"Hindi ako engineer pero nakagawa ako ng tulay sa pagitan nating dalawa."

Natawa ako sa sinambit ni Eleazar habang kami ay narito sa gilid ng daan sa may bridge. Siya ay umiinom ng pineapple juice na nasa plastic, binili niya kanina. Kakatapos lang ng klase at palubog na ang araw at magkatabi namin itong pinapanood.

I leaned my arms on the railings. I was so glad that I was able to witness this kind of scenery today. The sky has come to a red and orange combination of colors that make my heart fluttered. 

Muntik na akong hindi pumayag na pumunta rito dahil baka gabihin kami, iyon pala, malapit lang itong lugar sa amin.

"The sky is so pretty, Eleazar." I exhaled and smiled, looking up.

He then, turned around and leaned against the railings to see me. Ang isang kamay niya ay hawak ang ubos nang inumin niya.

"Sana sky na lang ako," komento niya kaya napalingon ako sa kanya, nagtataka at nagtama ang aming paningin. "Para ganyan mo rin ako titigan. Sa titig pa lang, tunaw na." He ruffled his hair using his other hand.

"Bakit naman kita tititigan?" I asked in confusion.

"Kasi deserve nang magaganda mong mata ang tumitig sa pogi na katulad ko," he replied, laughing.

"Tumigil ka na nga sa kaka-pogi mo. Nauumay na ako!" I joked and jokingly punched his arm

Eleazar chuckled. "Sarap patigilin ng oras. Iyong ganito lang tayo, 'no?" I nodded and looked back at the sunset. Still looking at it with fascination.

For many people, sunsets mean endings. But for me, sunset is rest. Watching sunset with the person you are comfortable with is so memorable. Kaya naiinggit ako sa dagat. Kasi palagi nitong napagmamasdan ang paglubog ng araw. It reflects on infinite oceans.

"Sana nga." Kung pwede lang, ginawa ko na. Noon pa. Noong panahon na narito pa si Mama. Hay. Miss na miss ko na siya. Araw-araw ko siyang miss. Muling humarap si Eleazar sa harap ng bridge at tumingala.

That's why I could not look away on this lovely sky. I felt like He painted a wonderful masterpiece for us to see. At parang pinarating din sa akin na si Mama ay nasa isang magandang lugar kung saan pinagmamasdan niya ako. Kami.

"Ang ganda ni Tita Lhucielle," Eleazar stated suddenly.

"Hmm?" Napalingon akong muli sa kanya dahil binanggit niya ang pangalan ni Mama.

"The sky represents her. On how beautiful she is." He was smiling when he said those words while looking above.

My eyes started to pool. I was touched by his remarks. He said those genuinely. Mas lalo talaga akong namamangha sa kanya. He never failed to make my heart happy.

"Salamat, Eleazar." I rested my head on his arm. "Next time, sama natin si Cheryl." Maaga kasi siyang sinundo ng kanilang driver kanina. At saka, may event daw silang pupuntahan na family kaya kailangan daw na umuwi siya agad. "Matutuwa 'yon for sure," I added. Tiningala ko siya at nakita kong tumango siya habang nakangiti.

Pagkatapos nang sandaling katahimikan ay sinabi niya na ihahatid niy na raw ako pauwi. "Sige na, Prim, delikado na lalo pa't mag-isa ka," he insisted. Ang plastic ng kanyang inumin kanina ay nilagay muna sa gilid ng bag dahil wala kaming basurahan na makita.

"Malapit lang naman sa amin dito, eh," I responded and looked around before looking back at him.

"Gusto ko rin makita si Nanay Gloria." He smiled happily.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Gusto mo na talagang maging apo ni Nanay, ah," I said and raised my brows.

He chuckled and pinched my cheeks. "Cute mo naman magselos." Bumitaw rin siya at nagpamulsa. "Sabi ko naman 'di ba? Magiging apo in law ako, hindi apo na kapatid mo." Side of his lips rose up.

I scoffed and rolled my eyes. "Halika na nga!" I told him.

Noong umpisa ay naglalakad kaming nang magkatabi sa gilid ng kalsada ngunit may konting space sa pagitan pero unti-untibg nagkakatamaan ang aming braso.

Narinig ko ang mahinang pagtikhim niya at bigla na lamang akong inakbayan. Napahinto ako bigla sa paglalakad nang makaramdam nang kung anong pagtalon ng aking puso.

This is not right.

"Ayos ka lang ba, Prim?" he asked gently. I couldn't look at him in the eye because he may see some sparks on mine.

Mabilis akong umiling at inalis ang kanyang pagkakaakbay. "May naiisip lang," I lied. I forced a smile and continued walking first.

Weird. Bigla ko na lang nararamdaman ang ganoon klaseng bagay. Napapadalas na, actually. And I think, I should not feel this. Not now.

