Aryana Solenn Valencia
Weeks passed by, normally. It was Friday, when Dylan planned to make a box of snacks for me. He decided to visit me in a hospital.
I was sleeping that time because I was so tired. I stayed up all night, unaware of the time. Nalaman ko lang na umaga na pala nang bumisita sa akin si Dylan.
May dala siyang maraming pagkain. Sinulyapan niya ang napakaraming papel na nakakalat sa table ko. Pagkalapag niya ng pagkain sa isa ko pang lamesa, niligpit niya agad ang mga papel na iyon.
“Take a rest, again.” sabi niya habang sinusuri isa-isa ang mga papel na narito sa harap ko.
Bumuntong-hininga lamang ako saka umupo nang maayos. I muttered a curse and cover my face in frustration.
Pinanood ko siyang i-organized ang mga papel ko saka grupo-grupong inilagay iyon sa cabinet ko.
Tahimik lang siya sa paglilinis, tila walang balak magsalitang muli. Tahimik lang din akong nanonood sa kan’ya.
“So, you chose medicine. How can I am not aware of that?” he said after a few minutes.
I sighed again. “I know that you’re busy, I don’t want to disturb you, tho.”
He looked at me and shook his head. “I am not busy when it comes to you, Raya.”
“Bakit ka nandito?” I asked and looked at him, again.
“Gusto kitang kamustahin. Gusto kong malaman kung maayos ba ang ginagawa mo. Kung maayos ka ba rito.”
I stood up and walk towards him. I sighed and gave him a tight hug. “How about your day, mahal?”
“It was tiring. The usual.” He hugged me back. “I understood how busy you was. But don’t forget to eat and rest, Raya.”
I nodded. “I love you,” I whispered on him.
He kissed my head. “I love you,”
After we both eat, I went back to studying. And he waited for me to be finished. While waiting for me, he’s using his laptop the whole time, maybe he’s preparing for something.
We both felt sleepy around 11 AM so we took a nap. Pinagpasalamat ko pang hindi ako pinapatawag ng seniors kaya walang problema kung magdamag kaming magpahinga dito.
I woke up around 3 PM in the afternoon. I saw Jax arranging his things. Umayos akong muli ng upo saka tinignan si Jax na napatingin naman sa akin.
“Gusto mo magpahangin muna tayo?” He suggested.
I just nodded as a response. Bago kami lumabas ay dumeretso muna ako sa comfort room ng room ko sa hospital para magsepilyo at mag-ayos.
Tinanggal ko rin ang coat ko at natira nalang ‘yung pencil skirt at longsleeves ko. Iyon lagi ang porma ko sa hospital sa tuwing nagmamadali ako.
Iyon nalang kasi ang tangi kong choice kapag hindi ko gustong magsuot ng damit na hindi naman ako komportable.
Lumipas ang ilang minuto naming paglalakad sa labas ng hospital, nakarating din kami sa pinakamalapit na river sa hospital.
Mahangin at presko nang umupo kami sa may damuhan. Marami ring dumaraan doon, siguro tulad namin, gusto rin nilang magpahangin.
Tahimik lang ako sa panonood sa tuloy tuloy na pagdaloy ng tubig ng ilog, pinakikinggan ko rin ang himig ng mga ibon at pinapakiramdaman ko rin ang malamig na simoy ng hangin.
“What’s your biggest fear, Jax?” I asks, out of nowhere.
He automatically turned his gaze on me as I asked a question.
“To be forgotten,” he seriously answered. “But not just that. To be forgotten by a person who I could never forget.”
The next day was our fifth anniversary. I wore a white silk dress ending above my kness for our date night. Good thing my seniors were still busy and didn’t call me.
“Love!” I called when I saw him waiting for me outside of our house.
I saw Jax looking so fine in his white dress shirt folded to his elbows. He also fixed his hair. He looked so handsome in his semi-formal attire.
He let out a small laugh. “Wow, mahal to love. Real quick.”
We get inside in his Fortuner. Umupo ako sa shotgun seat at sinara ang pinto. I automatically closed my eyes when he leaned for a kiss.
He held my hand while driving which made me smile like crazy. Dylan put his hand on my waist while we were inside the elevator. Nasa pinakataas ang restaurant, where we can see the city lights.
When the elevator opened, we stepped outside and was welcome by a waiter asking for our names. I took care of the reservation.
“Salamat,” Dylan thanked the waiter after making our orders.
He glanced at me and smiled. I smiled back. Inilibot ko na lamang ang paningin ko sa restaurant. Nakakamangha ang ganda nito at hindi ko masisisi kung gaano kamahal dito.
Napatingin agad ako kay Dylan nang mapansing kinukuhanan niya ako ng litrato.
“Smile, mahal.” He told me as he ready the camera to capture my best moment here.
“Patingin, love.” I excitedly said.
Ngumiti pa muna ito bago tuluyang ibigay sa akin ang phone niya. Isa—isa kong tinignan ang mga kuha niya.
Napangiti ako nang makita kung gaano kaganda ang mga kuha niya. Lalo na kung gaano ako kaganda at ng mga ngiti ko roon sa litratong kuha niya.
After that, he posted my pictures in his instagram account. He also posted it in his story.
A lot of people reacted and commented in his post. Agad na kumuha ng atens’yon ko ang caption na nilagay niya doon.
“Happy 5th Anniversary, Raya. <3”
I smiled before checking everyone’s comment on it.
ralene.m : raya reveal!
heygabbi : stay in love!
thecorics : pa-thirdwheel!
marquez.sais : raya reveal!
Mahina akong natawa sa mga sinabi nila at bahagyang napailing na lamang. Dylan liked their comments and posted another picture of mine.
Sa pagkakataong ito, kita na ang mukha ko roon. Maganda rin ang pagkakangiti ko sa camera, habang ang isa pang picture ay ang paglilibot ng mga mata ko sa buong restaurant.
I read his caption on it. And smiled.
“Raya reveal.”
———
YOU ARE READING
Nowhere To Be Found
General FictionAryana Solenn Valencia suffers from depression and dissociation following a traumatic breakup with her long-term boyfriend. Dylan Jax Santiago had no idea he'd run into the new Aryana Solenn so soon after their worst breakup. But what surprised him...
