You know how this Ends

Chapter 8

The night was quiet and peaceful. My heart was at peace while walking in the streets. Hindi pa naman ganoon kagabi kaya may mga tao pa rin kaming nakakasalubong. Iilan lang rin ang dumadaang sasakyan kaya ang maluwag luwag ang daan.

I closed my eyes and feel the cold breeze of the peaceful night. Tanging tunog lang ng sandals ko ang naririnig sa paglalakad sa sobrang tahimik namin ni Atlas. Madalas akong lumilingon sakanya at nakikitang nakangiti siya habang naglalakad. His hands are in his pockets while he walks.

Somehow being silent brings me peace. It strips my soul naked and leaves peace within me whenever I'm silent. It feels safe and It calms me. It's like enjoying everything around us and appreciating without the need of saying it.

Wala sa sarili akong napangiti. People always call me snob and quiet but they don't know that I'm just containing my words and thoughts. I realized that not every thought are must be told. You should keep some for yourself. So it protects you and your soul.

"What are you thinking?" Atlas broke the silence.

"Nothing."

I put my hands behind my back as we walk. My dress is calmly dancing with the wind.

"Tell me your dreams, Rae." bumaling siya saakin at tumitig sa mata ko.

Umiwas ako ng tingin at napaisip. I suddenly realized that I don't have any dreams for myself. We are rich and it somehow made me not worry about my future. I always thought that my future is already settled because of our wealth.

"My parents want me to take on business." mahinang sabi ko.

Tumango siya at nakangiti ng maliit. Ilang sandali siyang tumahimik na parang may iniisip bago ulit bumaling saakin.

"Is that what you want?" He looked at me intently.

I sighed and slightly chuckled. "I don't know what I want, Atlas."

I tried to put humor in there but I was serious. I don't know what I want. I never knew that I have the freedom to choose what I want. My parents have already chosen everything for me since infancy. I didn't really think of it even once, until now.

"Of course you do."

Napatagal ang tingin ko sa seryosong mukha ni Atlas. The lights from the posts illuminate the hardness of his face. Mas lalong nadedepina ang makakapal niyang kilay at ang kokonting pagkunot nito minsan.

"How about you?... uh... what do you want?" I curiously asked.

He smiled. "Same as you, I don't know but I guess I want to be happy. I want to see beautiful places and be free. The world is so big and I want to see it all."

I smiled at him. "That's good."

He blinked multiple times and stared at me for a while. He looks amazed. But in the end, he just smiled too.