Pagkarating naman sa harap ng bahay ay binuksan ko ang maliit naming gate na gawa sa kawayan at pinapasok si Eleazar. Saktong lumabas si Nanay Gloria mula sa loob ng bahay kaya agad siyang lumapit sa amin, nakangiti. Nagmano si Eleazar sa kanya at ganoon din ako.

Mas nauuna na talaga siya! Siya na yata talaga ang apo! "Napadaan lang po ako saglit para makita kayo," Eleazar told Nanay Gloria.

Nanay patted his arm. "Pumasok ka na sa loob at dito ka na kumain," she offered.

I saw him glanced at me before shaking his head. "Hindi na po. Wala po kasing kasama pinsan ko sa bahay kaya roon na po ako kakain," he said.

I think he was referring to Kuya Alejandro. From what I've heard about him, he was living with hia cousin since both of hia parents had their other family and now living on Canada. Eleazar's mother was currently at Novia Scotia and his father was at Toronto.

The reason that he didn't want to live there was because he wanted to be with his closest cousin rather than to be with another family of his parents'.

Hindi raw kasi siya masaya sa ganoong klaseng set-up. I was actually shocked at first when he told me those. Then, later on, I realized that some people with the brightest smiles hid the biggest pain that they had.

"Sige na po. Mauuna na ako," ani Eleazar.

I cleared my throat and looked at him. "Mag-review ka, ha. May quizzes tayo bukas," I reminded him.

e gave me a salute and chuckled. "Yes po, Your Majesty. Inspired ako, eh! Nakasama ko kasi crush ko nang matagal." Parang proud pa siya nang sinabi iyon sa akin!

I suddenly felt my heart ached. What?! Sino naman crush niya?! Bakit hindi niya sinasabi sa akin?! Malamang, hindi ka naman nagtanong, Lhads! Kahit na!

Nagsalubong ang aking noo. Lumabas na siya ng gate at kinawayan ako ngunit tinanguan ko lang siya. Pati si Nanay ay kumaway rin sa kanya bago naglakad paalis si Eleazar. Sinarado ko na ang gate nang hindi ko na siya makita.

When Nanay Gloria's eyes met mine she squinted them at me. "Bakit, Nanay?" I asked in confusion.

She just laughed and shrugged. "Halika na sa loob. May surprise sa 'yo mga kapatid mo." Hinawakan niya ang braso ko at naglakad na kami papasok.

I pouted. "Edi hindi na po surprise," wika ko.

Sinalubong ako nila Brielle at Eston nang yakap nang makapasok sa loob. Ibinaba ko ang bag ko sa malapit na upuan at hinalikan ang tuktok ng kanilang mga ulo. Si Nanay Gloria ay dumiretso naman sa kusina.

Umupo ako upang magka-level kaming tatlo. "Kamusta naman naging araw niyo, hmm?" I asked, smiling.

"Perfect po ako sa Math namin, Ate!" Brielle beamed.

"Wow naman." I smiled and ruffled her hair.

"Ako naman, Ate, kasali ako sa sa spelling bee competition next week!" Eston uttered with happiness.

My heart jumped with joy. Ah, I could not ask for more. Thank you so much, Lord, I have these siblings that would always made me feel less alone.

I hugged them both and caressed their backs. "Sobrang proud si Ate sa inyo. Lalong-lalo na si Mama." My eyes immediately filled with tears. I cleared my throat. "Tara, dinner na tayo."

I helped Nanay Gloria to set the table. After eating, I washed the dishes and went to the bathroom and took a bath.

Pagkalabas ko ay nakita kong may tinitignan si Nanay Gloria na photo album sa upuan habang ang kambal ay nagbabasa ng textbooks nila. Napangiti ako nang makita kung gaano sila ka-hardworking mag-aral.

Tumabi ako kay Nanay at idinikit ang pisngi sa kanyang balikat habang nakikitingin sa hawak niyang photo album.

"Binilhan ka ng Papa mo ng teddy bear nito. Tuwang-tuwa ang batang si Lhads," Nanay uttered before she chuckled softly while pointing on my picture. I think, I was three or two years old at that time.

Nakaupo ako kama and my mouth crept a very wide smile while hugging the teddy bear that my father bought.

Hay, hindi ko na maalala ito mula sa aking memorya pero alam ng puso ko kung gaano ako kasaya nang mga panahong ito. I wish I can still bring this kind of smile that I wore before.

Nakailang lipat na si Nanay sa bawat pahina ng photo album hanggang sa tumigil siya sa wedding photo nila Mama at Papa.

Natigilan ako.

I could see how happy they were from the picture.

I bit the insides of my cheeks so I will not cry.

But when I got to lay down on my bed, tears unconsciously fell and I let them. How sad life can be. Life is really uncertain. Parang kahapon lang ang saya mo, tapos hindi mo alam kinabukasan na may mangyayaring hindi maganda.

≿━━━━༺❀༻━━━━≾