A Flashback From The Beginning of Everything (CHAPTER NINE)

-A continuation of a flashback from 8 years ago-

*June 2011*

THIRD PERSON'S POINT OF VIEW

"Elijah! Elijah!"

"Oh hi, Aisha. This is great. We're in the same school now. What made you decide to transfer here?"

"My Tita. She just actually forced me. I really don't want to because I don't have friends in here and hello? This is already my last year in high school. But since, she's the one caring for us so we let her. Nagmakaawa na siya eh. Ang layo raw kasi masyado ng school ko from our house. Eh dito malapit lang so eto pinag transfer ako."

"Ouch. Don't be sad na because I'm here. Don't worry, you won't be alone here, because I'll be your friend. Alright?"

"Aww thanks. But I thought you were leaving already?"

"Delayed eh hehehehe and I'm so happy. We're delayed because of me, not because of the papers. I begged them to let me finish my highschool here though may grade 11 and 12 naman sa Germany hehe. Tsaka I'm starting din na magsalita na in Filipino."

"Wow. What a nice news. Ano pala section mo?"

"Hmm I do belong to the Cadwell Class. You, from what class are you?"

"I'm not sure. Nakalimutan ko na eh." Napakamot ulo na lamang ito.

"Lika. Let's take a look in the bulletin board."

"There it is, Banner."

"Oh! Magkaklase pala tayo, Elijah!"

"Wow. I'm so happy!"

"Me, too. May friend na rin ako so I don't need to worry na yay!"

*November 2011*

Few months have passed and the bond of the two continued to tighten. They hangout more often, they eat lunch together, they walk home and enjoy the company of one another, and they always sit beside each other. In short, they became even closer.

"Hey, Aisha! Wake up! Your classmates are heading in your room na. I think your teacher's on the way already. Dali, dali!" He said while shaking her to wake her up.

And by the way, sadly, hindi magkaklase ang dalawa. It's because Elijah's parents, both biological and foster, decided to move Elijah to the section of foreign students because may special subject ang mga ito para naman daw at least matuto man lang itong maging matatas sa Filipino bago pa umalis ng Pinas.

So until now, Elijah Kielle Fernandez pa rin ang pagkakilalang pangalan ni Aisha dahil 'di naman sila magkaklase so clueless pa rin siya sa pangalan nito.

"Hey, Aisha Banner! WAKE UP!!!"

She opened her one eye and looked at Kielle.

"Morniiing, Elijah Kielle!"

"Argh kanina.. kita pa ni..gi-ginigi--sing. You're so tagal to wake up, you're like a sleeping mantika!" He said, still trying to learn to speak in Filipino.

"What the? What the sleeping mantika you talkin' about, Elijah Kielle?"

He laughed. "Weeew! Don't you know that Filipino idiom?"

"Duhh? Of course, I do! Pero sya sya, una na muna ako ha? Wala ka na talagang klase? Sure na iyan?"

"I thi--"

"Op! Filipino only please! Tagal tagal mo na sa Pilipinas eh! Dito ka nga lumaki eh!"

"I told you 'di ako tinatagalog masyado ng parents ko. You know naman na we speak English din at home diba? And by the way, sa tingin ko wu-wal-la naman na hmm probably."

"Oh sige, sige. Saan kita hahanapin later?"

"Sa playground nalang."

"Alright. Sa playground. I'm surely gonna find u there on your favorite spot!" And she giggled.

And tumungo na nga si Aisha sa klase niya.

.....

"Kielle!!!!" Aisha screaming while running towards her sleeping friend.

"Huy, Kielle! Bakit dito ka pa sa single swing natulog? Pwede naman doon oh." And she pointed the swing na mayroong canopy. Though alam nitong etong kinauupuan niya ngayon ang favorite spot niya sa school ngunit ang kay Aisha lang, hindi siya rapat doon natutulog.

Elijah quickly stood up looking half awake.

"Okay."

"Okay?"

'Di nalang siya pinansin nito at patuloy lang sa paglalakad.

"Huuuy, san ka-- luhh?" Napasinghap nalang ito nang makitang patungo na ito sa isa pang swing. "Ano gagawin mo riyan? Uy, tara na uy lunch na tayo. Uy!!"

"Sabe mo doon ako tulog. Odi doon." At tinuloy niya ang paglalakad patungo sa swing.

"Shh hey! Why are you throwing pebbles on me?!"

"Aba?"

"What? Hey! Bakit nagbato ka na naman? Aaaargh!"

"Kasi you're speaking English again. I told you to speak in Filipino, diba?"

"And you will speak in English? Yes, yes! Pure English, Madame,aryt?"

"Duhh?"

"What kind of language is that? Maarte language?"

"Luhh?"

"Sigi na. Let's--" pinanlakihan siya ni Aisha ng mata, "ahh lets-chon, gusto ko letchon, kain na tayo lunch?"

"Fine. Let's go." At may pahabol pang pag irap ito.

"Tss. Kasi naman. Nagtatagalog na nga lang kami sa room, pati ba naman dito sa labas? Aaaah!"

"Kailangan mong matuto."

"I think I need to learn German, right?"

At napasimangot bigla si Aisha.

"Argh! Ikaw naman! Pinapaalala mo sa'kin na aalis ka na." Sabay simangot uli and she just looked at the floor while walking on their way into the cafeteria.

"Shh we'll be keeping in touch, okay? Just don't snob me when you got new friends as my replacement, okay?"

"Aww. Of course, Elailai! I won't ever forget you!"

"So do I. Kahit magkaamnesia pa ako, my heart will still remember you even though hindi maprocess ng brain ko. I'll remember you deep down from here because you are my previous friend. Never ko malimot 'yung ar-raw na cinomfort mo ako when i feel so devastated and betrayed."

"I'll miss you. Mamimiss kita, my special friend na special child!" At humagalpak ito ng tawa na sinabayan naman ni Elijah.