Dedicated to: Titanic Ship

Chapter 3
Souvenir

August 18, 2022
Meiji Mura

One of the things that I noticed to Japanese people is how quickly they can walk. Kanina ay kaunti lang ang distansya sa pagitan namin ni Kousuke pero ngayon ay ang layo na niya sa akin.

Ilang beses na siyang lumingon sa akin at kumaway na parang ang bagal bagal kong maglakad. And what's worst? That annoying grin on his face!

I am already wearing flats. Bakit pakiramdam ko ay may suot akong mataas na heels? Bakit naman kasi ang bilis nitong si Kousuke maglakad?

We're here to explore. We should take this tour in slow down.

"Wait!"

Akala ko ay maglalakad pa siya pero tumigil na siya at hinintay na niya akong makarating sa kanya. One of his hands was already on his waist as he watched me walked toward him.

And when I tried to grab my umbrella, he held it higher.

"Allow me," he said confidently.

My brows arched. Japanese are not gentlemen. Nakakapagtaka talaga itong si Kousuke.

"What?" natatawang tanong niya nang makita niya ang reaksyon ko.

We started walking and shared my umbrella.

"Nothing," sabi ko na may kasamang pag-iling.

"I can easily read your thoughts. This is not Japanese-like, right?"

"Are you trying to impress me?"

He chuckled. When he noticed that the shadow of the umbrella was not covering me enough, he quickly switched our position. He also tilted the umbrella to assure that the heat would not touch my skin.

While him? Kousuke Matsumoto with his fair skin is damn glowing under the sunlight. Namumula lang siya sa init ng araw habang naniningkit ang maliliit niyang mga mata sa kakangisi sa akin.

"No. How will I impress you? I am nothing. Just a cute country boy with a red car."

I huffed. "You're impossible."

Nagpatuloy na kami sa paglalakad. While we were walking under the same umbrella, I couldn't help but took side glances at him. Kousuke's literally a stranger to me, but his light personality makes me feel at ease and comfortable with him.

Tulad nga ng sinabi ko kanina habang naglalakad kami mula sa parking lot, I wouldn't even expect a huge tourist spot in the middle of a forest. The huge space of Meiji Mura's being surrounded by nothing but green tall trees.

"Napakaganda. . ." usal ko habang nakalingon na lugar kung saan kami pababa.

We were greeted by an old huge building that I thought I'd only see in pictures or in online, but right now— it's right in front of my eyes.  The old building was firmly standing in the middle of well-maintained bermuda grasses and aligned bushes, and in front of it was a long man-made pond.

"Kousuke, it's okay. You can fold the umbrella."

"Alright."

We were just a few steps away from the entrance of the first old building painted with pale orange when our attention was caught again by the pond we thought was just a silent decoration. Halos kapwa kami mapatalon ni Kousuke sa posisyon namin nang biglang may umangat na tubig.

And when it suddenly burst and sprinkled in the middle of the heat of summer, when sunlight was beaming intensely against those tiny droplets, my eyes felt like it captured hundreds of gems— diamonds gleaming under the sun.

The man-made pond has a fountain!

Napatulala na lang ako habang pinapanuod magsayaw ang tubig sa gitna ng sikat ng araw na tila sinasalubong ang mga turistang katulad ko. Hindi ko na inalintana ang ilang patak ng tubig na tumitilamsik sa akin.

"Do you like fountains?" tanong ni Kousuke na nagpatigil sa pagtulala ko.

"No. I was just fascinated."

Nagtuloy na kami sa paglalakad. Hindi kami agad pumasok sa building, tumigil muna kami sa may anino nito at nagpunas muna ako ng panyo sa braso ko dahil sa tilamsik ng tubig.

I slowly wiped the mixture of sweat and droplets of water on my face down to my neck, shoulders, and arms. Malapit na akong matapos sa pagpupunas nang katawan ko nang maalala kong nasa harapan ko lang naman si Kousuke.

He's blankly staring down at me, and when my eyes hesitantly took his gaze, he suddenly choked. He took two steps backward and averted my eyes.

Ilang beses pa siyang nasamid at pilit naghanap nang ibang titingnan.

And his ears were all red. Para hindi na siya higit na mapahiya ay nagpatay malisya na lang ako.

"Let's get inside."

