When Dennise saw a garden, the first thing she searched for was a swing. Paborito niya ang pumunta sa mga parke at maupo sa swing, mag-uugoy hanggang mapagod at siya mismo ang mahilo sa ginagawa.
She find solace and freedom kapag nakaupo siya sa swing at pabalik-balik na tumataas, bumababa. The air that would kiss her cheeks, the feeling of being lifted when it swayed back and forth, those are but few reasons that make her calm when she allowed her body to go where the swing would go.
She was already achieving peace somehow after a few turns of swinging when she felt her phone vibrated inside her pouch. And when she took it out and looked at the name of the caller, her imaginary happy bubble suddenly plopped down and disappear, and been replaced with dreadfulness.
May kabang itinapat niya sa tenga ang aparato.
Den, where are you? agad na tanong ni Ara nang mapindot niya ang Answer button.
Ou..outside... nanghihina niyang sagot sa amo.
Are you alright? Anong nangyari? Nasaan ka? Pupuntahan kita!
No! Don't!
Dennise!!
I'm fine boss! I mean, I'm fine Ara! Kailangan ko lang umalis dyan!
Bakit? Did something happen? What? Dennise!
I'm fine, really! Gusto ko lang muna mag-isa. Tawagan kita mamaya! Bye!
De...
Pinatay na niya ang tawag.
Lord, ano po bang dapat kong gawin??? piping dasal niya habang nakatingin sa teleponong hawak. Paano ko ba ipagtatapat sa kanya ang lahat? Dapat ko po bang ipagtapat sa kanya??? Lord, bakit po ba ang tanga, tanga, tanga ko???
I don't think God will answer that kind of question, someone suddenly answered from out of nowhere.
Aaaahhhhh!!!!! napasigaw si Dennise nang marinig ang malamig na tinig na iyon. Sa sobrang gulat at takot, bigla niyang itinakip ang dalawang kamay sa mukha. The second she did that, she realized her next mistake. Mahuhulog siya sa kinauupuan niya!
Expecting she'd fall, head first, she anticipated the pain she would feel once she landed. Pero bakit hindi yata matigas na bagay ang binagsakan niya?
I got you! narinig niyang bulong sa may tenga niya.
The hard thumping of her heart suddenly stopped and replaced by a current of electricity that started from the pit of her stomach up to her face. The sensation was new to her it made her tingle and forgot everything else. She liked it so much she unconsciously closed her eyes, keeping that feeling inside and lingered on it.
Hey, are you okay? she heard again that soft voice. And surprisingly, it calmed her more. So instead of pulling away, she squeezed herself more to those arms that was still wrapped around her.
Can you lull me to sleep? I want to sleep in your arms and stay here forever! she silently wished.
As much as I'd love to, we can't be in this position forever, my lady! We need to get up!
The reply awakened Dennise from her dream. Shoot! Did I say it loud??
You did! sagot na naman nito.
Dali-dali siyang bumangon at umalis mula sa pagkakayakap ng estranghero. Nakatungo ang ulong bumalik siya sa pagkakaupo sa swing, secured her arms at the handle and covered her face with her palms.
