Latum Alterum (Under construction)

3

Noon, tuwing naalala ko ang mga nakaraan, nagbibigay 'yon ng saya sa akin. Nagdudulot 'yon ng contentment at ng kagalakan sa puso ko. Parang kahit pa sobrang hirap, kahit sobrang daming kulang, natuto akong makuntento kasi masaya, eh. Sa sobrang saya, ultimo hanggang pagtulog, nakangiti ako. Doon ko naranasan na nakangiti habang nagsasandok ng kanin at naghuhugas ng plato.

Pero tama nga pala talaga 'yung nabasa ko sa libro dati noong binata pa ako. 'What made you smile, makes you cry the hardest'. Tama siya. Kung ano pang nakakapagpasaya sa 'yo, 'yon din ang magdudulot ng tripleng sakit sa damdamin mo.

Iba pala ang tama, iba ang sakit kapag 'yong minsang nagpasaya sa 'yo ang naging dahilan kung bakit ka nababasag ngayon. Para kang minaso ng paulit-ulit, para kang sinaksak ng paulit-ulit sa sobrang sakit. Tipong ang dami-raming ang hangin pero hindi mo makuhang makahinga.

Noon, kapag naalala ko ang mga pinagdaanan namin ni Ria nang mga panahong simple palang at hindi pa kumplikado, ang saya-saya ko. Ikaw ba naman mahalin ng babae noong mga panahong literal kang lugmok sa lupa. Tuwing naalala ko 'yong mga masasayang alaala kasama si Ria, sobrang saya ko, pero ngayon? Parang dinudurog na ako.

Walong taon. Walong taon

Napapangiti nalang ako na walang rason habang nag-wa-warm up kami para sa training namin sa swimming. Hindi ko alam. Basta masaya ako. Pakiramdam ko, sakto't buo na ako. Mapupunit na nga yata ang mukha ko sa kangingiti.

"Tingnan ninyo si Eclarinal, kanina pa 'yan ngingiti-ngiti mag-isa. Inspired siguro," sabi ng isa sa mga kasama ko sa team na si Jay, freestyle swimmer siya.

"Kapag na-beat niya 'yong fastest record niya sa backstroke swimming mamaya, alam na," malisyosong sambit naman ni Jake, breast stroke naman ang kaniya.

"Kung pag-usapan niyo ako, parang wala ako rito, ah?" sabat ko. Minsan talaga'y hindi mo alam kung sinasadya nilang iparinig sa 'yong pinag-uusapan ka nila o hindi.

Tinawanan nila ako pareho bago ako nilapitan ni Jay at inakbayan. "Ikaw, p're, kanina ko pa pansin na pangiti-ngiti ka. Hula ko may pera o may jowa?"

"Tantanan mo ako, Jay," sagot ko bago tinanggal ang pagkaka-akbay niya sa akin.

"O baka naman both? P're, kahit pera lang. Pautang," ani Jake na mahina pa akong siniko.

Magkaibigan nga sila ni Jay. Pareho silang malisyoso. "Ulo niyo pera. Kung mayaman lang ako, binili ko na buong Olympics para sa inyo."

"Ah, jowa!" sabay nilang sabi.

Napailing nalang ako. Minsan pinag-iisipan ko kung paano ako nakatagal sa grupo na 'to kung pwede naman akong maging solo swimmer nalang, lalo na't napakagulo ng mga kagrupo ko. Lalong lalo na si Jay at Jake na parang magkarugtong na ang bituka. Para silang pinagbiyak na bunga. Malala pa sa magkakambal. Ganoon siguro talaga kapag magkaibigan simula pagkabata.

"Para kayong mga ignorante," sabi ko na lang habang nagdarasal na dumating na si Coach Austin para makalusot sa dalawang ito.

"Ay, weh? Totoo?" manghang tanong ni Jake na akala mo, napakaimposible sa isang tulad ko na magkaroon ng girlfriend.

"Sino? 'Yung Mildred na grade nine?" tanong ni Jay.

Napabuntong hininga nalang ako sa sinasabi nilang dalawa. Mukha ba akong pumapatol sa grade nine? Jusko, masyadong bata ang mga 'yan. Mas pipiliin ko pang mas matanda sa akin.

Kinulit pa nila ako na tinatanong kung sino raw ba, pero wala silang nakuhang sagot sa akin. Hindi naman sa kinahihiya ko o sinesikreto. Minsan, nakaka-satisfy lang na naguguluhan sila sa mga nangyayari at na-cu-curious. Mabuti na lamang at dumating nga si Coach na tinipon kami para mag-practice.

"New record, Eclarinal," anunsyo ni Coach. "42.36 seconds, 100 meter backstroke."

Sabay-sabay na nag-react ang mga kasamahan ko. Lalo na sina

Jay at Jake na nangunguna sa pagkamalisyoso. 'Yong reaction na parang tumama sa lotto. Hindi ko naman sinasadyang magka-new record, medyo lang.

