Gone With The Wind ✔️

four

Elizabeth

19 days left...

It's almost 9 am when I woke up. I took a quick bath and fixed myself. I wore a white cotton crochet eyelet waist tie romper and paired it with some nude ankle strap sandal. I braided my hair and left some baby hairs beside my temple.

I had a mirror shot before getting my bag and securing the room. Halos mapatalon ako sa gulat nang pagbukas ko ng pinto, biglang bumungad sa'kin si....nga pala di ko alam pangalan niya. Okay then, I'll call him random-crying-guy. Just kidding.

He's leaning against the wall, hands on the pockets, right leg bent and resting with his left calf. He's on a white plain t-shirt and he paired it with some black ripped jeans and his Nike shoes.

I locked the door and faced him with a bewildered expression. Bakit siya andito?

I slightly bent my left knee and made my arms crossed across my chest. 

"Are you waiting for me?" I questioned with a small gesture. I pointed my index finger on him when I said the 'you' word, and my finger shifts on me when I said the 'me' word.

Without hesitation, he nodded and chuckled. I raised a brow as I gave him an amused expression.

"So I surmise we already have a place to go today?" I jested. But I was surprised when he nod at me, telling my joke's right. My mouth became half open out of incredulity and mirth.

"Handang-handa?" I uttered with small laughter.

He moved his broad shoulders up and down, as he chuckled and scratch his temple.

"It's better to be ready than to waste time."

I nodded with amusement. Woah, I think this man is good at teaching life lessons, huh?

"Yeah, kaya tara na. Sayang oras." Aya ko at pinakita ang oras sa screen ng phone ko. He just laughed at me and then we started walking.

When we finally reached the ground floor, that's when I remembered that I forgot to ask him about the place. Baka kung saan ako dalhin nito.

"Where's that place, by the way?" I questioned. Napalingon siya sa'kin saglit at tsaka ngumiti.

"Dog Welfare."

My eyes widened as glee and excitement draw in me. Dog Welfare?! It's been a while since I rub shoulders with dogs. I miss dogs!

I hopped like a kid as I began to drag him outside the hotel. My knees can't avoid but to shake because of excitement. Para akong tanga na aligagang pumara ng taxi.

"You like dogs?" he queried.

"No! I love them!"

The drive wasn't that long so after 5 minutes of ride, we finally reached the spot. When we entered, a girl and boy with a uniform welcomed us with a jovial greeting.

"Dito tayo." Yaya niya sa'kin. Tumango lang ako't sumunod sa kaniya. We turned on a left path, then turned right. While walking, I also took some pictures of some paintings that was hang on the wall.

I starting to hear barks too and I guess we're already near.

"Aray!" I complained. Nabangga kasi ako sa likod niya dahil bigla siyang huminto. I heard his laughter that's why he received a glare from me.

But my glare eventually halted when a puppy suddenly licked my ankle. I almost got this kicked because of surprise.

Glad, I didn't.

My eyes shines as I squatted and carried this small pup in my arms.

"Is this harmless?" I asked him.

"Yes."

Niyaya niya pa akong tuluyang pumasok. The place is really big and I smiled widely as different cute dogs welcomed my eyes. There are people too playing around with some dogs.

Halos tumili ako ng dumami ang mga asong nagsi-puntahan sa'min nitong kasama ko.

"I guess they already like us." He commented with a smile and squatted to pat their heads. He looked so cute with the puppies so I immediately took pictures of them.

I stared at my phone's screen as I swipe to look at my shots of them. They look good for Instagram.

When he finally stood up, I immediately turned my phone off and smiled at him.

"Doon tayo." He requested and gestured to those fence not far from us. It's where we can comfortably sit and play with dogs. While we're marching towards the place, the dogs keeps on following us also until we finally went it. I sat on a pink mat and he sat in front of me.

"Wait, wala bang bayad dito?" I confusedly asked. He shook his head and started carrying a small Afador in his hands. Bigla kasi itong humiga sa hita niya kaya kinarga niya ito.

"Except if you'll adopt." he answered me and started playing with the dog.

"Really?" I giggled.

On the other hand, a Shih Tzu with a ribbon hair tie, started tapping his paws on my elbows. I smiled as I held her mouth and placed my phone's camera in front of her face to capture her. She flinched when she heard the click that's why I immediately said sorry and petted her.

"I want to adopt a dog." I stated that made him look at me.

"Why won't you? You look so in love with dogs and I'm sure you're a great owner."

I chuckled with his words. I'd love to, but I can't. You see, if I'll adopt a dog, eventually they'll be left alone. I don't want to break dog's heart. I can't adopt because I know in any minute, I might leave them. And if that'll happen, who will take care of them? Who'll pet them? I don't want to leave them with any random people.

"I can't." I replied to him. His brows met as his palm is caressing the Afador's tummy who's already in a supine position, tongues out, feeling the caress of him.

"Why?" I was taken aback. I wasn't able to respond immediately that's why a fake smile released from my lips.

"My aunt will kill me. She's allergic to dogs." I lied. I looked away and bit my lower lip. I know I shouldn't feel guilty but I guess he doesn't need every to know every single detail of my life too. I mean, c'mon we're just friends who spectacularly met at somewhere, unnecessarily not knowing names and life backgrounds.

"I see."

Marami pang asong pumunta sa gawi na'min at nakipaglaro. Ang iba muntik pang mag-away pero buti na lang mabilis ang mga kamay na'ming dalawa at nailayo kaagad na'min sila sa isa't-isa.

I prepared my phone's cam again and this time, I'm going to record a video.
It was just so fun to record everything. Specially the part when the little Afador started barking to the Shih Tzu who tried to sit on his lap too. The Afador was jealous!

A girl also offered a favor to take a picture of him and I with the dogs. Of course, I didn't complained althoughI was a bit shy to take the offer.

When the clock struck at 1 pm, kinailangan na na'ming umalis para magtanghalian. I was pouting while carrying and kissing the dogs.

"Till we meet again, babies." I whispered. When he called me, that's the time that I finally let go of them.