Ilang oras na ba kaming magkasama ni Jho? Ilang oras na kaming nag uusap? Parang ang daming nangyayari in a span of a very short time. Parang so many seasons happened in less than a day.
And here I am with a girl I just met this morning. Here I am suddenly contemplating how this girl managed to give me a feeling so sudden, all at once, like a black hole swallowing me whole without warning. And I know there's no way out.
I never imagined something as crazy as this could happen to me.
Tumingin ako sa labasan ng Light house, wala pa rin siya. Ang tagal naman yata?
I sighed at napahimas ako sa noo. I shouldn't have asked that. What if I freaked her out? What if she decided to leave? What if----
"Sorry ang tagal ko ba?"
I stopped when I heard her voice from behind. I swear to God I felt like my heart was about to flutter its way out of my body. She came back. Oh what am I thinking? Of course she'll be back. Her things are here with me.
"A-Ayos lang." I stuttered. Damn.
"Nakakahingal yung hagdan bakit parang biglang tumaas?" natatawa niyang sabi ng tuluyan na siyang makalapit. "Or baka may amats na ko gaya ganon."
Natawa ako. "Nah. I think you're fine."
Umupo sya ulit sa tabi ko, ng maiayos ang sarili humarap siya sakin. "Ano na nga ulit yung tanong mo?"
Nakipagtitigan ako ng mga ilang segundo sa kanya tsaka ko yon inalis. I shook my head at ngumiti ng kaunti. "I can't remember eh. You're so tagal kasi."
Tumango siya. Of course she knew I was lying. But she didn't mention anything about it and played it cool. I might be wrong, but I can feel she suddenly relaxed after that.
Is it that hard to say No in front of me? I will accept whatever her answer naman. But who am I kidding? Of course I don't want to hear that No from her. So I think it's a favor for the both of us.
I shouldn't have asked a question with an answer I don't want to hear.
"Saan ka pagtapos nito?"
Napalingon ako sa kanya ng itanong niya yon. I suddenly glanced on my watch, it's almost 12 am. Matatapos na ang birthday ko.
"Ikaw saan ka pagtapos?" I asked her.
"Don't answer me with a question." natatawa niyang sagot.
"No." I shook my head. "That's my answer. Yung answer mo, yun yung answer ko. Saan ka pagtapos?"
Sinalubungan niya ako ng kilay tsaka siya natawa ulit. "Umayos ka nga."
"I'm serious. Saan ka pagtapos?"
"Sabi ko na sayo diba, babalik na akong Basco."
"Ah. Edi ako rin." Ngumiti ako ng malawak. "Basco."
"My flight's at 10 am."
I stopped. Then unti unting nawala yung mga ngiti sa labi ko. "Are you going back to..."
Tumango siya. "Uuwi na ko."
Natulala ako sa kanya ng mga ilang segundo tapos I looked infront of us. My heart sank.
She's going home.
"Ganon ba."
"Last day ko today dito sa Batanes." Tumingin siya sakin. "You should explore the whole province. It's really worth the time."
Binalik ko sa kanya ang tingin ko. "Come with me."
Napatigil siya. Hindi ko naman inaasahan sabihin yon sa kanya, bigla na lang yon lumabas sa bibig ko. But I waited for her answer at nakipagtitigan ako sa kanya. Siya ang unang kumalas sa titigan at tumatawang ginulo yung buhok ko.
