Hidden Desire

Moonlit Skies

We said goodbye to our fellow students at sa mga bisita ng department namin. Glai brought her car with her. She offered to take me home. I agreed naman.

"Mahal, pwede may dadaanan lang tayo saglit?"

"Okay." I told her.

It was getting dark, I watched as she drove along Sumulong Highway. The sky was moonlit, barely any stars but the dark skies are there, I spent time as a young kid, star gazing. It's what I always looked forward to doing. I have a strong affinity with the night time, I feel more alive in the stillness and darkness of the night. I watched as cars sped by, as we made our way to what seemed to be an old restaurant along Sumulong Highway. She parked the car at a small overlooking cafe. There were lanterns lit as well as candles, there were rose petals leading inside the cafe. My eyes widened at the sight, the cafe was all glass windows, suspended over a cliff and a beautiful overlooking view of Manila, I can tell someone may have rented the place. Which quite figures why Glaiza said we'd just drop by quickly.

"Tara Mahal." aya ni Glaiza sa akin. 

I alighted her car and we walked towards the cafe, never taking my eyes off the lanterns and candles lighting the little cafe on the cliff. Maganda ang Cafe at ang interiors nito looked like a cabin in the forest. It briefly reminded me of our cabin in Montana. 

We entered the cafe, the courteous staff ushered us into a corner table, overlooking the Manila Skyline. Tulala lang ako sa ganda ng view. Napatingin naman ako kay Glai. She only smiled as she confessed.

"Mahal, I reserved the place for us to have coffee, unwind from the hectic week you had." She said, her head bowed.

"Uy, ang hilig mong yumuko. Wala kang dapat ikahiya. Ako ang dapat mahiya, sobra na to Glai. I mean I don't need this, salamat sa efforts mo, kahit ikaw na mostly ang nagasikaso ng tour ng mga bisita natin from Chicago."

"Wala yun, Mahal. Alam ko namang busy ka sa Central, gusto ko lang malaman mo na mahal na mahal kita Rhian and I would give my everything for you."

"I understand Glai. But don't hurry, lalo pa ngayon na gagaraduate na tayo, I would still pursue my doctor's degree. I don't know what you're planning on doing. Just take it easy will you?" I said to her.

"Alam ko naman mahal, I will support you on that. I plan to take up my doctor's degree as well. Hayaan mo lang ako mahal, I want to do this for you." She said. 

"Hay, may magagawa pa ba ako? Eto na eh. Salamat Glai for your thoughtfulness, but please enough of your surprises ha?" I pleaded with her. 

"Rhian, Mahal. Hindi ko maipapangako yan. Gustong-gusto ko kaya na sinusurpresa ka?" She smiled at me.

"Sus! Nagpapasikat ka, wala ka namang kalaban na papasiklaban." I said laughing at her.

"Uy, hindi ako nagpapasikat no." Glaiza denied.

"Weh, hindi daw pero kung umeffort consistent ha?" Natatawa ko pa ding sabi sa kanya.

"Oo nga. Consistent lang talaga ako." She said winking at me.

"Ang cute mo Glai. Sarap mong isako at itapon sa ilog." I said as I reached over and pinched her on her cheeks.

We sat at the cafe, enjoying two cups of coffee, black for me and a latte for her. Talking about our experiences, opening up to each other. Ito ang isa sa mga bagay na minahal ko kay Glaiza, how she made me feel home, how she eased my aching heart. Being in a possessive and abusive relationship changes you, you come out more guarded. But she had no trouble scaling the guards I have put up, she patiently did so.

"Mahal ko, pwede bang magrequest na maisayaw ka ngayon?" She asked me.

"Kahit walang music? Adik ka din Glai." I said laughing at her.