Pursuing from the Shore (Sun Rays Series #2)

CHAPTER 28

Trigger Warning: depression.

Chapter 28

"Tulong! May nalulunod doon sa dagat!"

I found myself nearly out of breath, so I quickly got out of the water. What the heck! Davin and I just kissed underwater, and the next thing we know, somebody had mistaken us for drowning.

Davin's arm was still around my waist as we both huddled our breath. Despite the bruises on the side of his lips, his leery and shy smile looks adorable.

Curious about the earlier shout, I looked toward the shoreline. Nakita ko ang dalawang bata roon na sa tingin ko ay hindi lalagpas ang edad sa sampo. Halos lumundag pa sila sa buhanginan nang makita nila kaming dalawa ni Davin na walang nangyaring masama sa amin.

"Kailangan na yata nating umahon, babe." Davin chuckled, nakatingin din siya roon sa dalampasigan. "Nilalamig ka na ba? Ang refreshing naman maligo sa dagat sa ganitong umaga."

"Umahon na tayo. I think the kids are worried," I pointed out. Nagpahila naman siya sa akin para makaahon na kami.

"Ate, Kuya! Okay lang ba kayo?!" tanong ng batang babae. Her tone sounds worried.

I suddenly felt the chill of the morning as I stood there in my thin strap shirt and dolphin shorts. Davin noticed a bit of my discomfort and gently draped his long sleeve polo over my shoulders, instantly soothing the cold I was feeling. Wala na tuloy siyang suot pang-itaas.

"Okay lang kami, mga ading!" si Davin na ang sumagot habang hawak ang kamay ko.

The sun has risen, casting a stunning stir of orange and yellow hues across the sky, reflected in the serene beauty of the sea. Nang makaahon kami ay agad kaming sinalubong ng dalawang bata.

"Mabuti naman po kung ganoon! Akala po kasi namin ay nalulunod na kayo!" The little boy beamed but obviously worried. "Bakit ang aga niyo po yatang maligo rito sa dagat?"

I pursed my lips, at a loss for words to answer the kid's question. Davin and I find ourselves here in the ocean for one simple reason: we temporarily want to escape from the constraint of the world closing in on us. And here we were, being each other's company even though there's no certainty when everything will return to normal where the world, or even ourselves, will no longer restrict us.

"Ah, napaadaan lang kami, ading. Excited kasi 'tong girlfriend ko na maligo, e," Davin answered humbly, scratching his nape.

Muntikan ko na siyang samaan ng tingin dahil sa rason na sinabi niya. Palihim tuloy siyang nag-peace sign. Tsk, I'll let him get away with this. Okay na 'yong ganoon na rason kaysa naman sabihin talaga namin ang totoo.

"Ganoon po ba?" The kids nodded, simply accepting Davin's words.

"Kayo? Bakit ang aga niyo rin dito sa dagat?" I can't help but ask the two kids.

They look really adorable with their dimples showing up whenever they are smiling.

"Hinatid po namin sina Tatang doon sa kabilang dalampasigan dahil mangingisda na naman sila," the little boy answered enthusiastically.

"Mabuti na lang talaga at okay kayo, Ate at Kuya!" mangiyak-ngiyak na saad ng batang babae. I got worried because she's so close of crying.

"H-Hey, don't cry... we're alright now." Agad kong nilapitan ang bata at hinawakan siya sa balikat. I cannot believe that she's really worried about us that she wanted to cry now.

"Kat, tumigil ka nga," suway sa kanya ng batang lalaki. "Pasensya na, Ate, gan'yan talaga si Katkat. Mabilis siyang mag-alala sa mga tao... At isa pa, ganoon din naman ako dahil akala namin nalulunod na kayo roon. Naalala kasi namin 'yong magulang namin na nalunod din sa dagat noon."