The Antiquity of Us (La Fortuna Series #2)

Kabanata 24

Kabanata 24

Nothing

Hindi pa maliwanag ang kalangitan nang magsimula kaming mag-jogging ni Atlas sa Benavidos  Boulevard. Alas kuwatro y media iyon at dahil gaganapin na ang Mr. and Ms. LFU kinabukasan, libre ako buong araw upang magpahinga. 

Supposed to be, Atlas still had work because it was a Thursday. I didn't want to impose but when Tita Lucy learned about it, talagang tinawagan niya pa ako at ipinilit ang moral support ng kaniyang anak. Nakakahiya nga dahil sa tingin ko'y palagi akong pinag-uusapan sa hapag ng mga Ysaguirre, e.

She even called me anak! How weird is that? Atlas must've been selling me to them!

"Las, hurry!" Nilingon ko siya at hinihingal na sinenyasan.

We were at an uphill stairs that's why it was more challenging to jog. Nakasuot ako ng isang itim na sports leggings na pinares ko sa itim na running shoes at puting sports bra. Atlas on the other hand wore a gray jogger shorts, black Nike shoes, and a white hoodie. I smirked at myself. Why do we look like a fit Instagram couple in our matching clothes?

Tumigil siya at bahagyang inayos ang nagulo niyang buhok. "Why are you in a hurry? We're not running late in class. Wala rin tayong ibang kasabay dito kaya wala ka namang kailangang maunahan."

I shrugged. "Wala lang. I just want it fast."

"I'll take note of that," he said and chuckled dirtily. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin ngunit mas lalo lang siyang natawa. He winked at me. "Don't worry love, I love doing it fast, too."

"Ang bastos mo!"

"What? I'm talking about jogging. Ano bang pinag-iisip mo diyan?"

I pouted at his menacing grin. "Just hurry up, will you? I want to reach the top before sunrise!"

"It's still 4:40 AM." Sinuyod ng mga mata niya ang kabuuan ng tanawin. Napabaling din ako roon. "Calm down and enjoy the view, princess. The top can wait."

We were at a steep slope that's why we were able to see the whole plains below us. Makikita mula sa puwesto namin ang kabuuan ng Suprema Lake, ang jogging tracks, at ang mini-park ng Benavidos Boulevard. May mga kakarating lang ding mga tao ngunit hindi iyon ganoon karami. In fact, it was as if we owned the place for ourselves.

As I stared at the now miniature trees from above, I wondered if it was also the same view that successful people had. Ano kayang pakiramdam na maging nasa tuktok? Would it be as breathtaking as this? Would it be as worth it as this? Kapag ba ako na ang kinoronahan bilang Ms. LFU bukas ng gabi sa harap ng buong La Fortuna, magiging ganito rin ba ako kasaya?

A hopeful smile crept on my face. Sana. 

Sana.

"I told you we should slow down. 'Yan tuloy at kailangan pa nating maghintay ng sampung minuto bago ang pagsikat ng araw," he said as he sat on the ground near a cliff. Tinapik niya ang espasyo sa gilid niya at nilingon ako. "Come sit here, babe."

Sinunod ko ang sabi niya. "I don't really mind. Mabuti nga 'yon dahil maaabangan natin ang eksaktong pag-akyat ng araw, e."

"Well, you're right. Wala rin namang problema sa 'king maghintay basta kasama kita."

Pabiro ko siyang siniko kasi nagpapaka-presko na naman siya. He chuckled before putting his arms over my shoulders and pulling me towards him. Wala nang espasyong namagitan sa 'min nang ibalot ko rin ang kamay ko sa bewang niya. 

Dahil nasa mas mataas kaming parte ay hindi lamang ang Suprema Lake ang makikita kundi pati na rin ang mga matatayog na mansiyon sa La Fortuna. The pointed towers of these manors looked like they wanted to pierce the heavens above. Nahaluan ang tanawing 'yon ng maraming berdeng puno, kalsada sa gilid, at iilang sasakyan. It looked like a view from a storybook starting with an 'In a faraway kingdom' line.