Right Where We Left

14 - Say It Again

DESIREE

Somebody pinch me.

I seriously thought everything was a dream until I felt the waves touch my feet while I was running.

Oo, tumakbo ako. Hindi ko alam yung gagawin, hindi ko alam yung sasabihin, kaya tumakbo ako. I ran northwards, away from the crowd and the guy who told me he loves me.

Huminto lang ako nang maramdaman kong hapong-hapo na ako sa paghinga. I couldn't tell how far I went until I looked on my right and saw a familiar house.

Nasa tapat na pala ako ng isang bahay na naging bahagi ng kabataan ko. Naalala ko pa noon, tinatawag namin 'tong "Bahay ng German", simply because German yung owner. Big thing pa kasi noon kapag may mga foreigners na nagpapatayo ng bahay dito sa may amin. Theirs were relatively huge, and would often be built in front of the sea.

I never got the chance to see what's inside, but this house is definitely a landmark for a remarkable memory.

Umupo ako sa buhanginan at humarap sa dagat. Hindi ko alam kung coincidence ba na dito ako napatigil, as if fate was reminding me that I can never run away from him.

This very same place where I'm seated, was the place where Kib and I first met. Yun bang kung may picture lang kami noon, kuhang-kuha sa likod yung "Bahay ng German".

I closed my eyes and reminisced the faraway moment that felt like within arm's reach now.

Hindi ko alam kung gaano ako katagal na nakapikit, pero pagmulat ko, nagulat ako nang makita kong katabi ko na yung lalaking nasa isip ko.

The thing about the beach, it's hard to tell kung may paparating because their steps wouldn't make any sound in the sand.

This was like a reenactment of our childhood scene. Only this time, magka-kilala na kami.

"Ang bilis mo palang tumakbo.", I heard him say. "You have high endurance, too."

I took a deep breath, trying to compose my thoughts. Hindi talaga ako sanay sa mga ganitong on the spot eh. Either wala akong masabi or paulit-ulit lang yung words na nasasabi ko. I'm usually the one who asks questions, not the one who answers.

I was surprised when Kib reached for my hand and placed something in it.

It was a piece of Potchi candy, of all things.

This scene is surely getting more and more familiar as it unfolds.

"Bakit mo ako binibigyan nito?", inunahan ko na siyang magtanong.

"Diba favorite mo yan?", he asked back.

I nodded my head in response.

"Naging favorite ko 'to dahil sayo.", I revealed.

"What do you mean?", Kib asked. There was a hint of surprise in his eyes.

Siguro ito na yung best time para malaman niya. I decided to tell him the story. Our story.

"Noong six years old ako, napadpad ako dito.", I began. "Umiiyak ako nun. Nawawala. I was so sad that day kaya tumakas ako samin. That was the day my father flew to Taiwan for work."

Lumingon ako kay Kib at nakita kong nagulat siya. Naalala na rin kaya niya?

"And then a boy came and sat beside me.", I continued, shifting my gaze back to the sea. "Singkit din siya, tulad mo.", I let out a chuckle. "Tapos napansin niyang umiiyak ako. Alam mo ba kung anong ginawa niya?"