Work Text:
“Hindi ko gets. Pa’no nangyari ‘to, Ate Aiah?”
“Hindi ko alam, Staks! Natulog lang kami tapos…” She flails her arms wildly. “Paggising ko, ganyan na siya.”
“Eh orange ‘yan!”
"I can see that, Stacey!"
“Nangt-trip ka lang ata eh.”
“Hindi nga!”
“Weh, sinasabi mong si Jhoanna ‘to?”
Stacey points to a perfectly round orange. It sits unmoving as both girls stare at the object.
“Siya nga ‘yan.”
“Pa’no mo alam?”
"She rolls."
“Ha?”
“‘Pag tinatawag ko siya. Gumugulong siya.”
"Jhoanna?"
The orange rolls, and Stacey shrieks.
“Hala, itapon mo ‘yan! May demonyo sa orange mo!”
The orange, Jhoanna, rolls off the bed, lands squarely on Stacey's foot. She yelps and pulls away, lowering Jhoanna to the carpeted ground.
“Ba’t ambigat ng orange mo?”
Aiah frowns.
"Don't be mean, Stacey."
“Eh sinaktan ako ng orange!”
“Si Jho nga ‘yan!”
“Kupal ka pa rin kahit orange ka na, Jhoanna!"
“’Wag mo siyang sigawan, it’s not fair! Hindi na nga makasalita ‘yung tao- ‘yung orange eh!”
“Wala akong pake! Sama ng ugali ng orange girlfriend mo!”
"Sorry, Jho. Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin. Ilagay ba kita sa ref? O gusto mo na dito ka lang? Gusto mo ba ng blanket?”
Jhoanna rolls.
“Gusto mo na dito ka lang?”
Rolls.
"Blanket?"
Rolls again.
"This is so awkward, pero…”
Aiah bends, kisses the top of Jhoanna, a single stem.
“Let’s figure out everything tomorrow. Good night, bubby.”
*********************
Aiah wakes up to the scent of citrus. The cold outer layer of an orange pressed to her left cheek.
“Good morning, bubby.”
“May tanong ako sa’yo.”
Jhoanna remains still by the television.
“Bakit orange? Hindi ba mas bagay sa’yo maging mangga?”
Jhoanna rolls away.
“Huy, joke lang!”
*********************
“Alam mo, first time kita nakitang magdala ng fruit sa work. Ayaw mo na ba sa chips sa vending machine natin?”
Aiah nervously chuckles at her co-worker's words.
“Pwede hati tayo sa orange mo?”
“Um, ano, may- may pagbibigyan na kasi ako nito,”
"Oh..."
Her co-worker looks affronted by the rejection, but leaves with a crooked smile as he heads back to his own desk.
Aiah lets out a long sigh, and whispers close to the edge of the desk.
“Dapat pala hindi kita dinadala sa office,”
Jhoanna rolls to a far corner, hidden behind a container of pencils and paper clips.
“Jho, ‘wag nga! Pa’no pag may kumuha sa’yo tapos kinain ka? Gusto mo bang mawalan ng paa kapag naging person ka na ulit?”
“Kinakausap mo ba ‘yang orange?” Her co-worker is back again, papers in hand, and eyeing Aiah with an uneasy smile. “Bumalik ako kasi hihiram sana ako ng stapler…”
Aiah scatters her pens off of the desk, her arms and fingers pushing aside everything in search of the stapler.
"Here!"
He accepts awkwardly, staples quickly, and sets it back down on Aiah's desk with an awkward chuckle.
“‘Wag ka mahiya. I talk to things too kapag stressed ako. Normal lang ‘yon.”
But talking to an orange who used to be your human girlfriend is not normal they say.
*********************
“Mas maasim ‘yung scent mo when it’s early in the morning.” Aiah mutters as she types up a report.
