Greis and Rum (COMPLETED)

41- Rome

Apollo was right behind me, taking pictures of the place and holding a map in the other hand. I looked back at him and he smiled at me but the look on his face changed when I felt something running down my hand "Shit!" I squealed and took some wipes to wipe off the dripping ice cream.

He silently laughed and pretended to take more photos.

"Tinitingin-tingin mo?"

"Wala, tanga mo eh. Ice cream mo tunaw na tunaw sa ngiti ko." he clicks his tongue as he flatters himself. Natawa na lang ako sa kakornihan niya sa sarili. We are on our way to the Trevi fountain of Rome—Yes! I am in Rome! I still couldn't believe it kahit naggaling na kami sa Basilica kahapon. Parang may napuno pa sa pagkatao ko nung tumapak ako dito, it was very close to my heart. This feels like home. I couldn't understand why but with Apollo's presence, I felt immensely happy.

I could already hear the rustling of the water and could no longer wait for Apollo.

He smiled and held my hand to slow me down "Slow down, okay? Malapit na tayo." 

"How would you know?" I furrowed my eyebrows as we walk together along the alleys leading to the fountain "I've been here" and when we stopped walking, I saw the magnificent fountain with my two eyes and heard its water running with my own ears. I've read so much about it but I still couldn't handle the amount of satisfaction it gives my eyes. Halos maluha pa ako when I finally laid eyes on this beauty. What could've been Nicola Salvi's reaction kung buhay siya hanggang natapos tong sinimulan niya? 

"How many coins would you like to toss?" Apollo asked.

May tradition sila dito na tinatawag na three coins in the fountain. If you toss one coin, it grants you a safe return to Rome. Pag dalawa, pagbalik mo dito you'll encounter romance or maybe you already did and you're with it as you return to Rome. Pag tatlo, a wedding.

Kinapa ko ang bulsa para tingnan kung ilan ang meron akong change kanina sa ice cream, isang coin na lang. Nagpaalam si Apollo na kukuha lang siya ng photos at bibigyan niya rin ako ng moment alone.  I threw it over my left shoulder by my right hand. Then may naramdaman ako sa kabilang pocket. Dali-dali kong kinuha ang isa pang coin at muling tumalikod. Hindi naman ako nagmamadali but I wished that the right person would finally come at the right time and I would be ready. And that he wished for the same.

Out of curiosity as I was marveled by the fountain, I asked him a question after he came back and told me that he'll take my photos.

"What's your question? Smile ka muna, you look great in my lense" his smile reached his eyes as he held the dangling camera on his neck to his chest.

I smiled and proceeded to ask the question "How many coins did you toss when you came here?"

"Dalawa" he answered.

"Why? I don't think you run out of girls."

"Mali ka diyan. Wala ako nun. Never been interested not until I met you" Apollo chuckled at what he said and I froze as I paid attention to his words "I asked the heavens that if I was to meet the one, I should be ready by then. Yun lang. Tsaka tingnan mo naman, uexpected return ko eh kasama kita."

The more I tried to get his words out of my mind, the more I thought about it.

Hindi naman ako nagmamadali.

But he was just making my heartbeat race again, effortlessly. And I'm being cautious dahil baka madala ako sa tuwa na nasa Roma ako. And I might hurt him.

"Roma..." I said in a low voice and smiled.

Naalala ko na naman ang mukha niya. Where could he be? Masaya siguro dun, he wouldn't want to come back down. But I'm thankful that this was his way of fixing me because this gave me so much peace. It was just so sad that he had to leave to give me this. Naalala ko rin na hiniling ko noon na bumalik lang siya, tatanggapin ko nang hindi kami para sa isa't-isa. I sounded like a teenager but more than that, it was a desperate plea.