Paper Hearts on Paper Planes

Chapter 19

Jay's POV

We were busy renovating Sharon's room.

"Bakit gusto niya na parang langit yung paint at design ng ceiling niya?" Gab asked while nagpapaint siya sa ceiling.

"You know Sha, Gab. Sadyang gustong-gusto niyang tignan ang langit and the horizon, especially kung sunset at sunrise."

"Very Sharon talaga yung magiging outcome ng kwarto niya, pink na pink yung walls ohh.."

"Baka gusto mo ring pinturahan ng pink ang kwarto mo Jerrick." I joked.

"Haha, very funny Jay."

"Haha, very funny Jay." imitate ko kay Jerrick.

"Hindi talaga nakakatuwa, might as well stop it."

"Pikon mo naman masyado Jerrick."

"Come on guys, focus. We need to finish this before Chris and Sharon arrive." Claire said.

"Oo nga, behave nga kayong dalawa diyan." Gab seconded.

Naku sanib pwersa yung mga girlfriends namin ahh..

"By the way, saan ba pupunta yung dalawa?" tanong ni Jerrick.

"Who knows, basta ang alam ko gagawin nila yung mga nasa bucket list ni Sharon."

"Owwss.. paano naman nalaman ni Chris yung mga bucket list ni Sha."

"I took a photo of Sharon's bucket list at sinend ko kay Chris."

"Nice one Jay. For sure those two are having the time of their lives right now."

"True that Jerrick, and hopefully magkabalikan na talaga yung dalawa." Claire said. "I'm done to this side. Gab, need help sa ceiling?" nagnod naman si Gab as a response. Bababa na sana si Claire ng ladder when suddenly she missed a step.

She was about to fall and thank God nasalo ko kaagad siya. "Good thing babe, palagi kitang nasasalo kapag nahuhulog ka." sabay wink ko sa kanya.

"Bumanat pa talaga." with matching eye-roll tung si Gab.

"Huwag ka ngang bitter diyan Gab, may lovelife ka na di ba."

"So what naman. Back to work-work na nga kayo, later na yang landian niyo." and she continue painting the ceiling.

Chris's POV

"Saan ba tayo pupunta?" she asked.

"Basta, malalaman mo lang kapag nandun na tayo."

Pagkaabot namin sa tapat ng building ay, I can see her amusement. "Waahh... totoo ba 'to?"

"Yup, tara pasok tayo." I held her hands and we went inside the concert hall where nagpeperform sila ng ballet noon. This place brings back a lot of memories.

"It's been awhile na rin." she said, while scanning the whole place. "Not much have changed, how I missed this place."

"I know, and I kinda miss seeing you dance, so here." sabay abot ko sa kanya ng pair of ballet shoes.

"I don't know if I can still dance."

"Come on, I know you can."

"I'll try." at kinuha na niya ang ballet shoes.

Bumaba ako ng stage at umupo sa front row. I connected my phone sa isang bluetooth speaker. "Ready?" I asked.

"I guess." with that pinatugtug ko na ang phone ko and at the same time I took a video.

She's dancing the nutcracker. That was the first dance recital performance niya in this stage back when we were kids. Kumpleto yung buong barkada watching and supporting her.

She really love to dance, I can see it in her eyes kung gaano niya kamahal ang sumayaw.

Nagbow na siya after niyang sumayaw and she smiled at me.

"Sabi na kaya mo pa ehh... ang galing mo pa ring sumayaw."

"Akala ko nga nakalimutan ko na yung routine, ang tagal na kasi but I guess I still got it pa rin."

"Of course, ikaw pa. It's been 4 years right, since you stopped dancing ballet?"

She nods "Yup, anyways, thank you Chris."

"No worries, I told you naman na I'll help you with your bucket list." shoot, bakit nasabi ko yun, this was supposed to be secret.

"How did you know na may ballet sa list ko?"

"Aahh.. ehh.. kasi." she looked at me at tinaas ang isang kilay niya, I sigh, there's no escape from her. "I guess I need to tell you the truth. Kasi Jay took a photo of your bucket list and I asked him to send me copy of it. I hope you won't get mad at us, plus nasa bucket list ko rin na tulungan ka sa bucket list mo."

"Okay, let me see your bucket list then."

"No need to see it, some of list are highly confidential."

"You're so unfair, alam mo yun. Alam mo na yung list ko pero ayaw mong malaman ko yung list mo." sabay pout niya.

"Sorry, no can do. Confidential kasi yung iba sa list ko."

"Bakit, confidential rin naman yung akin ahh.."

"Okay, just a glimpse lang." I showed my lost sa phone ko in a second at binawi ito kaagad.

"Ang daya mo talaga." nagpuot na naman siya. Ang cute niya talagang tignan. How can I resist that.

"Okay, for the second time around, isang glimpse lang ha." at pinakita ko na naman yung list ko but before ko mabawi yung phone ko ay hinablot niya kaagad ito. She hid my phone sa likod niya. "Sha, akin na yan. Please balik mo na yan."

She just shake her head and smiled playfully.

Lumapit ako sa kanya and tried to get my phone back when we eyes caught hers. There I noticed how close our faces are. Because of the silence that's been filling the whole place I could hear my own heartbeat.

I want to say kung anong nararamdaman ko para sa kanya this exact moment, where our eyes locked at each other. In this place which is special to the both of us, where we shared our best memories together. Kung saan I'm slightly embracing her and time seems to freeze for a moment. But it seems like words can't get out of my mouth.

We were stuck in that moment and how I wish for it to last forever, kaso umiwas siya ng tingin at handed my phone back.

Agad ko namang kinuha yung phone ko from her.

"Aahh.. let's go, so where are we heading next?"

"Huh?"

"Di ba ikaw yung nag-aya sa'kin, so anong next plan mo for our friendly date?"

Wala na ba talaga siyang nararamdaman para sa'kin? Wala na ba talaga kaming pag-asang magkabalikan?

§§§