IKALAWANG KABANATA
Naalimpungatan ako mula sa mahimbing na panaginip dahil sa ingay ng mga uwak mula sa gubat. Tinanaw ko ang labas mula sa maliit na bintana ng treehouse na hindi ko man lang naisara kagabi.
Wala sa sariling napangiti ako ng maalala ang napanaginipan ko. I just dreamt the first time me and Issar met. How I say some rude words towards him just because I don't like his awra. How he still managed to talk to me even though I pushed him away.
But my sweet smile became bittersweet when I realised that I woke up without Issar's presence but mine alone. He didn't came. Hindi niya natupad ang pangako niya noong isang araw na magkikita kami rito sa lugar kung saan nagsimula ang lahat.
Did he forget about his promise... about me?
Agad akong umiling sa naisip. How childish can you be, Avonlea?! I know he's busy. I know he's tired of his daily life.
Maybe he fall asleep the moment he step up in their house. Baka pagod iyon kaya nakalimutan ang pagkikita namin dapat kahapon. Right!
As I convinced myself from some possible reasons kung bakit hindi ako sinulpot ni Issar kahapon, I feel a spang of pain. All the negative what if's are running wild into my mind. I don't want to overthink things but I can't helped it. It makes me paranoid and I hate myself because of it. This isn't just like me.
I took a deep breath as I watched the sunrise. The undeniably beauty of the sunrise welcomes my sleepy eyes. As the sunrise shines from the East, the birds are starting to make short, high sounds. The flowers are starting to bloom little by little. The trees are starting to dance. And the relaxing sound came from the river.
It somehow helps me from the aching pain that I felt.
Bumaba na ako mula sa loob ng tree house. I can't stay here all day and wait for Issar's arrival. I'm not even sure if Issar will show up today either. Even though I still want to wait for him, I can't anymore. Because the more I'd be waiting for him, the more pain I feel.
Lalakad na sana ako paalis ng may mahagip ang mga mata ko. A man was running its way from the wide field towards my direction. There's a picnic basket with him.
"I'm so sorry, Avonlea," Humihingal na bungad sa akin ni Issar.
Binaba niya ang dalang basket sa kanyang paanan. Bahagya siyang nakayuko habang ang dalawang kamay ay nasa kanyang tuhod, hinahabol ang kanyang hininga.
Hindi ko siya sinagot at nakatitig lang ako sa kanya. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwalang narito siya sa harapan ko. Hindi ako sigurado kung nananaginip lang ba ako o ano.
I blink twice when our eyes lock together.
"W-What for?" I stutter, eyes wondering from somewhere.
"Avonlea... Look at me." He whispered as he catch my chin to meet his eyes again. "I'm sorry kung hindi ako tumupad sa usapan natin."
"I-It's fine."
"No, it isn't, love." He shook his head lightly. "It was so irresponsible of me that I forgot about our plan for yesterday."
"Issar." Natatawa kong tawag sa kanyang pangalan. "I told you it's all fine. At least nandito ka na ngayon, 'di ba?"
He stared at me for a moment before smiling at me widely. He ruffled my hair before giving me a soft kiss from my forehead. I secretly smiled.
It still feels so new every time his lips touch my skin. The feeling of it is so overwhelming that I want more of it. And just like that, all the negative doubts I am feeling earlier vanished like nothing happened.
"I bring us a food. Let's eat inside," He offered. Yumuko siya ulit at kinuha ang kaninang dala-dala niyang basket. He show it to me, still the wild smile is on his face.
I nodded happily and followed him from behind. I silently watched his back as we both walked our way inside our tree house.
Silence may not be a good music but right at the moment, it isn't that bad at all.
I laughed at Issar's joke as I watch him eat his own food. Hindi ako kumain dahil busog pa ako. Ang tanging ginagawa ko lang ngayon ay tumawa sa mga biro ni Issar at panoorin siyang kumain.
"You should be thankful that you'd got a good couch before," I commented. He was telling me about their training yesterday. He said that he got all the praises from his soccer team that made their captain sulk.
"A good couch who hurt me first before teaching me," Natatawa niyang sabi.
I almost rolled because of laughter when I heard those words. "Hey, I told you I didn't mean it. It's the soccer ball's fault."
"Yeah, yeah. Sabi mo pa sa akin noon na ang tanga-tanga ko." He pointed out before laughing out loud.
Wala kaming ibang ginawa buong mag hapon kung hindi ang magkwentohan tungkol sa nakaraan naming dalawa. We talked, reminiscence, and laughed together.
"Don't you feel discontented about our situation now, Issar?" I silently asked him as we both watched the sunset together.
"Love, aren't you tired of asking me the same question every time we've met?" He answered my question with another question.
I sighed and shook my head. "I just want to know your answer, Issar. Is it a bad thing?"
"I'm not saying it is, but I'm tired of listening to the same question from you, Avonlea." From a warm tone to cold.
I bowed my head as I felt a pang of pain again. "I'm sorry... I should not have asked," I whispered apologetically.
Silence eat the whole room. The sound from the crickets is the only noise we both heard. No one wants to make a sound. No one wants to break the silence.
I thought silence gives you peace at all, but why didn't I even feel comfortable? This is so suffocating.
"'Wag muna tayong magkita bukas," His last word before leaving me hurt.
***
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The River
Short Storycompleted (unedited) "Are you ready to accept the fact that you have to sacrifice your love for the sake of your freedom?" - As years pass by being in a relationship, Avonlea Pauner and Issar Lavisores keep it private. No one knows about their secr...
