Caressing My Perplexed Stella [HS #3]

CHAPTER 35

Lumubog na ang araw, at parehas naming alam na kailangan niya nang umuwi. Siguro ay kapag nagising ako bukas, hindi na kami parehas ng lupang kinatatayuan. Ngayon ko lang hiniling na sana ay hindi na dumating pa ang bukas.

Hirap itong humiwalay sa akin, ni ayaw pang bumitaw. "Lennon, you need to rest. Maaga ka pa bukas, check your things too." Ngunit mas humigpit pa ang yakap nito. The living room fell into silence, no one comes in. Not even, Aster.

He kissed my shoulder blade, I looked up to him and he stared at me with his bloodshot eyes. I caress his cheeks, he tilted his head aa he gently kiss my palm. "After two years, Dale. Dalawang taon lang," I laugh a little as I slowly nodded.

"Two years, then a month break. Two years again, and a month break. I'm fine with that, dalawang taon tapos magkikita na tayo. The second time you go back, I'm probably done studying and just reviewing for the boards."

He smiled and embrace me again, sa tingin ko ay hindi na matatapos ito.

"Six in the morning, I'll be leaving..." Ngumiti ako at tumango, hindi ako sigurado sa ngiti na iyon. "Don't wake up until six," He kissed my forehead as I closed my eyes. "And don't cry," You won't see it anymore, even if I cry a river. "And always remember that I love you, that won't be swayed."

"Alright, I'll keep that in mind. I love you,"

After an hour of holding each other with not even an inch of distance, he finally let go of me. Hinatid ko siya hanggang sa labas, muli niya akong tinanaw bago pumasok sa loob ng sasakyan. Ngumiti ito sa akin, kumaway naman ako. Tuluyan na siyang pumasok, at ilang sandali lang ay tuluyan nang humayo. Nanatili akong nakatayo roon, hanggang sa hindi ko na siya matanaw.

"Reach for the universe," I uttered in the thin air. Lumakad na ako't isinara ang gate, nang maisara ang main door ay agad na nanlabo ang aking mata. Hanggang sa napayuko na lang ako't dinama ang katahimikan.

You are here, until you weren't.

The morning came, I purposely woke up an hour before of his flight. Alas singko, hinarap ko ang panibagong umaga at tumingala sa langit. Having an ounce of hope of catching his plane crossing the heavens, I remained sitting in a rattan chair to wait for it. It was surreal, I know I wouldn't be able to spot it from the clouds yet I stayed there until the sun is fully up. Hindi tumulo ang luha, pero mabigat ang aking dibdib.

Bumalik ako sa kwarto, agad akong nagtipa ng mensahe para sa kanya. Alas syete, hindi niya naman malalaman.

To: My Cosmos

Good Morning, I just woke up. Have a safe flight, I love you!

I smiled after.

A week after Lennon left, Kuya Meteo went back to Spain too. I smiled at him, we had a good negotiation. Niyakap niya ako't tinapik ang aking balikat. "You did well," He uttered. "I'll be watching him, don't worry too much." Humarap ako sa kanya at tumango. Tinupad niya ang pangako, he didn't touch the thing he supposed to not touch at all.

Parehas na magaan ang aming loob sa isa't isa matapos magpaalam. Siguro'y matapos ang dalawang taon, tsaka na lang din namin siya makikita. Parang pabor ang tadhana sa kanila ni Lennon, ayaw silang paghiwalayin.

The first months of college was kinda hectic, aside from studying, there are a lot of activities for freshmen! The engineering department is alway fired up, I didn't know college can also be full of competitiveness. No one warned me about it, anyways! But I didn't expect it to be easy, college is never easy. I've me a lot of people, made friends and good bonds with them. But no one can ever replace the Marmoris, we go out for a brunch sometimes. We laugh and narrates stories, just like the good old days, the only difference is that we need to keep up with everyone's schedule.