Chasing Wildness (Chase #1)

Chapter 8

"Nicka."

I was caught off guard with his name calling.

Nandito kami ngayong sea side. We just finished eating and dito kami napadpad pagkatapos.

Napaisip ako.This is the first time he called me with that nickname after niyang banggitin sa Sherwood on how we'll be addressing each other.

"Hmm?"

I am looking at the boats afar. Ang ganda kasi ng ilaw. Nakikisabay pa sa bilog na bilog na buwan.

Siya naman, nasa tabi ko lang, looking at the boats too.

"Why chose Manila for studies?" My mind went confused with his question.

Ang seryoso kasi. He can go asking with my favorites pero ito pa talagang napili niya. And this is our first-getting-to-know question this evening.

Napairap ako sa isip.
Puro titigan kasi kanina. I mean siya lang pala.

Napabuntong hininga muna ako bago sumagot.

"Besides the reputation of schools here, I am here for freedom."
I smiled after mentioning freedom. Sad smile.

"Nung nasa probinsya kasi ako, ang daming mga mata. It's like as if you are not required to do things silly. You must be someone looking like perfect though wala naman talagang perfect. You must be a role model for your pamangkins kasi walang nang aasahan sa mga pinsan kasi maagang nagsipag-asawahan." I laughed.

"Well, hindi naman lahat, tatlo pa pala kaming babaeng medyo matino, I think." I laughed again. I can feel him just staring at me as if telling me to continue.

"Graduate na 'yung isa. Education. The first woman to graduate sa aming magpipinsan. Pasado na rin sa board. First take. One reason why I am pressured. Ako kasi ang susunod. May trabaho na rin siya pero dun din sa'min. Ewan lang kung magma-Maynila. 'Yung isa naman SHS pa lang pero balak din 'atang mag-educ."

Humarap ako sa kanya. Our eyes met.

"Ikaw mind sharing some basic information. Pangalan, course, and school mo lang kasi alam ko."

He changed his eyes' direction before he started talking. Sa dagat na ulit.

"I have two older brothers. I'm the youngest in us three. We have one sister, the real youngest among us." The conversation went well. Matino rin naman pala siyang kausap.

I found out na nagstop pala siyang ng pag-aaral when he was still in grade school due to car accident. Isang taon din siyang coma bago nagising. Tapos isang taon din bago nakarecover. Poor him, he missed two school years because of that sad incident. Dahil dun, same kami ng year level.

While he was opening up, napansin ko lang na 'di siya masyadong nagkukuwento patungkol sa mama niya. Well, whatever the reason is, I have no right to question.

I looked at him when he stood up. Nakaupo kasi kami while facing the sea. There was a half meter dividing our gap. Dalagang Filipina tayo ey.

He looked at his watch before talking.

"Let's go before it closes. You have no classes tomorrow right?"

Napakunot ako sa tanong niya nang makatayo.