Behind Closed Doors

thirty

Background music.

they don't know about us by 1D

After the phone call, Aliah and I continue to walk towards the seaside. We walk in silence, comfortable naman.

I keep glancing at her.

"Ganda naman dito." She said in amusement.

"Maganda talaga." I replied while looking at her.

She removed her slippers and walked in the sand, bare feet. I watched her as enjoyed walking in the sand. She looks back in at me.

"Bakit nakatayo ka lang dyan?" She asked me, I removed my footwear as well and walked along with her.

We walked towards the water, when we reach the seashore, Aliah put down her slippers and sat down on the sand.

"Sit with me," she said, patting the sand beside her.

I smiled and sat down next to her, feeling the warmth of the sand beneath me. We sat in comfortable silence, watching the waves that flowing away but keep coming back. Aliah leaned back on her hands, her eyes closed, and her face tilted up towards the sun that's setting down. I couldn't help but steal glances at her, admiring her features.

After a while, Aliah opened her eyes and turned to me. "Miro?" she said, her voice soft.

"Oh?" I replied, looking at her. Aliah's eyes locked onto mine, and I could see a hint of overwhelming emotions in them.

"Minsan naiisip ko, tayong mga tao parang tubig sa dagat." she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I couldn't understand her words fully, so I just wait for her to speak again, she did.

"Just look at those waves. They will come near us at kapag gusto na nating hawakan aagos siya pabalik sa dagat. At kapag tayo naman yung aalis, babalik ulit yan malapit sa'tin para lang umalis ulit." her words painting a vivid picture in my mind I listened intently as Aliah spoke.

I turned to looked out at the waves, watching as they flow away and back, just as she described.

"What are you trying to say?" I asked, turning back to her. My voice was soft, curious. Aliah's eyes locked onto mine, at sa tuwing tinitingnan ko siya may mga emotions sa mga mata niya na hindi ko alam na posibleng makita sa mata ng isang tao.

"Wala, naisip ko lang, kung ikaw yung taong nakatayo sa dalampasigan,mapapagod ka bang habulin yung mga alon?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I was taken aback by Aliah's question, but I tried to understand what she was getting at. I looked out at the waves.

Napaisip ako dahil hindi ko alam ang tamang salita na kailangan kong sabihin. But then I took a deep breath and let my heart say whatever is in it.

"Mapapagod lang naman tayo kung pipilitin nating habulin." I looked at Aliah, and saw that she was watching me, her eyes searching for something.

"Pero..." Huminto muna ako saka nagpatuloy. "Siguro may iba pang paraan," I said, my voice soft.

"Paraan na hindi tayo mapapagod." I smiled, trying to reassure her.

"Tulad ng?" She asked trying to look for an answer.

"Maghintay na bumalik yung alon pero huwag tayong umasa na mananatili kasi kahit anong pigil natin aagos pa din naman yan pabalik. Pero ang mahalaga bumabalik sa'tin diba?" I replied.

"At kung hindi na bumalik?"

"Are we still talking about the waves?" Natatawang tanong ko sa kanya.

Nakakapagod kaya na maghabol pero nakakaubos ang bumalik palagi. Aliah, ikaw yung alon at hindi ako masasawa na umupo sa dalampasigan para lang maghintay na bumalik ka at mahawak ka saglit at panoorin kang umalis ulit.

If only I can say this to you, I would.

"Of course..we are talking about waves, just the waves." She giggles but I can see through her eyes the unexplainable emotion swirling.

We sat there in silence for a moment, I could feel the tension between us, the unspoken emotions that hung in the air like a challenge.Then, without warning, Aliah reached out and took my hand. Her touch sent shivers down my spine, and I felt my heart skip a beat.

"Let's go back na,medyo lumalamig na." She spoke and stood from the sand.

I smiled at her, we walked while holding each other hands.

Sana kapag bumalik kami ng Manila, ganito pa din. Pero alam ko naman na malabo dahil nagagawa lang namin ito kapag walang may alam at walang nakakakita. How I wish that these kinds of moments are something that we don't always need to hide behind closed doors.