Solace Escape

Kabanata 27

Hi! Thank you for the patience and waiting! Enjoy! Thank you for always staying <3

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Kabanata 27

Sol and I are in complete silence while on our way home.

I was wrapped on his maong jacket while I was staring mindlessly to the open window of his car. Malamig ang simoy ng hangin, dinig ang huni ng kuliglig at mabango ang samyo ng hangin sa naghahalong amoy ng dagat at mga basang dahon.

I closed my eyes tightly, filling my lungs with oxygen to control my breathing.

I was still shaken up from the incident earlier but I could feel at ease right now. Because I was with my solace.

Marahan akong sumulyap kay Sol na seryoso sa pagmamaneho, igting ang panga at diretso ang tingin sa madilim na daan pauwi galing palengke. Simple kulay puting shirt lang ang suot niya at pants, magulo ang buhok na natural at dahil na rin sa hanging pumapasok sa bintana sa side ko.

His hand is extended on the steering wheel with his visible protruding veins on his arm. Sa kanyang pulsuhan ay ang itim na relong iniregalo ko noon sa kanya.

I reached for my necklace and twisted it, resting my back on the seat.

Hindi ko masabi ang reaksyon ni Sol. Halong galit at pag-aalala ang nakita ko sa kanyang mukha kanina habang niyayakap niya akong nakaupo sa kalsada hanggang sa marahang buhatin niya ako papunta sa kanyang sasakyan.

I am sure he has a lot of questions but he didn't utter a word until we reached an unfamiliar house.

Nangunot ang noo ko. Hindi ko na inantay na pagbuksan ako ni Sol at lumabas sa sasakyan habang nakatitig sa bahay.

Kulay puti iyon at moderno ang disenyo, habang nakatitig ay estimated kong nasa dalawa o tatlong palapag ito. It wasn't too massive but was enough to house a family.

Naramdaman ko ang pag-ayos ni Sol ng jacket sa balikat ko kaya dali-dali ko siyang nilingon at tinuro ang bahay.

"Is this your house?"

His serious black eyes stared back at me as he nodded a little. Umawang ang labi ko sa mangha.

This is his dream! To build a house for his family!

"Pumasok muna tayo, malamig dito," humawak siya sa balikat ko at inalalayan ako papasok.

I realized it was their house before. Mas malaki nga lang ang sakop ng lupa kumpara noon at wala na ang simpleng bahay noon. His car was parked in front of it and as we made our way inside, namilog ang mata ko nang makita ang mga kulungan ng manok.

"Is Pookie..."

"Na kina Liza," sagot niyang seryoso at mas inilapit ako sa kanya, seryoso pa rin. "Mamaya mo na isipin, pupuntahan natin bukas."

I nodded, biting my lower lip. I have always loved the comfort Sol's been giving me that the fear's slowly subsiding with him by my side. He had this aura around screaming I'll protect you and I won't get hurt because he's here.

Protection and safety weren't just about in physical aspect, it's more like your emotional capability to feel the said feelings just by being with a certain person.

In my case, it was Sol. He always was.

Pinaupo niya ako sa sofa pero ang mata ko'y naiwan sa bukas ng T.V. kung saan nire-replay ang episode ng telenovela ko nitong hapon. My eyes widened.

"Shit," muntik na akong matawa nang magkumahog si Sol na inabot ang remote para ilipat ang channel.

I narrowed him with my gaze. He cleared his throat.