Zion's Akira (BxB)

Chapter 2: Akira

"You're here again?" Hindi ko pinansin ang pagtatanong ni Azyra. Hindi ko rin pinansin ang tono nyang tila galit sya sa akin. I tried to smile kahit kanina pa ako naiinis. Paano kasi late na kaming nakarating dito sa house nila. Nakipagbonding pa kasi sina Daddy at Papa sa mga olds nila. Hmph. I patiently waited hanggang sa matapos sila but what ticked me off was when they said na bukas na lang daw kami pupunta dito! So I was like, no way, dudes! Pagkatapos nyo akong paghintayin ng napakatagal, ganun na lang iyon?!

Kaya ang ginawa ko ay ininis ko nang ininis si Kenji hanggang sa umiyak ito. That's the only time na pumayag silang pumunta dito kina Zion kahit late na. I excitedly prepared my camping gears. And here we are. I'm so excited to see Zion again!

"Where's Zion?" I tried to give him my best smile kahit naiinis na rin ako sa kanya. Yeah he looks like Zion but Zion is way cuter than him.

"He's not here." Malamig na sagot nya sa akin. Bumagsak ang mga balikat ko. After all that I've been through, wala pala dito yung gusto kong makita? Mangiyak-ngiyak akong nag-iwas ng tingin sa kanya. Gusto kong magwala pero naisip ko na hindi ito ang house namin kaya nagquiet na lang ako.

"Akira!" I heard an excited voice calling me. Liningon ko ang pinanggalingan nito and I saw Jayden running towards me. Kasunod nya ang kapatid kong si Kenji at sina Dad, Papa and Tito Ivory.

"C'mon, let's play!" She invited me but I frowned. I don't wanna play with her! I wanna play with Zion!

"Oh, ayaw mong magplay? I thought kaya mo gustong pumunta dito 'coz you wanna play with them?" Daddy asked.

"I'm tired." Bored kong sabi sa kanya.

"Baka inaantok yung bata." Tito Ivory said.

"Azyra, Jayden, kayo na muna ang maglaro ni Kenji. Iaakyat ko lang si Akira para makapagpahinga." He told his kids bago nya ako binuhat, pumasok sa loob ng house at umakyat sa hagdan.

Their house is so big and it's so cool just like my grannies' house. But I like it here better because Zion is here.

"What's that?" I asked Tito Ivory when I heard someone singing.

"That's your Tito Robby. He's making Zion sleep." He answered. I perked up when I heard what he said.

"Zion's here?" I excitedly asked again.

"Yup. But he has to sleep first before he can play with you guys."

"I wanna sleep beside him." I declared. He stopped walking then looked at me. Pinagtaasan nya ako ng makapal na eye brow nya ngunit matiim kong sinalubong ang mga mata nya telling him that I won't accept No for an answer.

"Are you sure? Malikot matulog si Zion." I grinned at him.

"That's alright. I can hug him so he won't fall off the bed." I assured him. Pinagtaasan nya akong muli ng kilay bago pailing-iling na nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. I smirked.

"Robby, we have a visitor." He annnounced when we got inside Zion's room.

Tito Robby stopped singing to look at us. Nakita kong bahagyang bumangon si Zion para tignan ako. Nang magkasalubong ang mga mata namin ay ngumiti sya sa akin that got me more excited. Naglikot ako sa pagkakakarga sa akin ni Tito Ivory kaya ibinaba nya ako. Hindi ako nag-aksaya ng sandali at tinakbo ko ang kama ni Zion. Hindi ko pinansin ang parents nya na nagkatinginan sa ginawa ko. I don't care about them. All I care about is Zion. Agad akong umakyat sa kama at tumabi ng higa sa kanya.

"Hi, Zion." Hindi ko maalis-alis ang ngiti sa aking mga labi habang nakatitig sa napakacute nyang mukha.

"Hi, A-akira." He stuttered. That's okay with me. At least, that made him cuter. My smile grew. His voice is really sweet.

