Kakalipat pa lamang nila Marsden sa BLUE STREET Subdivision nang makilala niya ang dalawang batang magiliw na naglalaro sa maliit na park inside the Exclusive Subdivision. Palaging wala ang mama niya dahil palagi itong nasa business trip kaya naman sa parke siya lumalage pagdating niya galing sa eskwela. Maraming gustong makipagkaibigan sa kanya lalo na ang mga batang babae dahil na rin sa looks niya. Pero dahil sanay siyang mag-isa, walang kapatid o matalik na kaibigan hindi niya alam kung paano ewe-welcome ang mga ito kaya naman palagi siyang mag-isang naglalaro ng skateboard sa sementadong daanan within the park.
“Kuya naman eh, ang daya daya mo, enemy na tayo,” sabay kabit ng matabang batang babae ng little finger nito sa batang lalaking nakaupo sa damuhan.
“Sige na nga, o ikaw nanaman,” binigay nito ang brick game sa kapatid.
“Kainis naman oh!” with pouty lips the girl was annoyed nang hablutin ng kuya nito ang laruan.
“Hindi ka naman marunong eh, talo ka kaagad,” natatawa nitong tukso.
Tumayo ang batang babae at nakapamaywang na umirap sa kapatid sabay alis at sinubukang makigpaglaro sa mga batang babae ring kasing edad nito. Napangiti si Marsden nang ilang minuto lamang ang lumipas bumalik ang batang babae at ngayon ay nakangiti ng tumabi sa kanyang kuya na nakangiti na rin habang busy ang mga kamay sa hawak na laruan.
“Here,” sabay taas ng right hand. “Bati na tayo kuya, kaya ako na naman okay?”
Napangiti si Marsden nang marinig ito at nakita niyang nag-appear ang dalawa at nagtawanan. Actually naiinggit siya, kung mayro’n lang sana siyang kapatid siguro hindi siya malungkot. Ilang beses na niyang gustong makipagkaibigan sa dalawa dahil palagi niyang nakikita ang mga ito sa park, palaging magkasama at masayang nagtutuksuhan.
One day, dala-dala ang laruang brick game papunta ng park nakita niya ang tatlong batang lalaki na nagtatawanan habang nakatayo sa harapan ng long bench. Schoolmate niya ang mga ito pero hindi niya kaibigan kaya naman patuloy siyang umupo sa damuhan.
“Pwede ba lubayan niyo na ako Francis, binigay ko na lahat sa’yo. Ano pa bang gusto mo?” Narinig niyang may nagsalita sa harapan ng mga ito.
“Gusto naming mawala ang mga matataba dito sa park, parke ‘to hindi farm ng mga baboy,” sabay tawa ng malakas ng schoolmate niyang si Francis.
Lumingon si Marsden sa long bench. Napakunot ang noo niya nang mahinuhang may binu-bully ang mga ito. Minsan niya lamang itong makita sa park.
“Isusumbong ko kayo sa kuya ko, hintayin mo lang Francis,” naiiyak na ang batang babae nang mapansin niya ang boses nito.
“Nasaan ang pinagmamalaki mong kuya?” astig nitong tanong.
“Leave her be Francis!” Galit na turan ni Marsden nang makitang naiiyak na ang binu-bully. Ito ‘yong batang babae na gusto niyang kaibiganin.
Nakita niyang natigilan si Francis samantalang ang mga kasamahan nito ay napaatras nang makita siya. May lahi siyang American and Spanish kaya naman mas matangkad siya kumpara sa mga bata living in their neighboarhood. “Kaibigan ko ang kuya niya at hindi niyo gugustuhing malaman niya ang ginagawa niyo sa mahal niyang kapatid.” With threat in his eyes nilapitan niya ang mga ito. Nakita niyang napalitan ng takot ang kanina ay matapang na disposition ni Francis at tuluyan na nga itong umalis kasama ang mga alepores nito. Nang lingunin niya ang batang babae nagulat siya sa reaction nito, akala niya makikita niya itong umiiyak.
Tumayo ito at hinarap siya with a cute smile. “That was amazing! You’re my hero, I like you already!”
Marsden is nine years old and this girl seemed younger than him. Mataba ito and have a short hair just above her shoulders. She’s cute and as she saw her smiling face this close napansin niya ang mga mata nitong pabilog at may napakaitim na mga eyeballs. That moment he knew this girl would break a lot of hearts someday. She’s pretty and he blushed nang mapansin niyang kinuha nito ang mga kamay niya and hold on to it.
“Alam ko hindi ka kaibigan ng kuya ko, thank you sa pagtatanggol sa akin. I thought your kind of suplado because my classmate Anne says you don’t want to make friends. She tried to approach you daw pero hindi mo raw siya pinansin kaya enemies na kayo.” Binitiwan nito ang mga kamay niya at may kinuha sa bulsa ng pink mini-shorts nito.
Nang ibukas nito ang maliit na palad nakita niya ang isang orange na bola na may transparent na cellophane wrapper.
