Be Mine

28

It is already 6:10 in the morning when Carlos and Lianna decided to get inside the car again. The sun is already up, the surroundings are starting to get busy, and yet they remained there with their windows down. They are enjoying the sea breeze, the sound of the waves and soft music from the radio still accompanying them. It was a quiet moment, but it is not awkward. It felt peaceful and that is what Lia is hoping for. She has been wanting to have that peace - mind and heart, for the longest time now. She is thinking of her next step. What happens to her now? What is on top of her list? How does one move on again?

She looked at Caloy, who is just looking at the sea, maybe watching the fishing boats going back and forth the still water. "Maybe he knows the answer, Lianna. Ask him.", her mind suggests. She feels shy that someone like Caloy has been saying the right words for her to hear and understand. So maybe, one more question wouldn't hurt.

She faced him a bit, "Caloy?"

He faced her too. "Hmmm?", he smiles at her. She couldn't help not to notice the warmth of his smile that she smiled back.

"I.. I want to ask you something.. If it's okay?"

His smile is still visible. "What is it, Lia?"

She looked down at her fingers, starting to fiddle with them whenever she gets stressed and anxious. She is thinking if it is a good idea if she should still ask but pushed for it anyway. "What do I do now?"

"Well, ano bang gusto mong gawin?"

"I don't know." She sighs. "Feels like I'm starting from scratch."

He saw her reach for her hands, maybe to make them feel relaxed and to stop playing with them. She felt the warmth of his palms and it feels good how his hand can cover hers. "Lia...", she looks at him when he called her. "It's totally fine if you start again. Quitters never quit. Okay lang magpahinga, pero bawal sumuko." He smiled again at her and she nodded. She is asking how this guy right here said the right thing again?

"Now, how about we go back first, have breakfast so you can think, then go home?"

Breakfast. The sound of it made her hungry. She looked at Caloy and nodded. Caloy let go of her hand and started his car to drive back. She realized that it is going to take another hour or so to reach the hacienda and thought about Ella. It is going to be embarrassing to face her, but she doesn't have any other choice. She is thinking already on how to deal with that problem when her phone rang.

*Bianca calling*

She looked at Caloy first and motioned for her to pick it up. She answered the call. "Hello?"

"Oh my god, Lianna Alexandra, nasaan ka ba? Hindi ka nagrereply! Akala ko nasa banyo ka lang."

She smiled as she hears Bianca's concerns. "Umalis lang sandali.."

"Nasaan ka? Pupuntahan kita. Napakalaki nitong hacienda para isa-isahin ko."

"Wala ako diyan sa hacienda."

"Ha? Lumabas ka?"

"Oo.", she answers her.

"Shet naman. Sana ginising mo ako para nasamahan kita!", Bianca's voice is still concerned and worried.

"I'm fine, Biancs. Pabalik na kami."

"Kami? Sinong kasama mo?"

She looked to her left before answering her. "Kasama ko si Caloy." She heard Bianca sigh.

"Si Caloy? Nakipagtanan ka na?", she hears a bit of tease in her voice. She rolled her eyes as if Bianca can see her. "Joke lang, Lia. Alam kong nanlilisik na yung mata mo. Buti naman at may kasama ka. Okay ka na ba?"