When Time Runs Out

Chapter 8

Same good old companion

Pagbaba ko ng hagdan ay naabutan ko na nakaupo si Xander habang tingin ng tingin sa kanyang wristwatch na parang hindi mapakali.

When he saw me walking down ay agad itong tumayo at naglakad papunta sa akin.

Clueless pa ako noong una dahil akala ko kong anong gagawin niya yun pala bubuhatin niya lang bag ko saka ito dumiretso palabas ng bahay.

"7:28. Lock the door" sinabi nito at bakas parin ang kuntin iritasyon sa kanyang mukha. Choleric talaga yata siya?

"Uuwi din tayo bago gumabi. Masyado yatang mabigat yung bag mo?" Tumawa ito.

Tumingin ako sa kanya ng masama ngunit pinag-kibit balikat niya lang ito.

"Xander" I called him out. I still get goosebumps all over my body every time I call him by his name. I also can't help not to smile knowing we are under the stage of first name basis or ako lang ulitang nakakapansin?

Lumingon ito sa direksyon ko.

"Hindi mo pa pala sinasabi kong saang farm tayo pupunta at kung bakit tayo pupunta doon" paalala ko.

I saw the side of his lips curved before giving me a glimpse. "Habang nasa byahe kami ni Mom, I searched some of the good places this city offers and luckily there are lots of it. Halos beaches saka resorts lahat but I found one good place at hindi siya resort or beach. It was a farm on the outskirts of this town"

"Hindi mo parin sinasagot ang tanong ko kung bakit tayo pupunta doon" paalala ko

Muli siyang ngumiti saka tumingin sa akin "Actually hindi exactly sa farm ang pupuntahan natin. Doon lang natin ipapark itong sasakyan saka tayo pupunta sa burol malapit sa farm na iyon. Base on my research that hill gives the best view of the city and the resorts and beaches and lastly the sunset" binalik niya ang tingin niya sa daan. Ako naman ang tumitig sa kanya.

"Tinanong ko si Tita kung nasubukan mo ng mag hiking and she said hindi pa daw. Actually, it's my first time too. I wanted to spend a day traveling experience something far from the usual, going to a place I know nothing. I thought this is a great idea dahil sobrang tagal na simula noong huling outing natin elementary pa tayo noon and diba sinabi ko noon that we should catch up."

Hindi na ako muling nagtanong. Nakuntento ako sa kanyang sinabi. Again, I don't know if I'm over reacting or some sort of expecting pero pakiramdam ko ay gusto niya talagang magdate kami and he just used those reasons para hindi masyadong magmukhang date ito.

Unti unting naglaho ang mga malalaking mga buildings at ang mga ingay sa syudad. Nakatingin lang ako sa nadadaanan namin na dagat. Hindi pa masyadong develop ang parteng ito ng bayan pero kung ako lang din ang masusunod ay sana manatili na lang itong ganito. Bumukas ang bintana at agad na humaplos sa akin ang preskong hangin. Napapikit ako. I extended my hand outside the window and let my hand meet the fresh air and I can't help not to smile.

During the past years of living my life I never tried extending my hands outside the window. Though I know it will give me refreshment and will calm me I chose to hold my hand tight inside. Though I know I can be something and I have wings I think of it as a curse. I was used feeling this way that living another is a scary idea.

"Okay ka lang?" He asked while he's eyes are still focused on the road.

Ngumiti ako "Yep"

"Can I ask you something Alex?" Tumango ako.

"Today can we leave all our thoughts about how cruel life is behind? Can we just live with the moment?" Kahit na hindi ko alam kong bakit niya sinabi iyon ay pumayag ako.