Stop Over [REVISING]

Five

Uncertain.

Lourica.

Tahimik na tumingin ako sa kalangitan. The night sky is so beautiful. I raise my hand as I started to create patterns using the stars.

Just random patterns and images to ease my boredom.

"They're beautiful." I whispered.

Then suddenly, may mga kamay na humuli sa kamay kong nakataas sa ere. Bumaling ang tingin ko dito at bumungad sa akin ang nakangiting mukha ni Braison.

He looked at me with his usual genuine smile that makes my heart skips a beat.

"Those stars shine for you, Lourica."

I didn't move or look away. I stared at his face, processing what he just said. Unti-unti kong ibinaba ang kamay ko na hawak parin niya.

"Tara na."

Binitawan niya ang kamay ko at nauna ng naglakad sa akin. Inabot kami ng 8 pm dito sa university because of my project, then he insisted to wait and walk me home.

Naalala ko yung sinabi niya no'ng sabihin ko dito na mali-late ako ng uwi dahil sa isang project. He overreact. Kakausapin niya pa nga dapat yung professor ko sa subject na iyon at mabuti na lang ay nagpapigil siya sa akin. Hindi ko alam kung anong gulo ang kahaharapin ko kapag natuloy iyon.

Napailing-iling na lang ako habang nakatingin sa likod nito na ilang metro na ang layo sa akin.

"Braaaisssoon,"

He looked back and I can't help but to admire his confused and annoyed face while looking at me, who never bothered to get up from the grass.

I pouted. "Help me." Iniangat ko ang dalawang kamay ko.

Bahagya siyang umiling sa akin bago bumalik. Hinigit niya ako sa magkabilang braso patayo.

"There. Tara na."

Naglakad kami palabas ng university. The guard even greeted us before asking why we're still here and Braison was quick to answer.

Napailing-iling na lang ako ng makita ang malisyosong tingin ni manong guard. Umiling pa ito habang nakatingin sa amin at sinabing "Ang mga bata talaga, masyadong mapupusok."

"-- and yes. Nagising na lang ako ng sobrang sakit ang ulo. Then one of my boy friends was hugging me from behind while whispering sweet nothings. Tinawag niya pa ako sa pangalan ng girlfriend niya. Imagine the horror?" He said while laughing.

"That was epic!" Our laugh echoed on the empty streets. I really love listening to his laugh because it is pure and genuine.

Napahinto na lang ako ng biglang manikip ang dibidb ko. I clutch my chest and almost fell on my knees.

"Lourica? Hey. Anong nangyayari?"

I closed my eyes. I bit my lowerlip. Please! Please! Not now. Not now. No. Please. The discomfort run towards my shoulders, down to my lowerback and I feel weak out of the sudden.

I'm just tired. Yes. I'm just tired. Huminga ako ng malalim.

"L-let's rest.." I whispered.

Braison let me sit on the sidewalk. Tumabi siya sa akin at kaagad na pinainom ako ng tubig galing sa tumblr niya. Bahagya akong yumuko para habulin ang paghinga.

Braison sat beside me. He moved his arms and put it around my arms as he pull me towards him and let my head rest on his shoulders.

I gently closed my eyes. Wishing it won't happened again when Braison is around. I don't know how long I was calming myself when he finally asked.

"What was that?"

"I'm just exhausted." Tumingin siya sa akin.

"Hindi ako naniniwala, Lourica. You almost fell on the ground and couldn't even breath properly." Mariing sambit niya sa akin pero hindi ako nagsalita.

"Does it usually happened?" I nodded.

"Minsan. Kapag nago-overwork ang katawan ko."

Iniangat ko ang tingin sa kalangitan habang nakasandal parin sa balikat niya.

"Ano pang nararamdaman mo?" I shrugged.

"A sudden discomfort on my shoulders that sometimes run to my back, arms, neck and jaw. It rarely happened though, kapag nangangalay lang ako. A chest pain, difficulty of breathing and such, I guess, it's normal when a person is emotionally or physically stress to experience those things."

Ipinilig ko ang ulo para tingnan siya na isang maling galaw. Our nose were touching and I can even feel his breath. Tumitig ako sa mga mata niya. It took me a second to finally smiled and look away.

"It's nothing serious.." I assured him. "I'm okay. I'm sure you experience those symptoms sometimes when you're stress." I laugh.

Tumayo na ako at muling tumingin sa kanya. Nakaupo siya sa sidewalk at nanatili ang mata sa akin. Tapos marahan siyang tumawa at tumingin sa kalangitan bago ibinalik ang tingin sa akin.

"Yeah. Pero pinakaba mo pa rin ako do'n."

We continue walking. We talked about things, about his plans once he graduate college. His dream house and dream cars. His dream life and when I asked him about his girlfriend he suddenly shift  the topic by asking how's my childhood looks like. That's when I realize something.

He seldom talks about her girlfriend. Ever since he introduced her to me two months ago, he never mentioned her again.

Minsan ay tinanong ko si Braison kung may balak silang magpakasal o kung may balak sila sa future and he hesitated. It was just a simple yes or no but he hesitated.

Natigil na lang ako sa pagiisip ng bigla siyang humarap sa akin. Isang metro ang layo sa isa't isa kaya napahinto din ako sa paghakbang.

"Tell me if you're tired. Tell me if something is making you drained or stress. Sabihin mo sa akin kapag di mo na kaya, tutulungan kita." He looked down, like he's trying to gain his confidence again.

"I don't want to see you in that state again." He whispered.

Sandali akong natahimik bago ngumiti sa kanya. Tinapik ko ang braso nito at niyaya siya na maglakad. "It's no big deal, Braison. Pero para matahimik ka, sige. I'll let you know."

That's when he smiled back and decided to messed with my hair and then we continued walking.

It was just me and Braison, along the empty streets, laughing our hearts out, under the million of stars.

I looked at him and silently asked the stars, can I just live at this moment for the rest of my life?

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Hey loves! Opo, marami pong wrong grammars and sometimes I'm not aware of it so please be aware of me. I'm still learning. Thank you and Godbless you.