Gone With The Wind ✔️

fourteen

Elizabeth

"I am really sorry, nasagi ko. I did not mean to do it." Trembling, I tried to smile. I shakingly placed the foods beside him, while my eyes are looking straight on his hands.

Put that back please..

I squatted and helped him pick up my scattered things on the floor.

"It's no big deal, Wallace." I uttered, eyes looking straight on the medicines that was still in his hands. I silently prayed that he'll put it back on my bag but my heart pumped more when he stared at it.

"Pain Killers?" Basa niya doon sa bottle. Napalunok ako. Honestly, even if those were just pain killers, it still makes my anxiety rise. Non-Hodgkin Lyphoma is often cured by chemotherapy, I have done that before but it's just...it doesn't work on me. The pain killers, that medicines I bought, according to doctora, I just need to bring them everywhere to prevent the pain I'll feel. That's why I called them futile, and pointless. Because they're just pain killers, not a cure to my illness.

"Bakit ka may ganito?" Tanong niya sa akin.

"H-huh? For...for emergency purposes." Bahagyang nagsalubong ang mga kilay nito, pero kalaunan ay nagkibit-balikat na lamang at inilagay yun sa bag. I secretly released deep breathes as I bent my body to get our foods from the the space of the bench where I am going to sit.

He handed my bag on me, and I handed his food I bought for him.

"Thanks/Thanks." We said in chorus. I can't help but to titter. The nervousness was gradually leaving, so I feel a little better now.

We both took our gaze on the our front, where the crescent moon and the stars, the a little calm waves are also facing us.

"How come the moon wasn't even full, but still it look so slick." I said while dipping my food on the sauce.

"Proving that you can still be beautiful even if you're deficient. Even if you feel like you're lacking of elements that completes and makes you 'you'." He avered, eyes glistening because of the moon and stars.

Naalala ko tuloy yung meteor shower.

"Wow, so deep." I chuckled at him.

"It's not a problem if you know how to dive and swim." Tumawa rin siya sa sinabi niya.

"But yeah, we all know and had observed that sometimes moon's complete and sometimes not. It's like representing humans. But sadly, most of us registers to ourselves that imperfection, our lackings are ugly." In my own opinion.

"Depends on the imperfections," he uttered.

"But atleast we're trying to ameliorate those." Sagot ko kaagad din sa kaniya.

"Ang positive mo sa buhay no? Ang sarap mong kasama." Napalingon ako sa kaniya, bahagyang nagsalubong ang kilay. Pero sa loob ko, hindi maiwasan ng puso kong kumabog dahil sa sinabi niya.

But of course, the sting was unavoidable.

"Ang sarap mong kasama."

I secretly bit my lower lip to prevent a smile.

"You need a little ray of positivity in life sometimes."

"I wish I was as positive as you." He uttered kaya hindi ko maiwasang mas lalong magtaka. I have a hint that he's battling against something, sa bus pa lang. But I am not certain what is it. Should I ask him? I mean, I guess there's no harm at asking but I am afraid to open up a sensitive topic. But..

"Wallace, I was curious. Why were you crying in the bus? Alam mo bang nagdalawang-isip akong tabihan ka kasi gusto kitang bigyan ng space, but at the same time I don't want to stand for hours." Nanatili lang ang tingin ko sa kaniya habang marahang tumatawa.

"Sorry for that." He had to wipe his mouth using his barehands because of the sauce. Kumuha ako ng wipes sa bag ko at inabot sa kaniya. He just said thanks and smiled at me.

That smile....I want to see that forever.

"Why I was crying?" Pag-uulit niya sa tanong ko. I slowly nod.

"But if you're uncomfortable with it, then don't answer. It's fine. I respect privacy---"

"Eli, I am ready to share everything with you. You're very comfortable to be with and even if we're just on our eighth day, I just feel at ease with you. I know it sounds strange for you, but I am just being...honest." In a sudden, his eyes went straight on mine, and seriousness was all I can see. Nakatipid ito ng ngiti sa akin, habang ako, unti-unting nawawala ang ngiti sa labi.

But I am about to leave you..

"Wallace...I-" I was cut off by him.

"Alam mo, I want to ask and tell you some things, but there's a right time for everything. But since you asked why was I being dramatic on the bus, it was because I and my mom had a huge fight. Her words were very destructive to my soul that's why I decided to leave at pumunta rito. She made me feel that no matter what I do, and even if my best was already at its final point, it wasn't still enough for her. For them. Funny isn't it?" He chuckled with bitterness.

I silently bit my lip because of guilt. I shouldn't have just asked that.

"I am sorry, you can stop now.." Mahina kong tugon.

"No, it's okay. Okay lang talaga. Ilang taon kong bitbit to, ngayon ko lang ilalabas." Even if I was hurting because of his reality, my heart was also overwhelmed after hearing it. It feels like he's trusting me that much, that I'm worth trusting. That I am a good listener.

Eighth day...

He really counted the days, huh? How lovely. I suddenly felt some butterflies on my stomach again.

"Eli, even if we're still on our eighth day, unti-unti na kitang nakikilala, kung anong klaseng tao ka talaga. Although sometimes, some of your actions are baffling but I know you're a good person. Good and deep person. The feeling was so strong, my thoughts were always circulating on my head saying I can trust you."

"And again, honestly, you made me feel alive again. I am being betrayed by life but seeing you, by seeing you...everything then feels alright. You are so enough for me, Eli. Ayoko na nga lang umuwi, gusto ko kasama na lang kita lage."

I don't know what to say...The words are hiding. I want to speak, I want to deliver a right response.

"W-wallace---" He didn't let my trembling voice and lips to finish my words. He tilted his body and moved closer to me. His eyes are just looking straight into me and I was getting out of breathe because of the tense.

The extremism of emotions escalated when he uttered the words I did not expected to come out.

"Eli, I like you."