14 : Faraway
JULIAN
Monday morning felt like a blur. My body moved automatically as I prepared for school, but my mind was still replaying the events of last night. Damien's reassuring presence lingered in my thoughts, yet so did my father's stern voice and watchful gaze. I sighed, shaking my head as I adjusted my bag over my shoulder.
Pagkarating ko sa school gate, I spotted Damien leaning casually against his motorbike. As usual, he had that annoyingly confident smirk plastered on his face, as if the world revolved around him.
"Hi," he greeted, his voice light and gentle.
"Hindi ka ba papasok?" I asked, stopping in front of him.
"Actually," he began, pushing himself off the bike and stepping closer, "may plano ako."
I raised an eyebrow. "Anong plano?"
His grin widened. "Samahan mo ako. Promise, magugustuhan mo."
Tumitig lang ako sa kanya, weighing my options. Damien had this way of making everything seem so easy, but still, something in his expression—something softer—made me pause.
"... Okay."
***
The moment I realized we weren't heading toward the town, I turned to Damien with a glare. "Huy, saan ba talaga tayo pupunta?"
He laughed, the sound carefree against the hum of the engine. "Relax ka lang, Julian. Trust me."
"Trust you?" I repeated, my voice tinged with disbelief. "Alam mo bang late na tayo? At malalaman 'to ng mga teacher natin?"
"I know," he replied simply, his eyes fixed on the road. "Pero minsan, kailangan mong lumabas sa routine mo. Kaya nga kita sinama, eh."
Hindi ko na lamang siya sinagot, pero hindi ko rin napigilan ang pagbuntong-hininga ko. Ang kapal talaga ng mukha niya, pero sa totoo lang, his carefree energy was oddly comforting.
The ride was longer than I expected, the scenery changing from bustling streets to winding roads surrounded by trees. The air grew cooler, and the noise of the town faded into a peaceful quiet.
"Damien," I called out, raising my voice over the wind. "Saan na ba tayo pupunta? Ang layo na nito!"
"Malapit na," he replied, glancing back at me with a grin. "Kapit ka lang."
And before I could argue further, he sped up, making me grip his shoulders tightly. Jusko, we've been riding for about an hour!
***
Eventually, the road opened up to a wide, grassy field. Damien slowed down, parking the motorbike near a lone tree. The view was breathtaking—a sea of green stretching out to meet the horizon, with the sky painted in soft blues and whites.
"Wow," I muttered, stepping off the bike. The cool breeze brushed against my skin, carrying with it a sense of calm I hadn't felt in days.
"Not bad, huh?" Damien said, leaning against the bike as he watched me take in the scenery.
"Ang ganda," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
He chuckled.
"Halika," he said, motioning for me to follow him. He led me to the middle of the field, where the grass was soft and the world felt impossibly far away. Damien flopped down onto the ground, patting the spot beside him.
