Moonage Daydream (Ciudad de Escalante #4)

Phase 26

Roscoe told me to wait for him. Hindi ako nanatili roon para hintayin talaga siya. Wala pa akong lakas na makisalamuha sa iba kaya pinalipas kong muli ang oras na mag-isa.

And I didn't regret that.

All of my worries and the weigh I carried vanished when Roscoe bought me in the cave behind the Vallieres Falls. Madilim at tanging ilaw lang mula sa aming cellphone ang nagsisilbing liwanag ngunit nakikita ko ang mga kakaibang kinang na mayroon sa loob ng kweba. I don't know if the glimmering stones that were in the wall are gems or diamonds but still, they're nice to see.

And I admired how reserve the people are here in Sierra Vallieres. They love their home so much. Alagang-alaga maging ang kweba dahil walang bahid ng abuso gaya na lamang ng mga bato na mahihinunang dyamante pero heto at narito pa rin ang mga iyon. No one didn't let their greediness and they never sacrifice the environment for their personal needs.

Ito raw ang gusto niyang makita ko kaya nagpapahintay siya.

For the past two hours with him, I find peace. I was at ease. We watched some cute fireflies after roaming inside the cave. Mabait naman siya talaga gaya noong unang beses kong nakausap kaya sa tingin ko, walang katotohanan ang paratang sa kanya ng iba na gago raw... at mapaglaro.

"Paano mo nakuha? Pwede ko ba talagang dalhin ito?" masaya kong tanong habang hawak ang puting bato na may pagka-asul. Makinis at sigurado na makikita ang kaunting repleksyon ko kapag maliwanag. Nakangiti ko itong pinagmasdan. I should keep this as a souvenir.

However, Roscoe is beside me while we are heading back together in the villa. Lumalalim na ang gabi at kanina pa ako tine-text ni Kuya.

"Actually, it's not a stone from the cave. I got it in the water where I swam earlier," aniya kaya napaawang ang bibig ko. May makikitang ganito sa tabi-tabi lang? But it looked like an expensive stone!   The natural resources here in Sierra Vallieres are a gift.

"Malungkot ka pa ba?" dugtong niya.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya at nakabaling na agad ang tingin niya sa akin. Roscoe is tall so I'm elevating my head a bit higher to meet his eyes. Napaisip ako sa kanyang tanong. I undoubtedly shook my head as my response. I'm not that sad. I'm just bothered from the way I acted and right now, I can't feel any except for relief. Nabawasan ang mga tinik.

"Good. I'm glad you're not sad anymore. You should rest now," he continued. Tinanguan niya ang tree house na nasa gilid namin. Nandito na pala kami. I think Hadassah and Sameera aren't yet here. Baka kasama pa ni Kuya sa clubhouse.

"Thank you for the company tonight, Roscoe," I sincerely uttered and removed the jacket he lent me. Malapad pa rin ang ngiti ko habang inaabot iyon sa kanya. I hugged my body when I felt the cold.

"Sure, no problem... and..." he muttered and touched his nape. Napayuko siya at napanguso ng bahagya nang may pagdadalawang-isip. I can clearly see his hesitations from saying what he wants to say.

"What is it?" tanong ko kaya dumako muli sa akin ang kanyang atensyon. He remained silent for a split second as he stared at my face. My cheeks heated up when he lowered down his vision. Mula sa aking mukha, bumaba hanggang sa katawan ko na nagdala sa akin ng kahihiyan. I forgot that I'm exposing my fat arms.

Roscoe chuckled when he gazed at my face again.

"I just want to say that you're pretty tonight. This dress suits you," he whispered and took a step closer to me.

Kumurap ako sa narinig. Hindi ko inaasahan ang mga katagang iyon. I thought he find my arms weird. Mas lalo akong hindi nakaimik nang lumapit pa siya hanggang sa maramdaman ko ang mainit niyang hininga sa aking pisngi. I stilled in my place when his lips reached my ear.