"Ako na ang bahala dito." I heard Tito Robby said to Tito Ivory pero hindi pa rin ako lumilingon sa kanila. I'm busy staring at Zion's face.

"Zion, Akira's here to play with you again kaya sleep ka na anak para may energy ka to play with him later." Tito Rob told Zion who smiled at him.

I wanted to correct Tito. I'm not Zion's best friend. I'm his future husband. I've chosen him to be my partner forever just like his parents, my grannies, and my parents. Gusto ko sanang hawakan ang mukha nya para ilingon ulit sa akin pero nahihiya ako. Baka hindi na ako patulugin ni Tito sa tabi nya kapag naglikot ako.

"Okay, Mama." Zion yawned as Tito started singing again.

"I could stay awake just to hear you breathin' 

Watch you smile while you are sleeping 

While you're far away and dreaming 

I could spend my life in this sweet surrender 

I could stay lost in this moment forever 

Where every moment spent with you is a moment I treasure

Don't wanna close my eyes 

I don't wanna fall asleep 

Cause I'd miss you

And I don't wanna miss a thing 

Cause even when I dream of you 

The sweetest dream will never do 

I'd still miss you

And I don't wanna miss a thing

Lying close to you feeling your heart beating 

And I'm wondering what you're dreaming 

Wonderin' if it's me you're seeing 

Then I kiss your eyes 

And thank God we're together 

I just want to stay with you in this moment forever 

Forever and ever."

He kissed Zion's head when he saw that he's already sleeping.

"Is that his favorite song?" I can't help but ask Tito Robby.

"Yup. It's the only song that can make him fall asleep." Tito Rob smiled at me. As I watched him give Zion another kiss, I promised my self that am gonna memorize that song for Zion.

"Are you really going to sleep?" Tito Rob asked me when he stood up. I faked a yawn.

"Yes, Tito." Sana hindi napansin ni Tito na pinilit ko lang mag-yawn.

"Okay, just call me if ever Zion cries when he wakes up later." Bilin nya sa akin. I nodded before closing my eyes. When I heard the door closed, I opened my eyes and I quietly stood up and went to the door to lock it.

I grinned as I was going back at Zion's bed. I laid down to where he was facing and gazed at his face. I watched his chest rise up and fall down in his sleep. I stared at his red, pouty lips and found my self touching his lower lip. He has the sweetest lips I've ever tasted. That's why I promised my self that no one can kiss me now but Zion. Even grannies and my parents can't kiss me on my lips anymore. I'd only want Zion's kiss.

For the past 5 days since we've started coming here, I've already kissed him a couple of times. Of course I do it when no one's looking. That's the reason why I always ask them for us to play Hide and Seek. I always get to go with him and always get my kiss. Zion kept asking me why I always kiss him but I just smile at him as an answer. But yesterday after I kissed him when we were under his bed, I saw Kenji's shocked face looking at me. I caught him when he was about to run and threathened him that if he tells anybody what he saw, I won't be talking to him again so he promised to keep it as our secret.

Yeah, yeah. I know I'm still young but I've already decided. I want Zion. I want him and no one else. I know that we're about to go to 

the Philippines and live there that's why I wanna spend the rest of my vacation with him. I wanted to stay with grannies sana para hindi na ako sumama sa Philippines but they said they can't take care of me and Daddy won't leave me here in the States while they live in the Philippines. They promised me that we'll just come here often or they'll make Zion's family move to the Philippines someday and I believed them. I maybe a naughty son but they always keep whatever they promise me.

"Hey, Zion. We're leaving for Manila soon but I promise you, we'll be together again someday. I'll wait for you to come to the Philippines and live with me. I promise, I won't forget you and I won't kiss other boys or girls. I promise I'm gonna learn to play your favorite song on piano. I'll ask my Dad to teach me. I promise I'm gonna miss you so much. And when you come, we'll gonna play Hide and Seek again. And when we do, I'm gonna kiss you again. I'll save a lot of kisses for you, Zion." I whispered to him.

