Days 35 out of hospital

The day of the Halloween, Mamala and I was busy all morning making treats and goodie bags for trick or treat. An idea I got somewhere in the internet is to use clear vinyl hand gloves and fill it with small treats like chocolates and candies. I had so much fun, and eaten so much sweets in the process.

By late afternoon, we set up the treat basket on the balcony with a skeleton sitting on a rocking chair as guard. It's nearly seven in the evening when I change into my costume, with the party starting at eight. I change into a long cream vintage dress with long lace butterfly sleeves and borrowed several of Mamala's long necklace.

I also put on some vampire-ish makeup, dark lipstick, pale foundation, and strong smokey eyes. The outcome looks ethereal. I look not only vampire-ish but like those ladies on eighteenth century faded pictures. Watching hours of Youtube videos for this look indeed pays off.

Nang bumaba ako sa living room, kahit si Iñigo nakabihis na. His is a Peter Pan costume, complete with olive green shirt and tiny hat. I'm pretty sure his girlfriend or his crush, whatever their progress is, is either Tinker Bell or Wendy.

Pagtunog ng doorbell nagmadali si Iñigo na buksan ang pinto. And I was right! There's this girl wearing a Wendy costume in our front door, sinusundo si Iñigo.

Sumulyap agad ako kay Iñigo, lips closed, eyes talking. Siya na ba yong crush mo? He gave me a warning look, pero syempre lumapit ako para mang-asar at makita ang namumula niyang mukha.

Binati ako ng babae, she even complemented my costume saying I look pretty. I like her. She's very honest. Hehehe.

Nagpaalam sila na mauuna na sa pavilion. I waved them goodbye habang nagbibigay ng treat sa dalawang huling batang nag-trick or treat. A little Einstein with messy hair and square rimmed glasses and a cute little unicorn with fluffy horn headband and soft rainbow tail na pinakita niya habang nagti-twirl. Bumalik sila sa magulang nila na naghihintay sa sidewalk matapos makakuha ng treats.

Pabalik na ako sa loob ng bahay when Shane's car pulled up. Lumabas siya sa sasakyan and I swear, I didn't intend for him to look like a vampire fictional character when I thought of this costume, but he nearly fit the role it almost made me laugh. Shane, dark, mysterious, brooding? I can't imagine.

"Saya ka?"

"You're freaking wearing the tuxedo." Hindi ko mapigilan ang ngiti ko.

"You want it to be a classic one."

I was pulling my lips close dahil hindi ko mapigilan, baka matawa ako sa harap niya. I assessed his outfit of all black, even his hair was styled like those YA novel vampire with deliberately messy hair. I hate how Shane could be unexpectedly good looking.

"Tara?"

"Sandali."

Hinila ko siya sa loob ng bahay. Inabot niya ang isang goodie bag sa basket bago pumasok.

"Hey, para sa mga bata 'yan!" But he's not listening. Kumakain na siya ng chocolates.

Kinuha ko sandali ang ilang makeup sa kwarto ko bago bumaba ulit sa living room kung saan siya naghihintay. Kumunot agad ang noo niya nang makita ang mga dala ko. Para siyang bata. Nakakunot ang noo habang ngumunguya ng chocolates.

"Ano 'yan?" Nakikita ko na agad ang iritasyon sa mukha niya.

"How can you be a vampire if you're not pale?"

Pumunta ako sa harapan niya para ayusan siya. I brought my lightest colored foundation and a lipstick. Shane's all over the place, popping chocolate in his mouth, chewing, all while refusing to cooperate. Finally, after some strategic skills and hand fencing, I finally put some make up on him.

"Last na 'to," sabi ko habang hawak ang lipsticks. "Your lips must be red."

"Gab, aatakihin kita," banta niya.

"You're gonna attack a sick person? Wow," I said laughing, still making him try the shade.

"You're using the sick card now? Wow," gaya niya ang tono ko.

We're basically fencing on the sofa when Mamala came marching from the kitchen. Napatingin siya sa'min. I was almost sitting on Shane's lap while he's trying to stop my hand that's holding the lipstick, while his other hand was holding the back of my waist, preventing me to fall from any clumsy movement.

Tumayo ako agad at kinuha ang mga makeup sa mesa. I smiled at Mamala. "Ibabalik ko lang 'to sa taas."

