6ft Under

Matilda: Tapatin mo nga ako Jules, okay ka lang ba?

Jules: Bakit naman hindi?

I look at her while turning the barbecue.

Matilda: Feeling ko may di ka sinasabi sa akin.

She asked suspiciously, standing with her hands on her hips.

Jules: Wala nga, kilala mo naman ako.

I started fanning the grill to intensify the flames.

Matilda: Kaya nga kilala kita, so alam ko na may di ka sa akin sinasabi. Kahapon lang bumili ka ng dalawang ticket sa bus pero isa lang naman inupuan mo akala ko man lang ililibre mo ako. May saltik ka na ba? Nako sinasabi ko sayo Jules magpacheck-up ka na.

She anxiously snapped at me.

Jules: Baliw... gusto ko lang kasi ng solitude buong byahe.

Matilda: And sometimes, you keep whispering things to yourself, kinukulam mo ba kami!?

Jules: Ay nako ate Mati kung pwede lang matagal ko na kayong kinulam sa sama ng mga ugali nyo.

Matilda: Huy ang kapal ikaw na nga kinakamusta.

She sulked at me, pouting, so I fanned her face to make the pout disappear.

Jules: Itanong mo na lang ki Cleo for sure just like her, you won't believe me.

I exhaled deeply, then removed the barbecues from the grill and replaced them with a new batch.

Matilda: Nagtatampo ka ba? Baka kasi kabulastugan na naman sinabi mo sa kanya, malamang di yun maniniwala.

Jules: Ewan ko nga sa inyo, baka masunog pa itong mga barbeque sa daldal mo.

She just laughed while her head tilted slightly back, then started walking toward Cleo.

Sandra: Kahit naman ako di maniniwala sayo kung sasabihin mo na nakakausap mo kaluluwa ng isang Sandra Sevillejana na matagal ng nawawala.

I just frowned at her and then continued fanning the grill.

Jules: So, how's everyone doing with their tasks? I need updates.

I asked them while pinching some grilled tilapia, we were eating by the lake.

Matilda: Yung poster okay na, need na lang ulit ng approval ng grupo.

She showed us the poster on her iPad. Sandra sat beside her and examined the poster, leaning on her hand and blocking my view.

Jules:Uhhm... may ipapapalit ba kayo or okay na?

Ayesha: I think you should change the background color; it seems to be overpowering the other elements on the poster.

Jules: Meron pa ba?

Sasha:I think yun lang naman yung problema the rest okay naman na ate Mati.

She said while dipping her mango slices in bagoong.

Matilda: Okay thank you sa suggestion, Aye.

Ayesha: You are welcome.

She expressed happily while taking a bite of her barbecue.

Jules: How about yung sa iyo ate Aye?

Ayesha: Sinend ko na yung akin ki Cleo para mamerge na yung mga video for trailer.

She glanced at Cleo, who was busy taking a picture of the lake.

Cleo: Wait guys papanood ko sa inyo yung video.

She placed the laptop in the center of the table. I was focused on watching the output, but out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sasha walk toward the lake and sit under a tree.

Sasha: Wow ang intense naman ng trailer natin.

Matilda: Ganda mga beh

She expressed while aggressively clapping her hands.

Jules: Medyo hinaan mo na lang Cleo yung background music pag may nagsasalita di kasi masyadong clear.

Cleo: Noted, ano pa?

Ayesha: I think I saw a clip at the end of the video where Sasha is laughing, nakalimutan mo atang i-cut.

Sasha: Huyy!

She expresses herself and laughs heartily.

Jules: Kadiri Sha! yung kinakain mo tumatalsik!

I complained as I moved away from her, but she just wouldn't stop laughing.

Cleo: Piste oo nga pala! yan yung gagawin ko sana last week kaso nakalimutan ko, thank you Aye.

Jules: Meron pa ba kayong napansin?

Matilda: I think okay naman na, just send the video on Discord para macheck ulit namin.

Cleo: Yeah sure send ko na lang sa discord

Jules: Okay… Yung sa amin ni Sasha which is yung first part ng video na edit na namin yung mga clips, nililinis pa kasi namin para sure na walang naligaw na ibang video. Kulang na lang kami ng sound effects saka background music.

After explaining, I played the video.

Cleo: Okay… mas maganda ata Jules, taasan nyo pa yung volume ng boses natin para mas rinig.

