Always and Forever (COMPLETED)

Chapter 36

"Any progress?" tanong ko kay Olivia habang prenteng nakahiga sa kama.

Halos pabalibag niyang isinara ang libro. "None. I don't understand anything. I even searched the whole damn internet but nothing's useful. I think this book is written in a long lost language." she said with a hint of frustration.

She's been trying to decode the book for 4 days now. Olivia guessed that the content of the book was written a very long time ago, maybe even before dad and his siblings were born and have been rewritten over and over again. We don't even know if there's something useful written in that book, but she's really hellbent in decoding it.

She's also constantly trying to locate Gale, but he is under a powerful cloaking spell. We sometimes go outside, hoping we'll find a lead. She also compelled some private investigators to look for him but to no avail.

"If only unc—" hindi niya itinuloy ang kanyang sasabihin.

Nakita kong lumungkot ang mga mata niya kaya napaupo ako sa kama.

I raised one of my brows. "Who?"

Tipid siyang ngumiti. "Someone I knew, but he's gone. He used to love studying ancient scripts and languages. If he's alive today, maybe he can help me with this shit." turo niya sa libro.

Napatango ako. "My uncle Harlan who died also loved to study ancient scripts and languages." saad ko at nagkibit balikat.

Humiga nalang ulit ako sa kama. Nagulat ako nang pasalampak din siyang humiga sa tabi ko. Tumagilid ako ng higa upang makaharap siya at ganoon din ang kanyang ginawa.

"I'm sorry for dragging you into this hopeless chase." she apologized.

"Don't apologize. I'm actually enjoying this hopeless chase." natatawang sabi ko.

Natawa din siya. "You're lying. I'm sure you're so bored."

No, Olivia. I would never get bored if you're with me.

Yan ang gusto kong sabihin pero hindi ko ginawa. I don't want her to freak out. Ako nga ay hindi maipaliwanag kung bakit nagkagusto ako sa kanya. Sigurado akong hindi din siya maniniwala.

"Why? Are you bored?" tanong ko sa kanya.

She shook her head. "Irritated, not because of your company by the way, but not bored. I'm glad you're here with me."

Here she goes again, making my heart race. She's slowly consuming my whole being and I can't stop it. I can't stop my growing feelings for her. I can't stop drowning. Sigurado akong ako din ang masasaktan sa huli dahil sa mga nararamdaman ko, pero wala na akong pakialam. Alam ko din sa sarili ko na malabong magustuhan niya ako tulad ng pagkagusto ko sa kanya. Masaya na akong kasama siya ngayon, at susulitin ko nalang ang mga nakaw na sandaling ito. Dahil sa oras na bumalik kami, babalik na siya sa taong gusto niya. Val's waiting for her, and I don't want to get in their way. Val's still my friend, and I love her.

"Kaye, why don't we take this day off?" tanong niya sa akin. "Let's forget about Gale for now and let's explore this place. I'll wear the cap you gave me and that freaking face mask." nakangiting sabi niya.

Parang sumabog ang puso ko sa tuwa. I know she's not asking me for a date, but I'll let myself think that she is. Hindi ko na maitago ang malawak na ngiti sa aking mga labi.

"I'd love that."

--

"Did you enjoy?" Olivia asked while sipping on her drink.

There's a beach near where we are staying and we decided to stay here for a while after exploring. Pareho kaming nakatanaw sa dagat at pawang mga nakasalampak sa buhangin. Pinanood namin ang paglubog ng araw hanggang sa tuluyan itong mawala sa aming paningin. Ngayon, ang buwan naman ang nagsisilbing ilaw namin. I didn't appreciate looking at the stars and the moon before, but now I do. Olivia makes everything special.