Put Your Head On My Shoulder — Paul Anka

Kabanata 16

I admire old things, the ones you see on bargain because no one finds them useful anymore. The ones abandoned by their owners until it is full of dust and webs. I find glamour in things that might have sentimental value for others because they kept them for days, years and centuries. I believe that memories were embodied by those objects, by just having them you can possessed someone's memory.

"Iscalade, stop it..." saway ko sa kanya. "I told you po, I won't play games with you."

"C'Mon, Philo..." he grinned. "It's just a dare! You lost and you have to do the dare."

I grunted out, sinilip ang bahay na kanina pa namin pinagtataguan. This is too childish! But deep inside me, I wonder how fun can it be?

Nasa harap kami ng isang bahay sa subdivision nila. Niyaya kasi ako ni Iscalade na maglaro na lang, ipapasyal kasi dapat namin si Issie kaso dala-dala pala siya ni Tita Istelle para sa isang vet check up.

"Hihilahin ko lang po 'di ba?" I nervously asked. Agad siyang tumango.

I tiptoed my way to the front porch. The house was old but it was painted in white so the old wood material isn't that visible until you step on it. Ngumiwi ako nang makarinig ng tunog ng aking yapak.

Tiningnan ko si Iscalade na nagtatago sa isang puno ng narra. He was coaxing me to go on, ring the doorbell. Ngumuso ako sa kanya. This guy, really.

I gathered up my courage and gently ring the antique bell. I had to pull the string inside the bell for it to create a sound. Pero ako mismo ang nagulat nang mas malakas pa sa kampana ang tunog nito.

I panicked and run towards the narra tree with Iscalade. I was trembling after hiding from the house. Si Iscalade naman ay tumatawa lang, dinuduro pa ako.

"Iscalade! That's awful! Paano po kung nahuli tayo nung may ari?" I held on his arm.

"Nah, kaya ka nga tumakbo 'di ba?" He only rumpled my hair and faked horror on his tone. "Hala yari ka, Philomena."

"That's not funny po," my mouth curved into a pout.

"Mga kabataan talaga!"

I was startled when an old lady with her frowning face glared at Iscalade. Agad akong nagtago sa likod ni Iscalade dahil dito. It's probably the owner of the house. Natauhan naman ako, she should be mad at me! Hindi kay Iscalade! I was the one who disturbed her peace!

Pumunta ako sa harap ni Iscalade. I posed myself as a human barricade.

"M-ma'am! I'm sorry po, I was the one who rung your bell. P-please be mad at me instead—"

She immediately chortled and pinched me on my cheeks. Nang bitawan niya ang pisngi ko, I rubbed my cheeks because it stings.

"Hija, I know it's not your fault. Si Iscalade lang naman ang tarantadong nagpapahila ng doorbell ng bahay ko." Her tone turned sweet, she doesn't sound grumpy anymore.

It occurred to me, they know each other because they had a familiar bond. Kaya naman pala malaki ang tiwala ni Iscalade na hindi kami mapapagalitan. Agad na yumakap si Iscalade sa matandang babae, who returned the hug earnestly.

"Bumabata ka, Sunshine!" Iscalade acclaimed.

"Bolero ka talaga, Iscalade." The old woman laughed, slightly patting Iscalade on his back.

Bumaling ng tingin sa akin 'yung matandang babae. She was wearing a brown floral dress and beige wooden flipflops. She looked pristine even if the crown of her head had already grey dyed on it.

She invited us over to her house, I thought her house would be homely too just like how her energy radiates. It did prove her reputation as the house was filled with antique objects in every corner. I roamed around my sight and my lips parted, everything was vintage.

There was a grandfather clock on the side of the door, I also noticed the various collections laid on a table neatly. There were porcelain vases on their side, each collection had their own box. Cabinets were also abundantly used inside the house, containing kitchenwares and other stuff.

I looked at Iscalade and he was wiggling his eyebrows at me. I only told him this once — that I like old objects. I like the feeling it emits on people, the nostalgia it brings to whoever owns it.

I smiled at him.

I couldn't ask for more, he's really the bestest friend I could ever have. Male best friend. Paulene owns the best female friend award, I think both of them deserve their own category since both of them are good friends to me.

"Philomena, I heard from Iscalade that you want to collect antiques too." Lola Sunshine beamed at me. Holding me on my arm. I felt the warmth in her hands despite the fragile feeling it gives.

"Opo, pero iniisip ko pa po kasi kung saan ako magsisimula." I confessed to her.

I do want to collect but I don't know what particular item should I start collecting. Should it be coins? Dolls? Wartime paraphernalia? There are just too many to choose from.

"Most of the stuff I have here is actually very dear to me," she chuckled. "I started collecting from stickers, to buttons and of course pictures..." she pointed on her walls which were filled with frames of black and white portraits.

Lahat halos ng kuha ay parang kahapon lang ito nangyari. Although the pictures were almost faded, the feeling was still there. I saw a woman dancing with a man, both of them were looking to each other. The man was holding the woman on her waist and they looked like they were having the time of their life.

"She's really beautiful..." I complimented the woman who was lovingly smiling on her partner.

"That's me!" she said, sweetly.

"Ang ganda niyo po..."

"I only looked beautiful because the person I was with made me feel like I was," she waved her hand, dismissing the thought.

I compared her present appearance and the lady on the picture, they did have similarities. Pero iba 'yung ganda nung nasa picture, it's not even because she's younger but because her smile was enticing and her eyes were very lively.

"I still have that dress on my wardrobe..." Lola Sunshine affectionately veered her sight on me. "Do you want to see it?"

