In Between (SC, #4)

Kabanata 43

Kabanata 43

Gusto

The cold winds bit my chilling skin. Sinuksok 'ko ang aking kamay sa university jacket na pinahiram ni Genesis sa akin kanina sa sasakyan. The sun already bid his goodbye to us. It is dark and no shades of fiery orange to murderous red color painted in the sky. Madilim na langit at ang tanging ang ilaw sa bangka na kumukurap pa sa gitna ng karagatan. Behind me, there are few Cabanas styled classically and simply. Kami lang yata ang nakaokupa sa isa sa mga iyon. There are no other people but us. Ang namamahala o mga nagtatrabaho ay maaaring nasa kanilang tahanan na upang magsaya sa darating na Pasko.

I sucked on a handful of breath and exhaled onto my palms. Binigyan 'kong init ang kamay 'ko sabay baon 'ko ng aking baba sa tuhod. Humugot muli ako ng hininga at pinagmasdan ang karagatan. Silence blanketed around us as tension slowly building up. I tilted my head to get a view of Genesis, staring wildly to the dark sky that peace deafening us both. He is lying on the thin blanket he bought somewhere here in the Samba Beach. Nakapatong ang ulo niya sa kanyang palad. He is blinking slowly that make his thick lashes almost grazing his cheekbones. He breathed gradually, too.

I'd bet it is too loud in his head right now.

Kinapa 'ko ang regalong binili 'ko sa naglalako ng mga souvenir. It is actually personalized and I put his name on it. A black paracord bracelet with glossy rectangle attached on it. His name already imprinted in it. Wala na kasi akong maisip na maireregalo sa kanya na hindi niya mapapansin na bibili ako. Dito'y hinayaan niya lamang ako magtingin-tingin dahil abala siya sa pakikipag-usap sa lifeguard. The Inflatable Island is closed. Ang tanging magagawa namin ay lumangoy lang at mag-enjoy sa katahimikan ng paligid.

Nakapa 'ko naman ang bracelet. I sighed into relief and looked away from him.

"Did Mase bring you to any beaches in the North? Or nagpunta na kayo rito?" he asked out of nowhere.

My brows met quickly. Napaayos ako ng upo upang makita siya ng tuluyan. Nanatili naman siyang nakahiga na may ngisi sa labi. He feigned his reaction like mocking me. Na parang wala naman siyang sinasabing masama. "Really, Ish? It is just a question."

"Right." I gritted my teeth. Annoyance is palpable on my tone. "Lumabas lang kami para kumain. There is one time, he asked me to go to Aqua Planet. It is not beach. Pero hindi natuloy kasi busy raw siya at hindi niya inaasahan." The memory is not that fresh to me. Parang dinaanan na lamang ito ng isip 'ko. There are no raw feelings toward that flash. Okay lang siya sa akin ngayon. Maybe, because I don't think of him anymore. All I know is...we're just really meant to be friends forever.

"He's really busy, Ish. Mom is really putting a lot of pressure to Mase. To study hard." His jaw clenched. His eyes stayed on the sky. Walang bituin. Kaya hindi 'ko alam kung anong tinitignan niya roon. "She wants him to achieve what she attained in Med School someday. Or, more than that. I don't know why Mase keeps on obliging our mother." He hissed after and breathed a loud groan. "Anyways, you don't have to know about that." His head whipped to my direction. His cheeks sharpened a bit as he consumed me. "Did you really like him though?" His question sent me to somewhere I couldn't see something I could grasp...to hold on.

"Uu," lakas loob 'kong sabi. Ang mata 'ko hindi lumiban sa kanya. Our eyes have the same intensity. Lalo na nang umupo siya upang magkaharap kaming tuluyan.

"He has that charisma. That girl would usually fall on that even he doesn't want to. He is likeable."

"But you are more..." I almost clasped a hand over my mouth. Nag-init ang pisngi 'ko sabay iwas sa kanya. "Nevermind." I hissed, realizing that my feelings would really sent me to hell with him-with Satan. My heart is almost on my throat. Hindi 'ko alam kung pa'no itutuloy ang sasabihin dahil unti-unting umaangat ang labi niya sa isang ngiti. "Stop grinning, Gene. It's annoying!"