Fire Exit (Completed)

Chapter 32: Pinky Promise

Ari's POV

"Alam mo, Ari. Kumalma ka lang, dadating din 'yon si Gids. Wag ka ngang ano dyan." Naiiritang asik sakin ni Eaton. E pano ba naman kasi! Umalis sila ni Eric kahapon tapos sabi niya uuwi din sila sa gabi, pero hindi sila umuwi! At ngayon gabi na naman! Hmp!

"Wag ka ngang magulo!" Sigaw ko sakanya. "Palibhasa, wala kang pake sa mga kaibigan mo." I kidded and he laughed.

"Kung nakasama mo lang kami nang mas matagal, masasanay ka rin na ganito kami sa isa't isa. Si Maurice nga lang ang matino sa amin." We fell silent because of what he said. I took deep breath and let out a sigh. It's been two days since what happened to Maurice, hindi namin maiwasang malungkot syempre. Pero sabi ni Eric, hindi naman daw gugustuhin ni Maurice na nalulungkot kami. Hay. "You know what, Ari," He called out and I faced him. "First time magkaroon ng kaibigang babae ni Maurice, nung dumating ka."

I raised a brow. "Weh? Paano 'yung mga babaeng napunta na dito dati, hindi ba sila kaibigan ni Maurice?"

"They were friends, of course." Matipid niyang sabi, "Pero iba kasi yung bond niyo. Ah basta, sinasabi ko lang naman kung ano yung napansin ko."

We chuckled. Napa-buntong hininga nalang ako. Hindi ko talaga maiwasang mag-alala! Bakit kasi hindi umuwi sila Gideon kagabi? Baka naman napahamak lang sila diba. Hay nako. Ayan ka na naman, Ari. Kung ano ano na naman iniisip mo. Tama na yan ha! "Hoy Eaton," tawag ko, "Saan ba pumunta sila Gideon?"

He just shrugged which made me more pissed. Arghhhh! How come I didn't ask him where he was going?! Ayan tuloy nag-aalala ako nang sobra! Para matigil ako sa mga iniisip ko, umakyat muna ako at nagpunta sa kwarto ko. I've decided to declutter my stuff, wala lang. Mema gawa lang.

Nag-start ako sa closet at talaga nga naman, nakita ko pa yung pinakaunang dress na pinasuot sa akin ni Maurice nung unang araw ko dito.

"Ang ganda diba?"

"Uh.. oo."

"Osya, magpalit ka na!"

I closed my eyes as I brushed off the thought of her. Alam kong ayaw mo rin na sad ako Mau, ha. Pero nakakasad lang talaga. Naisip kong wala rin naman akong magagawa doon sa closet kaya nahiga nalang ako sa kama at niyakap nang mahigpit yung unan ko.

Natigil ako sa pagmumuni-muni nang may kumatok sa pinto ko. "Sandali!" I yelled. I opened it and I saw Eric. "Oh, Eric!" I exclaimed, "San si Gideon???" Pagtapos ko itanong yan ay nag-tingin tingin ako sa paligid.

"Pinapatawag ka nga niya. Tara sa garden." Saka siya tumalikod, agad ko naman siyang sinundan. Ah ewan ko ba sa mga lalaki na 'to palagi nalang nagwa-walk out. Jk. Pagdating sa may sala ay napatingin ako sa sofa, wala don si Eaton. I raised my left brow. At saan naman nagpunta ang mokong na 'yon? Lumabas kami ng main door at naglakad na papunta sa garden. Nakita kong lumilipad lipad na yung mga pixies kung saan saan. Ang gaganda nila.

We've finally reached the garden and my hand automatically cupped my mouth when I saw Gideon standing beside a table, it has candles and some foods on it.

"Here's your muse." Rinig kong sabi ni Eric. "Maiwan ko na kayo." And with that, iniwan na niya kaming dalawa ni Gideon dito. Dahan dahan naman akong lumapit sakanya habang nakatakip parin ang bibig ko. Naka suot din siya ng pormal. My god! Ang gwapo!

"D-did..." I stutters, "Did you make all of these?"

He let out a soft chuckle. "Yeah. But with the help of those two." And then he smiled. Ngingiti na sana ako nang maalala ko na pinag-alala niya ako nang sobra kaya naman hinampas ko siya nang malakas sa dibdib. "Aw!" He groaned, "What was that for????"

"You made me hella worried, you jerk! Nakakainis ka! I thought you said that you were going home last night but you didn't!" I yelled habang hinahampas parin siya, pero mahina nalang naman. He then caught my hands with his and stared deeply into my eyes.

"I went home last night, Ariadne. And you were asleep. I went out early this morning that's why you didn't get to see me. But I did go home." Then tumawa siya nang mahina. "Come here, silly." Saka niya ako hinila para sa isang yakap. I felt him kissed me on the side of my head.

I stomped my foot like a brat. "Eh! You could've woken me up and tell me you were going out! 'Wag ganon, Gideon. Wag mo na uulitin 'yon ha?" Para akong bata nakikipag-pinky promise dito but who cares. Ang saya kaya hahaha.

Kumunot naman ang noo niya dahil sa ginawa ko. "What's that?"

"Seriously?" I said. "You don't know what a pinky promise is?" I asked and he shook his head. "Argh." I groaned. "Here," Then I reached for his hand and held onto his pinky and intertwined it with mine. "This is a pinky promise. Magsasabi ka ng promise and then mag-gaganito kayo. Never ever break a pinky promise, okay?!"

Natawa siya nang mahina at ngumiti. "Alright, I pinky promise."

Naupo na kami nang magkaharap at sabay kumain. Kinikilig ako, sobrang appreciated ko yung effort na nilagay niya dito. Kaya naman pala hindi sinasabi ni Eaton kung nasaan sila kasi may paganitong ganap si Gideon! I stared at him for a minute. Mahal ko na nga talaga siya. Nalungkot ako sa naisip ko. I still have to go. I still have to leave this place. I still have to leave him..

"What's wrong?"

I went back to my senses when I heard him. Ngumiti ako at umiling. "Nothing. Everything's fine." I assured him. Maya maya lang ay tumayo siya at tinawag ang mga pixies. May sinabi siya sa mga ito pero hindi ko masyado maintindihan. Hanggang sa bigla nalang may soft music na pinapatugtog ang mga pixies. He then walked towards me and offered me his hand.

"May I have this dance?"

I bit my lower lip before accepting his hand. I got on my feet and almost gasped when I felt his hands on my waist. Ewan ko ba! I looked up to him and he gave me an assuring smile. "You look beautiful." And I think I just blushed on what he said.

"Will you now let me stay?" Mahina kong tanong.

"Ariadne..." he said in a low but firm tone. "We've talked about this."

"I know, I know." Nagmamadali kong sabi. "I was just, you know, hoping you might change your mind." And then I laughed nervously. Hinigpitan niya ang hawak sa bewang ko at hinila ako palapit sakanya. "Will you... will you come and visit me?" I took a gulp before finishing my sentence. "When I get home? Pwede mo ba akong bisitahin?"

He paused for a second. Nag-iisip siguro siya. He then smiled and it, somehow, calmed me down. "Yes." He said. "I'll visit you every once in a while."

I pursed my lips to suppress my smile. "Promise????" Na-eexcite ko tanong and he chuckled.

"Pinky promise." And with that, hinalikan niya ako sa noo and I closed my eyes, savoring this moment. I know this is going to be the last, huling beses na magiging ganito kami sa isa't isa. I just wish we could stay like this forever.