“Here, para to sayo dahil tinulungan mo ako.” Nakangiti ito but her eyes looked at the thing longingly.
“Salamat! Sure ka ba talaga na akin na ‘to?” CHOKS Orange Gum ang nakalagay sa pakete nito.
The little girl nodded. “Anim ang binigay sa akin ni Beth dahil tinulungan ko siya sa assignment niya. I wanted to share it with kuya so I brought it here pero kinuha ni Francis lahat mabuti na lang may natago akoang isa.” Umaliwalas ang mukha nito at ngumiti. “I wanted to share it with you because you’re nice and Francis was so scared of you, eat it.” Umupo ito sa bench at nakatingin sa kanya habang binubuksan niya ang gum.
Isusubo na sana niya nang makita niyang lumunok ito at longingly looked at the gum. Gamit ang wrapper Marsden broke the round gum in half at pagkatapos kainin ang isa ibinigay niya sa bagong kaibigan ang kalahati. “O heto, hati tayo.”
Agad nitong isinubo ang gum and Marsden laughed when the girl slowly chewed it like it was a manna from heaven. “It’s actually our first time having a gum kaya I’m so excited to share it with kuya. Mom doesn’t want us to eat something like this and my friends in school said it’s delicious.”
“It’s also my first time, thank you for sharing…” tumingin siya sa katabi.
“My name is Trisha Lee M. Fuentes.”
“Marsden Fonacier,” sabay lahad ng kamay for a handshake.
Napatingin lamang ito sa kamay niya. “Nakikita ko ganito ang ginagawa nila mommy kapag may bago siyang kakilala and then they talked like friends.”
“Okay,” kinuha nito ang kamay niya pero hindi nito agad binitiwan. Breaking the handshake agad nitong ikinabit ang big finger nito sa big finger niya at ang small finger naman nito sa small finger niya. “Ito ang sign ko na friends na tayo kaya pwede na tayong maglaro together. Di ba diyan ka nakatira sa malapit sa amin, you can visit in the house too. I will tell kuya para mas masaya.”
Marsden happily nodded his head and he liked it that his new friend talked a lot, it entertained his lonely life.
Mag-isang kumakain si Marsden ng breakfast consisting of cereal and milk sa kitchen isles, where he prefered to eat sa kanyang condo nang maalala ang panaginip. It was so clear because it’s a memory from his past. “What a small world indeed!” bulong niya sa sarili, he chuckled without amusement in his eyes, hardly believing the cruel play of fate. This was part of a memory he doesn’t want to revisit. He silently prayed he won’t see her again.
Marsden was busy reading through the reports for the new expansion in Mindanao when his bestfriend and company lawyer entered his office. Kakabalik lang nito from Davao. Napangiti siya when he saw his annoyed face. “You should get over it man.” Napaupo ito sa harapan ng malaki niyang table. “Erase that smile bro, I haven’t forgiven you yet.” “Come on Max, it’s been a week since I got home and let me reminds you you’re out of town if you forgot.” “You should have called me or even just a text from you would suffice. Learning from someone that your bestfriend finally came back without even telling you hurts bro.” Para itong batang nagmamaktol but he can’t blame him, afterall he is like a brother he never had. Every year Max would tell Marsden to visit the Philippines even for just a while so they could party together and be wasted together just like the old days but he always reasoned that their branch in New
“Trish?” Biglang napalingon si Trisha sa kanyang likuran and something within her changed, like her heart was being wrung out and her tears were pooling at the corner threatening to fall. Nakatanga lamang siya habang nakatingin dito. His saying something but she doesn’t care. Looking at the man who have helped her twice already made her realized how she desperately needed comfort right now. She remembered to glanced at her back and thankfully no trace of Jade. “Hey!” protesta ni Marsden when she suddenly grabbed his hand and hurriedly looked for some place to hide before Jade could see them. Thankfully may nakita siyang pintuan at the corner situated just outside the hall where the girl she bumped into came from. Binuksan niya ito habang hila-hila pa rin si Marsden papasok sa loob na ngayon niya lamang napansin na isang maliit na storeroom. Dahil sa liit ng storeroom at laki ng lalaking kaharap nakalapat ang likur
Tahimik si Trisha habang lulan sila ng kotse ni Marsden. Hindi niya alam at wala siyang pakialam kung saan siya nito dadalhin. Surprisingly, she felt calm and safe with him and at the moment she doesn’t want it to end. Kinuha niya ang kanyang cellphone at muntik nanaman siyang maiyak nang makita ang 20 misscalls from different numbers, marami rin notifications for text messages, nakasilent ito at ngayon niya lang naalalang echeck. Trisha closed her eyes, so her friends must have seen the photo even Chloe. Nang tatawagan na sana niya si Chloe ay tumunog ang phone niya, tinatawagan siya ni Jay. “Hello?” Buti na lang kalmado na si Trisha nang sagutin ang phone. “Trish, Oh my God! Finally, sinagot mo rin…Nasa’n ka ba? We’re so worried, akala namin nasa Ladies’ Room ka lang nang puntahan ka ni Abby but you’re not there. Where are you? Okay ka lang ba? Kung tungkol do’n sa kumakalat sa social media, huwag kang mag-al
