Parallels

huwag muna tayong umuwi

Huwag Muna Tayong Umuwi - BINI 

[student Alyssa and Dennise on a random afternoon]

--

"Pagod ka na?" Alyssa asks Den, who's quietly sitting beside her habang kumakain ng binili nilang isaw. 

Since wala silang prof sa last subject, the two decided to roam around, went to UP Town for lunch and walked their way to UPD, bought some isaw and found their way to Sunken Garden.

Den shakes her head, "inaappreciate ko lang 'tong isaw."

Alyssa laughed, "favorite mo talaga 'no?

"Always," Den answered, "really, thanks for bringing me here dati."

"Kahit bumalik pa tayo lagi," Alyssa says, smiling at the sight of Dennise enjoying the food, "gusto mo pa?" 

Dennise shakes her head, "I'm fine na. Ikaw ba gusto mo pa?"

"No, I'm good na rin," Alyssa answered. 

The cold wind suddenly blows, sending some chills to Alyssa. It's a peaceful afternoon, everyone is just minding their own business. 

"Ang galing no?" Den asks.

"What is?" Alyssa asks.

"Na-a-amaze lang ako that this world is too big and everyone has their own story, parang, alam mo 'yun? I don't know how to explain it, basta na-a-amaze lang ako how complex this life can be."

Alyssa finds herself nodding, "gets."

Dennise laughs, "di ko nga na-explain ng maayos, e."

"Pero gets pa rin naman, 'yung comfort na we're not the only ones dealing with life, na everyone is just like us, learning, growing, navigating this chaos of a world."

"There, you said it," Dennise says, "thanks for understanding me when I can't find the words."

"Ganon talaga pag 4 years nang magkasama," Alyssa answers.

Den laughs, "oo nga 'no? Malapit na pala tayong grumaduate, isang sem na lang."

Alyssa nods, "are you afraid? After ng graduation, we have to be like adults na talaga."

"Oo siguro, wala ka na sa tabi ko no'n e."

"Wow?" Alyssa reacts. 

Dennise chuckles, "a bit, yeah. But I'd like to think of it more of a new beginning, siguro tsaka na yung takot pag nandon na."

Alyssa nods. 

"Can we still go here even if we have to act like adults na?"

"Oo naman," Alyssa answers, "you know naman I'm your 911, di ba?"

Den smiles, "ikaw, Ly? Natatakot ka ba?"

Alyssa takes a deep breath as her eyes wander around, then finds their way back to Den, "honestly, I don't know what to feel pa right now. Ayoko munang isipin."

"May isang sem pa naman, matagal mo pa ko makakasama," Dennise jokes. 

Alyssa smiles, she felt chills when the wind blew hard again, "Den?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you know that you're my favorite person?" Alyssa asks. Dennise looks at Alyssa, who's also looking at her, Alyssa smiles at Dennise before looking away, "gusto ko lang malaman mo, I don't want to regret it in the end na hindi ko sinabi."

"Why?" Dennise asks. 

"Why favorite kita?" Alyssa asks, Den nods. 

Their attention was caught by a group of friends nearby, laughing at something. 

The sun has set, and the sky is slowly changing its colors. 

Alyssa looks around, again, she can't stop herself from smiling. 

"Ang ingay pero ang tahimik pa rin," she starts, closing the little gap between her and Den. Den welcomes Alyssa's warmth, getting one of Alyssa's hand and plays with it, "tama ka, ang laki nga ng mundo. But how come, out of 8 billion people in this world, I get to have someone like you by my side?" Alyssa asks Den, she looks at their hand, "you keep me sane all these years, Den, without you, I don't think I can experience something like this."

Dennise smiles as she stops playing with Alyssa's hand, she, then, intertwines it with hers. 

"You're quiet," Alyssa says. 

"Just speechless," Den answers, she looks at Alyssa. 

Alyssa's brown eyes were not new to Den, seeing the same pair of eyes for the last 4 years, she's already memorized it. She then looks at Alyssa's dimples under her eyes that makes her a lot more attractive when she's smiling. Dennise hopes her eyes can speak for her and tell Alyssa how much she means to her. 

Dennise smiles. 

"What?" Alyssa asks. 

"I love it here," Dennise answers, the light on the lamp post near them has now illuminated Alyssa's eyes, "actually, anywhere with you is my favorite place," she says, beaming at Alyssa, "the sky is too perfect right now, and I'm glad to witness this with you, Ly."

Alyssa looks up and was welcomed by lavender skies with a hint of pink and orange. Alyssa's gaze finds its way back to Dennise. 

Overwhelmed is an understatement of what she's feeling right now. Of having Dennise beside her, with the cold breeze and a perfect sky above them. It makes her heart swell.

She looks at the time, and Den notices it. 

"Let's stay here a little more," Dennise says, Alyssa nods. 

Baka pwede namang dito muna tayo

Hanggang ang langit ay maging kulay kahel at dilaw 

Habang dumidiin ang paa sa buhangin 

Tumitindi rin ang pangarap na ako't ikaw