Saving Harper

What Beach?

"Ano nga ba tayo Harper?"

I sat up straight and dramatically turned around. The voice was accompanied by a shy boyish smile from Xavier. I was stunned to find him standing there on the sand, about two meters away from Hilda and I, that was why he was able to hear our conversation.

Well malalakas din naman siguro boses namin because we thought no one would bother to listen to us. We were almost alone. There were only a handful of guests lounging there at this time, mostly foreigners.

Xavier was dressed in a white short-sleeved polo, khaki shorts and beach slippers. The type rich people wear when they board their yachts, well maybe not the slippers but who cares. I can't believe he could look even more handsome than he already is when he's surrounded by palm trees at hinahangin-hangin pa yung buhok nya. He looks like he stepped out of a summer ad.

"What are you doing here?" Napanganga pa ko.

Hilda, after her successive shrieking as soon as she spotted Xavier, jumped up from her lounge chair spilling her drink, squealed and skipped towards Xavier and hugged to greet him. Then she ran-skipped towards Nick and hugged him din obviously from kilig.

My heart was hammering inside my chest as Xavier slowly walked on the sand towards me. I think my heart could jump right out of my chest with how fast it was beating.

What is Xavier doing here? I echoed one of the many questions running inside my head ngayong nakarecover nako pagkatapos ko syang makita. Then kinabahan ako at what he just asked me aloud just seconds ago. Yon, bigla ko lang naalala. Ano nga ba tayo Harper?

He settled on the lounge chair Hilda just vacated and humarap saakin looking at me intensely. I pressed my lips together. I can also feel my hands grow extra cold despite the hot sun and it's not because of the cocktail I was holding. I had to put it down on the sand kasi nanginginig na din yung mga kamay ko bigla.

"So..." He trailed. He wanted my answer.

My mind raced. Alam naman nya that I like him e. Does he want me to say it out loud pa? I think he saw my thoughts reflected on my face. He took my shaking cold hands. I couldn't help slowly exhale with pursed lips. Relax Harper, wag kang mahimatay.

"Harper, I really like you. Gusto na kita from the first time I saw you on the office elevator almost two years ago during my final interview. Kahit na natakot ako non sayo to think hindi pa ako yung kausap mo sa phone, but you were incredibly captivating." He said sincerely but with amusement on his face.

What? I was confused. He smiled knowing na hindi ko alam yon. Well si Xavier yan e. He knows how clueless I can be sa mga ganitong bagay. He already saw me sa elevator bago pa sya nagtrabaho sa office? I would have remembered him if I saw him. Or maybe not. I can be very oblivious when it comes to things outside work.

I had no life nga diba. Not until nakilala ko sya. Dun lang ako may inisip na iba aside from work. At sya yon.

"I know, medyo limited nalang yung oras ko dito, but if you'll allow it, I want to date you. I'll completely understand kung ayaw mo or you'd think it will be pointless kasi aalis din naman ako."

He bit his lower lip as if hindi pa nya alam yung isasagot ko sa kanya. I mean seriously? Ako yung asang-asa na sana may gusto sya sakin while apparently nauna pa pala nya akong magustuhan?