Hindi ko na siya hinintay dahil nauna na akong maglakad sa kanya papasok sa loob.

Before we finally entered the old building, there were different papers piled in a wooden rack, the map of the whole Meiji Mura, the travelogue that gives detail about each building, and other papers that I didn't bother to read. 

Dalawa lang kasi iyong kinuha ko.

The brochure mentioned that the whole Meiji Mura is a huge open field museum of historical architectures, structures, and relics of Japan in Meiji Period.

"So, this is the Imperial Hotel," ani ni Kousuke.

"Are you aware of these architectures?" lumapit ako sa kanya at itinuro ko iyong mga nasa mapa.

He shook his head. "I am not good in history class."

Napangiwi ako sa kanya. "Nande? How about you? Are you good in history?"

"Of course. Basta ang alam ko sinakop ninyo dati ang Pilipinas at binomba ninyo ang Pearl Harbor," I rolled my eyes.

Tinalikuran  ko na siya habang nakaawang ang bibig niya.

"W-Woah! Why are you suddenly speaking your language?" he asked, trying to look offended.

He's trying to get my attention by exaggeratingly peeking at me with that tilted head, but that's what I'm always good at, pretending.

Kunwari akong walang pakialam sa kanya habang ang atensyon ko ay nasa paligid ng lumang hotel. Though, it was mentioned in the travelogue that the hotel was designed a long time ago, its architectural beauty's literally enthralling. For me, this could still compete with today's best hotels from different countries.

Or it is just me? Well, I really love the historical type vibe in a place.

Habol niya pa rin ako habang naglalakad sa loob ng hotel, wala naman akong tigil sa paglingon sa paligid. According to the travelogue, the hotel was designed by Frank Llyod Wright and the whole vibe of the old hotel was become even better because of his furniture's choices. 

But what attracted me the most were the walls and pillars that were made of Oya stone and terracotta. There were designed spaces between the walls and pillars, filled with glass, igniting with light.

"Wow," nasabi ko na lang habang nakatingala ako sa paligid.

The mixture of intricately designed walls, lighting, perfectly picked furniture, floors, and every detail of this place is so mesmerizing.

Unang gusali pa lang ay ganito na ang paghanga ko, ano pa ang makikita ko sa susunod na pupuntahan namin?

"Rhoe Anne," Kousuke whispered.

Nanliit ang mga mata ko at lumingon ako sa kanya. "You started it."

"But you can clearly understand me. It's unfair."

Mas tumitig pa ako sa kanya. Ako lang ba ang appreciative sa aming dalawa? Bakit parang ako lang ang humahanga sa nakikita ko ngayon?

I sighed.

Lumabas na kami sa unang gusali at sinundan na namin ang mapa. The next buildings were also admirably remarkable. It's not just the architectural designs, but the historical relics being displayed. Most of the historical items had a stand in front of them that give details and information about them. Sadly, they were all written in Nihonggo.

Kaya may magagawa na ang kasama kong cute Japanese country boy with a red car. He's translating the information for me, like a professional. Akala niya naman talaga alam niya, pero binabasa niya lang naman.

We were already exiting the Mie Prefectural Office when Kousuke opened his bag.

"Let's take a picture, Rhoe Anne."

Umiling ako.

"Come on, just one picture."

I was expecting that he'd use his phone, but he pulled an Instax camera. Akala ko ay babae lang ang mayroon niyan?

"You really brought that?"

"Why not?"

Nang akma na siyang kukuhanan ako ay agad na sana akong maglalakad, but I just heard the click of his camera.

"Gotcha!"

The photo was immediately pulled out of the camera, but before Kousuke could see my picture, I quickly snatched it away from his hand. "You're not getting any pictures of me, Matsumoto."

Mabilis kong sinilid ang litrato sa maliit kong bag at lakad takbo ako papalayo kay Kousuke.

"This girl! Give it back to me!"

My initial plan was not to miss a single building in Meiji Mura, but it was all ruined because of this silly country boy who's chasing after me. Habang hinahabol ako ni Kousuke, ilang hapon pa ang napapatingin sa kanya nang masama. May ilan pa nga ang napapailing sa kanya.

Hindi ko na mapigil ang tawa ko sa tuwing lumilingon ako pabalik sa kanya. He's starting to get annoyed.

Of course, those Japanese would not expect something better from me, a foreigner. But a Japanese who acts like a foreigner?

