Wabi-Sabi

24

"Ang bilis mo naman tumakbo!"

It was 7 in the morning, and I was panting while chasing him, trying to catch his pace. I knew he did it on purpose, running so fast that I couldn't keep up, just another day of him pissing me off. Eventually, he stopped and laughed at how tired I looked.

He was wearing black shorts and a pair of white sneakers with nothing on top, while I wore a black sports bra, high waisted leggings, and a pair of white shoes. My hands were on my waist as he slouched, resting his hands on his knees, staring at me—giggling.

"Anong ganap pag-uwi mo?" he asked while stretching, letting the morning sun bathe his body.

"Casual dinner," I tied my hair back and formed it into a bun.

I knew he really wanted to come last night, but I could never risk exposing myself. I love him, but I'm scared. I'm always on the verge of telling him, yet every time I remember how people treated me differently after discovering what's behind my elegant lifestyle, they changed

We grabbed a coffee from the nearest cafeteria in the city, and we didn't use any vehicle—we jogged, which was quite energy-draining.

"Nakita mo ba sila?" tanong ko habang tinatahak namin ang daan papuntang Isabela Street para bumili ng pandesal. I tried to look around para hanapin yung mga aso, kaso wala sila.

"Oo, kahapon. Sila siguro ang admission committee for freshmen enrollees,"

Ngumiti lang ako bago humigop sa kape. I'll never forget that day dahil hanggang ngayon sobrang sariwa pa sa 'kin yung sakit na ginawa nila. All I needed was their sincere apology, but instead, I received their self-centered criticisms.

"Gusto mo gawin ko silang punching bag?" Natatawa niyang tanong nang mapansing tumahimik nalang ako bigla.

"Si Kim?"

Siya na naman ngayon ang natahimik. Umiwas ako nang tingin para hindi niya makitang natatawa ako. Hindi na siya umimik pa ulit na parang nahihiya na siyang tumingin sa 'kin.

"Just kidding. Come!" I kissed him on the cheek and saw his face light up when he realized I was being sarcastic.

I held his hand, and together we entered the bakery.

Then, I went home to take a bath and prepare for enrollment day. Sinabayan niya ako papunta malapit sa subdivision bago siya dumaan sa kabila para makauwi na rin. I chose to wear loose pants and a white midriff top.

Sumakay lang ako ng jeep papuntang university at nakitang naghihintay na si Isaac sa 'kin sa gate. He was wearing black jersey shorts, a plain white shirt, and a cap, casually leaning against his car's bumper.

We didn't have to comply with the university's dress code since enrollment was still ongoing. He went to another building to process his, and I went to the College of Arts and Letters to process mine.

I stopped walking as memories came flashing back when I saw them. Until now, I can still remember how they made me a slave. Every time I see them, bumabalik yung alaala na hinayaan kong lamunin ako ng takot na baka may masabi sila sa akin.

Hindi ko kontrolado ang mga iniisip ng mga tao. Malay ko sa pagtalikod ko, sinisiraan na pala ako. I don’t even know why I was like that before, trying so hard to get people’s attention and receive praise. Pero ang hindi ko naisip noon, sa harapan lang ako pinupuri pero sa pagtalikod ko, halos pinapatay na ako ng kanilang mga salita.