Noted, Architect (Architecture Series #1)

Chapter 21: Solid Team

ODY

As we walked away from the chaos, a weight began to lift off my shoulders. The air felt lighter, and I could see the worry on Aphaea's face slowly turning into relief. Her resilience throughout the entire ordeal had amazed me, but I could also tell that deep down, she was still processing everything that had just happened.

"Ano'ng gusto mong gawin ngayon?" tanong ko, sinusubukan kong gawing mas magaan ang sitwasyon. I wanted her to forget, even just for a moment, about the drama that had unfolded with Jonas and the rumors.

"Let's just get out of here," sagot niya, ang mga mata niyang nagniningning sa ideya ng pagbabago ng scenery. "I need some fresh air."

Nang magkasundo kami, sinugod ko siya sa bahay namin, kung saan mayroon kaming isang malaking hammock sa likod. Ang hammock na iyon ay naging kanlungan namin ni Mazy noong mga bata pa kami. Dinala namin ang aming mga bag, at sa bawat hakbang, nagiging mas determinado ako na bigyan siya ng sandaling pahinga mula sa lahat ng stress.

Nakahiga kami sa hammock sa likod ng bahay ko, ang malambot na tela ay naglalabas ng banayad na tunog habang kumikilos sa hangin. I rested my body on one side, watching the clouds drift across the blue sky. Beside me was Aphaea, her eyes shining under the sun. "Bakit kaya lagi kang spontaneous, Ody?" tanong niya.

Umupo ako, nag-iisip kung paano ko maipapaliwanag ang aking sarili. "Alam mo, sometimes it's just my way of dealing with things. I guess you can say it's a coping mechanism," sagot ko, sinimulang buksan ang aking puso. "Minsan kasi, gusto kong ilihis ang isip ko sa mga problema."

"Problema? Anong mga problema?" tanong niya ulit.

Tumingala ako, pinapanood ang mga ulap na dumarampi sa langit. "My family, Aphaea. Para bang isang typical Filipino family. Kailangan mo talagang igalang ang mga nakatatanda, kahit hindi sila karapat-dapat," sabi ko, ang boses ko ay lumalambot. "My mom is too nice for her own good. Her kindness gets abused and she doesn't know it. It bothers the fuck out of me. Ako naman ang napapagalitan whenever I try to stop her. My dad? He provides for us, pero wala siya masyadong emotional attachment sa pamilya."

"Wow, I didn't know that," sagot niya. "I can't imagine what that must be like."

"Yeah, well, all I've got is Mazy and my little brothers, Stephen and Gael. They're my world," sambit ko, medyo nahihiya. "Kaya siguro I act all carefree. It's like, if I don't take life too seriously, I can avoid the pain that comes with it."

Aphaea turned to me, her eyes softening. "Ody, it's okay to feel that way. You don't have to pretend to be someone you're not. You're allowed to have those feelings. I understand you, you know?"

Umangat ako at nakaharap sa kanya, seryoso. "Do you really? Because sometimes I feel like I'm just a clown, just trying to make everyone laugh to hide my own struggles."

"Of course I do. You're not just a clown to me. You're someone who brings joy to everyone's life. But even clowns have their own battles, right?" she said with a warm smile.

"Exactly. And you know, my insecurities stem from not feeling enough for my family. Sometimes I wish I could be the son they wanted, the perfect child who excels in everything," sabi ko, ang tono ay medyo mabigat.

"I know that feeling, Ody. Sometimes I feel the same pressure, especially being an honor student and the council president," sagot niya. "But what matters is how we see ourselves, not what others expect from us."

Napatigil ako, nag-iisip. "You're right. We shouldn't let others define our worth. Maybe that's why I'm so spontaneous. It's my way of reminding myself to live in the moment."

Muling humiga si Aphaea sa hammock, at hinawakan ko ang kanyang kamay. "So, what do you want to do now? Let's live in the moment," tanong niya, nakangiti.

"Baka gusto mo bang mag-food trip? Or we could just chill here for a bit," sabi ko, medyo nagbibiro.

"Chill na lang tayo. I like this," sagot niya, tumingin sa akin na parang gusto pang mag-extend ng usapan.

Nang magpatuloy kami sa pag-uusap, mas lumalim ang aming koneksyon. "Alam mo, Ody, I admire your courage. It's not easy to be vulnerable, but you've done it," sabi niya, at may ngiti na puno ng suporta.

"Thank you, Aphaea. It means a lot coming from you. You have no idea how refreshing it is to talk to someone who really gets it," sagot ko, at medyo kinabahan. "And you know what? You've been my rock through all this chaos."

She chuckled lightly. "So I'm your rock now? What a title to hold. Hindi na ba ako cupcake?" she teased, but her expression was serious.

"Cupcake pa rin kita. You're just my rock. Because there is no one else I'd rather have by my side," sagot ko.

"Same here," she replied softly. "You've made me realize that I can be more than just an overachiever. I can also just be me."

As we talked, it felt like all our worries faded away. Aphaea showed me that I wasn't alone in my struggles, and I, in turn, offered her my support. The hammock felt like a safe haven where we could be true to each other.

"Alam mo, Ody, if there's one thing I've learned, it's that life is unpredictable. But it's the people we choose to have by our side that makes it worthwhile," sabi ni Aphaea, ang kanyang boses ay puno ng determinasyon.

"Exactly! And I choose you," sagot ko, tinitingnan ang mga mata niyang puno ng pag-asa at pangarap.

Natagpuan ko ang aking sarili na hinahanap ang kanyang kamay, sabay namin inabot ang isa't isa. "No matter what happens, I'll be here for you," sabi ko.

"Me too, Ody. Whatever happens, we'll face it together," sagot niya, at naramdaman ko ang init ng kanyang kamay.

Habang nakahiga sa hammock, ang mga alon ng hangin ay tila umaawit ng mga pangarap na mayroon kami. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang hinaharap, ngunit sa mga sandaling ito, alam kong nasa tamang lugar ako.

"Let's make a promise," aniya, puno ng pagnanasa. "That we'll always be here for each other, no matter how difficult it gets."

"Promise," sabi ko, sabay na nag-angat ng ating mga kamay, sabay na nag-isa.

But at that moment, I knew we weren't just a couple anymore. We started as people who randomly met at a bar, but now we were becoming a solid team.