Wanderers

Chapter 18: We have each other

My 4am alarm woke me up, and the moment I open my eyes, I saw Pao’s face next to mine sleeping soundly. I can’t help but smile as I stare at him. He looks like a baby that doesn’t care of the world when he’s asleep. He’s not even bothered of the noise of the alarm. I grabbed my phone beside me and turn off the alarm. Then when I faced him, he’s already awake and staring at me smilingly. I smiled back to him.

Hinawakan niya ako sa bewang at marahan akong hinila palapit sakanya. I felt those butterflies again. Pagkatapos ay nilapit niya ang mukha niya saakin kaya napa-pikit ako. But then he whispered.

“Good Morning Pearl.”

Unti-unti kong iminulat ang mata ko habang siya ay inihiga muli ang ulo mula sa pagkakabulong sa tenga ko. Akala ko kung anong gagawin niya kaya napapikit ako, bubulong lang pala siya.

“G-good morning…”

Tinitigan niya na naman ako ng matagal habang nakangiti at nakaramdam ako ng pagkailang.

“T-tara na, mag-asikaso na tayo.” Akma akong babangon nang bigla niya akong yakapin ulit at ngayon naman ay pinalupot niya pati ang mga binti niya sa akin.

“Wait last na…” he grabbed my hand and placed it in his waist.

Niyakap niya ako at hinagod ang likod ko. And then he just smiles and stares at me while our face are so near at each other.

“Hay Pearl what should I do…” He looked so worried.

“W-what do you mean?”

“I don’t know either…haaaaay…”

I smiled at him…”Whatever it is, let’s figure it out together. Okay?”

He nodded and smiled. “Okay.”

Bumangon siya at tinulungan niya din akong bumangon. Nag-hilamos kami at nag-almusal, pagkatapos ay lumabas kami at naglakad-lakad sa palayan.

He’s not saying a word while we are walking, he just holds my hand and smile and stare at me and the view. Hindi ako sanay ng tahimik siya, pero sabagay, mananahimik ka talaga kapag ganito kaganda ang paligid.

We waited for the sunrise as we stand there in the middle of the fields. Humarap siya sakin, hinawi ang buhok ko at inipit sa tenga ko habang nakatitig siya sa muka ko. Ako naman ay nakatingin lang sa mga mata niya na tila may lungkot na tinatago.

“Hey what’s wrong?”

“W-wala Pearl...”

“Com’on you can tell me.”

“I-I was just wondering... how have you been all those years we’re separated...”

I didn’t expect that’s what he’s thinking right now. He’s so concern for me. But I felt that sorrow again of those years he mentioned. Those years of isolation, haunted by unclear memories and nightmares, and being completely stranger in the world because of losing everyone I know and love.

My tears fell off my eyes. My heart suddenly aches, thinking of those again. These past few days my mind was away from those fragments, and I realized Pao kept me from those. He kept my mind occupied with his endless stories even some are nonsense. Hindi niya ako hinayaang magkulong sa mga iniisip ko. Ni-hindi niya nga ako tinanong o pinagkwento tungkol sa mga umampon sakin samantalang siya palaging nagk-kwento ng tungkol sa foster family niya. Una akala ko wala lang siyang pakialam sa kwento ko, pero ngayon na-re-realize ko na, ayaw niyang maalala ko ang mga sandaling iyon.

He wiped the tears in my face, and then embraced me.

“Sorry Pearl kung ngayon lang ako...”