As I continued to run away from him, I passed by the village bus painted dark red, and some food stalls. 

Sa paghahabulan namin ni Kousuke, napatigil ako sa harapan ng isang building. Sumulyap muna ako sa kanya, kasalukuyan na rin siyang nakatigil.

He's heaving heavily with both of his hands on his knees. Napagod na ang cute country boy with a red car.

Nag –angat akong muli ng tingin sa harapan ko bago ako tumingin sa mapa. It's the Kawasaki Bank Head Office. Dahil pansin ko na walang ibang tao sa entrance ay hindi na ako nagdalawang isip na pumasok.

I've expected something more from the inside just like the previous buildings, but all I did see was blank space and a long staircase.

Nagkibit balikat na lang ako at sinimulang umakyat doon sa hagdan. Maybe this one's still under development.

I was on my half of the spiral staircase when I heard Kousuke's footsteps. "Rhoe Anne, give me that picture!"

"Why would I? It's a face," sagot ko habang nagmamadaling umakyat sa itaas.

I didn't stop at the second floor, so I continued trailing the stairs until the third floor. It didn't take more time before Kousuke reached the third floor as well, pero wala na sa pagtakbo sa kanya ang atensyon ko kundi sa natatanaw ko mula sa itaas ng gusali.

The replica of Kawasaki Bank Head Office is overlooking some part of Meiji Mura. Kahit si Kousuke na umakyat lang dito dahil hinahabol ako ay natigilan at tumabi na rin sa akin habang nakatanaw sa labas ng bintana.

The sun's still gracing the whole open-air museum, our sweat, tiredness, and pain on our feet were suddenly forgotten because of the peaceful view.

"I really want to find a home with this view," usal ko.

"Our home has this view as well."

"Near the hotel?" I asked doubtfully.

"I mean, my other house."

Sumandal muna ako sa may bintana at ganoon din ang ginawa ni Kousuke. "You're so stubborn. Just one picture. Aren't we friends?"

Hindi ko siya sinagot. Gusto ko sanang umalma nang ilabas na naman niya iyong camera niya pero mukhang hindi na ako makakatakbo sa kanya.

Our backs were both facing the beautiful view of Meiji Mura when Kousuke took our selfie. Nakakrus na ang mga braso ko habang hinihintay ko si Kousuke na ipakita sa akin iyong litrato namin.

He waved it a few times, something like drying or what?

"Let me see," inilahad ko sa kanya ang kamay ko.

But he's not moving, nakatitig lang siya doon sa litrato namin habang nakakunot ang kanyang noo.

"What's wrong?"

Hindi siya sumagot kaya inagaw ko sa kanya ang litrato namin, at nang mapagmasdan ko na iyon, nakagat ko na lang ang labi ko.

"It's not working, right?"

"Damn it. I want a souvenir!"

Iritado niyang ibinalik sa bag niya iyong camera niya. Kinuha ko ang litrato sa bag ko at nang tingnan ko iyon ay blank picture lang. It's pure black.

"Next time, use a properly conditioned camera, Mr. Matsumoto." I slowly tapped his left cheek.

His lips were prodded. Para siyang naapi sa hitsura niya.

"It's not my fault, okay? Let's go, I saw a souvenir shop. I'll treat you."

Dahil mukhang nawala na siya sa mood, ako na mismo ang humawak sa kamay niya para hilahin na siya pababa ng hagdan.

"Have you found a clue to your father?"

Natigilan ako sa tanong niya, hindi ko na siya nilingon pero umiling ako.

"But I think this is the building that my mother mentioned me. . ."

"About?"

"Their first kiss," agad kong sagot.

"Would you like to have it here as well?"

Agad kong binitawan ang kamay niya at pinagtaasan ko siya ng kilay kasabay ng paglingon sa kanya kahit na nakatingala pa ako sa kanya. "You're way too fast, Mr. Matsumoto. Ipaayos mo muna iyang camera mo."

"W-What?"

"I said. . ."

I took the two steps up towards him, and it was just a second before I gave him a peck on his left cheek. "But I am quite faster. Thank you for today, Kousuke."

And just like that, I happily left the surprised cute Japanese country boy in the building, hands clasped behind my back, swaying a white long dress with the wind, and with a silly smile on my lips.