A Wish To The Sunset

CHAPTER 7

EMBRACED

I can hear his laughters as I embraced him tightly. Binitiwan ko lamang siya nang marinig ko ang tawa ni Lola. Tumatawa pa rin siya nang bumitaw ako, hinampas ko siya gaya ng nakagawian kong gawin sa kanya. Poor man. He's Craige, bestfriend of mine.
Napalingon ako ng tawagin ako ni lola.

“Belle apo, you're prettier now, the last time I saw you you were like a lost child in the street”

Tumawa si lola at niyakap ako ng napaka-higpit. She's wearing her blue dress again, her favorite.

“Lola naman, All I want is compliment huwag mo ng ikalat ang kadungisan ko”

Tumawa lamang ito at pinapasok na kaming lahat, everyone seems so busy agad. Tito and Dad have their own world na, and so as mom and Tita, Tyrell and Kuya is nowhere to be found.
And what I did is to hold Craige arms and drag him inside sunod sa mga matatanda.

“I thought you're going to California this summer?”

Tanong ko rito habang binubuksan ang refrigerator. Umiling ito habang nakangiting nakatitig sa'kin.

“Mom won't let me. He said if I will be there I all can do is to race and race. She said I always give her heart attacks when I am out of the country. ”

Umiling ito at kumuha ng cookies na nakita ko sa fridge.

“Well, Tita Faye is right, all you can give to her is heart attack. And mabuti pa, entertain me while I am still here. Manila is boring you know, show me your hobby in the beach.
Anyways can you be with me later? I'll go watch the sunset. ”

Bumaling ako rito after I drunk my juice. Ngumuso ito na tila May problema, gwapong gwapo ito sa puting t-shirt nito and faded jeans. I can see his brown boots too. Ang pilik mata nito ay agaw pansin na siguradong naging rason ng pagiging player nito sa school.

“I hate to say this but— I can't. I really can't Belle, I still have requirements to do. You know graduating next year. ”

Hinawakan nito ang kamay ko at pinisil. Ako naman ang napangiwi ngayon, it's been five years since my last visit here. I know those friends of mine here can't recognize me anymore.

“But promise babawi ako next time, you know I'm one call over your window away”

Tumawa kaming dalawa ng marealize na nasa kabila lang ang bahay nila.
He's left alone here in the Philippines currently in Carles. He's mom and dad and so as he's sister is in California, their hometown. Di ko alam ba't pinili niya ang Pilipinas, he's dad was born here that's why mayroon silang lupa rito. Maraming bangka and the owner of the near resort miles away from here. And he's half Filipino and half American. A reason why he's freakin' handsome.

“Okay, okay so it's settled you're going to fetch me next week, pretty please”

Nag puppy eyes ako rito.

Tumawa ito at walang nagawa kundi tumango at pagkatapos ay tumayo na.
Nagpaalam ito na pupunta ng city to buy something. While me? I go upstairs, magbibihis ako, it's already four thirty and I'm going to watch the sunset.

Wearing my baby pink sleeveless dress and a pair of slippers I go out. Hindi na mainit kaya hindi masakit sa balat.
Kitang-kita ko ang repleksyon ng palubog na araw sa maputi kong balat, kung mainit pa at lumabas ako naku patay tong balat ko.
Yumuko ako ng May makita akong mga shells, it's pretty 'di naman bawal kumuha kaya pinagpupulot ko ang mga ito, I'll bring this once I go back in Manila.
Never minding the dirt I can get from the sand umupo ako, it's already five p.m unti-unti ng nawawala ang araw, nangangalahati na ito sa dagat, hindi magtatagal kakainin na ito ng kadiliman ng gabi.

It's fascinating, I felt like I am in a special scene of a movie. Everytime I stare at the sunset I can't feel the sadness, all I can feel is satisfaction, happiness and hopes.

Pinagsalikop ko ang aking mga kamay na nasa kandungan ko, maya-maya ay tinaas ko ito na tila nananalangin.

I'm going to make a wish. I'm going to make a wish that somehow one day, I still get the chance to meet Angelus again.

