As Cold as the Night

Chapter 35

Chapter 35
"Wish"

"You take care. We will follow as soon as possible," ani Tita Dennis nang paalis na kami.

I am going home today at kasama ko si Ham na uuwi ng Valencia. I haven't fully taken in what happened after his graduation and now we are off to tell my family... about us... and that we are getting married... soon.

Kabado may ay hindi ko naman maitanggi ang saya.

"We're going," sabi ni Ham at pinagbuksan ako ng pinto.

Tita Dennis kissed me goodbye. Engineer gave Ham a tap on the shoulder. Lumapit din siya para yakapin ako. I'm still so intimidated and shy of him, pero nasasanay na rin naman. Dahil mabait naman talaga si Engineer.

Pumasok na ako. Umusog ako para makaupo na rin si Ham. He closed the door. Ihahatid kami ng driver sa airport. Our flight is three hours from now. Kaya pagdating ng airport, tama lang. We don't have to wait and fall in line raw para mag-check in at sa boarding.

As the plane takes off, and at last, settles at a high altitude, I recall being above the clouds and dreaming of being where Ham is. At ngayon, I'm actually beside him, he is holding my hands as I lean close to him.

"Why?" aniya nang mapuna ang mga titig ko sa kanya.

I smiled. I held his bicep with my free hand at mas lalo pang humilig sa kanya.

"I feel like coming home with the highest academic achievement," mahina kong sabi. My eyes roamed at our side bago binalik sa mukha niya.

"You barely passed."

I glared at him pero hindi naman no'n naibaba ang saya ko. "I'm bringing home the class valedictorian at marami pang mga award... Kaya parang gano'n na rin 'yon."

"We should do something about your grades. It will make things harder for you when you reach college."

Noong finals, nag-offer naman siya na tulungan at turuan ako, pero nahihiya ako kaya hindi ko tinanggap. Mahirap akong turuan. I don't want to embarrass myself more. At saka baka mas matanto niyang mahina talaga ako at hindi lang dahil tamad mag-aral.

I sighed. "What if I don't want to go to college?" Nanantya kong tanong.

Bumaba ang tingin niya sa akin kaya nagkatitigan kami.

"Why? Do you have other plans? You're pursuing a different path?"

Nagkibit ako ng balikat. Mataman naman siyang tumitig sa mga mata ko, parang binabasa ang isip ko.

"Hindi ko pa alam. Uhm, may huling taon pa naman ako sa senior high kaya baka may plano na ako pagdating ng araw."

"If you don't want to pursue college then you should think of your interests or something you can do in exchange for it."

Nagulat pa ako sa simpleng pag-sang-ayon niya. "It's fine with you kung hindi nga ako mag-college?"

"Yeah."

"Papakasalanan mo pa rin ako kahit na gano'n?"

"Yes. Why? What are you trying to say?"

"Hindi ka ba mahihiya na... hindi nakapagtapos ang..." Napapalunok ako at napapangiti sa salita. "Ang asawa mo? Sigurado na maraming pupunain 'yon lalo na at sigurado akong magiging successful ka."

Kumunot ang noo niya. "The hell I care about what others will say about me and my marriage."

I bit my lip to contain my foolish grin. I silently giggled. Tumingin ako sa alapaap they're beautiful but I think I'll be watching him more until we land.