Saving May

101

Promise

"You're up early?" I heard Ashia asked nang makapasok ako sa cottage namin. When I received Kyle's response para mag-breakfast, pumasok na ako sa kwarto upang mag-ayos. Our outreach program will last for three days. Malayo ang napili namin probinsya para mamigay ng libreng gamot at vaccine. We have also prepared a short program para sa mga bata. It was a huge project and we were all determined to do the activity, since halos buong college namin ay excited dito.

Kyle's province is a bit far. It will be draining kung maaga ang alis namin at uuwi ng gabi, kaya naisipan ng organization na mag-hanap ng matutuluyan malapit sa area na pupuntahan namin. Our SSG President coordinated with the officials of the barangay we chose, and thankfully they have offered an accommodation for us. We insisted to pay for it but they told us that it will be free dahil daw sa tulong na ibibigay namin.

But honestly, in our part, hindi naman kami humihingi ng kapalit.

"Nakasanayan lang." I smiled tsaka binuksan ang duffel bag ko. There's no cabinet in here, that's why we keep our things in our bags.

"Sana ganyan ako. My body clock is ruined with all these overnights." She exclaimed going back to bed. Rinig ko rin ang agresibo niyang pag-stretch. She even mumbled something that I fail to understand. Umismid ako sabay kuha ng jacket tsaka lumabas muli.

"I'll eat breakfast, sama ka?" I asked Ashia, holding the door.

"Sino kasama mo?" She asked raising her head a bit.

I blinked. "Uhm.. si Kyle."

Kita ko ang malalim niyang nguso bago binalik ang ulo sa pagkaka-higa.

"Nah. Mamaya nalang ako." She waved her hand. "Enjoy your breakfast."

Napa-iling nalang ako, tsaka sinara ang pinto.

Sa pag-labas, may mga nakasalubong din ako na mga kakilala from lower years. They weren't supposed to join us but since we'll need all the help, we accepted few volunteers from them. I only waved and smiled at them, kahit na hindi ko kilala ang iba sakanila. I texted Kyle kung nasan siya. He told me he was waiting by the waiting shed, malapit sa karsada. Nang makarating, naabotan ko siyang malalim na naman ang iniisip. Lately, he's been like that every time he's alone. I was curious and worried at the same time. It was like he was in dilemma, wanting to choose the right answer.

Slowly, I walk towards him at don niya lang ako napansin.

"Wow, kahit pala bagong gising, ang ganda mo parin." He said, with a wide grin. I'm not yet used to this straight forward Kyle. Pero kahit papaano, it felt good to hear his compliments kahit minsan parang nagbibiro siya.

"Bat' mo naman nasabi na bagong gising ako?" I arched a brow. Mukha ba talaga akong bagong gising? Kanina pa ako nakaligo and I'm pretty sure my face is not bloated.

"Joke. It was my way of saying you're beautiful." His smug face irritated me a bit but I was more flustered to hear what he said.

"W-whatever." Umiwas ako ng tingin at nagsimulang mag-lakad.

"Oh, san ka pupunta?" Tanong niya na may halong tawa. He always finds ways to make everything amusing for him. Hindi ko siya tiningnan. Dahil siguro don, inunahan niya ako sa pag-lakad tsaka humarap sakin. I kept walking so he had to walk backwards, ang mga kamay ay nasa bulsa niya. "What do you want to eat for breakfast?" He asked, this time, he was serious pero kita ko parin ang pag pigil niyang ngumiti.

"I eat whatever is served."

Ngumuso siya, nanliit ang mga mata. "Me?" I frowned. "Alright, alright seryoso na!" Humalakhak siya, making some people look at us. Binilisan ko ang paglakad. Tingin ko'y pulang-pula ako ngayon.