong.
“Her grandfather will take care of the rest, I guess.” kibit-balikat kong sagot.
She nodded and smiled. I just nodded and smiled back at her. Agad niyang inabot ang bag niya saka iyon binuksan. Kinuha niya ang phone mula doon saka nagsimulang mangalikot.
Nagsimulang mag ring ang phone niya kaya nangunot ang noo ko.
“Uh, Dad?”
I raised a brow. That’s her Dad pala. Alam ko na ang gagawin nito.
[Yes, anak. What’s the problem?]
She glanced at me. “My friend needs a help kasi, Dad. But I am just a student with sufficient allowance. Do you want to help her ba?”
Saglit na natahimik ang kabilang linya. [Yes, I am ready to help her. How much money she needs? What amount?]
Ralene smiled. She asked me about the hospital’s name. Then, she told her Dad about the hospital bills. Later on, her Dad contacted the doctor of Mrs. Lopez.
“Thank you so much, Dad!” Ralene thanked her Dad.
[No problem, sweetie.]
She ended the call after saying goodbye to her Dad. She smiled at me and shook her head.
“He really paid for it, huh?” namamangha kong tanong.
“Yes. He’s good to me and granted my wish like it was nothing but the most important thing in his life.”
I nodded and smiled. “Well. I am glad to hear na wala nang babayarang utang si Aia.”
Natigilan si Ralene. “Wait, but what about her studies? Malaki ang tuition fee ng UST, ah?”
I tapped her shoulders. “Don’t worry about that. She’s a scholar and she have her grandfather on her back.” I smirked.
“She might be smart. And consistent dean’s lister. It’ll be really amazing.”
“She’s a consistent dean’s lister. She did everything to topped the list. She’s my future Architect.” nagmamalaki kong saad.
Ralene smiled at me. “That’s what I want.”
After a minutes of silent, I got a call from Aia.
[Damn! Iyong utang ko, Solenn! Nabayaran lahat! What the hell?!]
I let out a small laugh. “It’s a gift from God, Gab.”
[What?! Binayaran mo ba? I said no, hindi ba?]
“That’s not me! I will never pay for your debts!”
[Then, who?]
“It was Ralene.”
[The girl who are you with? She’s the one who paid for it? That was so hilarious!]
“That wasn’t.”
[Who the hell will pay for my debts?! I am just stranger for her! What the hell are she thinking?!]
“Be thankful nalang kasi wala ka ng utang.”
[I-I am just wondering, though.]
“I will end the call na. We’ll go home na, focus on your studies.”
I ended the call and glanced at Ralene. Nangunot ang noo niya at ang mga mata niya ay napupuno ng pagtataka at pagtatanong.
“Thank you raw. She really appreciates it. Why does a stranger will pay for the debts, huh?” nagtataka kong tanong.
“I just wanted to help.” she shrugged. “Nakonsensya ako bigla. I lost my younger sister, and I don’t want her to experienced the same situation I have been.”
Natigilan ako saka naguluhan. “I thought you’re only child.”
She sighed so heavily. “I am not. I lost my sister, fifteen years ago. She was presumed dead.”
Nakita ko ang pagtulo ng mga luha niya. Mapait itong ngumiti saka tumingin sa damuhan. Napailing muna siya bago punasan ang mga luhang bumagsak.
“Nang dahil sa kapabayaan ko bilang ate niya, nawala siya. Inakala na lamang naming lahat na nalunod siya sa dagat.”
I went silent. I couldn't utter a words. Her word's like Broca's Aphasia, it made me speechless!
I don’t know how to comfort her. “It’s not your fault, Ral. It was unexpected, right?”
“That was may fault. I am being careless! Why did I not being careful that time? Why did I need to lose her?”
“To make yourself stronger. Don’t blame yourself, it’s not your fault. You’re just a kid that time. You were both kids.”
Huminga muli ito nang malalim saka mapait na natawa. “A vacation that supposed to be fun, turned out to be my greatest nightmare.”