He raised his arms and legs and hugged me. I felt like a small kid inside his embrace. He was taller than me but that's okay. Dad said I'm gonna be taller someday. I might be even taller than Zion and that made me so happy. At least when I kiss him, I won't go on tiptoes again.

I hugged him back and kissed his lips. They really taste like candy. I closed my eyes and willed my self to sleep.

...

"I... I'm s-scared." Zion whispered to me when everything got silent. We're inside my tent. The others were sleeping at the other tents here at the garden. Azyra wanted to sleep with us in my tent but there isn't a place for him anymore. Good thing I've chosen the smaller tent for Zion and me.

"Why? There are no ghosts in your garden, right?" I asked him.

"N-no! B-but I'm s-still s-scared." Oh, my poor Zion. I held his trembling hand.

"You don't have to be scared. I'm here to protect you from ghosts!" I told him. "I know Karate." I showed him my flexed arm for him to see the small muscles there. Now, I feel like a hero ready to protect him from ghosts.

"B-but... B-but..."

"I'll tell you a funny story so you won't be scared anymore, okay?" Tumango sya sa akin kaya nagsimula akong magkuwento.

Ikinuwento ko kung paano ko itinulak si Kenji sa swimming pool namin sa Australia para matuto syang lumangoy. Ikinuwento ko rin kung ilang beses nalate si Papa sa work nya kasi itinatago ko yung isang sapatos nya. Yung neckties naman ng uniforms ni Daddy ang paborito kong itago. I told him na nagrecord din ako ng nakakatakot na boses at piniplay ko sa room ni Kenji kapag matutulog na sya. Then he'll go at Papa and Daddy's room to sleep there. I did it for a couple of times until one night Papa angrily came in my room and screamed at me to stop cockblocking him. I don't even know what cockblocking means, tss. Is that a game he and daddy play every night? Hmp. They don't even invite Kenji and I when they play whatever that cockblocking game is.

I even make kwento of how I drew a laughing face at Papa's swimming trunks and he became the laughing stock at the beach where we went when he wore that swimming trunk with a goofy face on his ass.

Zion was giggling so much with my stories that's why I told him more. I told him how I caught Papa and Daddy naked in their room when I hid under their bed and fell asleep. I was awakened by an earthquake and got out from under the bed screaming. But when I saw they're just playing horseback riding above their bed, I excitedly asked them if I could join but Papa became so mad at me that he locked me up in my room and had me grounded for that weekend. Tss. I don't even know what I did wrong. Parents are really weird sometimes.

I was so happy hearing Zion laugh because of my stories. I feel so proud that I made him forget his fears. When he yawned, I asked him if he wanted me to sing a song for him to make him fall asleep.

"What s-song are y-you g-gonna sing?" He sleepily asked me.

"Your Mama's song!" I proudly said and I was so happy when he beamed at me.

"O-okay."

"I could stay awake just to hear you breathin' 

Watch you smile while you are sleeping 

While you're far away and dreaming 

I could spend my life in this sweet surrender." Iyon ang paulit-ulit kong kinanta ng mahina hanggang sa pumikit sya. Ihinaplos ko ang maliit ko pang kamay sa noo nya and I saw him smile at my gesture.

"I love you, Zion." I whispered before I closed my eyes and slept.

...

"I don't wanna go."

"Say that again, Akira?" Papa's voice made me cringe in fear.

"I s-said... I d-don't wanna go." My voice trembled. I saw Papa's nose flared.

"You know that we can't stay here forever, Akira. We've already overstayed here for a month!" Nangagalaiting bulyaw nya. Tuluyan na syang naubusan ng pasensya sa akin.

Dapat kasi ay last month pa kaming nakarating sa Philippines ngunit dahil sa paulit-ulit kong pagtanggi na umalis kami, nagtagal pa kami ng isang buwan dito. Alam ko na sawang-sawa na sila sa mga excuses ko. Nag-aaway na rin sina Papa at Daddy dahil sa ginagawa ko. Kaya ang ginawa nila ay hindi na sinabi sa akin na aalis na kami patungong Manila ngayon. Nagulat na lang ako nang maaga akong gisingin ni Dad at bihisan. I even thought na pupunta kami kina Zion but when I saw our packed bags, I realized that today is our flight.

