Fourth of July

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

HER POV

Pigil ang hininga kong naka-upo nang tahimik sa tabi ni Gabriel. He was the one who's controlling and flying his private chopper. He looks like he's a pro. Well, why he wouldn't be? According to his Mom, ever since he was a kid, his Dad taught him and his brother Keagan how to fly chopper. Kaya ngayon hasang-hasa na siya.

I wasn't that scared of heights or so, it's just that I'm just in awe and I couldn't contain the shock and unexplained feeling I was having now that I'm riding in his chopper, it still feels unreal.

Never in my entire life, I got to ride on a chopper, or even water vehicle, puro bus lang o 'di kaya'y 'yung family car namin.. noon.

"Scared?" I heard him asked me.

"Not really.."

"Look down."

Naalarma naman ako at takang tumingin sa kaniya.

"What?"

"Just look down. Don't miss out the beautiful view." He said. Naka-tuon pa rin ang tingin niya sa kung anong kinakalikot niya sa harapan.

Hindi ko pa rin magawang ibaling ang ulo ko. Alam kong maganda ang view na makikita ko but still parang isang panaginip lang lahat ng 'to.

The last time I checked, patulog na 'ko.. tapos biglang kinatok niya 'yung pintuan ng kwarto ko.. tapos binitbit niya ako na parang walang bigat sa katawan ko? Then now, we're on our way to Greece?

To fucking Greece?!

Out of the country agad? Hindi man lang pa-Boracay, or Tagaytay.. o kahit sa dulo ng Pilipinas.

Outside the Pinas talaga!

"I remembered when I was a kid, I used to be Kuya's assistant. Whenever he'll fly his chopper, palagi akong sumasama sa kaniya. I never really had a doubt on going outside the country with him, 'cause he'd always make our trip memorable. I was close to having fear of heights, but then he made me realized that a perfect view wouldn't be missed out, we should always give our attention to admiring some beautiful places." He began talking. Doon ako napalingon sa kaniya.

He was smiling while talking but his smiles didn't reached his eyes. There's always sadness in his eyes whenever he talks about his brother. I must say, he do really loves and admires Keagan that much.

"Alam mo bang siya lang ang nag-tiyaga na turuan ako mag-operate nito at mag-palipad? Kasi si Daddy, palaging umiiksi ang pisi sa'kin. Takot ako sa matataas no'n, iniisip ko palagi na what if hindi ko magawa? What if I failed? But Kuya showed patience to me, he made me conquered my fears. He was there the whole time I was having doubt in myself, he always believes in me when no one else does."

Nang makita kong bahagyang nag-ningning ang mata niya hudyat ng paiyak na siya ay inabot ko ang kamay niya at marahang pinisil 'yon. I gave him a warm smile, to assure him that he have me.

Hindi na siya muli pang nag-salita at tinuon na lang ang pansin sa ginagawa. There are times that his thumb will reached for my hand and he would gently rubbed his thumb on my hand.

Nawala na 'yung pangamba sa dibdib ko kaya naman nagawa ko nang tumingin sa ibaba at agad akong namangha sa ganda ng tanawin na nakita ko. It was my first time riding some air vehicle, and it feels good! I feel like I was flying. The view was so breathtaking nice. Hinahangin na rin 'yung buhok ko kaya tumatakip 'yon sa mata ko.

"It's beautiful.." I whispered.

"Very beautiful."

I turned my gaze on him and I caught him staring at me. Agad niyang iniwas ang tingin niya at bumuha ng hangin.