Amore #2: Withered Epitome of Beauty

WEOB 8

"Vin, saan ba tayo pupunta, ha? Hindi ko pa ba puwedeng alisin 'tong piring sa mata ko?" I asked, somewhat irritated and impatient.

"Where almost there. Be patient, Azi. Everything will come in your way if you'll do that." His voice sounds so serious, para bang may pinaghuhugotan siya sa sinabi niyang iyon.

Natahimik ako at nagpatuloy na lamang kami sa paglalakad. Hindi ko alam kung nasaan kami ngayon dahil nakatulog ako kanina sa kotse. Pagkamulat ko sa aking mga mata ay kadiliman lamang ang bumungad sa akin dahil piniringan pala ako ni Vin.

He's holding my hand right now while we're walking. He suddenly stopped. Napahinto rin ako. My forehead creases and he preceded me when I was about to asked him why'd we stopped walking.

"We're here," he gracefully whispered in my ear. His cold voice runs down my blood vessels and eventually warmed my heart.

Tumango ako. "Puwede na bang alisin ang piring ko?"

He cleared his throat and I was stunned in my place when he suddenly hugged me. I smiled and then, he slowly removed the blindfold from my eyes. When I opened my eyes, he was the first one I saw. He's intently staring and widely smiling at me. I just bit my lip to stop myself from feeling giddy.

"Nasaan tayo ngayon?" I asked because his face is the only one I could see in this dark place. Lumingon ako sa paligid at pilit na nilakihan ang aking mata sa kabila ng kadiliman.

"Sobrang dilim naman dito, Vin." I looked at him while pouting my lower lip.

Pinitik niya ang nguso ko at pagkatapos niyang gawin 'yon ay bahagyang tumaas ang sulok ng kanyang labi. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. Nagkibit-balikat lamang siya sa akin.

He suddenly drawed me closer to him which made me wince. His tingling touch makes my skin shiver even with my jacket on. Sana hindi niya iyon naramdaman.

"Let's walk a bit, Azi."

Wala akong kibo na sinunod ang sinabi niya. Hindi naman ako pagod dahil hindi pa malayo-layo ang nilakad namin. When we got to the right place, my jaw dropped at what I saw.

"Ang ganda..."

My eyes shined as I looked at every flying fireflies around us. It's the only one who lighted this place in yellow, like those incandescent bulbs in an old room.

"Sobra," Vin nodded. His eyes are all on me, not on the scenic beauty of the place.

Nahigit ko ang aking hininga sa sinabi niya. Ramdam ko rin ang pag-init ng aking pisngi na para bang may ipinahid doon na sili pero agad ko siyang tinaasan ng kilay. Nagpatuloy lamang siya sa pagtitig sa akin.

I felt uncomfortable by how he stares at me so I looked away. I roamed my eyes around the wide garden; it was indeed beautiful. All the bushes were properly trimmed. May mga bulaklak din sa bawat paso, iba-iba iyon ng klase at kulay. Kanino kayang garden ito?

I widely smiled while hopping like a kangaroo. Sinadya ko talaga iyon para makalayo kay Vin. I don't know why his eyes are glued on me. May muta ba ako? Nagkusot ako ng mata. Wala naman, ano'ng tinititig-titig niya diyan?

Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa paligid at itinuon sa isang lumilipad na alitaptap. The firefly's abdomen gives off a familiar glow of the compound luciferin. Naiiba siya sa lahat. Mas nangingibabaw ang liwanag niya kesa sa iba na naging dahilan upang makuha niya ang atensyon ko.

I followed the firefly and carefully caught it with my right hand. Katamtaman kong pinaglapat ang mga kamay ko at sinilip ang alitaptap sa loob. It did light up. Napangiti ako at may napagtanto sa aking sarili.