Nostalgic Deception #1: Above The Waves

Kabanata 27

We finished the whole grade 9 year together, isang taon na lang ay aalis na ako. Hindi ko pa rin nasasabi sakanya 'yong tungkol don, 'di ko pa kaya.... pero sinisigurado ko parati na bawat oras na kasama ko sya ay magiging memorable.

"Baby...." I called. His eyes widened as he turned his gaze at me.

"Akala ko 'di ka makakapunta?" his lips are halfway parted, I chuckled.

I shrugged. "Pwede ba 'yon? Birthday mo kaya." I gave him a hug.

Napansin ako ng tita nya, she greeted me right away. I smiled at her, she gave me a quick hug. Bumaling ako kay Kim, kapatid ni Josh. Busyng-busy sya sa paglalaro ng ML, napailing na lang ako at bahagyang natawa... manang-mana sa kuya nya eh.

"Kayls!" bati nya nang mapansin nya ako. Tinanguan ko lang sya, natatawa pa rin.

"Naglalaro ka na?" takang-tanong ni Josh sakanya.

"Oo." Kim chuckled. "Tara na, g!"

"Awts..." Josh glanced at me. "Pass na muna, andito bebe ko." he laughed.

Napansin kong abala sa pag-aasikaso 'yong tita nila, maybe I should help her. "Laro na muna kayo...." I gave him a smack. "Tutulungan ko muna si tita." I pointed at her.

"Sure ka?" he raised his brows at me, I just nodded. "Okay... I love you." he planted a soft kiss on my forehead.

Lumapit ako kay tita, napatigil sya sandali nang mapansin ako. "Oh, Makayla... kumain ka na ba? Ipaghahain kita." she smiled at me.

"Hindi na po..." I chuckled. "Ano pong ginagawa nyo? Tutulungan ko na po kayo." bumaba ang tingin ko sa mga hugasin.

"Maghuhugas na sana ako ng mga pinagkainan..." she laughed. "Kaya ko na 'to. Hindi ka pa ata kumakain, ikukuha na kita."

"Okay lang po... mamaya na lang po siguro." I smiled to give her an assurance. "Ako na po mag-uurong."

She was about to reject my offer pero may dumating, tinawag sya. Natawa na lang ako nang sumimangot sakin si tita na animo'y sinasabing wala na syang choice kundi pumayag.

"Sige na po..." I laughed. "Ako na po rito."

"Osya, sige... salamat, Makayla." she gave me a smile before leaving.

Gaya ng sinabi ko, ako na ang naghugas sa mga pinagkainan nila. Kaunti na lang 'yong mga tao, hapon na rin naman kasi. I was busy doing the dishes nang marinig ko ang sigaw ni Josh.

"Boo!" he yelled.

"Huh?" I turned my gaze at him, saktong tapos na ako sa ginagawa ko.

"Skin..." he uttered. "Nagsend ka ng skin?!"

I shrugged. "Uh... so?"

"Potcha..." he chuckled, staring at me. "Thank you." he pulled me into a hug.

"Tch..." I laughed. "I love you.... Happy birthday."

"Ako rin, penge skin..." parang batang pagsingit samin ni Kim, natawa na lang ako.

"Heh! Manahimik ka nga dyan... burautan mo pa bebe ko." biro sakanya ni Josh.

Buong bakasyon ay sinulit namin ni Josh para gumala, lagi kaming lumalabas. Minsan naman ay kasama namin ang fam nya, minsan naman ay fam ko 'yong kasama namin. May times din na kasama namin ang tropa, kadalasan nga lang ay kaming dalawa lang.

I won't deny it, hindi namin naiiwasan ang pag-aaway sa araw-araw. Minsan ay pati maliit na bagay napag-aawayan pa namin, agad din naman naming inaayos. I can say na mas nagiging strong 'yong relationship namin sa paglipas ng mga araw at buwan.

"Makayla, one more year..." sambit ni kuya. It was tough, next week ay aalis na sila mommy at daddy. Maiiwan na ako rito mag-isa sa poder ni kuya.

"I know..." I gave him a weak smile. "Isang taon na lang..."

"Sabihin mo kay Josh, may karapatan syang malaman 'yon. Hindi pwedeng basta ka na lang aalis." paalala sakin ni kuya.

"Isang taon ang ano?" someone interrupted, it was Josh. Napaayos ako ng tayo, gulat sa pagdating nya.

"J-Josh..." I stuttered.

