Shattered Pieces of Trust

Kabanata 9

Kabanata 9...
Hope

Mixture of the summer breeze and rays of sunlight touching my skin, the noise of the sea water crashing through shores. Even with different voices from afar, I felt calmness.

The sun setting is incredibly stunning as it always is.

Marahan kong sinakop ang hindi kahabaang buhok na tinatangay ng katamtamang hangin kasabay nang pagpikit para pigilan ang mga buhangin na tumungo sa mga mata ko.

It was just all in all peaceful, until I heard a shutter sound from my back. Thinking it's the creepy guy again, I swiftly look back, but immediately taken aback at Leon holding his phone as if filming me.

"Anong ginagawa mo?"

Instead of just answering, he showed me his phone with a smirk plastered on his face as he walks closely to me until he reaches the not-so-small fabric where I'm sitting.

"Ganda nito. Profile mo na,"

"Huh?"

"This. You should put this as your display profile. Ang ganda,"

I tilted my head as I stare at him.

"'Wag mo sabihin sa'kin na wala kang social media."

Mabilis akong nag iwas ng tingin.

"W-Well, I have..." my forehead creased. "one."

Account that I barely used ever since I've created it. Tila nagagamit ko lang ang account na iyon tuwing may project sa school o kailangang may contact-in na classmate if ever I don't know their number.

"Dala mo ba cellphone mo?"

Umiling ako.

Ilang segundo lang matapos nito magdudutdot sa kan'yang cellphone, muli n'yang iniharap sa'kin iyon. Now the social media app opened.

"Online ka sa'kin,"

Napanguso ako at kinuha na ang nakalahad nitong cellphone. Mabilis kong nai-type ang password at itinaas ang paningin kay Leon para sana tignan kung nakita nito 'yon, but he's just looking away.

"Ayos lang ba?" I said anxiously as I stare at the photo he took me.

"Oo nga. Maganda,"

Hindi kita ang buong muka ko doon sa picture, wala pa nga sa kalahati. Ang liwanag at dilim ay nag-aagaw na, kasama ng hindi gaanong katingkad na reflections ng tubig.

Ilang sandali ko pa 'yong pinakatitigan bago pindutin ang post button. Right after a few seconds, nag-posted na iyon.

Anxiousness filled me.

Not that I have so many friends, talagang nahihiya lang akong mag update sa social media gayong hindi naman ako pala-online.

"Ito lang ba ang picture na kinuha mo?"

Mabilis na muling nakuha no'n ang tingin ni Leon mula sa pag tingin sa kan'yang cellphone.

"Oo, iyon lang."

"Talaga?"

"Oo nga," he chuckles.

Gusto ko pa sanang makipag-talo, kaso, bakit nga naman n'ya ako kukuhaan ng maraming pictures?

Pinabayaan ko na lang ang kahibangan kong 'yon. Nang maramdaman din ang pag dami ng lamok sa dalampasigan, mabilis na kaming nagtungo pabalik sa hotel.

It's been two weeks now since we left their hometown, at pangatlong araw na namin ito sa isang beach hindi kalayuan doon.

I must admit napalapit na rin ako sa mga kaibigan ni Leon, kaya bago kami lumisan doon, I made sure I get their numbers at sinabihang kung sakaling luluwas man sila sa syudad, maari nila akong tawagan.