That Game Of Promise

CHAPTER 43

Nasa eroplano na kami at malapit na kaming magtake off, "Shit...." bulong ko at napansin ito ni Xamier.

"Something wrong," tanong niya at tumingin ako sakanya.

"I...Don't like take offs," mahinhin kong saad habang humihinga ng malalim.

"Hold my hand then," ani niya at kinuha ko yung kanyang kamay, I intertwined our fingers together and his palm feels so warm and smells so good. Inilagay ko yung kanyang kamay sa aking dibdib at niyakap ito.

"You kinda take a liking at my hands I see," natatawang saad ni Xamier, "I just love the genuine vibes it's giving to me," bulong ko at patuloy paring niyakap ang kanyang kamay.

NATAPOS NA ANG take off namin kaya nakakalma na ako at sinumulan konang suriin at tignan ang status ng mga kaibigan ko this Christmas, because I know that they'll post all of it in social media.

I scroll through facebook and I already saw Marlie, Samantha and Anne's post stating that they're at Paris, France right now with a caption saying "Always forever and still keep on moving forward,"

Alam ko na ang ibig sabihin nung caption ay goodbye para sa aming nasa volleyball club but a great step for them, though I'm still happy for the events they changed in my life. "What'cha looking at?" tanong ni Xamier sa tabi ko.

"Oh, uhm...Sila Anne lang tinitignan ko yung mga post nila this Christmas," ani ko at dumungaw narin siya sa cellphone ko.

I saw Syrian's post with Atta's and their friendship reunion in Europe, Rafael's and Aishell's post was just in their houses now that's a sweet family without spending so much money. Then I saw coach's post with her husband.

Now that's a first I didn't know coach has a husband, well we never ask her about it, oh well.

Bigla naman akong dumaan sa post ng Wisteria Tree ng Japan, and the angle and lightings are perfect now I want to visit this tree more.

"Ayan ba yung Wisteria tree?" tanong ni Xamier habang dumudungaw sa cellphone ko, "Oo, ang ganda nga, eh, gusto kong kuhaan ng litrato..." saad ko ng may kumikinang na mga mata.

"Punta tayo dyan pagkatapos ng flight na ito?" napalingon ako sa sinabi niya, pero nginitian niya lang ako meaning that he actually meant it.

"Oum, let's go then," ani ko at nagsingitian kaming lahat.

"Hoy! Hoy! Planning by yourselves? Andito rin ako no?" ani ni Lumiere sa likurang upuan namin.

"Sama ka Lumiere?" tanong sakanya ni Xamier at tumungo siya, "Gusto ko ring pumunta dyan sa Wisteria no!"

"Sabihin mo muna kila tita yung pupuntahan natin mamaya," saad ko ng hindi lumilingon at napabuntong hininga, "Sige, basta sama ako sa inyo ha!" tumungo kami sakanya at tumahimik na muli siya.

"Now I can't really wait for us to graduate and travel the whole world..." Bigla kong saad at sinandalan ako ni Xamier sa aking balikat kahit na mas matangkad siya kaysa sa akin.

"H-hindi kaba dyan nahihirapan?" nagaalangan kong tanong.

"As long as its you...I don't care," ani niya ng may namamalat na boses, kaya sinandalan ko nalang ang kanyang ulo at hindi ko napansin na nakatulog na pala ako.

BUMABA NA KAMI sa eroplano, and boy how mommy is right, it is cold when we just got out of our plane. At noong pagkalabas namin sa gate ay nakita na naming kumakaway sila lolo at lola mula sa glass fence.

"Baachan! Jiichan!"
(Grandma! Grandpa!) ani ko at tumakbo patungo sakanila at niyakap sila, nasa buntot ko lang naman si Xamier habang niyayakap ko ang aking mga grandparents.