Mizpah: Jillian

Chapter 10

Vaughn and I sat on the sand. Magkatabi kaming tinignan ang paglubog ng araw sa dalampasigan. I wrapped my arms around my knees. The fresh breeze from the sea blew my hair.

I really like the sound of the waves crashing down the shore. It's like a music to my ears. It's calming.

"It's wonderful and I really liked it. Thanks for taking me here, Vaughn. I hope this would not be the last," I smiled, still glancing at the red orange sky.

"Hindi pa talaga ito ang huli. Marami pa tayong pupuntahan."

I glanced at him. I watched how the wind blew his hair and how his brows met because of the sunlight.

"Vaughn," I called.

"Hmm?" Still looking at the sky.

"What's your first impression of me? When we first met at the rooftop," I asked.

Tumahimik muna siya saglit. Sa tingin ko ay nag-iisip pa siya. He looked at me.

"Maarte at mataray. Iyon lang." he answered.

Agad nawala ang ngiti sa labi ko. Iyon lang? Parang hindi naman ako maarte at hindi naman ako masyadong mataray, not to certain extent.

"Iyon lang? Wala nang iba? Dagdagan mo pa," pagpupumilit ko sa kanya. "It's not even a good impression!"

He chuckled.

"Ano bang gusto mo marinig?" he said.

"Like nice, humble, friendly, mahinhin and such!"

"Sana ikaw nalang 'yung sumagot sa tanong mo," he said while holding his own laugh.

I rolled my eyes before I looked at the sky again. Huminga ako ng malalim.

"Ikaw?" He asked.

Napatingin ako sa kanya nang nakakunot ang noo.

"What's your first impression of me?"

"You looked like you were one of the tambays," I chuckled a bit. "Well, not in the physical aspect but through your actions. You were smoking that time and you drank the beer that I bought while popping its cap using your teeth just like what the men outside the apartment always do."

"But you're cool though," I continued.

Tumawa siya ng marahan.

"Bawing-bawi, ah."

"You also seemed like a serious type of person," I added.

"Ganyan talaga kapag hindi ko pa kilala ang isang tao. Minsan hindi ko nga pinapansin ang iba."

Ipinutol ko ang tingin sa kanya at itinuon ang pansin sa buhangin. I wrote my name on the sand using my finger.

"Are we friends?" I curiously asked while I continued writing on the sand.

Naramdaman kong sumulyap siya sa akin. Tahimik lang siya. When I finished writing my first and second name, tinignan ko siya.

"Never mind. Pretend you didn't hear that question," pagbawi ko.

Hindi parin siya nagsalita. I guess I ruined our conversation. Ibinalik ulit namin ang tingin namin sa kalangitan na padilim na.

I witnessed the magnificent sky and the sun that was completely vanished right in front of me. I smiled a little. Sunset is a proof that no matter what happens, everyday can end beautifully.

We were heading inside the food park to get our things from Rocco. After that, nagbihis na din kami ni Vaughn ng damit dahil uuwi na kami.

As much as I wanted to stay for the night since may bar pala dito, I can't do that since he need to work tomorrow. Ayaw kong male-late or a-absent na naman siya sa trabaho niya dahil lang sa akin.