Between those Pages ||COMPLETED||

09

Chapter Nine

Hindi na siya nagreply, but I'm pretty sure she saw it already.

Why I'm even asking her to do me a favor? We're not that close.

It's just always me as her boss and her as my assistant. Nothing else.

Isang beses ko lang naman s'yang nakausap na hindi kasali ang propesyon namin. And except from that, laging tungkol lang sa trabaho.

Few minutes have passed and still got no reply from her.

What do I expect?

This isn't part of her job.

I heave a sigh, and then looked at my window.

May kumakatok. Baka 'yung mga bata lang na nanghihingi ng limos.

Binuksan ko ang bintana at laking gulat ko nang makita kong si Sean ang kumakatok.

How did she get here?

And how did she even know I was here?

"Sabi ko na nga ba, kotse mo 'to." She said and smiled at me.

Ilang beses kong pinikit at minulat ang mga mata ko pero nandito pa rin siya sa harapan ko.

"Doc, alam kong cute ako. 'Wag mo naman akong titigan, nakaka-conscious. Hahaha." She laughed.

S'ya nga 'tong nasa harapan ko ngayon.

Naalala kong malapit nga lang pala 'to sa condo na tinutuluyan niya. Tsh.

"Nakakangawit dito oh, kanina pa 'ko kumakatok. Kala ko ba you need someone to accompany you even just for the night?"

Bumaba ako sa kotse, at pinagmasdan ang kabuuan niya.

She's wearing a blue hoodie, board shorts, and a pair of white sneakers. And I must say that... she really looks cute.

"Ay grabe? Speechless? Ano ba Doc Nyx, ako lang 'to oh?" She pointed at herself.

Nagulat ako nang bigla siyang sumakay sa driver's seat at sinilip ako mula sa bintana.

"Tatayo ka na lang ba d'yan o ano? Tara na!" Sh exclaimed.

"Anong tara na?" I asked.

"Tara na, Ta-ra na! In English, let's go. Two words--"

"Alam kong niyayaya mo ko, pero saan?" I cut her off.

Ano namang tingin niya sa'kin? Grade One na hindi marunong umintindi ng Tagalog?

"Sakay na lang! Mukhang puyat ka oh, matulog ka na lang sa biyahe. Ako nang bahala." She said and smiled.

I just shrugged, but deep inside I feel that I just smiled too. I don't know why and how.

Sumakay ako at ibinaling ang paningin sa labas, naramdaman kong ini-start na niya ang kotse at nagsimula na kaming umandar.

May naririnig din akong kumakanta, maybe she connected to the speakers.

But I'm wrong.

I can't hear the accompaniment. She's the one who's singing and it's really beautiful.

'It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart

Without saying a word, you've light up the dark

Try as I may I could never explain, what I hear when you don't say a thing'

Every word she sang is like a lullaby to me but it's not enough to put me asleep for my senses are all diverted to her.

'The smile on your face let's me know that you need me

There's a truth in your eyes saying
you'll never leave me

The touch of your hand says you'll catch me wherever I fall

And you say it best, when you say nothing at all'

Akala ko itutuloy niya pa ang pagkanta pero bigla siyang nagsalita.

"I don't know what you're going through, but what I do know is that you're hurting inside." Napalingon ako nang sabihin niya 'yun.

"And I promise to be with you, whenever you feel that way." She added then looked at me.

"Why do you promise me that?" I asked.

"I know what it feels like when there's no one for you at that moment.

"Been there, done that. And I don't want another person suffering from that because it feels horrible." She smiled again even if her gaze is at the road.

I stared at her for a few minutes.

It feels like my left amygdala, precuneus and left insula function all together and release dopamine at that moment.

Why?

My mind was full of why's when my thoughts are cut by her.

"Andito na tayo." She said.

Lumabas ako at inilibot ang paningin as paligid. How did we get here?

I was just staring at her for a few minutes and then we're here at a hill-like place where we could see the city lights below.

Where are we?

"'Di ba ang ganda dito, Doc?" She asked and all I could ever do was to nod at her.

"I go here whenever I'm upset with my family, kapag ipinaparamdam nila sa'kin na nakaka-disappoint ako gano'n, after kong pumunta sa church." She added and that made me look at her but she's still looking at the view.

So this is her haven?

Why did she brought me here if it's her sanctuary?

"Nakaka-relax kasi 'yung view. And it's far away from the crowded places in Manila." Sabi niya ulit at napatango na lang ulit ako.

"Wala ka bang balak magkuwento? Ako na lang 'yung dumadaldal dito oh?" She pointed out.

Umiling ako, umupo naman siya sa damuhan habang nakatingin sa tanawin kaya't umupo na din ako sa tabi niya.

Napatingin siya sa'kin, but she didn't say anything. She's just looking at me intently and smiled.

I've remembered the song she sang a while ago.

The smile on your face let's me know that you need me

That line felt wrong because right at this moment, I feel that I need you.

There's a truth in your eyes saying
you'll never leave me

The sincerity of that eyes, making me believe that you'll always be right here, next to me.

The touch of your hand says you'll catch me wherever I fall

Even if you're just right beside me, I feel that assuring feeling.

And you say it best, when you say nothing at all

Because you're eyes say all of the things running in your head.

She's that transparent.

Whenever she feel sad, she cries. Whenever she's happy, her eyes glitter. Whenever she's sincere, you can see it.

And while I'm looking at her, I felt this unexplainable feeling.

Something my mind can't describe.

But is felt by my heart.