Chasing You (On Hold)

Chapter 4

"You sure you don't want to come Gabbie?" Tanong ni Taylor sa kabilang linya. Nagkayayaan daw kasi sila ni Debbie na pumunta ng Boracay, just a week-stay lang naman daw, but I refused.

"Nah, I'm good Tay. Baka bibisita ako diyan some time around the week. I'll update you when I go there." Pagkasabi ko non ay narinig kong napabuntong-huminga si Taylor.

"Okay then. Ingat ka diyan. See you!" May kumatok sa pintuan ko.

"Alright. See you too!" Pagpaalam ko at bumaling sa kumakatok sa pintuan ng kwarto ko, might be my mom. Nang buksan ko ito ay napaatras ako sa gulat.

"Eon?!"

Paano? Kailan? Bakit?!

"Hi Isla." Nakangiting sambit niya. I came running into his arms and he tightly embraced me. Eon is a childhood friend of mine. Nagkakilala kami noon nang dahil sa mga magulang namin, they also live like a mile away from our house (in the same subdivision) at mas naging malapit pa kami dahil doon.

Pagkatapos ng yakap ay sinapak ko siya.

"Walang hiya ka! Bibisitahin mo ko dito sa bahay nang wala man lang pasabi. You were gone for almost a decade!" Sigaw ko, he just chuckled at my response at niyakap ulit ako. Tsansing lang to eh! Porket may nagawang mali nilalambing na ako. Napakawalang-hiya talaga!

"Bitaw nga. Ambaho mo!" Asik ko sa kaniya mas lalo pang lumakas ang tawa niya.

Yes, you heard it right. Isang dekada nawala si Eon. Not a whole eon though. Ha! See what I did there? Cringe. K.

So, to continue the story, ten years ago his family decided to migrate to Australia. Magmula noon ay hindi pa sila nakauwi dito dahil nagkaproblema rin sa visa nila, we do keep constant communication through skype or facebook messenger. Nung makagraduate ako sa New York ay nagtawagan rin kami.

Pero tsaka na yan, bumitaw na siya sa yakap at ngumisi sakin. I remained having a straight face.

"Wala ka paring pinagbago Gabbie, pikon ka pa rin." Pang-iinis niya, humalukipkip ako at tinaasan siya ng kilay.

"Kung pumunta ka dito para inisin lang ako, mas mabuti pang lumayas ka na. Leave the goodies and treats then leave." Sabi ko at tumawa naman siya, he immediately dragged me downstairs where I saw a medium-sized balikbayan box.

What in the world..

"Ano to--" Bago pa ako makapagsalita ay inunahan niya na ako.

"This is all yours, birthday gifts, and a graduation gift from me. I know, I know. Hindi ka naman nanghingi pero seryoso Gabbie, you're a very talented person, believe me or not. You deserve all the credit." I was teary-eyed sa sinabi ni Eon. How thankful am I to have a childhood friend like him?

"I.. thank you Eon!" I pulled him into a hug. His laughter vibrated from my back. Agad akong bumitaw at pinalis ang luha ko.

"And welcome home." He smiled at me and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

"Oh, buksan mo na yan. Alam kong atat na atat ka na, sa mukha mo palang." Ngumisi ako sa kaniya at tinulungan niya agad ako sa pagbubukas ng box. I accepted a lot of gifts from him, perfumes, book sets, a fresh pair of drum sticks, a customized guitar strap, a journal, and other more. Parang 18 lang ulit ako.

We both spent the whole afternoon catching up at nang gumabi na ay hinatid ko na siya sa labas ng bahay namin.

"Thanks for coming over Eon. And for the gifts as well, I appreciate them all very much." Ginulo niya ang buhok ko at ngumiti.

"Of course. By the way, may pupuntahan ka ba bukas?" Tanong niya at napakunot naman ang noo ko. As for all I remember.. Ah! May meeting ako with my music team at pupunta kami sa venue ng kasal nila Seah, and that's an all-day activity!