Matapos no'n ay pinauwi na kami ni Coach. Nagmamadali akong nag-shower no'n dahil excited talaga akong umuwi. Kung dati ay umaabot ako ng oras sa shower kahit pa nakababad na ako sa swimming pool, ngayon, minuto nalang. Ganiyan talaga kapag may naghihintay na sa 'yong umuwi.

"Tingnan niyo si Eclarinal. New record na sa swimming, new record pa sa shower. Excited umuwi. Tunog may kasabay," sabi na naman ni Jake.

Mabilis kong sinuot ang plain black t-shirt ko saka pinaibabawan ng jacket. Jacket 'yon ng swimming team. Medyo malamig kasi ngayon. Iba ang lamig. Hindi ko siya pinansin at nagpatuloy lang sa pagligpit ng gamit ko.

"Ano nga? Meron?" usisa pang muli ni Jake. Paulit-ulit siya. Kanina niya pa 'yan tinatanong.

"Umuulan!" rinig kong sigaw ng isa sa mga junior swimmer.

Natigilan ako roon. Kaya pala malamig. Madali kong kinuha ang payong sa locker ko. Paniguradong walang payong si Ria. Wala siyang dala kanina. Nagpapayong lang yata 'yon kapag tirik ang araw.

Saktong naramdaman ko ang pag-vibrate ng cellphone ko sa bulsa ng pantalon ko. Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong ngumiti habang tinitingnan ang message na dumating.

18:03 "Hey." She squeaked out as her eyes widened. Seems like she's the shy type, not to mind because she's too juicy cute. Her red locks were just a bit past her shoulders to her back. It wasn't straight neither was it bobbed up that much with light curls running through. I was taken aback by her vibrant green eyes that looked like the fresh forest. She didn't have much freckles cause her skin was a bit dark and creamy. The freckles she had were sprinkled cutely on her nose and just above her upper lip there was a very pretty little beauty spot. She was too adorable.

"What's your name sweetheart?" I spoke in a tiny voice so she was not frightened.

"Suzie." I had to strain my ears to get that.

"Wow, such a pretty name Suzie." It indeed was a nice name. I almost awed when I saw her dimpled smile. "Where's mom and dad?" I don't understand why she was at the tent alone. It is going to be difficult to find them. However, I popped my head up at Aaron in a surprised look when her tiny pointing finger, whose nail was in a starry blue nail polish, jutted to Aaron. Huh?

"I... f**k it!" why was he cussing? Before I could say anything, I felt something wet beneath my feet. I looked down to see water gradually flowing and filling up the room. Shidcake, it had gotten into the hotel. Aaron swiftly carried up Suzie and looked at Lucas while grabbing my hand.

"You made the calls, right?" Luke nodded. "Good. Call the personal helicopter to come to the helipad up and find a way to make the announcement for people to move up the floors."

"Aye, aye captain."

Luke turned about and took his phone.

"Come on candy, let's go." I was pulled by Aaron out of the door and onto the hall way. With how fast he was moving I had no room for questions. The hallways were rowdy as I saw people also rushing up. We were trudging in the little water on them floor and it splashed with every step we made.

The elevators were not working due to the power outage. So, it was the stairs? To the tenth floor? Who even said I was that fit?

Aaron dragged me up. The guy was really testing my patience with the way he was moving me about. However, I also didn't know how to walk up these stairs without causing a stampede.

"No. no. No more. I can't." I gasped out as I tried to sit on one stair but my hand was still locked up in the hands of fudgy bun Aaron. I looked up to see red hair spread on his right shoulder. How lucky she has it.

"Well candy, if you didn't notice we have made it up only twenty flights- there's still eighty more to go. No time to die baby. Let's go." He couldn't talk out loud cause it seemed Suzie was asleep.

"What are you going to do with her?" I poke my heat towards her.

"I have to figure out whether she's a native of from another land." I nod in understanding. After that I'm sure he'll know what to do. My breath seems to have evened out a bit. I realized we had paused during our little conversation. People were still whooshing past us, those who had strength I mean.

"Alright, you've rested enough. Up we jog now." He all but screamed.

I'm dripping wet in sweat and panting hard. Heck, even the little girl has a bit of perspiration on her forehead. Aaron looks nothing like someone who run up hundred flights of stairs. Of course, he is panting but he looks as composed as ever, nothing like the mess I'm in. My eyes fall on my phone peeking from under my pillow.

I hop forward to pick it up.

30 missed calls from dad, 23 messages included. 42 missed calls from mom, 4 messages. 50 missed calls from Nikki- that is so her.

I quickly throw a glance at Aaron who seems to be in a very deep conversation about favorite food and color with Suzie. I'm so dead right now.

Left and Right by Charlie Puth and Jungkook filled the room. I know this one. She customized her ringtone on my phone as soon as that collaboration with Jungkook came out.

Nikki.

What to do? What to do?

Oh gosh I'm going bananas.