Send Me In Orbit

Runaway

Iris didn't know where they were going. All she knew was that Basti wanted to get away from the yelling and fighting, and she didn't blame him. Iris has never seen her mom act that way before. She completely lost her cool and attacked Ninang Val. And while a part of her felt guilty for just leaving her mom like that, the truth was that Iris couldn't take it anymore either. Let the adults hash out their issues it had nothing to do with her or Basti or their wedding.

Their wedding...

She was getting married. It still hasn't completely sunk in yet. Was she completely crazy?

Iris looked over at Basti. He caught her looking at him and brought their intertwined hands up to his lips while he continued to drive. Her heart skipped a beat and yes, she knew she was completely crazy. This was the most insane, impulsive, reckless, and selfish thing she has ever done in her life.

But the thing is, Iris has lived her entire life for her family. Doesn't she deserve to have one thing that's hers? Can't she do something purely because it makes her happy? Basti makes her happy. And even if she was crazy, it was okay because she had found someone to be crazy with...for the rest of her life.

"Saan ba tayo pupunta?" She asked.

Basti shrugged. "I don't know. I'm just driving. Tagaytay ulit?"

Iris was going to protest that it was too far, it was too late, they can't go by themselves...she could hear all of the reasons not to go inside of her head in her mother's voice. She turned that voice off.

"Sige," Iris said.

Basti smiled at her and kissed her hand again.

"I love you, Iris. You make me feel like I can do anything, you make me feel alive. I've jumped off cliffs, off bridges, off planes...nothing, nothing has ever felt like this."

They came to a stall in a traffic jam and Basti stepped hard on the brake. Iris was knocked forward a little bit.

"Basti! Dahan dahan lang."

"Gusto ko ipagsigawan sa mundo. I love you!" Basti rolled down his window. "I love you Iris!" He yelled out the window.

"Hoy Basti!" Iris laughed and pulled him back.

Basti turned back to her and gave her a kiss. Iris grinned against his lips.

"Ano ba ang gagawin ko sa 'yo?"

Basti's eyes suddenly turned serious. "Anything you want. I'm yours, Iris."

A horn blared behind them, ruining the moment. Iris flushed and turned to the window. She didn't let go of Basti's hand though.

They drove for an hour, their surroundings getting darker as they left the city behind. Iris rolled down her window and breathed in the cool night air. Her hair whipped against her face but she didn't care. She didn't notice how Basti kept stealing glances at her as he drove, the smile never leaving his face.

They finally reached the little outlook that they were at with Ali just a few weeks before. It already felt like a lifetime ago. Basti put the car in park.

"Do you want to go outside or do you want to stay here?" He asked.

"Dito muna tayo," Iris said.

They were quiet for awhile, each of them lost in their own thoughts.

When she was a little girl, Iris had dreamed of having a fairytale wedding like what her mom had with Tito Papa. She dreamed of the dress and the church...but more importantly she wanted to find her own Prince Charming like Tito Papa. Someone who would love her and protect her and take care of her. And now he was here. Iris had finally found the man of her dreams. But she couldn't share that joy with her mom.