Somebody Waiting

Adwampu

Richard

I gaze on her sleeping form right beside me. She’s curled up like a fetus. I sigh in disbelief as I remember seeing her sitting like a lost child on the side walk before I came. Paano kung hindi ko sya nakita? She would’ve cried until there’s no more tears to be shed. I held on to my chest as it tightens thinking of the possibilities had I failed to locate her. But thank God I did found her! And this very moment I made a decision of taking care of her. I will not let this happen again. Ever.

I was glued in my thoughts when suddenly she makes restless movements that appear like she’s having a bad dream. I shook her nervously to wake her up.

‘Raine…gising, nananaginip ka. Gising Raine..’ I shook her more as she wakes up in shock.

‘What happened?’ She asked still grumpy from sleep.

‘You’re having a bad dream.’ I said in response.

She sigh deeply.

‘What’s that? May problema ba?’ I asked worryingly as I glance at her.

‘It’s my phobia. Mukhang umaatake na naman… It was triggered by the incident kanina’

‘Pano?’

‘Ganun, I’ll have nightmares. Like ngayon, mahirap nang bumalik sa tulog.’

I looked at her quickly worried on what she’s telling me.

‘Pano huminto noon?’ I asked trying to figure out if I could do something.
She shrug her shoulder at that.

‘Di ko rin alam eh. Basta huminto na lang.’ She said then face my way.

‘Oh?’ I said as an answer to her action.

She’s thinking.

How did I know? Her brow is furrowing while she’s pouting.

Cute.

‘Blurt it out. Baka mautot ka.’ Biro ko, hoping na that will lighten her feelings para sabihin ang nasa utak nya.

‘Ahmmmmm…I---ah.. Hand…Hmmm’

‘You’re blabbering. Bilis na. Ngayon ka pa nahi---'

‘Okey! Fine…’ She straightened her back and looked at me like a child asking for a candy.

‘What?’ I muttered then chuckled at her antics.

‘Chard…’ Pabulong nyang tawag sakin on which I responded the same way,

‘Raine…’

‘Chard, Can I borrow your hand?’ She said coyly.

‘Hmm?’ Gulat na tanong ko ng marinig ang nais nyang mangyari.

‘Suri na…kasi dati napansin ko kapag may hawak akong kamay while sleeping hindi ako nagkakaron ng bad dream, hindi umaatake yung epekto ng phobia ko…’ She looked at her lap as she finished telling me that. I can sense her regret of her request.

Raine

Girl nakakahiya! Really Raine you asked to borrow his hand? Ano yan bote ng coke na sosoli mo mamaya?
I decided to just look at the window to avoid his penetrating quick gazes. Hinga girl. Parang tumataba na ata ako. Ang sikip ng blouse ko. Masikip ba dahil sa taba o sa kahihiyan?

Hay…

I was lost in my thoughts when suddenly his free hand crept into my direction to hold my left hand.

Nakakagulat! Wala bang orientation muna?!

Feeling ko nawalan ako ng kulay. My blood circulation stopped. Bad trip. I wasn’t ready for that.
His grip on my hand wans’t shy. He holds firmly. Our hands met for the very first time.