The Great Escape

Kabanata 20

Kabanata 20

First Stop

"Oh? Tarantado ayan na," said Calumn before he rose up from the couch he was sitting on.

Psalm and Mariette did the same. They stand before Ephraim who's about to take steps toward where I was. Humarang ang tatlo kaya hindi siya nakapaglakad papunta sa akin.

Psalm was crossing his arms while Mariette's hands were on her waist. Parehong nakapamulsa sa pantalon si Ephraim at Calumn.

I can feel the tension in between them. Masama ang tingin ng tatlo sa kadarating na bisita.

"Sorry, I'm late," Ephraim muttered as he put his right hand at the back of his neck. "I over-slept."

Calumn cursed and was about to give Ephraim a starting punch when I threw my phone towards the latter guy. Naiwan sa ere ang kamao ni Calumn at umawang naman ang labi ni Ephraim nang tumama sa balikat niya ang cellphone ko.

Gulat din ang dalawa kong kaibigan sa nangyari at hindi nakapagsalita. Nilingon nila akong apat, nagtataka sa ginawa kong pamamato.

Before I could even say a word, tears rolled down on my cheeks. I felt the tightening feeling inside my chest but at the same time, I also felt at ease after being anxious for quite a long time.

He's here. He came back. He's late but he came back. Ephraim is here.

Hinawi ni Ephraim ang tatlong taong nakaharang sa daraanan niya pagkatapos pulutin ang cellphone ko sa sahig. Tuloy-tuloy siyang naglakad sa kung nasaan ako at mabilis akong hinila para yakapin.

"I'm sorry..." he whispered.

I inhaled his manly scent. He was wearing a plain white shirt under his half opened black jacket, black ripped jeans and a pair of his worn-out Chucks.

And as he tap my back with his right hand gently, rain started pouring. Ephraim came in, like the rain, watering the withering hope in me.

"A-Akala ko h-hindi ka n-na darating," I mumbled in between my sobs.

I was hurt, of course. I waited for him and anticipated for his return on April 21. Pero hindi siya dumating.

Hindi ko masagot ang mga kaibigan ko sa tuwing tinatanong nila ako kung darating pa ba siya. Kasi kahit ako hindi ko alam kung nasaan na siya, kung ano ba ang ginagawa niya, o kung darating pa ba siya.

But right after I saw him entering my room, the pain was immediately washed away. For an unknown reason, I felt at ease upon seeing his face. He's here.

Hindi ko na napansin kung kailan lumabas ang tatlong kaibigan. Nakita ko na lang pagkatapos akong pakawalan ni Ephraim, wala na sila sa kwarto.

He put some strands of my air behind my ears as he sat down beside me. He sighed and gave me a swift smile.

"I will always come for you," he said, almost a whisper. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to make it on time. I'm really sorry."

Tumango ako sa kanya para sabihin na ayos lang. Ayos na. Ang mahalaga naman ay nandito siya. Dumating siya. Hindi niya ako iniwan sa ere. Iyon ang mahalaga.

That same night, we waited for my Mom to arrive. Doon kami nagpaalam na aalis at ganoon din sila sa amin.

I will surely miss these people. Wait for me. Babalik kami ni Ephraim at ikukwento ko sa inyong lahat ang stargazing adventure namin.

* * *

We traveled by land with his black Jeep Compass. I was just sitting on the passenger seat of his car but as I watch the busy streets at night, I felt as if I was in the safest place.