“Please my dearest sunset make me see him—

Malakas na tilamsik ng tubig ang tumama sa mukha ko at pati na sa'king dress.

“Wuy! Sa stars nagwi-wish hindi sa sunset. Baliw to!”

Tumawa ito ng pagkalakas-lakas. Nanlalaki ang mga mata ko, hindi dahil sa nabasa ako, kundi dahil sa nakikita ko sa harapan ko. It's Angelus, the one and only. He's topless, board shorts lamang ang suot nito. Naka-paa at basang- basa. The water is dripping from his hair down to his abdomen.

Napalunok ako. Napatingin ako sa damit ko. At agad akong pinamulaha ng mukha when I noticed that my red brassier is visible. I crossed my arms on it.

“What did you do?! Binasa mo ako how dare you!”

Nahuli ata ang galit ko. He's now showing his poker face. Huh! Ang galing I didn't even enjoy the sunset, I didn't finish my wish. Anyways never mind the wish if it's because of him. Walang modo, kainis! At bakit ba 'to nandito.?

Tumalikod ako sa kanya. I'm soaking wet, kainis. I didn't even finish what I should wished for, well there's no need to finish that one. He showed up. Masaya ako, and at the same time I have so many questions on my mind. But still I'm mad, how can I go home when my brassier is visible?
Naka-cross parin ang mga braso ko ng binalikan ko ang tsinelas ko. Uuwi ako, bahala siya diyan I don't want to ask why he's here. Maybe I am just hallucinating. Without looking at him tumalikod ako pagkatapos kunin ang tsinelas at nag martsa na paalis when he spoke.

“Really? You wanna go home with that state? May mga tambay diyan na hindi palaging isda ang hinihintay, minsan chiks!”
Humalakhak pa ito. Nag-init ako tenga ko sa narinig ko.

“Well if you didn't did that, I won't be in this state!”
Sa galit ko ay nilapitan ko ito at kahit na matangkad ito sa akin eh pilit kong inabot ang buhok niya at sinabunutan. Tumatawa ito habang pilit ding kumakawala sa'king sabunut when he suddenly drag me in the water. The waves is coming and wala na akong nagawa ng pareho na kaming natabunan nito.

Nang umahon ang ulo ko ay matamis na ngiti ang bumungad sa'kin.

“Who would have thought that I'd see you again after five years? In this place, and in this town. Do you think it means something?”

Makahulugang tanong nito habang unti-unting lumalapit. I can't hear the sound of waves, even the birds all I can hear is my heart beats.

I can't deny the fact that I'm happy, how fool of me. But wait— why is he here?

“What are you doing here in Carles?”
Tanong ko rito habang nasa mababaw kaming parte ng dagat. It's no use, basang basa na ako, bahala na diyan. Naligo na rin ako. Medyo malayo siya sakin, pero dinig niya naman ang pinag-sasabi ko. Walang masyadong tao ngayon dito, lalo pa't gabi na.

“Are you okay now? How's your wound? IM's sorry for what Claudine did way back in that Parking lot”
Lumangoy ito palapit sa'kin. Kitang kita ko ang repleksyon ng buwan sa balat nito, his tanned skin became more beautiful as it combine with a light from the moon.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko ng yakapin niya ako. Malamig man ang tubig pero ramdam ko ang init mula sa kanyang katawan. Nagpumiglas ako pero mas lalo niyang hinigpitan.

“I never thought that this day would come, where I will see you again, staring at the sunset like it's too precious for you.”

Nagulohan ako sa sinabi nito. Wait— what? All I can recall is that the first I saw him is inside of the church, him being a priest assistant.

“What do you mean? Diba sa simbahan tayo unang nagkita”

Wika ko rito habang nakapulupot ang mga braso nito sa'kin.

“You know nothing Belle..”

Marahang wika lamang nito. Parang gusto kong huminto ang oras dahil sa sarap ng pakiramdam na mayakap niya, though I heard nothing about what he feels about me. All I know is that I want to treasure this moment. Especially that I know that I really love him. Five years ago, until now, it doubl