Lilies and Lullabies

XIII. Promise

He loves the stars so much. He loves the way the stars lit the sky by its tiny lights. I know he knows how it died light years ago, but we have different ways to perceive its beauty. He can see the stars as beautiful creatures above, like a tiny dust that can light up the sky when the moon is not here to give us light. It is also neglected when the moon is there, nakalilimutan na nagniningning din sila gaya ng buwan. ‘Yon ang bituin para kay Silas. Maganda. Payapa. Makinang.

Samantalang ako, I can see the stars as dead. Yes, it's beautiful. But we cannot deny that in spite of its light, it's already dead a long time ago. The stars are a big liar… they use their lights to hide the fact that they are dead. Those bright lights coming from them are all pretentions that they're alive. Even the stars are good at neglecting themselves for lighting up the sky despite being dead.

Instead of answering him, I chose to show him my smile. Bumitaw ako sa yakap niya at patalikod na humakbang hanggang sa marating ko ang dulo ng tulay. He looks so clueless but I saw a glimpse of worry in his eyes when I let myself fall in the water. The cold water immediately soaks me, covering the starry night. I felt the hot tear escape in my eye. Umukit ang ngiti sa labi ko nang maramdaman ang kamay niyang pumulupot sa bewang ko. 

Sabay kaming umahon sa tubig. Nang magmulat ako ng mata ay bumungad sa akin ang galit niyang titig. I stared at my reflection in his eyes and I fall in love once again… hindi lang sa kanya, kun'di pati sa sarili ko. He made me love my true self. 

“Emiko, what the heck?!” nanginginig niyang saway sa akin.

I clung my arms on his nape and leveled his eyes. “I want to swim, love. Sorry for making you worried.” I said as I placed a soft kiss on his nose.

Hindi nabura ang kunot sa noo niya kaya napanguso ako. I'm at fault for doing that, but I loved how it felt… being taken away by the water. So that's how it feels…

“You could've just told me, mahal. We can go take a dip normally.” he nag.

I chuckled, “Sorry.” 

He let out a sigh and let go of my waist, sign that we'll swim just because I want to. We stayed in the water even though it's cold. The sea has something that's really comforting and warm, or maybe it was Silas who made me feel warm. 

Nasa mababaw na parte na kami at kanina ko pa sinasabuyan ng tubig si Silas. No'ng una ay wala namang reklamo sa akin pero ngayon naman ay hinahabol na ako para makaganti. The night was filled with laughter. 

“Wait, wait! Suko na nga!” sigaw ko nang maabutan niya na ako.

He just laughed at my reaction before hugging my waist, “Too late, little miss sungit!” 

He dunk himself in the water, at dahil hawak niya ako, kasama niya akong lumubog sa tubig. Nang makaahon kami ay pareho na lang kaming natawa sa mukha namin. Mukha na kaming basang-sisiw.

Nang mapagod kami sa tubig ay pinili naming maupo sa buhangin, but I still chose to lie down. Kumapit agad ang buhangin sa basa kong katawan. Silas put his jacket that he removed earlier in my legs since I'm wearing a dress. Nahiga rin siya sa buhangin at pareho kaming tumitig sa kawalan.

“This is my mom's favorite thing to do before,” Silas trailed off. 

Tumitig ako sa kanya. Hearing his voice with the sound of waves is a good combo at night. Mas malumanay ang gabi kapag siya ang katabi.

“Swim?”

He shook his head, “Watching the stars.” 

He chuckled. Tumagilid siya ng higa, ginaya ko siya kaya ngayon ay magkaharap na kami.