First Meet

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Ang tanging ginawa ko lang buong linggo ay maghanap ng regalo para kay Imo. You know, Imo is obsessed with stars. That's why he actually like walking at night, kaya naisipan ko rin na may kinalaman doon ang ibibigay ko sa kaniya. Masyado iyong malaki kaya hindi ko nadala sa resort.

After our class on Friday we immediately got ready to go to La Union. Bukas ang kaarawan ni Imo at bukas ng gabi rin kami uuwi dahil may importanteng meeting si Tita sa linggo. Nag-impake na ako kahapon ng gabi kaya nakaayos na ang lahat. Magkaibang sasakyan kami dahil maraming dala kaya huminto muna kami sa bahay nila Imo para sabay sabay umalis.

Bumaba ako saglit para tingnan kung ayos na sila... at para din makita si Imo. Pwe! Ang landi mo, Claud. Kumaway sa akin si Tom bago sumakay sa sasakyan. Si Mama naman ay dumiretso kay Tita habang ako ay hinihintay na lumabas si Imo.

I fixed my pastel blue polo because the wind was so strong that it almost revealed my shoulder. I partnered it with high waisted maong shorts and white heels sandals.

Pabalik na si Mama kaya napabuntong-hininga ako. Wala na akong nagawa kung hindi tumalikod para pumasok na rin sa loob. Ang OA mo Claud, magkikita naman kayo mamaya! Masyado mo namang miss na miss!

I was about to go inside when I saw Imo helping her Mom to close the gate. He's wearing a flowy polo shirt and white maong shorts. He looked back at me and smiled kaya napangiti na rin ako. Pumasok na ako sa loob para hindi na niya makita kung gaano ako kinilig sa ginawa niya!

Kung pwede lang itakwil ang sarili ko ginawa ko na!

Mama coughed, fakely. "Mukhang okay naman na pala, kinikilig pa nga e..."

I close my eyes tightly as I feel cheeks blushed. Tumingin ako sa daan. "Ma, naririnig kita..."

She chuckled. "Nagkaaminan din sa wakas-"

"Ma naman e!"

It's been a week since then. We always FaceTiming while doing our school work and he's been so persistent to greet me every morning and every night before we sleep. Naalala ko tuloy ang sinabi niyang kapag alam na ng mga magulang ko ang tungkol sa amin saka ko pa siya pwedeng sagutin.

Mamaya ko kaya sabihin...?

No! Don't be impulsive this time!

It's already 4:00 pm when we arrived at the hotel. The exterior design of it is so cozy. Bigla tuloy akong na-excite pumasok sa loob. Kinuha ni Imo ang bagahe ko ng nakitang medyo nahihirapan akong i-angat iyon sa likuran ng sasakyan.

"Ako na," he said.

I bit my lip to stifle a smile. Malala ka na talaga! Hindi na kita kilala, Claud!

"Sus, binuhat ko lang kinikilig na agad..." I heard him whisper while carrying my luggage. My smile fell and I poke him a dead glare. I hit his arm.

"Epal talaga, bwisit..."

He laughed.

Nakita kong pinakita nila Mama ang swab test result namin na negative kami and after that the staff guide us in our suite. They got two suits. One for my Mom and I and one for them. I arranged my clothes before I went outside kung nasaan sila.

I saw Tom already swimming in the pool while my Mom and Tita were sitting on the beach chair. Nasaan si Imo?

Pucha naman, Claud. Siya na naman hanap mo!

"Oh," I felt a cold and wet glass in my arm. I looked at Imo holding a buko shake. Mayroon din siya ng sa kaniya pero paubos na. Kinuha ko iyon at ininom. Tumingin ako sa kaniya dahil hindi siya nagsasalita. Nakatingin siya sa dagat ngayon kung saan sa dulo nito ay ang nagkukulay pulang araw.

"Let's go to the shore. Let's watch the sunset..."

He smiled and nodded.

Umupo ako sa buhanginan at naramdaman kong umupo rin siya. It's so calm and serene to hear the waves especially after a long stressful week because of online class. Mabuti na lang at ito ang napili nilang way para i-celebrate ang birthday ni Imo. It's a good way to refresh my mind especially when the finals is coming up.

"Claud,"

"Hmm?" I respond staring at the sunset. I felt her fingers crawling at my wrist and I just let him be. But I started to look back when I felt him putting something in it. My eyes flickered when I saw a gold bangle with a feather at the end of it with a little diamond at the leaves.

"I'm actually planning to give that tomorrow but... I just think that the sunset is perfect for this scene..." he chuckled.

"When did you buy these...?"

"I actually bought that a year ago... I was thinking to give that to you as my gift on your twentieth birthday but I don't have the guts so I just kept it,"

"Why? You should've given this to me... it's so beautiful..."

He scoffed. "Lumapit nga lang ako sa'yo 'yung tingin sa akin ni James akala mong kakainin ako ng buhay e. Feeling superior ampota. Saka na kamo siya umasta ng gano'n kapag mas gwapo na siya sa'kin," pagbabanggit niya sa ex-boyfriend ko.

Naalala ko na kami pa nga pala noong birthday ko last year and exactly one month after that I caught him cheating on me. Muling bumalik na naman sa akin kung paano nagalit noon si Imo at kung paano niya ako sinamahan nung time na 'yon.

"Takot ka ata kay James e," I joked.

"Ulul." I hit his head.

"Anong sabi mo? Baka nakakalimutan mong nililigawan mo ko. Baka hindi kita sagutin!"

"Sabi mo nga huwag na kitang ligawan e," I frowned. He swayed his shoulder at mine and crunched his nose. "Joke lang! Ang pikon naman ng bebe ko,"

"Feelingero, ampota."

"E'di 'wag."

I laughed. I stared at my wrist with the bangle on it. It looks so good on my skin. Napatingin ako sa kamay niya na nakatungkod sa buhanginan para suportahan ang bigat niya. I really want to hold it so I guide his wrist before I intertwine my hands in his. It's already cold outside and holding his hand sent me warm.

"Thank you... so much..."

He chuckled. "Bracelet lang 'yan. Baka maiyak ka pa,"

"That's not what I mean," I looked at his deep eyes. "Thank you for everything. For always being there for me when I needed someone. For defending me for all the people who try to hurt me. Especially, thank you for waiting for me to finally look at you..."