Kaya pala ayaw sagutin ni Dad yung mga tanong ko kanina. And I really don't have a choice now. We really have to go.

"Why don't you just leave me here? I'm gonna stay with grannies." I pleaded. This is my last resort para hindi na ako sumama sa kanilang umalis.

"We've already talked about this for a couple of times, Akira and the answer is no!" Singhal nya sa akin. Bumagsak ang mga balikat ko sabay sa pagtulo ng mga luhang kanina ko pa pinipigilan.

Aalis na kami. Iiwan ko na si Zion. Ngumuyngoy ako ng iyak. Ayoko. Ayokong umalis. Ayokong iwan si Zion!

"C-can we b-bring Zion with us? Pleaseee!" I desperately asked him.

I gasped when Papa held me and carried me up. I clinged to him and cried harder.

"Anak, Zion is not a toy that we can take wherever we go. He has his family. He can't be away from them. He needs them." Lumambot ang boses ni Papa habang hinahaplos ang likuran ko. Lalo akong napaiyak sa katotohanan ng mga sinabi nya.

"Stop crying now. We need to go. Dadaan pa tayo kina Zion para makapag-ba-bye ka. You want that, right?" I nodded at him.

And in no time, we were in our car driving towards the house of Zion when Dad received a call. It was Tito Ivory. Nasa ospital daw sila dahil kay Zion na nahulog sa hagdan. Kaya naman doon na kami sa ospital dumiretso.

Halos takbuhin naming mag-anak ang pagpunta sa room ni Zion. Nadatnan namin doon sina Tito Ivory, Tito Robby, Jayden at Azyra na nakatingin sa natutulog na si Zion. Nalungkot ako nang makita kong may benda ang ulo nya at nakacast ang isang kamay nya. Lumapit ako sa kanya habang naririnig ko ang garalgal na boses ni Tito Robby na ikinukwento kung bakit nahulog sa hagdan si Zion.

I got near his bed and tried to touch him but I got scared. Baka masaktan sya sa hawak ko.

"It's okay, Akira. You can touch him or kiss him if you want to. You may even say bye to him." Napalingon ako kay Jayden na malungkot na nakatingin sa natutulog na kapatid. I looked at Azyra pero nag-iwas sya ng tingin. Muli kong ibinalik ang tingin ko kay Zion. Hinaplos ko ang braso nya at saka ko sya yinuko.

"Hey, Zion. We're leaving for Manila but I promise you, we'll be together again someday. I'll wait for you to come to the Philippines and live with me. I promise, I won't forget you and I won't kiss other boys or girls. I promise I'm gonna learn to play your favorite song on piano. I'll even ask my Dad to teach me. I promise I'm gonna miss you so much. And when you come, we'll gonna play Hide and Seek again. And when we do, I'm gonna kiss you again. I'll save a lot of kisses for you, Zion. I love you." I whispered to him. Gusto ko ulit umiyak ngunit nahihiya ako dahil parehong nakatingin ang mga kapatid nya sa akin. Nang mapatingin sila sa parents kong nagpapaalam sa mga parents nila ay sinamantala ko ang pagkakataon. Mabilis kong yinuko si Zion at isang saglit na halik ang iniwan ko sa bibig nya bago ako tuluyang tumayo at pumunta sa tabi ng parents ko.

"Bye, Akira. I'll tell Zion that you came to say bye." Jayden smiled at me.

"Please tell him to call me once he wakes up." Malungkot kong pakiusap sa kanya. Tumango naman sya sa akin. Sumama na ako kay Dad nang magyaya na sila. Binuhat nya ako at si Papa ang bumuhat kay Kenji. Mahuhuli na raw kami sa flight namin.

Isang napakalungkot na tingin muna ang ibinigay ko kay Zion bago ako sumubsob sa leeg ni Daddy.

Bye, my Zion. I'll be waiting for you in the Philippines. Please come to me soon.

....

Akira and Kenji on the media.