Captures of Perfect Timing (The Art of Life #1: Life Version)

00.00.18 - Because it's You

Dinala ako nina Kiel at Harvin sa field para pakalmahin. Kahit nakalanghap na ng simoy ng hangin ay patuloy pa rin ang hindi ko mapigilang mga paghikbi.

Kami lang ang nasa field dahil class hours. I didn't have any plan to attend the next class because I was afraid to cross paths with Sir Rodriguez.

We sat on the bleacher and Kiel made me face him. He folded his other leg so he could fully face my direction. He fixed my hair and looked at me worriedly. "Anong nangyari..."

Panibagong luha na naman ang tumulo sa 'kin nang marinig ang tanong niya.

His eyes widened. "H-hala... sorry..." Agad niya 'kong niyakap. "N-naiiyak na rin ako..."

I hugged him back and rested the side of my head against his chest. Itinuon ko ang mga mata sa field at maya-maya'y nakaramdam ng pagod.

"B-balik na muna 'ko room. Baka ando'n na si ma'am... sabihin ko na lang nagclinic kayo..." sambit ni Harvin at marahang tinapik-tapik ang balikat ko bago umalis.

Bumigat ang mga mata ko't napapikit. Unti-unting tumigil ang mga luha ko at humina ang mga paghikbi habang ramdam ang paghaplos ni Kiel sa buhok ko.

It wasn't the most comfortable position and might not had been the best time to let my guard off... But somehow, I fell asleep in his arms.

I slept in his arms for a few minutes at nagising lang nang maramdaman ang init ng araw sa balat. Napadilat ako at bumungad ang tirik na tirik na araw. 

Lumipat ang tingin ko sa nakataas na kamay ni Kiel. Nakatapat iyon sa araw kaya hindi natatamaan ng sinag ang mukha ko.

Umahon ako mula sa dibdib niya at tinignan siya. Tirik na tirik sa 'min ang araw kaya nang mawala ang mga mata ko sa anino ng kamay ni Kiel ay napapikit ako sa sinag.

I noticed how he massaged his shoulder shortly before standing up and reaching out his hand to me. "Tara... naiinitan ka na..."

Nakarating kami sa ilalim ng puno. Napa-upo rin ako dahil hinila niya ang kamay ko.

"Malinis ang damo rito."

We were enveloped by silence. All that we could hear was the sound of the birds chirping and the leaves rustling. Kahit tirik na tirik ang araw ay buti na lang at mahangin kaya hindi masyadong mainit.

"Avien?"

"Hmm?"

"How do you feel?"

"..."

"You can tell me... anything."

"..."

"..."

"I'm... not okay," I admitted.

"Do you like to talk about it?"

"..."

"I will listen."

"..."

"If you're not ready... it's fine. You don't have to tell me anything right now. Just know that I'm here... You have me, always. I will be here to listen when you're finally ready. But if you really don't wanna tell me anything, okay lang din. I won't force you. I will just cry with you until you're okay again."

I smiled at him and rested my hand on the back of his hand. Agad lumipat ang tingin niya roon.

"Thank you."

He smiled back at me. Binaliktad niya ang kamay and he held mine. "Palagi."

Sumandal kami sa trunk ng puno sa likod namin at tumingin sa kawalan. We remained silent as I recalled memories from my childhood.