Two Ghosts (Summer Series #2)

Kabanata XLIV

Shaya's POV:

The peaceful waves and the moonlight filled the dark night. They, somehow are perfect with each other. No matter how sorrowful and empty the night felt, there'll always be light and joy. It was just like risking something, there'll always be an opposed counterpart of the price.

"Can I?" Napatingin ako sa kararating na si Pacifica. I nodded as she sat beside me, staring at the scattered celestial bodies across the sky.

"Mabuti, nakarating ka nang ligtas." sabi ko sa kaniya. I saw her turned her head on me. Nilingon ko rin siya.

"Why are you here alone? It's dangerous roaming alone, in the middle of the night—"

"Hindi mapanganib dito. Iba ang mundo ko dito, Pacifica." Agad naman siyang yumuko at tumingala sa langit.

"Kamusta ka?" tanong ko sakaniya. Nanatili siyang tahimik. I sighed before glancing at her.

"I am well. As you can see?" Tumango ako, I could already see the truthfulness in her eyes. She doesn't know how to lie... well at me. I suddenly remember someone who...

"Hmm? You look lost in your thoughts? Tell me?" I just stared at her.

"If you want me to keep waiting, better say it." I chuckled at her words.

"Pacifica Madeline Stavros, care to tell me who are you talking to?" She tucked her hair behind her ear, exposing her vintage alhambra earrings.

"I am talking to Shaya Raine FUENTEBELLA, an employee of El Pescador, residing in RiaDeVigo, Santiago Island, Bolinao, Pangasinan." she said then smiled proudly. Sinadya niyang bigyan diin ang apelyido ko.

"Parang nagintroduce lang ng candidate sa pageant, ah?" I was expecting a laugh but she didn't even move or even smiled.

"You're so mean." pagmamaktol ko. Kumunot ang noo niya.

"Mean? Ikaw ang reyna ng ganoon, why pick on me?" Biglang nagiba ang ekspresyon ko dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Pikon ka talaga, no?" My heart sunk when she called me that. Agad ko nanamang naalala ang isang tao.

"Are you thinking about the Devin guy?" May halong gulat at pagtatanong ang tingin kong iginawad sa kaniya. She waved her hand.

"Uh, hello? What do you expect? I wouldn't know about your whereabouts and all about your doings? Not on my watch." Her rose gold hair was sparkling , even in the night.

"Paano mo nalaman? You weren't here." Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay na para bang nagtatanong ako ng alam ko nanaman ang sagot sa katanungang iyon.

"What?" I asked her, innocently.

"Are you asking me that as a Fuentebella or—"

"Both." I immediately answered. She rolled her eyes for a second and then glared at me.

"Why do you keep treating me like you don't even know me? It starting to piss me off, you know?" Napaawang ang bibig ko. She's really that straight forward.

"Tinatanong lang naman kita, ah?"

"Okay, but the lady from the barge? She told me that you don't know a person whose surname's Valerio. I was shocked and at the same time...hurt." She quickly glanced the other way. I pinched her cheek but she didn't move.

"Wag ka nang magtampo, sinabi ko lang naman iyon para hindi na ako usisain atsaka wala ka naman talaga dito?"

"I was still hurt. I was thinking that maybe you officially abandoned me just like what you did to Sofia Lheaf." Agad namang kumulo ang dugo ko nang marinig ang pangalan na iyon.

"Hindi ko magagawa iyon sayo, teka nga. Bakit napunta doon? Pinaguusapan natin si —"

"Yes, the Devin guy. His full name is Devin Bradford Castro Ziegler, he's a Fil-Am who grew up in Waipahu and Honolulu. His father is part Filipino while her mother was a pure Filipina, as well as his sister and ahm,he's already twenty one, he studied his primary school in Punahou then he went to study for his middle school—"

"Enough." Hinilot ko ang sentido ko sa mga naririnig ko sakaniya. Tinikom naman agad niya ang bibig niya.

"Hindi ko naman tinanong kung anong alam mo sa kaniya." I glared at her. Her lips pressed into a firm line.

"I was just assuring you that I know him...very well. You seemed to doubt my skills after all." She just shrugged.

"So, you love that idiot?"

"Ano ba?!" galit kong sabi. She only chuckled.

"I never knew you are possessive over a person, regn."

"He's just an exception, hav." I replied. Ginulo niya ang buhok ko at tumawa.

"I heard everything. Did you really make up your mind?" Natahimik ako sa sinabi niya. Kuya Reynan and Kuya Reschian's words kept repeating inside my head.

"Hindi ko alam. The thought of him, leaving me, scares the hell out of me. But whenever I think of being happy with him, it scares me the most—-to think that one day, I'll just bring his life into danger."

"You are that scared? Pinangungunahan ka ng takot mo. What if he won't?"

"I'm having second thoughts about leaving, hav. And it's all because of him. Baka tuluyang mawala ang plano ko dahil sa nararamdaman kong 'to."

"I liked him than the Emmanuel guy, tho. He's such a dick." she said, rolling her eyes.

"Alam mo? Dapat iyon nalang una mong nakilala. At least, trouble wasn't here yet and you still have time with him—"

"Edi mas lalo lang akong mahihirapan? The more that we attach ourselves with people, the more we are afraid to lose them." She tsked as she messed her hair. Bruhildang babaeng to, hindi alam ang gagawin sa buhok niya.

"Ugh! Just be with him already!"

"I thought you wanted my plan to work as soon as possible? Eh parang bakit ngayon—"

"It's because you're just restraining yourself from giving in to him just because you're fucking damn scared because of what'll happen. I know you fear losing a someone who is dear to you, but shouldn't you face your fears if you really want your plan to happen as exactly how you planned it?" I stared at her for seconds. She has a point.

"But what if..."

"What if what?" she asked, her lips were slightly puckered.

"He hates me now? How I drove him away, and how I —"

"Seriously, that's what you're thinking? Oh come on, you gave him the worst treatment that a girl could give to her suitor but he was still there, persuading you in every way! How much more if he already knows that you love him?!" she squealed. Pino kong kinurot ang tagiliran niya pero wala man lang siyang naging reaksyon.

"What if it's too late? He's already leaving." Kita kong natigilan siya sa sinabi ko. Sabi ko na nga ba. Nagpakawala ako ng napakalakas na buntong hininga.

"This...is where you got to decide. If you just let him be, support him all the way or just be with your side...."

"And watch him suffer." Natahimik ang paligid sa sinabi kong iyon. She was frowning for seconds that confused my mind.

"I'll give you time. But I don't know how long. Just do whatever makes you happy. I'll be just right here." she grinned. Hinawakan ko ang palad niya.

"I don't know how to thank you, Pacifica. Ang dami mo nang nagawa para sa akin." She shook his head.

"You saved me from death. It was a borrowed gift that can never be replaced nor returned. These are just the things that I can do for you. " I just gave her a genuine smile as the golden multiple orbs flecked covering the tenebrosity sky.

I need to make the right decision.