Morning Blushes

chapter twenty-four

Tinabihan ko siya nang mas malapit. I felt the electric shock again when he wrapped his arm around my shoulder.

"Yakapin mo nga ako. I am very lonely," he jested.

This guy is insane. How could he still crack a joke?

Hinampas ko siya kaya napalayo agad siya sa'kin. "Grabe, miss. Na-miss lang naman kita."

"Give your best friend a hug, miss."

Tumayo siya and also helped me stand up. Napangiwi na lang ako when he spread his arms wide. 

"Dali na, miss. Hug na lang. Kahit hindi mo na ako kantahan."

"Bakit ba?"

"Na-miss kita e."

I rolled my eyes and surrendered. I wrapped my arms around him. Para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig when he did the same. I am so afraid he's gonna feel my heartbeat. It's not the kind of hug that Calvin gave me when our play ended. Even Lily's hug is loose and friendly. This, it's tight but fits perfectly.

"Sayaw tayo. Nabitin ako nung Halloween."

I'm about to pull off but he hugged me tighter. I just sighed in defeat. I slightly rested my head on his chest.

"'Wag kang masyadong mag-aalala sa'kin, miss. Napapamahal ako sa'yo e." 

I took that as a joke so I pushed him away. "Stop drinking that energy drink. You're getting too high."

When he finally let me go, we sat at the bench awkwardly and stare at the wall. It's like my mind is connecting to what now?

Until he started storytelling.

"I lived in the metro across the bay. I never wanted to talk about my life before because I am a real shithead. Horribly. I befriended the wrong people, but I also met a few nice ones from the parkour community. Kaya nga hinayaan ako sa Basic Military Training."

"Yeah, I read that," I told him. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but parkour is a military obstacle training before the French military adopted it. Sabi there was an origin in a volcanic eruption where Georges something-- I can't remember-- when he formed a method I can't also remember. Diba?"

He's just staring at me so I raised a brow. He smiled and shook his head. "Tell me more."

"Okay so, oh, yeah, I remember the method already! It's La Methode Naturelle. Physical training in natural environment na ni-develop ni Georges Hebert--yeah, it's Hebert-- in 1905, I think. So, there's nothing so violent with what you're doing."

"Why did he develop that?"

"Kasi nga napansin daw niya na doon sa volcanic eruption, nag-evacuate yung mga tao by jumping, climbing, that resulted in his method."

"Miss, partner tayo sa thesis." He laughed. "Anak ng... paano mo nalaman lahat 'yon?"

I shrugged. "Nabasa ko lang. You were really creepy when you jumped at the rooftop so I did my research. That convinced me you're a freerunner."

He just snorted. "That was creepy?"

"What? I haven't seen a freerunner," I said in defense. "Tell me all about your freerunning ventures."

"I started when I was eight. Sabi nung naging instructor ko, prodigy daw ako." He chuckled. "I literally had ice cream once I mastered my precision landing. Because once I did, I know I'm about to jump on a thirty-feet high building next. Maybe that could save me in the future if a building falls off. Or maybe not me."