24/7 DREAMER

[3] Hiking

Ashyna

FEW SECONDS have passed before I realized that I was already staring at him for that long. Iniwas ko agad ang tingin ko sa kanya at inayos ang sarili ko.

Gosh! Umayos ka Ashyna!

"I'm f-fine," utal kong sagot sa tanong niya.

Did I just stuttered? Ba't ba ako masyadong kinakabahan na nandito siya ngayon sa harap ko at nakatingin sa 'kin?

I can still feel my heart banging in my chest. This feeling is too bizarre for me.

I suddenly felt awkward standing beside him with our eyes locked in each other's. He didn't seem to mind it, instead he smiled at me before looking at his watch to check the time.

I quickly looked away when he noticed that I'm still looking at him. Stop staring at him, Ashyna!

Humawak ulit ako sa lubid ng hanging bridge dahil gumalaw ulit ito. Ayoko nang matumba ulit, baka kung kanino naman ako makayakap mamaya.

"It's setting already," the guy beside me suddenly said.

I adverted my gaze in front of us where the sun is suddenly setting down.

It looks beautiful! The sky looks beautiful! The mixture of red, orange and blue color in the sky are blessing my eyes.

Napatingin ulit ako sa gawi ng lalaking nasa tabi ko. Nakangiti siya habang nakatingin sa papalubog na araw.

He looks even more handsome, now that I'm staring at him closely. His scent is so manly as well. Damn! This guy is really attractive!

He was also familiar with me. I think I already saw him before, but I don't really remember when and where.

Umiwas ako ng tingin nang magring ang phone niya na agad niya namang sinagot at lumayo sa 'kin ng konti. Unti-unti na ring nawawala ang ibang mga tao rito kaya hindi na gano'n ka sikip ang daan.

"Hey, I'm sorry I need to go now. My friends were already looking for me," he said with an apologetic smile.

"Thank you for saving me earlier," I replied. He smiled at me like he's saying that it's just nothing.

"Take care and see you around, Miss!" He waved his hands at me before he left.

I stared at his back while he's walking away from me. Ilang segundo rin akong nakatayo lang dito hanggang sa nagulat na lang ako nang may tumapik sa balikat ko. It was Raven!

Saan naman nanggaling ang lokong 'to?

"Are you okay? Who's that guy?" tanong niya agad sa 'kin at tinuro ang lalaking papalayo na sa amin. "I saw you were talking to him. Kanina pa kita hinahanap bigla ka na lang nawala."

"He's a stranger who helped me earlier, muntikan na akong matumba," sagot ko sa kanya. "Ikaw, saan ka nanggaling? You left me here earlier, hindi ako nakahabol dahil sa bilis mong tumakbo kanina."

"Akala ko kasi nakasunod ka lang sa 'kin," natatawa niyang sagot at ginulo ang buhok ko bago ako inakbayan. "Let's go! Baka hinahanap na tayo nina Mommy."

***

KINABUKASAN tinanghali ako ng gising dahil pagod na pagod ako kagabi kakalibot namin ni Raven sa resort. Pagkatapos kasi naming kumain ng dinner, sinama na naman ulit niya ako para maglibot-libot.