Inaasar pa rin ako ni Shane habang naglalakad kami papunta sa pavilion. It's walking distance from any house in the village since it's located at the center, near the community pool and tennis court.

"Ayan, nakita na ni Mamala kung paano mo ako hina-harass."

I was walking in front of him, kaya tumalikod ako para lang simangutan siya.

"Hindi bagay ang simangot sa costume mo. Ang ganda mo pa naman ngayon."

My face brightens like I heard a good news. "Talaga?"

"Naniwala ka naman."

My face fell. "Take a picture of me," sabi ko sabay bigay ng camera sa kanya.

I took a few steps away from him and turn and twirl around. The night sky is clear and we're under an overwhelming number of diamond stars.

"You got the shot?"

Patuloy ako sa pagtwirl at pag-ikot na parang sumasayaw sa ilalim ng langit. Shane's laughing at me because I look like crazy, dancing and twirling on a vintage dress on a deserted street.

"This isn't bad," I said nang makita ang isa sa mga litrato.

We continued walking and I couldn't get enough how spectacular the night sky is. Tumingala ako habang naglalakad. Nakakalula. Napakalawak ng mundo.

"Do you believe there's really aliens from another galaxy? Or maybe there's life other than us here on earth?"

Shane didn't even flinch sa biglaang tanong ko. Sanay na siya sa kung ano mang pumapasok sa utak ko.

"How sad it must be not to live long enough to learn the secrets of the universe," I said, staring up. "Do you know a lifetime is only consist of a trip to the moon and back? I read it somewhere that the energy of a human heart can drive twenty miles everyday. In a lifetime, that's equivalent to driving to the moon and back. That's why when people say I love you to the moon and back, that means they love the person with all the energy their heart will ever create."

I held my hands on my back, walking, while Shane was behind me, patiently listening to my rumble. "I don't know if it's true though." I said. "But you know, for someone like me, my life could only go to the moon and never back."

Ramdam kong huminto si Shane sa paglalakad.

"I mean if I won't live long enough for my energy to fuel a trip to the moon and back, that means I only have a one way ticket to the moon, right? So that means I'm gonna stay and watch you guys from over there."

Tumingala ako sa maliwanag na buwan.

"I hate this part of you."

Huminto ako at lumingon kay Shane. Hindi siya nakasimangot. He's actually very serious.

"Whenever you speak things as if you won't live long, I hate it."

Lumapit ako sa kanya at hinawakan ang magkabila niyang pisngi. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Shane-y," I said, pulling both his cheeks to make him smile. "I'm gonna live a long live to pester you. I'm gonna stay by your side forever until you get tired of me. I'm gonna be the kind of Grandma who pulls prank-"

"Hindi ako mapapagod sa'yo."

Seryoso pa rin si Shane and I know there's something in his head that pains him whenever I talk about such things. Maybe because he'd experienced lost and is afraid to deal with it again. I pulled his head towards me and stare at his brown eyes.

Ngumiti ako. "To the moon and back."

The party had started when we reached the pavilion. And guess what? There's a lot of adults in the party, mom and dads who finally had a chance to enjoy themselves, and then a kid or two running around the area.

Good thing there's a lot of food. Like basically overflowing. Mamala even made a platter of devil's eggs that was picked up by one of the organizers this afternoon. There's also chocolate fondue, decorated cupcakes, snacks and dips.

There's also games, then dances. I saw Iñigo and her crush-girlfriend dancing at the corner. Shane and I also danced, but it was mostly fooling around, and unending and headache inducing twirling, and that heart attack leap.

To judge for the best costumes, we were made to walk like runway models on the set-up black carpet. Shane and I walked as though we're Hollywood celebrities and even did a pose at the end, thanking our fans for their support. Shane's such a dork.

When the best costume was announced, a Frankenstein and his bride, complete with green paint and sticking screws, it was time for the end of the program.

We went out of the pavilion to light up dozens of sparklers which was handed out by Iñigo. It seems like his crush's parents were one of the people who organized the party so he went in to help. He's a good kid. Always been.

The sparkles were lit up, the pictures were taken, and some of us were singing along to the songs blaring from the karaoke and it was such a good night... a good day.

I look up at Shane's smiling face being illuminated by the lights of the sparklers. And I hope... I badly hope, that time would stop. I hope that days like this could last forever.

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