Under the Shades of Sky

Chapter 27

Nate and I decided to take-out the food left. Suggestion nya talaga yon para hindi daw maghintay sina Dad. Sa kotse na lang namin kinain ang natirang ice cream at peach mango pie na hindi naubos kanina habang tahimik na nakikinig sa radyo. Kapag alam ko ang kanta ay isinasabay ko sa beat ang marahang pagtapik ko sa mga binti. Pero karamihan ay hindi ko alam dahil hindi naman ako ganon ka-updated sa mga bagong labas na kanta.

"You want to change the music?" biglang tanong sakin ng lalaki.

Agad akong umiling at ngumiti. "Hindi na."

"You can bluetooth your phone so we can listen to your favorite music as we drove to your condo." he suggested.

"Puro old songs ang kanta sa phone ko. Wag na lang baka antukin ka." nahihiyang saad ko.

"Nah... I promise I won't sleep. Plus it's your favorite song. Old songs are good too." he said and tapped something on the mini screen of his car.

"What's your device's name?" tanong niya.

I sighed in defeat.

"Langit." i answered. I heard him chuckle once again.

Kanina pa siya ah. Masyado na siyang nasisiyahan sa mga nalalaman niya tungkol sakin.

"Alright." he exclaimed and tapped something. "You can play it now." he announced.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I want to hear your favorite songs."

I sighed deeply as i tap the shuffle button at saktong favorite song ko ang nagplay.

~~Schoolbag in hand, she leaves home in the early morning
Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile
I watch her go with a surge of that well-known sadness
And I have to sit down for a while~~

I unconsciously hummed the lyrics of the song.

~~The feeling that I'm losing her forever
And without really entering her world~~

I remembered Aria. I had a chance to enter my sister's world but I didn't have a chance to ask if she's okay. I didn't enter her real world. I was too blinded by what I saw physically to the point that I forgot she was also carrying an invisible burden and fought silent battles.

~~I'm glad whenever I can share her laughter
That funny little girl~~

I closed my eyes remembering how Aria took her first day of school. She throw tantrums that time and only want Tita Avianna at her side. Unfortunately, Tita Avianna was working here in Philippines, only Mom and Dad is with us. My parents were in a rush that time because they will meet an important client. Luckily, Aria and I are enrolled in the same school. Hindi ako inutusan nina Mommy na bantayan ang kapatid pero hindi ako umattended ng first day ng klase para makita si Aria. Napatawag tuloy sina Mom sa principal office. Ang ending, napagsabihan ako. Pero ayos lang kasi nakita ko kung paano nakipagkaibigan ang kapatid ko sa classmate niya, si Solana. As years past, i watched them build their friendship.

Hindi ko namalayan na hinawakan na pala ni Nate ang kamay ko. I just felt his lips touched the back of my hand.

"I may not know what you're thinking, but I hope it's a positive thing." sabi niya.

Nanatiling akong nakapikit at dinadama ang kanta. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako napapakalma ng mga makalumang kanta. I liked it more than newly released music. It gave me different vibe, a calm one like Serenity.

Iminulat ko lang ang mata ko ng matapos ang kanta. "It's your favorite song, isn't it?" tanong niya at tumango ako.

He smiled while focusing his eyes on the road. "You and my late grandma have the same vibes. That song was also her favorite." sabi niya.