Twenty Nine Wills

PROLOGUE

PROLOGUE

The sun sinks below the horizon. I can feel the evening breeze, cool against my skin. The last bits of color fades into darkness. It feels so peaceful, quiet, and safe up here, here in the ferris wheel. Maingay sa buong paligid, iba ibang tunog ang maririnig. Pero para bang may nagclick ng Mute Button sa remote at natahimik na lahat. Or should I say I forget the world for a while when I'm with him, rather?

A loud, alternating "boom" and "crack" sound was heard from a distance. One moment the sky was empty, then it was filled with splatters of light and colors on the other. 

Hay, Fireworks...

"Just like your name" he uttered without sparing me a glance. His eyes were also stuck on the mesmerizing sight.

I gave him a quizzical look.

I think he got what my stare meant, so he chuckled a bit and then continued, "Hello! I'm Iris Iliana Sarmiento!"

Oh, there. He's mimicking my line. Right. I glared at him, trying hard not to laugh.

"Iris means playing with colors while Iliana means light!" he narrated using a high pitched gay  voice.

Okay, gets ko na. "Lights and colors. Fireworks. Ang corny mo." Ginulo ko buhok niya habang tumatawa.

"Corny daw pero tumawa siya."

"Edi hindi na" I crossed my arms and faked a frown. Ang hirap magkunwaring galit lalo na kung nasa harap mo yung taong nagpapasaya sayo.

"Kikilitiin kita sige ka." sabi niya habang taas baba yung kilay niya.

"Wala akong kiliti" pagtataray ko kunyari

"Talaga?" he smiled foolishly and and buried his fingers in my waist. Ang fail ko magkunwari grabe. Sobrang nakiliti ako na parang bulateng binudburan ng asin. I was caught off guard and burst out laughing.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Tama n-- HAHAHAHAHAHA TAMA NA!" maluha luha na ko sa kakatawa. "Pag ako nahulog dito sa ferris wheel..."

"Uunahan kita sa baba at sasaluhin kita."

Warmth shots up in my cheek. I'm not the blushing type, pero bat nagkakainstant blush on ako sa lalaking to?

"Uy kinikilig."

Kung ano man sinabi ko kanina, binabawi ko na. Lumalaki ulo eh.

"Ang hangin. Grabe. Anlamig na oh. Woooooh"

To my surprise, he hugged me. "Oh ayan na. Malamig ba kamo?"

Eto na naman po. Pakiramdam ko pwede na kong piratin at gawing ketchup.

In this position, I can hear his heartbeat. The evening air, the ferris wheel ride, the fireworks, the hug, the stars, the heartbeat. Tonight, everything's perfect.

Matagal na kami sa ganung pwesto kaya ako na ang unang kumalas, pero hingpitan niya lang lalo yung hug niya galing sa likod ko. "Last na to, 5 minutes."

"Mamimiss kita" words spilled out of my mouth without permission

"Ayun, umamin din" pagbibiro niya

Humarap ako sakanya pero hindi parin siya bumibitaw sa backhug niya sakin, "Puro ka biro eh" I pinched his nose, pero mahina lang. "Seriously, I'll miss you."

"Totoo?" ngumiti siya ng malapad, yung parang ngiti ng bata pag nalaman niyang meron siyang pasalubong na laruan.

"Oo nga" I assured him "Babalik ka ha?"

"Oo naman! Babalik ako para sayo. Atsaka hindi naman ako magtatagal dun. Ikaw ha, sagutin mo na kasi ako."

"Gusto mo sagutin na kita? Edi bumalik ka agad" I extended my pinky finger "Pinky promise yan ha?"

He intertwined his pinky with mine, "Pinky, Bluey, Reddy Promise!"

"Ang corny mo talaga" I said while laughing at his lame joke.

"Atleast napapasaya kita" He pulled me closer  and kissed me on the forehead, just in time as our ride lands safely on the ground.

"Hintayin mo ko, ha?"