Art of Serendipity

33

Maybe I was wrong when I told myself that I must not trust anyone that much because trusting can also means...downfall. Kailanman ay hindi ko ginustong magtiwala sa kahit sino, sa mga salita nila, at sa mga ginagawa nila. I have trust issues, okay. Normal iyon para sa akin dahil wala naman akong masyadong kaibigan.

But here I am... Staring at that one person whom I can give my all trust. When it comes to him, I know that everything will fall into place. Kahit anong mangyari, alam kong magiging totoo siya.

But right now, I am so doubtful. May tiwala ako sa kaniya at sa mga salita niya pero wala akong tiwala sa mangyayari sa amin. The future ahead of us is very uncertain. Walang makakapagpatunay nito, even a fortune teller.

"You… like me?" I asked, nanatiling nakayakap sa kaniya. Naninigurado ako kahit malinaw ang pagkakasabi niya kanina.

He pursed his lips and nodded slowly. He opened his mouth to answer but he couldn't.

"Answer me. I wanna hear it again," I whispered tenderly. Gustong-gustong marinig muli ang sinabi niya.

"I like you..." namamaos niyang ani. "But words aren't enough for you to know how much I like you, Ayannah."

I didn't speak. Nanatili akong nakatitig sa kaniya, sa mga mata niyang may pagsusumamo. Maganda ang view dahil nasa likod niya ang Eiffel tower but my heart is pounding so hard, I couldn't look at anywhere else but him.

Totoo ba 'to? Are there all happening right now in front of me?

Am I hallucinating? Am I?

"K-kailan pa?" tanging natanong ko na lang dahil wala nang masabi pa at hindi na makapaniwala.

"I don't know. I didn't notice that I'm slowly drowning for you."

I paused again. Ganiyan rin ako. I didn't notice. I'm always neglecting the way I feel for him. Pero ako...pauli-ulit kong itinanggi na hindi ko siya gusto. Siya ba ganoon rin?

Hindi ito ang unang beses na may umamin sa akin. Ngunit noon pa man ay hindi ganito ang pakiramdam ko. Nauunahan ako ng pag-iisip na pera... Money will always be the reason why people like me. Not because of me.

But he is different. He always makes different within me. He presented how colorful life is. Kung pera ba ang habol niya...gagawin niya pa rin iyon? Napaka-effort naman niya kung ganoon.

I think not. After all, while slowly knowing him. He's a man with principle and respect and besides, bakit niya pa kakailanganin ng pera kung mayaman naman siya? Well, set aside that thought. I didn't like him because of his money and even if he has nothing, I'd still like him.

This man has changed me more than I ever thought it would.

I chuckled. Masyado na akong maraming iniisip. Baka si Levi lang 'yan!

Kumunot ang noo niya ng mamataan ang pagtawa ko. "Why? Hindi ka naniniwala?"

I chuckled more. Pinisil ko ang pisngi niya. "Of course, I believe you. I always believed in every single thing you would say to me."

He nodded and smiled a bit. Ang kamay niyang nakahawak sa baywang ko ay tinanggal niya para makuha sa leeg ko ang Camera. Pinagpalit niya ang pwesto naming dalawa kaya ako na ngayon ang nakatalikod sa Tower. My brows shot up.

"I will take a picture of you," he informed me even though I already knew that. "Don't worry, magaling ako mag-take."

I scoffed. "Ah, photographer ka na n'yan? Hindi ka na pintor?"

"I can do both, Aya." He winked at me and walked backwards to find a good angle.

Akalain mo nga naman.

May pintor na ako, may taga-picture pa!

I posed and after a few shots, tumakbo ako papunta sa kaniya para tignan kung tunay ngang magaling rin siya. My lips parted when I saw the picture. This is highly rated! Ang linaw ng pagkakapicture niya and also, I like the lighting and highlights! I love it all!

"What the hell?" hindi makapaniwalang ani ko.

"I told you," mayabang niyang balik sa akin.

I gave him a smug look. "Weh? Pa-impress ka lang sa 'kin, e, because you like me."

"C'mmon. Kahit hindi ako magaling sa photography. You are already impressed with me," he said proudly.

I rolled my eyes. Pagbigyan na nga. Wala e, magaling talaga. Wala na tayong magagawa riyan.

We strolled around Paris and he bought souvenirs. I bought a watch for Daddy and a handbag for Ate Noreen. For this day, we just went to Sainte Chapelle. Namasyal lang kami at nang maghapon, we watched sunset at Tour Montparnasse. Isa sa pinakamalaking skyscapper dito sa Paris kung saan mula rito sa roof deck nila, kitang-kita ang sunset. As the sun light goes down, with the Eiffel Tower. It feels magical and wonderful.

Walang nagsasalita sa aming dalawa sa pagkakamangha but in the midst of sunset, my heart pounded when he hugged me from my back and burried his chin on my left shoulder. I tilted my head for him to feel free on my shoulder at dahil halos maghalo na ang bigat naming dalawa, hindi ko na mapigilan ang paghawak sa braso niyang nakapulupot sa akin.

