Fall

six

six | paul

six | paul

"And where do you plan on taking me, Mr. Llanes?"

She was busy packing her things up when I entered her room and dragged her out in the open. Well, of course, hindi ko siya talagang kinaladkad. Niyaya ko rin naman siya sa maayos na paraan.

"Aren't you going to speak, Paul?" she sounded annoyed already as she tried to figure out where we're headed to.

"Just wait, will you?" I said smugly making her raise an eyebrow at me again. "Don't okay?" agap ko. "Kapag nagtaray ka diyan hindi na kita iuuwi sa inyo. Hep, I'm serious." Nag-attempt pa, e. Hindi niya ba alam na seryoso talaga ako? Kaya ko siyang buhayin, at kahit hindi na siya magtrabaho magiging maayos ang buhay namin.

She just stayed quiet until we reached the far end of the rooftop of the Hotel which happened to be a man-made garden. "What are we doing here, Paul?"

I glanced at her and it's frustrating to realize that she hasn't processed what she was seeing yet.

Pinasadahan niya naman ng tingin 'yung paligid. Mula sa red carpeted pathway to the grassy ground. Naglakad siya palapit sa mesa na naka-set up for two at hinawakan saglit 'yung boquet of yellow tulips na nakapatong doon. "May okasyon yata rito, baka makaabala tayo. Tara na." And there, she turned her back and started walking away.

Napakamot na lang ako sa ulo ko. "Minsan, slow rin talaga 'yang utak mo, Lira. Noon ka pa, e. Ang ganda mo sana." Kung narinig niya man 'yun, kaya kong depensahan. Pero dahil nakalayo na siya, I'm guaranteed she did not hear a thing. Pumakawala ako ng buntong hininga at sinundan siya. "Halika nga rito." Hinawakan ko siya sa braso at marahan na itinulak pabalik.

She frowned. "Paul... nag-eempake na ako. Ano ba'ng meron dito?"

Ayun na, umatake na 'yung hinanakit ko. Binitawan ko 'yung braso niya at tumalikod saglit mula sa kaniya. Nang makahinga ako ng maluwag, I faced her and she had a blank face again. "Do you have the slightest idea why I asked you to come here with me, huh, Lira Charmaine? Do you know why I wanted to spend the weekend with you? Do you even understand the reason why I suddenly wanted us to be together in spite our busy schedule? My goodness naman, Lee." I said in one blow making her flinch a bit.

She was shocked but she regained her composure in a while. Although there was still a big question mark written on her face, she tried to speak. "Bakit nga ba? Try explaining things I seem to not understand, Paul. Baka by then, maintindihan ko ang gusto mong sabihin."

I felt relieved upon hearing her response. At least hindi siya nainis na naiinis ako sa kaniya. I slowly guided her back to the table, pulled her chair and let her seat before I sat on the other chair on the other end of the table.

Without breaking my gaze at her lovely face, I picked up the bouquet of her favorite flower from the table. "It's been a long time na nag-a-arrange ka ng mga bulaklak para sa kasal ng iba, but you never received one which is intended solely for you for quite awhile now, so..." I slowly handed it to her, "...these are for you."

She smiled lovingly as she received the bouquet. I could see it in her eyes that she was grateful.

We stared at each other for quite a while without uttering a single word. I guess we both were trying to figure out the right words to say for the moment. Maging nang ilagay na sa mesa 'yung pagkain namin, hindi pa rin namin nagawang magsalita. It could have been awkward with any other girl but with Lira, it felt nothing but normal. Dahil sanay naman kaming tumahimik kung hindi kailangan magsalita, hindi na ito bago. Kaso, I was secretly wishing she would start speaking para mabawasan 'yung kaba ko.