It is the fourth day of work and while Aiah no longer feels wary of having Jhoanna sit on her desk, she is reminded of her presence as everyone who passes by remarks at the lingering smell of citrus. She adds with a shrug.
“Pero mas okay na ‘yun kesa sa morning breath mo.”
For a while it seems Jhoanna has fallen asleep until she tips a can of pencils, spilling all but one to the floor. Aiah stops typing, narrows her eyes at Jhoanna, and softly provokes through clenched teeth. "You missed one."
Jhoanna rolls lazily to where the lone pencil lies, pushes it and watches it fall to where the rest of its kin rest below.
Aiah smiles thinly and resumes her work.
“Jho, ilalagay talaga kita sa mug mamaya. For one hour.”
*********************
“Pa’no kita makikilala kung di kita papangalanan? Pa’no kung maisama ka sa ibang orange? It could happen, you know."
Aiah is holding up a marker in one hand, Jhoanna is far from her, sulking.
“Hindi naman permanent marker ’to. I promise, matatanggal ‘to ‘pag naging human ka na.”
*********************
“Sa totoo lang, Ate Aiah, wala namang makakaisip na magnakaw ng orange.”
Stacey inspects Jhoanna's new branding: AIAH ARCETA’S.
“Eh pa’no kung mawala siya? Possible ‘yun, ‘no.”
“Alam mo, nagmumukha ka lang matakaw at possessive sa pasulat-sulat mo na ‘yan.”
"I don't care. I need to take every measure of safety."
“Ga’no kaya katagal bago siya maging tao ulit?”
"Don't bring up that question. Sensitive si Jhoanna about it.”
“De, seryoso. Hindi ba siya mabubulok eventually?”
"Stacey!"
“Or baka naman special orange talaga siya. Tatanda siyang parang tao…”
“Bakit ka ulit nandito, Stacey?"
“Binilhan kita ng canvas paper.”
"Canvas paper?"
“Tsaka food coloring.”
“Bakit?”
Stacey fills a bowl with water, drops a few doses of the food coloring in, and spreads out the canvas paper onto a table. She grabs Jhoanna and dunks her lightly onto the water.
“Huy! Mawawala ‘yung sinulat ko!”
“Edi isulat mo ulit. Testing-in lang natin kung makakasulat si Jho. Ang genius ko, diba, Jho?”
The water drips onto the sheet as Jhoanna rolls, and Stacey slowly reads out each letter.
“P…U…T… HOY!”
*********************
“Gutom na gutom na ‘ko pero walang laman ‘yung ref…”
Jhoanna rolls away.
"Jhoanna, seriously?"
*********************
“Hindi ko pa ‘to nakwento sa’yo before…” Aiah peers to her left. Jhoanna is at her usual spot: atop a pillow. “Siguro kasi I find it strangely comforting na wala kang ibang magagawa ngayon but to listen to me, anyway, sana alam mo na you give the best hugs.”
She shifts to her side, facing Jhoanna directly.
"I like your hugs. I miss your hugs, bubby.”
She closes her eyes and opens them in the morning to see Jhoanna against her heart.
*********************
Aiah stares at the words on the canvas.
Gusto ko ng train set.
"Really?"
*********************
“Talino, diba? Pwede na siyang magpa-ikot ikot dito sa bahay. Ilalagay ko lang ‘yung remote tapos siya na bahala magpaandar. Tapos may ramp pa sa likod para pwede siyang makababa anytime.”
Stacey barely nods at Aiah's words, wordlessly taking in the sight of the whole house. Train tracks crawl across floors, slopes, and ledges. The sound of a rattling draws near and Stacey glances down to see the train, Jhoanna's train, pass through her legs.
“Kanina pa siya paikot-ikot lang. I think nami-miss niya nang mag-drive.”
*********************
"Valentine's day... anong ganap niyo ng girlfriend mo?” Her co-worker smiles warmly. “Tagal ko na siyang ‘di nakikita, ah. Parang ‘di na siya bumibisita dito?” He chuckles. “Naalala ko last year, inutusan niya pa ako na kunin ‘yung flowers sa shop para sa’yo.”
