Riding The Waves (Fortalejo Clan #1)

Chapter 5

"Wow..." Was all I could say the moment I saw the falls that Aether is talking about earlier. I'm utterly speechless.

Even the word beautiful is an understatement to describe the scenery before my eyes.

Nakita kong inaalalayan ni Aether ang turistang babae at ang kasama nito sa paglilibot sa talon. Hinayaan ko na lamang siya at pumunta sa gilid kung saan may isang malaking puno na pwede na yatang gawan ng tree house kung tutuusin.

I sat on the branch of the tree habang pinapanood ang malakas at marahas na pagbagsak ng tubig mula sa itaas patungo sa ibaba na. Everything here is like a fairy tale. I never thought I'd be able to see something such as this.

Sa mga libro ko lamang nai-imagine ang mga ganitong klaseng bagay. I'm still young and I can't travel no matter how hard I try to. I've always dreamt of being at peace and of course, to feel happiness and freedom.

It's not like I'm not happy at all, masaya naman ako pero pakiramdam ko hindi sapat. Na para bang may kulang.

"You didn't tell me that you lived here," Halos madulas ako sa pagkakaupo sa branch ng punong kinauupuan ko nang may marinig akong nagsalita mula sa likuran ko.

I already know where that voice is coming from. It's no other than Aspen himself. Lumingon ako sa direksyon niya at nakitang nakapamulsa ito habang nakatanaw sa akin. Nangunot ang noo ko at tinignan siya na may blangkong ekspresyon.

"What?" I asked, muli akong humarap sa rumaragasang tubig ng Los Angelito Falls. "It's not as if you should be updated about my life." Malamig kong utas.

Natahimik siya pero kalaunan ay narinig ko ang marahan niyang pagtawa. He walked closer to my direction and sat on the ground where some random plants grew wildly. Parehas naming itinuon ang paningin sa talon ng Isla De Verde.

"You're so cold, as usual," He said, chuckling. "Mukhang mas mapapadalas pala ako rito, ah?"

My lips pursed in a grim line. "What do you mean?" I glanced on his way, he caught my gaze but I didn't looked away.

"Ang bilis mo naman yatang makalimot?" Napakamot siya sa kan'yang ulo. "Didn't I tell you that I like you?" He gave me his usual gummy smile that I really hate.

My lips parted. Oh, right. How can I forgot that damn confession of his that really made wonder and confused? Although, he told me that he likes me indirectly, but the outcome is still the same! He still likes me!

"Bakit? I thought you live in Isla De Verde?"

Ngumuso siya at napailing-iling. He bowed down his head lightly and played with the wild plants on the ground. He looked like a lost boy while doing that.

"Hindi. Sa Isla Portugal ako nakatira. Dumadayo lang kami rito ng kapatid ko para mangalakal at minsan ay mangisda na rin..." His voice turned serious and monotone.

"Mangalakal?" My brows furrowed. "So, you're working at an early age? How about your parents?"

I've never been this talkative and intrigued all my life. Kung tutuusin ay kumportable lang akong dumadaldal kapag pamilya ko ang kausap ko pero kapag sa ibang tao ay hindi ko magawa-gawa ang bagay na iyon. Pero ngayon...bakit ang daldal ko?

Napatigil siya sa paglalaro ng damo at nag-angat ng tingin sa'kin. There goes his gummy smile again. He may looked cute doing that smile but he can't hide the emotion in his eyes. Or maybe, that's just for me. Masyado lang talaga siguro akong mapagmasid sa paligid ko at minsan ay nao-overdo ko na 'yon.

"Yeah, my brothers and I are working and at the same time studying." He looked at nowhere, clearly lost in the moment. "Life isn't favourable to me, Earth. Pero kahit papaano ay masaya ako kasi nabubuhay ako hanggang ngayon at kasama ang mga kapatid ko."