Matilda: Yep saka yung kulay ng video medyo gawin nyong glommy para intense panoorin pero wag masyadong madilim baka di na tayo makita.

Sasha: Okay sige na i-notes ko na.

Cleo: Tapos pwedeng palagyan ng subtitles?

Sasha: Yeah sure ate Cleo.

Jules: Meron pa ba?

Cleo: Okay naman na, pasend na lang din ng edit sa discord.

Ayesha: Tara na guys let's swim na!

They all ran toward the water, laughing, while I headed straight to Sandra.

Jules: Hey, okay ka lang?

She looked up at me and smiled slightly, the sunset touching her skin, making her glow, and her eyes lit up as if she were made of angel dust.

Sandra: Yep, ang ganda lang dito sa province nila Sasha, I wish I could stay here longer pa.

Jules: We can always go back.

Sasha: Ate Jules tara na! nagsesenti ka na naman dyan.

Jules: Tara sali ka sa amin.

We headed toward the girls, where we could only hear their laughter, the birds, and our heartbeats. We spent the sunset swimming and splashing water at each other.

Jules: Walanghiya ka Sasha! Sabi mo mabagal lang to.

I shouted at her while grabbing her arms tightly. She invited me to ride the Ferris wheel kasi sabi nya mabagal lang daw, so pumayag ako. Yun pala parang lilipad na kami sa bilis.

Sasha: Aray ate Jules! Angsakiiiit.

Reklamo nya sa akin habang nakahawak sa upuan.

Matilda:Tara try naman natin yung horror booth!

Jules: Kayo na lang, pagod na pagod na ako kakatapos lang natin sa horror train Mati.

Pagmamakaawa ko. Tinatawanan lang ako ni Sandra kaya napaside eye ako ng wala sa oras.

Ayesha: Okay sige dito ka lang ha we will be back!

Sasha: Sus takot ka lang eh, tara na nga Ate Cleo.

Jules: You know, I should be graduating from college next year, but due to a lack of money, I had to pause pursuing my dreams to work and save for tuition, hoping I can continue next semester.

We sat on a bench in a slightly secluded carnival area, watching people laugh, scream, and bond with their friends and family.

She just looked at me softly, and I returned to staring at my hands, nervously pinching the sides of my cuticles.

Jules: Minsan na iinggit ako sa mga taong, pag-aaral lang yung iniisip nila, ano kayang feeling?

Sandra: You’ll get there Jules, baby steps right?

I laughed softly at her statement. I stop pinching my hand.

Jules: Yeah... I know, thanks to you Sandy.

Sandra: We each have our own timeline. Maybe it's not your time to graduate yet; perhaps the universe is giving you something to make you stronger so you can achieve your dreams.

Sandra: Jealousy will only ruin your dreams. Instead, use it as inspiration to reach for them. Ask those people for advice rather than despising them for having what you want.

Jules: Thank you, Sandy... you’re right we all have different timelines.

I looked at her in surprise as something itched at the back of my brain.

Jules: Timeline! Gago Sandy.

Sandra:Why are you cursing!?

Jules: What if iba yung timeline mo?

Sandra: Ha?

Jules: Diba sabi mo ang naalala mo lang is yung night na nakausap mo si Glydel and the rest feel mo blury na?

Sandra: Yeah?

She looked at me suspiciously, one of her eyebrows arched.

Jules: What if you're still alive in your timeline, and that's why you only remember fragments of memories... but here, in our timeline, you're dead?

Sandra: Is that even possible?

Jules: Di nga ako naniniwala dati na may multo, tapos dumating ka kaya naniwala na ako, walang imposible diba?

Now she's more immersed in our conversation, and she moves a bit closer to me.

Jules: Pero paano ka nakatime travel? May portal ka bang dinaan gaya ng sa Stranger Things? Or may suitcase ka bang dala gaya sa Umbrella Academy? Or ring? Or baka demonyo ka?

Sandra: Gaga di ako demonyo! Wala, wala akong powers or equipment, ang alam ko lang nandito na ako.

Jules: Kung nag time travel ka bakit ka nagpakita ng dahil sa Ouija board? Di kaya dahil sa book of spells?

Sandra: Saka bakit sayo ako dinala?

Jules: Baka may connection yung Jules sa timeline nyo sayo?

Sandra: Di pa naman kita kilala bago ako nawala.

Jules:Yung penthouse, baka may maalala ka roon.