Beyond the Horizon of Love (Ryker Series #1)

BTHOL [33]

Me:
I already landed na. Nasa hotel room na ako ngayon

Pinindot ko ang sent button para ma-send na iyon kay Tyler. I've decided to take a nap first dahil mamayang gabi pa naman pupunta sila Lei. I'm sure I'll be needing a lot of energy for tonight.

I have so many plans. There are many reasons why I forced myself to go home this year but I couldn't tell it to Tyler because he doesn't know anything about what happened in my life here. He just love comforting me without knowing what exactly happened to me.

I heard that she got released last week. And I am here to see it myself. I want to show her what I have achieved in the past three years. Her words really stayed in my head, and I wanted to prove her wrong.

"Avril!!!"

My whole hotel room was blown up when they arrived. Lei shouted loudly before rushing to me. She hugged me tightly as if I would disappear in front of her anytime.

"Bitaw! Ako naman!" sabi ni Brix habang pilit sumisiksik sa gitna namin.

"Oh please, Brix. Stop it!" iritang sigaw ni Lei. Bahagya niya pa akong nilayo sa kaibigan. Alanganin na lang akong ngumiti sa kanya. 

She was telling me about how they're life went after I left. Hanggang sa nagulat na lang ako nang bigla siyang humagulgol. Kaagad siyang dinaluhan ni Zayd. 

"I missed you! Please don't leave without telling us."

"Sorry," paumanhin ni Zayd. "Huwag kang mag-alala, hindi siya buntis. She just became more emotional after you left."

"Paano na kita mayayakap niyan kung umiiyak nanaman siya? That will feel illegal to me," nakasimangot na sabi ni Brix.

Ngumiti ako bago hinayaan si Zayd na patahanin na muna si Lei. Nang mabitiwan niya ako ay saka ako tumayo at lumapit kay Brix. Without saying anything, I gave him a tight hug. I missed them, too. I missed them so much.

"I missed you, Brix," I told him. I felt his hug tighten slightly. "I hope you're not mad at me."

He took a deep breath before breaking away from the hug. "Nakakatampo nga pero alam ko, at alam namin, na ginawa mo lang 'yon para tulungan ang sarili mo. Who are we sto stop you, right?"

"I'm really sorry---"

"Why are you saying sorry?! Kami dapat ang nagso-sorry for not being there for you!" sigaw ni Lei kaya naman bahagya akong napatalon dahil sa gulat. "You were suffering and yet wala man lang kaming nagawa!"

"Shush. You'll hurt your throat, stop shouting," marahang sabi ni Zayd.

Hindi ko alam kung paano tumahan si Lei. She almost cried for the whole thirty minutes at wala kaming ibang ginawa kung hindi makinig sa hagulgol at mga sinasabi niya. Nang tumahan siya ay pinagbihis nila ako upang pumunta sa apartment ni Brix.

"Wow, you're a good cook na," I told Brix nang magsimula na kaming kumain. He was the one who prepared our dinner. "And your apartment looks luxurious. Do you have a girlfriend already?"

Brix immediately choked which made Zayd laughed and handed him water before slapping him on the shoulder with a heavy hand.

"Girlfriend?! Ayaw ngang magpalapit sa mga babae!" Lei butt in. "Alam mo ba, maraming humihingi ng number niyan tuwing nasa flight kami. Mga foreigner pa! Minsan nga hindi ko pa pinapahalatang magkaibigan kami dahil sa akin pa lumalapit para mahingi ang number. Even our co-workers! Unbelievable, right?!"

"Talaga?" manghang sabi ko. "You don't want a girlfriend, Brix?"

"Well," tumikhim siya. "I don't think I need one right now. I'm fine being single."