Cruel Summer

ika-5

Bryson. That's his name. I still can't believe he's the person I've been wanting to know and meet all this time!

Hindi ko namamalayang masyado na palang napatagal ang titig ko sa kaniya. He's tall, quite moreno, and he's got a broad shoulder too. Kung titignan mo naman ang mukha, singkit at napakaganda ng mata niya, matangos ang ilong, at maganda rin ang labi.

I didn't notice I was staring at him for too long. Sana naman ay hindi napansin. Mukhang hindi naman ata. Yung ano talaga e...

Labi?

Bakit labi ang napansin?

Ewan ko na talaga!

"Hey," sabi niya. Bigla naman akong natauhan nang magsalita siya. "So you've never been to any places here?"

"Y-Yeah," nauutal kong sinabi. Kung mapapansin mo, may pagkasuplado din siya kung titignan mo talaga e. "Ikaw ba? Gaano katagal ka na rito sa Netherlands?"

"4 years na," tugon niya. "Sumunod lang ako sa Papa ko rito."

Tumango-tango naman ako sa sinabi. I want to know him more, and I feel like there are still wonderful things that I can see in him.

"Ilang taon ka na?" tanong naman niya.

"22, ikaw?"

"24," aniya. "22 ka pala. Mukhang menor," he whispered the last statement to himself that I couldn't hear it properly.

"Were you saying something?"

"De wala wala. Malapit na kako tayo sa pupuntahan."

We're actually going to the Kinderdijik Windmills. I've searched this tourist spot and it was stated in the article that it is one of the most visited places here in Netherlands. Napakaganda, ang sarap siguro tumira sa village na ganito.

The green grass, the clear water, the old-structured windmills, and the gentle breeze of the wind make me relaxed and calm while walking. I opened my arms to feel the wind, and gently closed my eyes.  Huminga naman ako nang malalim ar pagkamulat ay nagulat ako nang makitang nakatingin sa akin si Bryson na ngayon ay ilang metro ang layo sa akin.

Bigla naman akong nabalot ng kahihiyan. Akala niya siguro'y kasunod niya ako kaya malayo na ang agwat namin sa isa't isa.

Strike two na 'yan, Georgianna ha!

I walked faster towards him, pinipilit na magmukhang walang nangyari. He's still looking at me, nakangiti na parang hindi ko alam kung natutuwa o nanunuya dahil sa ginawa ko. I looked away and licked my lip while walking.

"I'm curious about you," dagdag pa niya. "Can you tell me more about yourself?"

I cleared my throat. "Hmm. What do you want to know about me?"

"Anything."

May nakita naman kaming upuan, at maganda rin ang view kaya umupo na muna kaming dalawa roon habang nagkukuwentuhan tungkol sa buhay ng isa't isa.

"Georgianna Brienne Fontanilla. Uhm, I actually just graduated last March," sabi ko. "BS in Civil Engineering. Since naririto din naman ang Lolo ko sa Rotterdam, I decided to take a break and travel on my own dito. When I go back to the Philippines, ayon. Maghahanap naman ako ng trabaho."

Tumango-tango naman siya sa sinabi ko. Humarap naman ako sa kaniya.

"How about you?"

He took a deep breath before speaking. "Bryson Allastaire Rodriguez. Marketing Management. Nagbabakasyon lang din. Ayoko muna pumasok sa trabaho. Toxic."

My eyebrows furrowed. I'm curious about it but I just decided to change the topic. "Mag-isa ka lang sa apartment?"

He nodded. Ako naman ay tumango na rin lamang. "Nasan fam mo?"

"Nasa Amsterdam," tipid niyang sagot.

Few chitchats were done, trying to get to know each other more. May ibon namang dumaan sa tubig. I don't know if it's man-made or not, pero may ibon na dumapo sa may tubig.

After a couple of minutes sitting on the bench, we decided to walk again and capture all the beautiful sceneries seen here. I uploaded it on my Instagram account and after few minutes, a lot of people has seen it.

"I'll get us food and water," Bryson said. I smiled and nodded. Tumigil muna ako sandali sa nilalakaran para hintayin itong kasama ko.

@lanabellezz replied to your story:
Wish I could go there, too! Sayang, may trabaho na 'ko e. Bawal mag leave, under probation pa! 😩

I then replied to her.

ako:
   We'll travel soon, too! Miss y'all :<

He came back. Inabot ko naman ang isang bottled water at burger na hawak-hawak niya.

"Thanks," I said. Uminom naman ako ng tubig at kumagat ng isa sa burger dahil nakaramdam na rin ako ng gutom.

"Ang ganda talaga rito sa Rotterdam 'no?" namamangha kong sinabi. Tumango naman siya habang nakatingin sa magagandang tanawing nakikita ng mga mata naming dalawa. "If only I could stay here forever..."

"Bakit nga ba 3 months ka lang dito? Marami namang trabaho na kailangan ng engineers," nagtataka niyang tanong.

I sighed. "I don't know, I just feel like I'll be happier if I'm with my family and friends there in the Philippines. Unless..."

"Unless?"

Tumingin naman ako sa kaniya. "Unless I find a reason for making me stay here."

His eyebrows furrowed. "A reason like what?"

"Hmm," I took a bite of the burger again. Pagkalunok ko naman ay saka ako nagsalita. "A boyfriend?" Sabay tingin sa kaniya. "Husband?"

Umiwas naman siya ng tingin na tila ba nagpipigil ng ngiti.

"Babago pa lang tayong nagkakakilala, asawa na agad plano mo..."

"Hoy!" I exclaimed. "Assuming yarn?"

He chuckled. "Biro lang."

I laughed too. "Joker ka rin pala 'no, mukha ka kasing suplado."

"Minsan lang," aniya. I just chuckled at bit and then took a bite of the burger again. Mabilis ata ako kumain dahil ngayon ay ubos na ang kinakain ko pero hindi pa rin nauubos ang kinakaing burger ni Bryson.

"Gusto mo pa?" tanong niya sabay alok ng burger na kinakain niya sa akin. "Mukhang gutom na gutom ka ah."

"Asar pa," I rolled my eyes and looked away. Tatawa tawa lang 'tong si Bryson. Malakas din ang tama nitong nakilala kong 'to! Di pa kami lubos na magkakilala ah.

Before the sun set, umuwi na agad kami dahil masyadong malayo ang byahe. I don't know, but I'm still comfortable with him kahit na hindi kami ganoong magkakilala pa. Maybe because of what happened few days ago, when he helped me. Mukha namang mabait e.

It's half past seven when we got back to the apartment. Though magkalapit lang ang aming unit, hinatid niya muna ako sa tapat ng unit ko.

"Thank you for accompanying me today," sabi ko habang nakangiti. "I had fun."

He smiled back at me and nodded. "I had fun today, too. It was nice meeting you."

"So, I guess... early goodnight?"

He chuckled. "Yes. Goodnight."

I was about to open the door and get inside when he called me one again.

"Georgianna?" lumingon naman ako sa kaniya at nagtaas na lamang ng kilay. "Would you like to have some coffee with me... tomorrow?"

"Y-Yeah, sure."

"I'll be waiting downstairs tomorrow morning," aniya. Tumango naman ako sa sinabi.

He nodded too and licked his lower lip before waving goodbye to me. I smiled and waved goodbye to him too before entering my unit.

After I closed the door, napasandal naman ako sandali sa pinto. I guess I got too happy and excited today.

I guess I'll see you tomorrow then, Bryson.