Paper Hearts

KABANATA 35

A/N: Enjoy reading!

KABANATA 35

Maria

"Love, why are you helping my parents send me away from you?" Iritadong wika ni Archer saakin, "You're supposed to fight for me, for us..." He even said, dramatically.

It was 3 in the afternoon and I was helping him packed his things. Bukas na kasi ang flight niya pero hindi parin niya magawang ayusin ang mga gamit nito.

"Alam mo naman siguro na mahala ang pag-aaral, diba?" Sagot ko nalang sakanya ng nakangiti.

Ngumuso nalang ito, "But not as important as you are to me,"

"Archer naman 'eh, mag-uusap rin naman tayo sa Skype at babalik kana man dito diba?"

He rolled his eyes, parang bata na napanguso nalang din, "But I don't want to go back without you!"

"Archer." Wika ko sa pangalan niya, "Alam mo naman siguro ang kalagayan ni abuela, hindi ba?"

Tumango tango lang ito, "Of course, I know."

Ngumiti nalang din ako sa pagsuko niya ng argumento at nagpatuloy sa pag-ayos ng mga gamit na dadalhin nito bukas pauwi.

---

"I hate my parents," Wika nito habang naghahanap kami ng wine na pinapabili ng daddy at mommy niya. Nasa loob kami ng isang supermarket na malapit sa subdivision nila Archer at abuela. I was helping him pick some things his parents told him over the phone hours ago.

Sabi pa nga ng Mommy niya, hindi ka uuwi kapag hindi mo madadala ang lahat ng yan. And with his father's threat to ground Archer, napapayag rin nila itong pumunta ng supermarket.

Halos ilang minuto rin ang ginugol naming bago mahanap ang wine, Archer talked to the manager tungkol dun, mukhang ipapaship kasi niya papunta sa pilipinas ang mga nabili namin. Most of the things we bought was filled with wine with different labels.

"We'll ship them tomorrow, sir." Nakangiting wika pa ng manager kay Archer.

Dumiretso kami ni Archer sa isang restaurant na malapit lang sa Supermarket, he was cursing his parents the entire time especially his twin. Marami pa kasi silang ipapabili sakanya na sobrang hassle pa kay Archer.

"What do you want to eat, love?" Archer asked when we we're finally settled in one of the tables inside. The whole place was packed out mukhang swerte lang kami kasi may space pa.

"Kung ano nalang ang sayo yun din yung sakin," Wika ko kay Archer ng nagtanong na ito ng o-orderin ko. When the waiter arrived, nag order na nga si Archer para saakin. The thing with Archer at sa halos lahat ng lalaki ay mahilig sila sa mga heavy meals.

"Add salad," Wika ko nalang sakanya na kinakunot ng noo nito.

"I don't understand why you kept on eating greens. You're not a goat, Ana." Natatawa pang wika nito saakin.

Tiningnan ko nalang siya ng masama dahil 'dun, "Greens are healthy for the body,"

My cousins are crazy for vegan diet. Halos ipasumpa na nga ako ng mga pinsan ko ng makita akong kumakain ng bacon. They kept on preaching about killing animals habang kumakain kami kung kaya't medyo naaasiwa na ako sa pagkain ng meat.

"And the body needs all the carbohydrates and proteins it can get." Sabat pa nito saakin before asking the waiter for a bottle of wine. Halos mag-iisang oras na nang dumating ang order namin but it was worth it, the food was impeccable considering na sobrang

"I'll miss this," Biglang sabi ni Archer habang kumakain kami. He reached for my hand over the table at marahang hinahaplos iyon.

Napangiti nalang ako dahil dun, "Magkikita parin naman tayo, magkakausap."

Ngumuso nalang ito, "I want to be with you. Always be with you, love." He said while staring intently at me. His eyes were talking to me as if sending me a message how sincere he is.

I bit my lip suppressing the kilig feels Archer was sending into me, "My heart will always be with you, love..." I said smiling at him.

Archer smiled, "I know."

---

"So, it's good bye then?" Wika saakin ni Archer habang sinasamahan ko siyang maglakad patungo sa Departure area ng airport. Konting lakad nalang at nandun na kami.

"Ang drama mo talaga!" Natatawang wika ko nalang sakanya. Halos umabot na kami ng ilang minuto sa paglalakad na dapat ay segundo lang sa sobrang clingy nito. He would stop and hug me and eventually kiss me kahit may mga tao sa paligid namin.

"Isang salita mo lang, Ana. Isa lang. You could always ask me to come back, alright?" He told me when we finally arrived at the departure area.

Ngumiti nalang ako dahil 'dun, "Of course."

Archer let out a sigh before reaching into me. He opened his arms closer to me, asking for a hug. I hugged him back, closing the distance between the both of us.

Nararamdaman ko ang pag-tibok ng puso niya at kung paano ito tumibok pa ng mabilis at malakas para saakin. I could even smell his scent. His smell that I would eventually yearn for the days, weeks and months to come.

Archer was holding me to tight na parang bata na ayaw na ayaw pakawalan ang paborito nitong laruan. Kung paano ayaw nitong iwan siya ng pinakaespesyal nitong kaibigan. My heart melted and my eyes burned from what he was doing.

"I'm going to miss you, so much..." Naiiyak na wika ko sakanya and I eventually sob while hugging him. Archer was trying his best to console me. Napahinto nalang ako sa pag-iyak ng tinawag na ang flight nito.

Archer let go of me, "I love you so much, Ana. Always, always remember that even if I'm away..."

Napakagat labi nalang ako, "I love you so much more, Archer..."

"I love you most, Ana..." He told me before reaching for my lips and giving me a kiss. His lips moved slowly as if savoring this moment of kissing me. I kiss him back, gliding my lips across his. I let my lips lingered on his when he stop kissing me.

"Always," He whispered on my ear, "I'll always love you."

ĝCRC^