Dinala siya ni Marsden sa isang up hill park. Heaven’s View Park ang nakalagay sa sign nang masilayan niya ito at the park’s entrance. Gabi na kaya wala ng tao pero madaming pathway lights illuminating the whole place and Trisha liked the place already. At the center there’s a playground with slides, seesaws and swings. Marami ring mga sementadong upuan surrounding the park…akala ni Trisha doon sila papunta sa playground. Para siyang bata na excited kung saan siya dadalhin ni Marsden. Mas lalo siyang naging komportable dito nang malaman niyang ito pala ang patpating Marsden na kaibigan niya noon. Trisha glanced at Marsden observing his manly built stealthily. The skinny boy was no longer there but he is still tall as she remembered at the storeroom. Trisha just reaches his chin with her 5”4’ height. “We’re here,” lumabas na ito and opened the passenger door to help her out. Nag ala-gentleman in a date ito offe
Tanghali na nang bumangon si Trisha and lazily went to the kitchen to prepare something to eat. Ginising siya ng kumakalam niyang sikmura. She was yawning when the front door opened and revealed her bestfriend. “Chlo!” sabay takbo ni Trisha and affectionately hugged her bestfriend. Niyakap din siya ni Chloe at natatawa sa ginawa ng childish niyang bestfriend. Minutes passed, Trisha was still clinging to her. “I’m so glad you’re here,” prolonging the so. “So how are you?” Chloe asked as she pulled Trisha towards the sofa. “I’m fine,” hinawakan niya ang mga kamay nito. “Really, I am,” pangungumbinsi niya dito nang mapakunot-noo ang kaibigan. She really did feel fine. Remembering Marsden’s help last night, she told her friend everything that happened. “That Jade I would really skin her alive, bruha talaga. Friends with the same feathers really flucks together,” galit na galit na turan ni
Nag-undertime si Trisha dahil kailangan pa niyang mamalengke ng gulay para sa lulutuing kare-kare. Nakapaggrocery na siya kahapon kaya naman gulay na lang ang dapat niyang bilihin para fresh. When she got home from the market, agad siyang naligo at nagsimula ng magluto. She already baked a chocolate cake last night and also marinated the chicken in her special sauce. She wanted to make it special that’s why she searched the internet for additional tips. After two hours, she was almost done and just preparing the salad dressing when a knock came at the door. She took her apron but remembering how she looked, agad niyang inayos ang kanyang loose ponytail. When she opened the door, she was stunned for a moment. May artista ata sa bahay ko! Kinurap niya ang mga mata. “Hey!” she said smiling at Marsden. “Hi!” Ngumiti ito at itinaas ang dalang malapad na golden box na may pulang ribbon na nakatali dito.
Weeks passed, Unti-unting nawawala ang kirot na dala ng betrayal ni Drake. Nawala na rin ang echo ng scandal na sinimulan ng kanyang pinsan. Trisha and Drake were both putting their relationship behind. Kapag nagkikita sila sa Office, hindi pa rin sila nagpapansinan. Mas mabuti na rin sa isip ni Trisha upang hindi na sila pag-usapan pa ng mga kasamahan sa trabaho. Sa tingin ni Trisha nakakatulong din ang friendship ni Marsden para siya makalimot. Palagi itong nangungumusta at siya rin dito. Once in a while nagpapadala ito ng chocolates from Pixies which her friends really love to eat. Ngayon nga may delivery nanaman siya from Pixies, one dozen of mini chocolate cupcakes na may chocolate frosting on top. “Oh my God Trisha, huwag mo munang sagutin si Marsden para may rasyon pa rin tayo from Pixies,” saad ni Abby na sarap na sarap ang kain. Nakaupo ito sa kanyang cubicle habang busy siya sa pagphotocopy ng kany
“Do you love her still?” It took a while bago ito sumagot. “I don’t know. I haven’t think of her for quiet some time. I don’t think the feeling is still the same.” Mas mabuti sana kung sinabi nitong hindi na, kaysa sa hindi ko alam. A flicker of discomfort pricked Trisha’s heart. She can’t explain the sudden tightness she felt when she heard his answer. It’s not right, she doesn’t want to dwell on it. “You’ve been asking yourself why he haven’t said sorry when he betrayed you right? Maybe the reason why the anger returned when he finally said it is that all along you were asking yourself, did I deserve what happened? Don’t I deserve the sorry? I’m not a psychologist pero minsan kasi we asked ourselves kung deserved ba natin ang masaktan. If all along ako pala ‘yong may kasalanan kaya nagkaganito–“ Natigilan si Trisha nang mahinuhang nakatitig ito sa kanya. “Shoot!” “What?” Nagug