Hello From The Other Side

Kabanata 1

Dreams

Pinilit kong huminga ng malalim para ikalma ang aking sarili. Pagod lang siguro siya, Piper. Intindihin mo nalang.

"Yeshua, di ba sinabi ko na sa'yo? May group activity kaming gagawin. Bakit naghintay ka pa rin?"

"Kasi may usapan tayo, Piper! Akala ko naman gagawa ka ng paraan! Ano? May lalaki ka ba dun?! Ha?!" Ani Yeshua.

"Yeshua...." Sinubukan kong lambingin siya ngunit umiwas lang siya.

Bigo akong umuwi mag-isa. Hindi ko na alam ang nangyayari saaming dalawa.

One moment, we were so happy and in love. Then suddenly, nag-aaway nalang bigla. I don't know what's with him anymore.

Lately, palagi nalang siyang galit. Mainit lagi ang ulo. Muntik na nga siyang may makasuntukan galing sa ibang section.

He's becoming very aggressive at kahit ako na hinding hindi niya mapagbuhatan ng kamay noon, nagagawa na niyang saktan. To think na maliit lang naman yun na bagay.

Days passed and Yeshua's mood swings became very evident. Pati ang mga kaklase at mga guro namin ay napapansin na rin ito. I tried to talk to Yeshua calmly but he will just shrug me off.

Having no other choice, I tried to talk to Lilienne about Yeshua's attitude.

"Lilienne.."

Nakita ko siya sa may harap ng gate ng paaralan at parang may tinitignan. Nilingon ko iyon at nakita ang grupo nina Riguel at Isabella.

Nilingon niya ako at nginitian. "Piper. Asan si Yeshua?"

"Nauna na siyang umuwi, Lili. Masakit daw ang ulo niya eh."

"Ah ganun ba?" Aniya. "Edi wala na akong kasabay umuwi." At sumulyap siya sa banda nina Riguel.

"Pwede ka namang sumabay saakin pauwi, Lili." Alok ko sakanya.

"Hindi ayos lang. Papasundo nalang ako kay Daddy mamaya." Then she smiled at me.

Naaalala ko sa mga ngiti ni Lilienne ngayon ang mga ngiti ni Yeshua dati. In which their smiles light up their whole face, they are twins indeed. Only Yeshua's features are a bit manlier compared to Lili, who have the softest features that I know of.

"About Yeshua, Lili....." I trailed off.

Tila natigilan siya at nabura ang kanyang mga ngiti. Ngumiti ulit siya saakin ngunit pansin ko na pilit lang ang mga ito.

"May problema ba siyang naikukwento sa'yo? Lately kasi, pansin ko na lagi nalang siyang tahimik. Kung hindi naman, lagi siyang galit." Sunod sunod kong saad. Namuo na ang luha sa aking mga mata. "Is there something wrong? M-may iba na ba siya?"

Pagod niya akong tinignan bago ako niyakap. "Just give him time, Piper. Sasabihin niya rin sa'yo. Trust him."

And I did. Days before our prom, he became normal again. We went back the way we were before. And I was so happy!

Isang hapon at nandito kami ngayon sa may duyan na pahingahan ng mga trabahador nila sa plantation. Magkatabi kaming nakahiga sa duyan. I was leaning on his chest as we swayed slowly.

"Anong plano mong kunin sa college, Pipe?" Yeshua asked me as he sniffed my hair. Palihim akong ngumiti dahil doon.

"Accountancy? Maybe. Maybe not. I'll figure it out sooner or later. Don't worry." Tumingala ako at nginitian siya. "Ikaw? Anong plano mo sa future mo?"

He froze, he was taken aback by my question. Worriedly, I asked. "Is there something wrong?"

Instead of answering, he kissed my forehead and hugged me tighter. I don't know what's with him but I like it. I like the warmth that he gives me. The comfort that he makes me feel. I don't think I'll be comfortable with any other guy except for him. He's the 'one' for me. That, I'm sure of.

"Do you see your future...." Tumikhim siya. "...with me?" He suddenly asks, breaking the silence.

I tilted my head to face him. "Of course." I smiled at him. "I can imagine us getting married 2 years after we graduate, then we will have 4 kids." I answered, giggling. "I want a set of twins, Yesh. Just like you and Lili. It's my dream."

"Then when you go home after work, you will see me cooking our dinner.Then our kids will be everywhere. They'll be naughty little kids. After kissing our kids, you will then kiss me hello." I chuckled. "Then at night, I will be sleeping in your arms. Like this! And for the rest of our lives.... And I will never get tired of it." I dreamily sighed.

"T-that's wonderful..." His voice broke.

I stood up then cupped his face. Tears were falling from his eyes. "Hey, don't cry, Yesh." I wiped his tears dry.

"I'm sorry." He stood up, too. Then he wiped the tears from his cheeks. He faced me, after.

"You are the best thing that ever happened to me, Piper." He genuinely said. I blushed.

"You are to me, too." I closed my eyes. "I..." I sighed. "I love you, Yeshua." Then I opened my eyes.

I found him staring at me, his lips were a bit parted. He looks so shocked!

I cupped his cheeks and smiled lovingly at him. "I really do, Yeshua Altamirano. Matagal na. I was just waiting for the perfect time and–"

He interrupted my confession and slammed his lips on mine! Oh my god! My heartbeat sped up as I closed my eyes.

I'd been dreaming of this moment eversince. His arms wrapped around my waist tightly as I clung to his neck for support.

My lips parted when I felt his tongue swiped my bottom lip. He was so good at this! I don't think this is his first time! But then, I won't mind. As long as I am his last, that would be perfect.

I don't know how long we were kissing but as we parted, I was panting so badly. He brought his forehead against mine as I open my eyes. He was looking at me like I am the most important girl in his world.

"I love you, too." He said huskily. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

He chuckled. "Don't act as if you're surprised. I thought you knew that too!"

"I-I do but it's overwhelming to hear it from you." I giggled.

"I really love you, Piper. Don't you ever forget that. You are the only girl I will ever love, aside from Lili and my mother.." He smiled at me lovingly. "If we are not meant to be together in this lifetime, I will find you in our second one. And I will make sure that all your dreams for us will come true and we will never part. Remember that, Piper. I love you." Then he kissed me again.

Then the day after our promenade, he left. He left me.

Breaking all his promises and my dreams for the both of us.