T.S. STORIES #4: Say Don't Go (Completed)

Chapter 6

The next day, my fam and I went to the beach, far from the main city. It was refreshing scenery indeed, but it was not as exciting as I expected.

Both of my siblings brought their bf/gf, and there, I was left teased by Mama. "Ikaw 'nak, 'san na ba ang one and only mo?" she repeatedly asked.

"Ano gusto mong gawin ko, 'Ma? Unahin ko lovelife ko tas mawawala focus ko sa studies ko. Tapos, makakalimutan ko kayo. Tapos, magagalit kayo sa akin kesyo nauubos na baon ko kakadate—"

"Icarus, oras mo na. Ikaw naman ang magsaya! Ayaw ko namang pagkatapos mong magcollege, eh puro nalang trabaho ang aatupagin mo," she said.

"Wala pa rin sa isip ko mga ganyan," I replied, and travelled my sight to the wide beach instead.

Aside from us, there were also other guests here, just passing by and walking in their beach fits.

"Sige, nak, tulungan kitang mamili," Mama suddenly uttered.

"Really? Ma? Ano 'to, real-life Tinder?" I sarcastically replied. I stood out of frustration when suddenly, I happened to bump into a stranger who was trying to walk past our table.

"Sorry—"

Just after I turned to him, I was taken aback that I recognized him immediately. He was just walking around in shorts, exposing much of his tanned body. Surprised and pissed, I pushed him away from me. "Sinusundan mo ba ako?!"

He stepped back, laughing. "What do you mean? Hindi ko alam na andito ka rin—"

I turned him around and pushed him further away. "Table namin 'to! You're trespassing! Shoo!"

"Uy, boyfriend mo, kuya?" my sister interfered all of a sudden.

Her assumption stunned me at that moment. I glared at him and commanded. "Leave. Now."

"Okay, okay," he said and finally walked away from our table.

My glare went from him to my sister. "Dare to open that mouth or I'll fill it with sand."

Both of her and her boyfriend walked away, too. I guess they're all scared of how my temper is outmatching today's hot weather. And really? Pati dito, magkakasalubong pa kami ng isang 'yon?!

While I was trying to enjoy our food, I noticed Mama who's busy looking somewhere behind my back. "Ma, sino hinahanap mo? Andito naman ako," I asked.

"Nakita ko kasi 'yong poging pinalayas mo. Panay tingin dito sa atin," she said, which made me turned my sight.

There, I saw him with his friends. He's having fun with his boys and plenty of bottles of hard drinks on their table, jamming together. Their voices were already invading our space. I rolled my eyes and looked away.

"Kung gusto mo, Ma, doon ka na lang," I joked, but she really stood and about to go there. "Ma naman, hindi ka talaga mabiro."

"Eh, ba't kasi ayaw mo sa isang 'yon? Pogi naman. Ex mo ba 'yon?"

I felt a bit of disgust upon hearing that from her. "Of course not! He's already dating someone else. Do you want me to wreck someone's relationship? 'No ka ba, Ma."

"Ay, gano'n ba? Sayang, bagay pa naman kayo— Teka, papunta siya rito."

I looked back once more and he's really coming towards our table. Looking away, I hid myself with the hand fan Mama brought.

"Tita," he called Mama. "Lechon po. Baka gusto niyo."

Tita talaga ha. Psh. Feeling close.

"Ay, salamat kaayo, dong. Nag-abala ka pa. Ano pangalan mo?"

"Raiver po."

That name—I still despise hearing that one until now.

"Salamat sa Lechon, Raiver. Ikaw, nak, mag-thank you ka naman."

Rolling my eyes, I didn't want to join the conversation and would just mind my food business. "Diet ako," I replied shortly.

"Baka gusto mong makasit-in sa amin, Icarus? May ibang food pa kami doon."

Ano bang trip ng isang 'to?

"No, thanks. I'm good."

I'm literally not good with his sudden presence.

"Ah, magkakilala na pala kayo, dong? Hindi mo man lang sinabi sa akin, Ike," Mama uttered.

"Ike?" He asked.

"Oo, Ike palayaw niya—"

Pissed, I stood out of the table and walked away. I guess, it's the right time to enjoy the beach.

All by myself with hands crossed, I walked by the shore, while the waves were trying to reach my feet. I happened to walk past some couples having fun splashing the clear waters to themselves. To them, this could be another beach memory to keep.

I had one, but something I don't want to bring up at any time.

"Icarus!"

Someone called me in my mind. It was clearly echoing from my past, trying to haunt me after all those years I spent burying it six feet under.

"Icarus!"

He's calling me again.

"Icarus!"

I heard his voice once more, yelling my name. I didn't dare to look back and resumed my stroll, just like how he did the last time. It's strange how this sand I'm walking to reminds me of everything that had happened back then.

My walk didn't last when he showed up in front of me, panting. He held onto my shoulder, until he met my eyes; it was filled with worry. "Si Tita, nahimatay."

Panic struck my mind and my feet led me back to our table, as fast as it could. There, I caught my siblings waving a fan and had to lend a hand for her to drink some water.

"Dalhin natin siya sa ospital," I commanded.

"Hatid ko kayo," he offered.

"No, I can handle this," I declined.

He held my wrist. "You can't drive in that state of mind."

The next thing that happened, me and my mom were already in his van. He was able to convince me. Meanwhile, I left my siblings to tidy up our things on the beach.

There was just silence between us, while I was constantly checking Mama who was still unconscious. I suspect the hot weather was the reason behind her state.

When we arrived at the nearest hospital, the staff took Mama in a wheelchair and sent her to the ER. I was left in the lobby, worrying about her.

Then, someone lent me a bottle of water. "Drink," he offered.

As I took a seat, I grabbed it and drank some. Somehow, I felt a bit of relief, but not enough to take away my worries. When I turned to him, he took the seat beside me, but a ring from his phone caught his attention. His friends might be calling him.

"You can go. My siblings will be here soon. Let's just talk... later," I said.

"Later."

He left me a tap on my shoulder before leaving the lobby. He even left some traces of sand on the seat and on the floor.

We didn't bid goodbye to each other. In my seat, I watched him disappear from my sight...

...Just like I did the last time.