Memories Begin in Summer

Chapter 16: Maki

"Pwede bang umupo?"

I nodded before returning my gaze on the sea. Things felt different today. Iba ang kabog ng dibdib ko ngayong araw. It seemed like something huge will happen, I just don't know exactly what.

After our dinner, I decided to sit in the sand, with sea speaking to me through its waves. I'm just staring at them, secretly hoping they'll take the chaos away from my mind.

Minutes later, Sid followed me. 

Sid quietly sat beside me. No one dared to speak. We just both watched the waves reach our feet. At some point, I'm waiting for him to speak up. Pakiramdam ko, may sasabihin siya sa'kin.

"Kamusta?" He finally asked me. 

I wanted to laugh at his question, but at some point, I find it hard to do so. His tone sounded so serious, which is a rare thing. Madalang magseryoso si Sid. He's a person with a positive personality. A man who never got tired smiling and talking to other people.

I glanced at him to see if he's okay. When our eyes met, his gaze looked so different. Tonight, it was rich and deep. It is loaded with emotions he tried to cover or hide for the past weeks. 

His brown eyes stared at me like he was about to unveil everything. His thoughts, his feelings. His heart. His soul.

He looked so fragile right now. Like a glass, parang anytime ay mababasag s'ya.

My body suddenly tensed up with the way he looked at me. But at the same time, ramdam ko ang pagkatunaw ko. Wala siyang sinasabi, but his eyes speaks to me so much.

I looked away and shifted my attention back on the sea waves. Akala ko ay mapapawi ng alon ang nararamdaman ko, pero hindi. Even the waves couldn't calm my heart anymore. 

"Okay lang." I answered, chuckling. "You always see me, Sid. Why are you asking kung kamusta ako? Do I look troubled to you?"

Sid shook his head. He quietly looked in the sand and traced the surface. Kung ano-ano ang isinusulat niya.

"Ang mga papeles mo... Kamusta?"

Suddenly, I felt a heavy lump on my throat. It's been a while since we've talked about anything related to Korea. It was a topic that we know we're both avoiding. And now that he's asking me about it, I find it really difficult to speak. I'm struggling to find the right words to say. 

"It's fine." I managed to answer.

Hindi siya nagsalita. I hate this. I don't want this. The atmosphere between us right now... It's uncomfortable. It's uneasy and confusing.

Why are we like this? We are supposed to enjoy this day. 

"Tuloy na tuloy na talaga pag-alis mo, 'no?"

I swallowed hard before answering, "Yeah... I've finally got my plane tickets." I softly said, almost like a whisper.