While Aiah tries her best to laugh together with him, she cannot help but notice the lone orange that remains still and motionless.
Almost like a regular fruit, and nothing special.
*********************
“I think… I think kaya ka naging orange kasi we were connecting too much… physically, pero hindi emotionally? I don’t know- theory ko lang ‘yun. Iniisip ko nalang na blessing in disguise ‘to. Because in a way… na-realize ko na how much I’ve missed being with you. Kahit na hindi kita makausap.” She brushes the backs of her fingers against Jhoanna. “Mukha siguro akong baliw, hinahaplos-haplos ko ‘tong orange.”
She laughs despite herself and although Jhoanna makes no movement, Aiah knows Jhoanna is laughing as well.
*********************
"Sorry... are you okay with this?”
Aiah guiltily peels an orange and eyes Jhoanna carefully.
“Nagdala kasi si Stacey ng oranges…”
She jerks her head to her left, towards a box in a corner of the kitchen.
“Okay lang ba if I eat one?”
Jhoanna anxiously teeters before rolling to her right.
"You're not okay with this…”
Jhoanna uprights herself.
“No, okay lang, bubby. I don’t have to eat it. I think binigay lang ‘to ni Stacey para pag-trip-an ka.”
Jhoanna begins pacing in a circle.
"Don't do anything mean to Stacey. Or else hindi ka niya bibilhan ng train tracks.”
Jhoanna stops.
“Is it okay if uminom ako ng orange juice? Andaming binili ni Staku.”
Jhoanna starts circling again.
*********************
“Hindi ka ba naiinis sa state mo? Ang behaved mo. I feel like suffocated ka na.” She dips the bed with her elbow, trudging herself closer to Jhoanna.
"I'm sorry na hindi kita matulungan, na wala akong magawa. I know na miss mo na ang body mo.”
She lightly kisses Jhoanna.
“Is there anything na nae-enjoy mo about this?”
*********************
Aiah bites her lower lip at the letters on the canvas the next morning.
Nae-enjoy ko na pakinggan ka araw-araw.
She folds it neatly and safely tucks it into a shelf before spreading a new sheet.
*********************
“Kamusta siya?”
“Tulog.”
“Pa’no mo alam?”
Aiah gives half of a smile.
“Alam ko lang.”
“Kamusta siya? As an orange?”
Aiah sighs.
“Good girlfriend pa rin kahit orange na siya. Akalain mo ‘yun?”
Stacey rolls her eyes as she takes a drink of her bottled water.
“Si Jho na ‘yan eh,”
*********************
“Ang sakit ng ulo ko, Jho.”
Aiah places her arm over her eyes, shields them from the bright Sunday morning light.
“Pwede pakikuha ng- ay, sorry… ako nalang.”
She nervously checks on Jhoanna, drags herself to the kitchen while furtively checking on her girlfriend, who is seemingly unfazed by the careless remark.
“Babawasan ko na talaga ang caffeine intake ko. You were right, masyado akong maraming iniinom.”
Jhoanna goes to her canvas.
“Hmm? What is it, my dear?”
Her eyebrows furrow, relax, her eyes water, and she picks up Jhoanna to hold her close.
Wag mo akong iwan mag-isa.
Jhoanna is without a doubt affected miserably with everything.
*********************
“Ayokong tumawa, pero ang hirap magpigil,”
Aiah tries to restrain herself, her laughter bubbling up and squeezing past her lips as little puffs.
“Sure ka na gusto mong mag-sleep na ganito tayo?”
Jhoanna stays rooted on the top of her stomach.
“Sabagay, gustong-gusto mo naman na ikaw ‘yung top.”
Her grin slowly fades as sleep overtakes the both of them.
