Conquering Territories: Completed

18

The blinding lights made by the ferris wheel caught my attention. It was actually big enough for a carnival ride, causing it to attract everyone. Isa pa, hindi rin makukumpleto ang gala namin kapag hindi namin nasubukang sumakay. Lahat naman yata gustong makarating sa tuktok nito.

The next thing I knew, the 5 of us, even Irvin, were now running towards the ride. Blake started it, causing the 4 of us to follow. Halos hindi na kami makahinga nang makalapit kami sa mismong entrance. Masyado kasing malayo ang distansya namin mula sa kinatatayuan namin kanina. Hindi ko rin naman alam kung bakit tumakbo rin ako.

"Gago ka," Clarisse said between her breaths. Natawa na lang ako habang nagsisimula na naman silang mag-away ni Blake. They really don't know the word "ceasefire."

I was catching my breaths but, someone caught my attention. The lights from the ferris wheel made me stare at the man beside Blake. Irvin was smiling genuinely. His eyes were glistening under the night sky. It was beautiful.

"Is there something wrong?" My thoughts were interrupted as I heard his voice. Hindi ko napansin na nakatitig na rin pala siya sa akin.

My cheeks heated after that. Sa sobrang pag-iisip ko, hindi ko na talaga napapansin ang mga tao sa paligid ko. "Nothing."

"Dalawa lang po ang pwedeng sumakay sa isang sasakyan," the operator told us after noticing the five of us. I glanced at my friends, only to notice their sad faces. Mga isip-bata pa rin talaga ang mga ito.

"Kayong apat na lang ang sumakay. Dito na lang muna ako." I smiled at the four of them. Aris eyed me with a question plastered on his face.

"Sira, ikaw nag-suggest, tapos ikaw yung hindi makakasakay," Aris said before crossing his arms. "Ako na lang dito sa baba."

"Bakit ba kasi di pwede." Clarisse fixed her hair out of irritation. Separating ways really was the biggest problems among our friendship. Ayaw namin na may maiiwan mag-isa.

"Ako na," Blake interjected. "May kikitain rin kasi ako. Sumakay na kayong apat."

Makikipagtalo pa sana kami kay Blake, kaya lang, nagalit na ang operator dahil sa tagal namin sa harap. "Sasakay pa ba kayo o magdadaldalan na lang sa harap?"

The four of us entered the ride with each other as our pair. Aris and Clarisse took one car capsule. They took the ride before us, leaving me with my partner.

"Let's go?" I asked Irvin, who was now ahead of me. Napailing na lang ako habang pinipigilan ang ngit sa labi. This guy really do have some childish acts under his delinquent look.

An awkward silence enveloped the two of us as the ride started. I could only hear the sound of the gears of the ferris wheel. Wala man lang akong marinig na kahit isang salita simula nang pumasok kaming dalawa sa loob ng capsule.

I tried to relax myself by looking outside. The night sky was glistening with lots of stars. Meanwhile, everyone below looked tiny and small. The lights from the stalls twinkled like stars on the land. It was mesmerizing.

"Khaydel."

My thoughts were interrupted after hearing my name. I slowly turned at Irvin, who was now looking at me. His eyes somehow made my cheeks burn. Bigla yatang uminit.

"Hmm?" I tried to answer him. Hindi ko alam kung maiilang ba ako o mahihiya sa kanya. The dead air between the two of us awhile ago made my mind unable to function.

Irvin averted his gaze before shyly scratching his nape. Para siyang isang inosenteng bata na may gustong sabihin. I couldn't help but to chuckle because of the way he acted. He looked adorable.

"Thank you for tonight." He smiled. "Your friends treated me like they knew me a long time ago. My whole night was perfect, thanks to you."

Cat suddenly caught my tongue after that. Some would say that it was too shallow but, I think he really meant those words. Irvin looked like he wasn't that kind of guy who would say things out of nowhere. It was just unexpected.

I smiled at him as an answer. Hindi ko na alam ang sasabihin ko sa kanya dahil sa mga sinabi niya. Para bang nawalan na ako bigla ng dila dahil sa pagkabigla.

Silence enveloped the two of us once again but, this time, it was calm, serene, and peaceful. It was far from the awkward dead air between the two of us awhile ago. It was perfect.

"I know it was out of nowhere but, may I ask for your cellphone number?"

Irvin looked at me with an unreadable expression on his face. Hindi ko alam kung seryoso ba siya sa tinatanong niya o hindi. After seconds of waiting, I realized that he really meant that question.

"Wait," I said before picking up my phone. My hands trembled as I picked my phone up. Something's not right with my body. My knees were now jelly and weak. My heart raced as if it was about to overload.

"Here." I gave him my phone and letting him do the rest. I couldn't help but to study his feature as he entered my number on his phone. Behind that built really hid someone with spontaneous actions.

"Expect that I'd bombard you with texts when I'm bored." Irvin chuckled, causing my heart to raced even more.

It has been two days since we went to the carnival yet, thoughts about what happened that night still lingers inside my mind. I could still remember everything that happened. Clear as crystal.

Isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit hindi ko makalimutan ang gabing 'yon dahil simula nang maka-uwi kami, hindi na tumigil ang cellphone ko sa pagtunog. I somehow regretted giving my number to Irvin because of how he literally texted me every single minute. Parang wala siyang ginagawa sa buhay niya. Literal na bawat oras ay may text siya.

"Yes, I'm on my way to school." I chuckled as I answered Irvin's question. I was actually on my way to the campus when my phone rang. Hindi na ako nagulat nang makita ang pangalan niya sa contact. Siguro ay wala talagang ginagawa sa buhay ang lalaking 'to. Baka ay anak rin 'to ng may-ari ng telco dahil palaging may load.

"What time is your dismissal?" he asked. After those two days, we somehow got closer, making it normal to ask for my schedule. I don't know. it was easy to be with him. Komportable na agad ako sa kanya.

"Around 12 noon. Why?" I realized that I do only have one class for today. Good, I have a half-day of rest. "Do you have some plans?"

"None." And with that, Irvin ended the call. That guy really doesn't know how to say a goodbye properly. I just shrugged my shoulders before continuing my way to the campus.

The first thing that welcomed me when I went to our classroom was the large announcement on the door. It looks like our professor was out for a faculty meeting.

I held out a deep breath before gathering my thoughts. He should have texted us if he couldn't attend. Sayang lang ang naging pagpasok ko sa isang klase kung wala naman pala siya.