Azure Sun

Simula

"How's your flight, Blue?" bungad sa akin ni Tito pagkapasok na pagkapasok niya sa loob ng kotse.

Something about the tenderness of his voice, which greatly contrasts his brusque demeanor and fit physique, always makes me feel at ease. Hindi ko alam kung gaano ko na siya katagal naging bodyguard. He's with me for so long that I became closer with him than my own father. We aren't blood-related but he's family to me.

Even though I was seated behind him as he starts to drive my abyss blue Subaru, I could still see his graying hair. His wrinkles were also evident when I took a glimpse at his reflection on the rear view mirror. Nagpakawala ako ng malalim na buntong-hininga. I suddenly felt so old.

"May problema ba, Blue? Did someone piss you off?" sunud-sunod na tanong ni Tito habang nananatili pa rin sa daan ang kanyang paningin. Dusk was creeping in and it splashed dark hues of orange and violet across the cloudless sky. Napayakap ako sa sarili ko nang maramdaman ko na ang lamig. My navy trench coat is useless.

"You're the one pissing me off. Just drive, Tito."

Narinig ko ang mahina niyang halakhak pagkatapos kaya napairap ako. "Okay. Jet lag it is."

I blew a sigh. Sino ba naman ang hindi magkakaroon ng jet lag? New York was fucking seventeen hours away from Nueva City.

"Do you want to reschedule the meeting? The investor you're about to meet knows you're arriving late today so he told me that you could just meet him on any other date," Tito informed me but I just shrugged it off.

"No thanks. I have plans for tomorrow," pagpapa-alala ko sa kanya. I glared at him at the mirror when he didn't respond. "Don't tell me that you forgot about it?" I threatened.

Nakita ko ang paglunok niya bago siya magsalita. "Of course not! I'd never dare." Ramdam ko ang kaba sa boses niya kaya napangisi ako. He's a huge guy but I could still scare him without trying that hard.

"Your chopper would be ready before dawn breaks tomorrow. Huwag ka lang magpupuyat dahil hindi ko na problema kung hindi mo 'yon maabutan dahil natutulog ka pa," pahayag niya kaya isang totoong ngiti na ang nakapaskil sa aking mukha.

"And are you coming or not?" pahabol kong tanong.

"I think you'll do good on your own, Blue."

Nakahinga ako nang maluwag dahil nagbunga na rin ang pangungumbinsi ko sa kanya nitong mga nakalipas na araw. "Thank you, Tito. You'll never regret this," masaya kong pasasalamat sa kanya.

Mabilis siyang lumingon sa akin at nahagip ng mga mata ko ang ngiting ibinigay niya sa akin. "I hope you get your sun."

The moment my biological father asked me to go back to Nueva City to meet a business investor, I didn't have to think twice before accepting it. Wala akong pakialam kung sino man ang makakaharap ko mamaya. All that matters right now is that I'm going back to Venturanza tomorrow and I'll finally see Absolon again.

Two years is a long time but I trust him. I asked him to wait for me and he always listens. We might've parted on bad terms but I know him. I know that he pushed me away for my own sake.

Alam ko sa sarili ko na may mababalikan ako. Alam kong hindi ako aasa sa wala.

I haven't contacted him for all those months because I want everything to be perfect. He knew all of my darkness so I pampered myself for the time that I'll be meeting him again with the version of myself that he'll be happy and proud to see. Nagbago ako para sa kanya at hindi ko pinagsisisihan 'yon.

"No need to remind me, Tito."

Looking outside my car's window and seeing the city slowly coming alive made me drowsy. I didn't even realize that I took a nap until Tito's voice gently woke me up. Sa sobrang liwanag ng paligid ay kailangan pa akong gabayan ni Tito para makalabas ng kotse.