*********************
Stacey is good enough of a friend to not make any teasing jabs when she finds Aiah in the morning.
With Jhoanna on the middle of her chest.
"So."
Aiah blinks twice before her eyes focus onto her friend's looming figure.
"Oh... hi, Stacey... kanina ka pa dito?”
“Yep. Mangangamusta lang.”
She is only good enough of a friend for the first few hours of the morning.
For the rest of the hours she chooses to continuously comment on how Jhoanna truly is a "fruit".
*********************
“Sure ka ba na nakakanood siya ng TV? Wala namang mata ang oranges… or nakakakita ba siya through her pores? Kadiri.”
“’Di ko rin alam pa’no, pero yes, nakakakita siya.”
“Na-try mo na bang paikut-ikutin siya?”
"Don't you dare, Stacey."
“Ano namang ginagawa niyo together?”
"Honestly, ang saya lang na kausapin siya.” Aiah shrugs. “Possible pa rin naman. I’m getting used to it na,”
“Pinapakain mo ba siya?”
“Triny ko na bigyan siya ng tubig, pero ayaw niya. Ayaw niyang mag-stay inside a cup with water.”
Stacey glances over her shoulder to Jhoanna.
The orange sits atop a ledge inside her train, overlooking the pair sitting at the kitchen table.
“Jho, nagustuhan mo ba ‘yung boxes of oranges? Feel-at-home ka na ba?”
Jhoanna moves the train backwards.
"Don't make fun of her, Stacey."
“Huy, payback lang ‘to. Lakas kaya mang-trip niyan nung high school kami.”
"You guys have the weirdest friendship."
“Anyway. Nasubukan mo na bang i-kiss siya?”
“Ngayon? Why?”
“Baka maging tao siya ulit.”
“Staks, ‘di naman ‘to fairytale. Also, I’ve kissed her na before.”
“Seryoso, nakipag-momol ka sa orange? Anong feeling?”
“Oras na para umuwi ka, Staks.”
*********************
“I think alam ko na kung bakit ka naging orange.” She whispers, her palm over the top of Jhoanna, fiddling gently with the stem from time to time.
“Tanda mo ‘yung mga away natin? Wini-wish ko palagi na you’d stop talking and only listen to me.” She turns her head to Jhoanna. “Nung gabi na naging orange ka, I really wished hard for that…” She closes her eyes.
“Ang lala nung away natin that day. I was surprised na tinabihan mo pa ako matulog no’n.” She bites a corner of her lip. “Nung una, I kept denying it. Pero nung tumagal, tingin ko talaga… it’s my fault na all of this happened. Sabi nga nila, be careful what you wish for. I wished for something selfish. Really selfish.”
Her mouth crooks to a sad grin. “Binabawi ko na, Jho. Gusto ko, ako naman ang makinig sa’yo.”
And cringes slightly with resignation. Her voice wavering once.
“Don’t worry, bubby. Sa’yo pa rin ako, kahit pa orange Jhoanna ka or hindi. I just really miss hearing your voice. I’ll communicate better, I promise.”
Jhoanna stays awake the whole night.
*********************
Aiah wakes up to the scent of citrus. Jhoanna is pressing her warm palm to her left cheek. Below her collarbones are the words: AIAH ARCETA’S. Smudged, but readable.
Jhoanna speaks, finally. "I love you."
“’Yun ang gusto kong sabihin, Aiah.”
Neither of them knows who stopped crying first, or who fell asleep first.
But Jhoanna wakes up earlier and kisses Aiah a second later. They talk endlessly while they clean up train tracks littered across the floors.
*********************
The smell of citrus never leaves Jhoanna completely; it grows faint over the years but still is the strongest in the mornings. Aiah knows she is loved, but Jhoanna says it once, twice, or sometimes thrice in a day, In case that in the next she'll be unable to say anything, and regret it.
She never has to regret.
They spend the rest of their days talking, listening, and loving.