Tumango naman ako. I was curious on how can she keep everything despite of how old it is, I should take notes if I want to have my own antique collection.

Dinala niya ako sa ikalawang palapag ng kanyang bahay, naiwan si Iscalade sa ibaba habang pinagaaralan patugtugin ang isang vinyl record player na nakalagay sa tinuturing na sala ng bahay na ito.

The wood used in her house kept on making creeking sounds. It reminds of the old houses in the US, it's probably heavily inspired from it.

"Did you use to live in the States po?" I asked, curiously. She feebly nodded her head.

"Didn't necessarily live, but I was there during the early years of my life."

Pumasok kami sa isang kwarto na ginawa niya 'yatang walk in closet. I was mesmerized with how all of her dresses reminds me of the 1950's. Maraming cabinet ang nasa loob ng kwarto, there was even a dress form in the corner of the room. She rummaged through the racks, until she found the same plaid circle skirt dress.

"I would have love to try it again," she breathed out. "Pero hindi na kasya sa akin."

She gasped when she noticed me. "Maybe you can try it for me!"

"P-pero sa inyo po 'yan..."

"Please, darling? I bet you would look beautiful in it..." she handed me the dress. I hesisated at first but looking at her made my heart melt.

I'll just try it on. Wala namang mawawala sa akin. I decided to go on one of her bathrooms and fit the dress on myself. Nang makita ko ang sarili ko sa salamin, I feel like I was on the 1950's. The fabric didn't feel itchy, it was soft as it can be. I looked like one of those girls seen on vintage magazines, wearing this kind of dress.

Lumabas na ako para magpakita kay Lola Sunshine, who gaped at me. She happily clapped her hands together upon seeing me. Her reaction made everything worth it.

"I have a ribbon with me, maybe I can tie it on your hair..." she suggested and made me sit on a chair infront of an old vanity mirror.

Nakalugay ang mahaba kong buhok. I always braid my hair because I feel like it doesn't even bounce, sobrang straight kasi nito. She tied some of my hair, para may makapitan ang ribbon na sinabit niya sa aking buhok.

I don't like looking at myself infront of the mirror. It reminds me of the dreams I will never reach, my mother's dream of me being a beauty queen like her. Magkamukha kami kaya naman hindi ko magawang magkaroon ng amor sa sarili. I feel like I was the failure version of my mother.

She made me twirl around and we have a good laugh about how this makes me look like the younger version of her. I beg to disagree, she was far more beautiful when she was wearing this dress.

Bumaba na kami at hanggang ngayon ay namimili pa rin si Iscalade ng vinyl track para patugtugin.

"Hindi ka pa ba tapos diyan, Iscalade?" Lola Sunshine asked as we descend from the stairs.

"Wala akong alam sa mga kanta —" he turned his attention to us and his lips parted upon seeing me. He look stunned as his eyes didn't drift away from me.

Agad naman akong namula. Does this dress makes me look weird?

"Naku, there are many songs to choose form. This one is a personal favorite." Lumapit sa kanya si Lola Sunshine, she took a vinyl and decided to put it on the record player.

"This was the song playing when I was dancing with my first love," Lola Sunshine reminisced.

Nagulat ako nang bigla siyang sumayaw mag-isa. She was dancing without a partner, pero ang mga kamay niya ay parang may kasayaw niya. She was swaying with the air. Her eyes were shut close as her lips spread for a smile.

Put your head on my shoulder
Hold me in your arms, baby
Squeeze me oh so tight
Show me that you love me too

Iscalade chuckled as he approached me, he extended his hand.

"Can I have a dance with you, fair lady?" he asked, grinning.

I laughed and accepted his hand. We decided to dance the steps from a cotillion. His hands was on my waist while my hands were on his shoulders.

Put your lips next to mine, dear
Won't you kiss me once, baby
Just a kiss goodnight, maybe
You and I will fall in love
(You and I will fall in love)

I wasn't looking at Iscalade, I focus my gaze on our feet. Nahihiya kasi ako na tingnan siya.

"Philo..." he called, malambing ang boses. "Mukha ba akong paa? Bakit diyan ka nakatingin?"

"I m-might step on your foot po..." I recoiled, my face rising in heat.

People say that love's a game
A game you just can't win
If there's a way
I'll find it someday
And then this fool will rush in

He leaned forward, our bodies are almost too close now. I can almost hear how many times his heart beats. Hindi naman ako stethoscope. I was curious if it was just my imagination, so I decided to confirm — by putting my head on his shoulders. Para lalo kong maramdaman ang tibok ng kanyang puso.

Put your head on my shoulder
Whisper in my ear, baby
Words I want to hear
Tell me, tell me that you love me too
(Tell me that you love me too)

I tried looking at Lola Sunshine who was still dancing. She opened her eyes and gave me a quick wink. Agad naman akong humagikgik. She's just too cute.

Iscalade was careful with his steps as we dance through the song. Matatapos na ang kanta nang bigla niyang nilapit ang labi niya sa aking tenga, his hot breath caressed my ear as he leans forward to whisper.

Put your head on my shoulder

"Whisper in my ear, baby. Words I want to hear, baby. Put your head on my shoulder...." he sang in my ears, para akong hinehele ng huni ng kanyang boses.

I looked at him and he was already looking at me, my reflection can be seen in his eyes. A tiny smile appeared on his lips.

Now I realized what Lola Sunshine meant when she didn't feel beautiful at first but the one she was dancing with made her feel like she was. It's not the objects that makes you feel things, it's the person you created it with.

❛ ━━━━━━･❪ ❁ ❫ ･━━━━━━ ❜