My heart hurts from extreme pounding but it feels so good. I just want to stay like this. I just want to feel the safety with his arms.

Nang mawala na ang haring araw, mukhang alam ko na kung bakit tinawag na City of Lights ang Paris. Hundreds of street lights slowly opened, parang sumasayaw sa ganda. The dazzling lights in every streets, boulevards and bridges looks so amazing. Eiffel Tower, being the center of attraction never fails to make people mesmerize the beauty of it.

With this kind of mind-blowing scenery, with the man behind me and with the arms wrapped around me...

Paris is indeed, the City of Light and Love.

"Gusto mo bang bumalik dito?" I asked him.

"Hmm, sure," he answered. "Basta kasama kita."

I chuckled. "Ako? Ayaw kong kasama ka."

"What?" Iniharap niya ako sa kaniya. "Then, prove it."

"Anong 'prove it'? Anong akala mo sa akin? I cannot live without you?" I teased. "Definitely, I can."

"But it is not as colorful as your life with me." He grinned. "Aminin mo na."

I laughed. "Ang yabang mo, ha!"

But he is right. I lived my life without him then. Okay naman ang buhay ko noong wala siya. Plain and simple. yet, peaceful. I am fine and happy with my travels, and of course, with Nanay Luz and Ate Noreen, and Dad too. Pero hindi ko rin naman ipagkakaila na buong-buo ang saya ko kapag nariyan si Levi. He makes me do and feel the things that I have never before. He make me explored my whole personality. Na kapag kasama ko siya ay pakiramdam ko mas nakikilala ko pa ang sarili ko sa bawat araw na lumilipas. Oh. The power he holds.

"Nakapag-travel ka na rin ba with your girls?" I asked curiously.

Nawala ang ngiti niya. "Here we go again."

"Psh." I rolled my eyes. "Bakit hindi mo na lang sagutin ang tanong ko?"

"I never travel with my girls," sagot niya at ngumuso. "Hindi rin naman nila gustong mag-travel. They just want to flirt with me and all."

My eyes narrowed. "So, you want to travel with them?"

"No!" agap niya. "Kung gusto ko ay may travel buddy na ako ngayon."

"How about me? I like travelling," pagpapaligoy-ligoy ako.

I just cannot get over with his girls. Paano e iyon naman ang first impression ko sa kaniya! Alas is always telling me that! And I saw how flirt he is with my own naked eyes. Lately ko lang talaga siya nakikitang nagbabago dahil ako naman palagi ang kasama niya.

Oh, am I even one of his girls?

"Iba ka naman sa kanila, Aya," he answered tenderly. "I love travelling with you, but if it is other girls, then, no, thanks."

I pursed my lips to prevent myself from smiling. "Ikaw, ha? Masyado kang bolero. Iyan ang hirap sa 'yo, e."

"Hey! I am not playing with you!" giit niya pa. Then, he looked to the sky, defining his adam's apple. "Oh. How could I convince this woman?"

Natawa ako at pinalo siya sa balikat. "Baliw ka! Itigil mo nga iyan!"

He chuckled too. Humarap muli ako sa kalakhan ng Paris, and he hugged me again.

Sa dami ng maaaring puntahan dito sa Paris ay kukulangin ang dalawang araw lang naming pamamalagi rito pero hindi na kami pwedeng mag-extend pa ng vacation. Kaya kinabukasan ay maaga muli kaming nagising. Nag-almusal at tumambay muli sa tapat ng Tower habang nag-iisip kung saan magpupunta pero may pakiramdam ako na may alam na agad itong si Levi. It's already seven in the morning and the sun is already shining. Marami pa kaming oras para maglibot dahil madaling araw pa mamaya ang flight namin pabalik sa Manila.

"Let us wait for a bit then I will take you somewhere," sabi niya habang nakakatitig lang kami sa Tower, hindi nagsasawa.

"Where? Shall we go now para hindi sayang sa oras?" I looked at my wristwatch.

"It's not yet open," he simply said. Mukhang alam na alam niya kung saan kami pupunta, ah?

Hindi ko na lang siya kinulit na sabihin sa akin kung saan kami pupunta dahil siya naman pala ang mas nakakaalam. I trust him naman. I trust him that he will not make me go somewhere dangerous.

Habang nanonood kami sa mga taong dumadaan ay ipinulupot niyang muli ang braso niya sa akin at ipinatong ang baba sa kaliwang balikat ko. Oh, there. I already know your favorite spot, huh? You found it.

"You are so clingy, you know?" puna ko sa kaniya pero inihawak ko pa rin ang kamay ko sa braso niya.

He tilted his head to the side. "Why? You don't want it? I know how to stop, though. Just tell me. I can give you physical boundaries."

I bit my bottom lip, not wanting to answer both of his question. Instead, I held his arms tightly and from that... he already knew my answer. Lalo pa niyang hinigpitan ang yakap sa akin.

Pero teka nga, bakit ba siya clingy e wala pa namang kami? at bakit din ako pumapayag? Duh.

~~~