#2: Strumming the Pain

Strumming 29

I don't know, but when I feel like I'm getting lost to the path I took... there's always that one person who find me. That person who just suddenly appear in front of me, then suddenly, the darkness that surrounded me slowly fade away and now, I see the light, again.

"Ano'ng ginagawa mo rito?" I asked as I watch him catch his breath while holding his knees.

He gasped for more air before slowly walking towards me. He closed his eyes and sighed in relief before pulling me closer to him— hugging me. I was caught off guard that I just froze while he was hugging me. I even heard him muttered a curse.

"Damn, I thought you disappeared again..." tila nauubusan ang hininga na sabi niya habang nakayakap pa rin sa 'kin. He was hugging me like he doesn't have intention to pulled away from the hug.

Nang humiwalay siya sa 'kin saka ko lang napansin kung gaano siya kapawis. Hindi naman niya 'yon pinansin at mas tinitigan lang ako. Kumunot ang noo ko sa kanya nang yakapin niya ulit ako.

"Kirk, pawis na pawis ka. Magpunas ka muna..." bulong ko naman sa kanya.

Bumitaw siya ulit sa pagkakayakap bago pinunasan ang pawis niya gamit ang inabot kong panyo sa kanya. Nang maayos na ang hitsura niya ay umupo kami sa ilalim ng puno, sakto namang umihip ang hangin.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I thought you run away..." he answered, averting his gaze so he won't meet my eyes.

"Bakit mo naman naisip 'yan?" kunot-noong tanong ko sa kanya.

"You were so cold to me these past few days... I thought you're mad at me. Wala naman akong maisip na ginawa ko kaya hindi ko maintindihan." sagot niya habang nakaiwas pa rin ang tingin.

A smile slowly crept onto my face upon hearing his reasons. He was telling me like he's a kid telling his parents that someone stole his favorite toy. He sounds so cute that I couldn't help but to smile.

"And I know it sounds ridiculous, but... I had a dream. In my dream, you left..." dahan-dahan ay humarap siya sa 'kin at nagtagpo ang tingin namin. "Bakit ka naka-ngiti, ha? Tinatawanan mo lang ako, e." parang batang sabi pa niya habang nakanguso.

"I'm sorry for being cold to you... I just felt like everything is so confusing. I couldn't keep my thoughts in order... I had to think things thorough." sagot ko naman. "That's why I'm here."

I wanted to run away, and my feet got me here. To the place where I know... he could find me.

"Pasensya na rin, Shian. Maybe I was just too scared..." sabi naman niya sa 'kin.

I smiled. "Ang sabi mo walang aalis."

"Wala... Walang aalis, Shian. I will stay... I still have a lot of things I wanted to do with you." sabi niya sa akin.

"Hmm... Like what?" I asked, curiously.

"Let's see... I want us to graduate high school together. Gusto kong sabay tayong mag-aaral... It would also be nice if we are there at each other's college graduation. I want to see us conquering our fears, accepting the failures will face and learning from it, and succeeding our dreams." he answered while softly looking at my eyes, like he doesn't want me to look away.