If I See You Again

Chapter 13 Red Moon

Lance' Pov

"So tell me more about the Red Moon." I asked out of the blue.

Nakita ko ang biglaan niyang pagkatigil. Umiling siya. "Huwag mo nang itanong." Nag-iwas siya ng tingin.

Napangiti ako sa kaloob-looban. I miss her yes, and God knows how I want to be intimate with her right now. Kahit nakasimpling pj lang siya, I still find her so attractive. But getting to know her is my priority. I want to know her more. Everything about her. Every details of her life. It's sick, but I want to be part of it. But like I planned, I'm going to the basic. Pursue her, court her though I thought I already forget about those things. Cheesy things frankly speaking.

"No, I want to know." Sabi ko bago uminom ng tubig. "Ang sabi kasi nila... 'the beauty of an art is in the intrinsic value of the artist'." Tumikhim ako saglit. "I mean kung ako lang, it's really beautiful unang tingin ko pa lang. I didn't even know yet it was your work. But there's something more to it. May nais siyang ipahiwatig. And I want to know it from you as the artist yourself." Totoo namang maganda ang Red Moon. I mean all of her pieces are good. But Red Moon really caught my attention.

It's a painting of a girl standing by the seashore. Looking intently on the calm waters of the sea. There are birds on the air, beautiful trees behind her. And the setting sun by the mountains. It's clearly a sun not a moon. I wondered why the name says moon.

"I think you better go home Lance." She's really evading the topic.

I looked at my watch and saw it's almost 2am. She's right I better go so she can also rest already. May klase pa siya bukas. Oh how inconsiderate I am.

"Oh shoot! I didn't notice the time. I'm sorry may pasok kapa naman bukas. I think you are right, I better go so you can sleep already." I said but I am definitely getting my answer next time.

Natawa si Channel. Ahh, like music to my ear. Baliw na yata ako. Now I can say na masaya talaga akong nakita siyang muli. And I will do my best to keep us close. I hope she feels the same way that I do. This is not me at all. Hindi ko ugaling makipagkwentuhan sa isang babae, we'd always end up being on bed right away. Wala nang tawanan pang magaganap. Not even sharing of hot chocolates and teas. But for Channel, I am completely a different person. Oh what she could do to me.

"Buti naman napansin mo." Tapos agad siyang sumeryoso, kinakabahan tuloy ako. Paano kung sasabihin niyang ito na ang una at huling pagkukwentuhan namin ng ganito?

But natunaw ang aking kaba nang ngumiti siya. "Thanks for earlier again. And for making sure that I am home safely. Thanks for taking responsibility kahit na hindi naman na kailangan." Natawa na naman siya ng kaunti. But I didn't find any humor in it though. "Hindi mo naman ako girlfriend to look after my good..."

"I obliged myself." I cut her off. I faced her squarely and took her hand na hindi naman niya ipinagkait. "Look Channel, kahit hindi mo man hingin, I would always avail myself for you. Hear that?"

Mahina siyang tumango at payak na namang ngumiti. Hayyy... Baka malasing ako nito sa kanyang mga ngiti. I never thought I could be this corny again.

Habang naglalakad ako sa pintuan para umalis ay naisipan kong gawin ang isang bagay na dapat una kong ginawa the very first time we met. Back to basic, unang yugto, pagpapakilala.

Nang nasa pintuan na ako'y hinarap ko si Channel with my hands ready for a handshake.

"By the way, Lance Mikael Ramirez..." I said with a smile.

Bahagya siyang nagulat sa ginawa ko. Confused with my actions siguro ngunit kalaunay ngumiti na naman siya at tinanggap ang nakalahad kong kamay.

"Luisa Channel Rodriguez." She answered.