Nyctophilia

Chapter 2

Hindi ko alam kung gaano kalayo ang bahay ni Zyn but it's been 15 minutes since I called him. Few more minutes and I saw a black Bugatti, it's his car. Alam ko kasi ilang beses na rin akong nakasakay dito.

Huminto ito sa harap ko at bumaba si Zyn. He's wearing a black dress shirt and a gray slacks. Nakaayos din ang buhok niya at may accessory, watch, pa siya. Pinaghandaan mo ba ang pagsundo sakin, Zyn? Charot.

"Go get your things."

I didn't need to be told twice. Binuksan niya ang compartment ng sasakyan niya at nilagay ko roon ang mga pinamili ko. He opened the car door for me like usual before getting in his car.

There was a comfortable silence between us. Si Zyn yung tipo ng tao na hindi ka kakausapin kung hindi mo siya kakausapin. Tahimik lang siya at palaging seryoso. A lot is intimidated by him and I can't blame them. Zyn Wilson is the eldest son of the owner of Mathson Academy. He got the looks, money, and brain. He's a dean's lister and he got straight A's.

"Bakit wala ka kanina?"

He glanced at me then focus on the road again.

"I accompanied mom in a meeting."

I just nodded and didn't talk again. Madaldal naman akong tao pero pag dating kay Zyn, tahimik lang ako. Hindi ko kailangang maging madaldal pag kasama siya dahil hindi rin naman siya nakikipag cooperate sa usapan. I think it's quite nice rin, I can be quiet with him and recharge my energy.

Huminto ang sasakyan niya dahil traffic. Tumingin ako sa labas ng bintana at may nakitang babae at lalaki na naglalakad ng sabay. I don't know if they are just friends or couple but it seems like the girl is annoying the guy and the latter is just smiling and nodding at her.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit naalala ko bigla ang first encounter namin ni Zyn. Simula preschool ay sa MA na siya nag aaral samantalang transferee ako noong grade 7. I was more talkative and sociable person before that's why I have a lot of friends. I came from a different city before we moved here kaya rin ako napilitang mag palit ng school.

Ang hirap mag adjust noong una. Kahit galing ako sa private school, sobrang laking kaibahan ng Mathson Academy. It took a while before I actually had people I can consider friends, one of them is Von.

Naligaw ako noon sa sobrang laki ng school and napunta ako sa school garden. Hindi siya madalas napupuntahan ng mga estudyante dahil halos lahat sila ay nasa mga air conditioned na gusali. That was where I saw Zyn. He was reading a book and it was my favorite book that's why I approached him. I was hoping we could be friends. I had no idea na siya pala ang anak ng may ari ng school kaya kinukulit ko siya noon, hindi rin naman siya nag reklamo.

I used to get stares when I was with him before. I had no idea why until Von asked me kung bakit ako lumalapit kay Zyn eh masama ang ugali niya at wala siyang pakealam sa tao na kahit ano man daw ang mangyari sayo sa harap niya, lalampasan ka lang niya.

He's not like that at all. He's actually nice but the vibes that he was giving off is indeed intimidating but once you knew him, he is different from what others think.

"Cyndrelle."

Nabalik ako sa wisyo ng marinig ko ang pag tawag ni Zyn sakin. 

"Bakit?"

I looked at him.

"How many times do I have to tell you to stay away from me?"

Napairap na lang ako sa sinabi niya. Here we go again.

"I don't know. Hindi mo naman sinabing kailangin ko pa lang bilangin."

I was being sarcastic obviously. Sinulyapan niya ako bago ibalik ang tingin sa kalsada.

"I'm serious."

"Ako rin seryoso. Bakit hindi ikaw ang lumayo sakin?"

May panghahamon sa boses ko. Idinantay niya ang isang braso sa bintana habang nakahawak naman sa manibela ang isa.

"You called me."

"But you have the choice to refuse."

He massaged the bridge of his nose and let out a deep breath.

"Then this will be the last time."

Hindi ko mapigilang matawa dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Pang ilang last time na ba natin 'to, Zyn? Your definition of last time is as fake as the word forever."

Kumunot ang noo niya dahil sa sinabi ko.

"There is forever."

I looked at him in disbelief before bursting out of laughter. The great Zyn Wilson believe in the word forever?!

"Sige nga. Pano mo nasabi?"

It took him a minute before speaking.

"My parents can prove the word forever."

Tinignan niya ako sandali bago ibinalik ang mata sa kalsada. Hindi ko alam kung namalik mata ako pero may nakita akong kislap ng saya sa mata niya.

"Kung may forever nga, bakit may namamatay? Kung may forever nga, bakit merong tumatandang binata at dalaga? Kung may forever nga bakit lahat nag babago? Accept it Zyn Wilson, nothing's permanent in this world except the word change."

This is one of those times that Zyn and I have different stand on something and we always have a debate to see who has more sense and evidences. Wala namang price pero iba pa rin yung pakiramdam kapag nanalo ka laban kay Zyn. Sometimes, I win and sometimes I lose.

"Forever isn't trapped in the idea of love, Cyndrelle. When a person dies, their spirits live forever. Like I said, forever is not just about romantic love and there's nothing wrong growing old without getting married. And things are meant to change, people are meant to grow pero hindi ibig sabihin non wala na yung orihinal na bagay o tao. Nagbago lang pero hindi nawala. Accept your defeat in this one, Cyndrelle Choi."

I was staring at him the whole time. Wow. That made a lot of sense.

"Okay. You won."

I sounded bitter and I heard him chuckled. I lost but I can't help but smile. Nakalimutan na niya kung anong pinagsimulan ng debate namin. This last time will just be like those other last times. Forgotten.