One Last Glance

Chapter 7

Kinaumagahan, nag-impake na agad kami ng kapatid ko para sa flight namin going back to Manila. I had fun in the last days of our stay here and I'll definitely come back on this island when I have time.

"Are you done packing?" my sister asked.

"Yeah." tipid kong sagot sakanya at binuhat na ang mga gamit palabas.

Pagkalabas ko naman sa aming room ay nakita kong nakaabang sa gilid lang ng pintuan namin si Ricci. His hands were on his pocket while silently singing with his earphones on.

"Ahem ahem.." trying to interrupt what he's doing. Hindi ata malakas kaya hindi nya rin narinig kaya inulit ko pa ng mas malakas.

"Aheeemmmm!!!!" That's it! I made him notice me and that made him a little bit distracted and... don't know how to say it pero mukha siyang nahiya sa akin.

"What?" tanong ko sakanya. "Naaaah, nagulat lang ako sayo. Didn't know your here."

"Okay? So bakit ka ba nakatayo diyan?" pointing to where he is right now.

"May hinihtay lang ako." ngiti niyang sabi.

"Sino naman?" tanong ko. "Si Mich ba?"

He chuckled a bit and shook his head. "No, its you. I... I just want to talk to you."

"Talk to me? About what?" I'm a bit disoriented of the thought that he wants to talk to me because hello? Eh hindi naman kami close ng kumag na'to.

"Wala naman tayong pag-uusapan ah" pagpapatuloy ko.

"That's the point, I just wanted to talk to you for random things like this."

Natawa nalang ako sa sinabi niya nang biglang bumukas ang pinto at iniluwa non si Mich.

"Ohh you're here!" tuwang-tuwa na sabi niya kay Ricci.

"Yes" with an awkward smile from Ricci.

"It's good that you're here. Wala na kasi akong time para makapag-paalam sa mga kuya at pinsan mo. Pasabi nalang na ngayon ang alis namin for Manila ha?"  

"Yes, of course. No prob" isang tipid na ngiti galing kay Ricci ang isinukli niya sa kapatid ko.

"Thank you" a sincere smile came from my sister. "Oh ano, tara na?"

"Yes!" masigla kong sabi. I can't wait to see my piles of books and instruments at home.

"Alright! We'll see you then Ricci. Anyway I can message Kuya Prince naman so no worries. We'll catch up soon" masigla ding sabi ni Mich.

"Sige, ingat!" was all Ricci could say and before I turn my back on him, he surprisingly hug me like there's no one watching.

"I'll miss you Maddie." Ricci said in a soft whisper voice.

I felt something cringe inside me na para bang pinipilit sa sakit na ewan?? Ughh! I don't know what to say!

"Ahhh.. uhmmm..." I am grasping for words to say but I just can't.

Nakaramdam ata si Ricci at dali-dali akong binitawan. Nakita ko pang namula siya sa ginawa niya kaya tumalikod siya ng bahagya sa akin.

"Ahh.. I'm sorry. Did I scare you? I was just..." bago pa man niya ituloy ang sasabihin ay inunahan ko na siya. 

"No, its okay. You don't have to, I'm sure hindi mo naman sinadya yon." Ngumiti pa ako sakanya assurig him that it's really okay. "Its alright Cci."

"Okay, I'm sorry if it made you awkward Maddie." Alanganin parin ang ngiti niya pero ayaw niyang ipahalata.

"Oy tapos na ba kayo diyan? Nilalanggam na ako dito oh!" pagsingit naman ni Mich.

"Ate!" nahiya ako bigla sa sinabi niya.

"Hala sige, aalis na kami, see you soon Ricci!" at nagpatuloy na kami sa paglalakad hanggang sa lobby ng hotel. Nakasunod parin naman samin si Ricci and I must say na hindi na uli awkward ang feeling ko sakanya.

"Pano ba yan, goodbye for now?" tanong sakin ni Ricci.

"I guess so?" at natawa kaming dalawa sa sinabi ko. "Yeah you better go. Keep safe you two!" pagpapaalam niya samin.

Nauna nang sumakay si Mich sa sasakyan at sumunod naman ako. Habang umaandar ang van, tumingin akong muli sa likod at tinignan kung naroon pa rin si Ricci at hindi nga ako nagkamali, andon parin siya, wearing his radiant smile. Kitang-kita parin kahit nasa malayo.