"Isang taon ang ano, Makayla?" he asked.

"Boo..."

He turned his gaze at my brother. "Kuya, anong meron pagtapos ng isang taon?"

Bumaling sakin si kuya, tila ba'y sinasabing ako na ang magpaliwanag. "Ask your girl." he tapped Josh on his shoulders bago sya umalis.

"Makayla." mariin nyang sambit.

"One year..." I uttered. "One year before I'll leave."

He dropped his jaw, animo'y 'di ako maintindihan. "You'll leave?"

"I will." I bit my lower lip.

"Tangina! Kelan pa... kelan nyo pa pinagplanuhan 'yan? Bakit ngayon mo lang sinabi sakin?" he asked, shaking his head. "Mali... bakit ngayon ko lang nalaman?"

"Baby..." my tears started to flow. "Hey..." I tried to hold him, kaso lumayo sya.

"Ano na, Kayls?" he asked, I can feel his disappointment.

"Matagal na... matagal na, Josh." mariin akong pumikit, he cussed repeatedly.

"Tangina naman..." he clicked his tongue, naluluha na rin. "Fck it!" tinalikuran nya ako. He was about to leave but I held his hands.

"Baby... stay." I beg. "Please... stay."

"Stay? Fck it, Kayls! Ikaw nga... aalis diba? Tapos sasabihin mo sakin na please stay?" he sarcastically laughed. "Happy 10th month... tangina." he shook his head, inalis nya ang kamay ko na nakakapit sakanya bago sya tuluyang umalis.

I covered my mouth, ang sakit... sobrang sakit nyang panoorin na naglalakad palayo sakin. I know it's my fault, but I didn't expect him to react that way. Sobrang sakit...

It has been three days since the last time I've seen Josh, magsisimula na ang classes next week pero hindi nya pa rin ako kinakausap. He's mad... he's really mad at me because I've caused him too much pain. I caused damage to our relationship. I already did... he's not aswering my calls, he's not replying to my messages and chats.

I can't take it anymore, I know I'm at fault. I stood up and took a quick bath, I fixed myself before grabbing my things. I'll go to him. We need to fix this, we need to fix 'us'. I sent him a message na pupunta ako sakanila, I know he won't reply but I still did it. Pagkarating ko sakanila ay naabutan ko ang tita nya, she welcomed me right away.

"Makayla, pasok ka.." she uttered, parang gulat pa sya sa pagdating ko. "Si Josh ba?" she asked.

"O-Opo... asan po sya?" I tried to roam my eyes around, wala si Josh.

"Nako..." she held her neck. "Nagpunta kanina si Fia, lumabas sila...'di ba nagsabi sayo? Akala ko naman alam mo."

My lips parted as I felt a dagger on my chest. He's what? He's with Fia. Humigpit ang hawak ko sa phone ko, I tried to compose myself as I nodded at her.

"S-Sige po... salamat. Una na po ako." I gave her a fake smile. She asked me kung gusto ko raw ba kumain pero tumanggi na ako, umalis agad ako pagtapos kong magpaalam. Fvck it!

My tears fell as I took steps out of their house. Nag-away lang kami, may iba na agad sya? Damn... I can stay! I can stay here for him, for fvck's sake! Nakatungo lang ako habang naglalakad, hiding my eyes from people. Dahil sa ginagawa ko ay hindi ko napansin 'yong kasalubong ko, nabunggo pa ako sakanya. I lifted my head, sana pala 'di ko na lang ginawa. It was Josh, sa tabi nya ay nandon si Fia. Malamig na tingin ang ibinigay sakin ni Josh, Fia was in shock.

I slowly nodded, akmang aalis na sana ako kaso pinigilan ako ni Josh. He held my wrist, trying to stop me from leaving. Napansin kong tumango sya kay Fia, umalis na sya pagtapos non. I wiped my tears, sinubukan kong bumitaw mula sa pagkakahawak ni Josh but he tightened his grip instead.

"Let go..." I whispered. He glared at me, ramdam ko 'yong galit nya.

"Let go?" he raised a brow. "Hindi ako tanga para gawin 'yon, Kayls."

"J-Just my wr—" I wasn't able to finish my words, hinatak nya ako patungo sa bahay nila. Nagulat pa 'yong tita nya pero 'di na sya umimik. She just nodded at us.

Josh sat on his bed, nakatayo lang ako sa harapan nya. He's staring at me, 'di ko alam kung saan ako titingin dahil pakiramdam ko'y galit pa rin sya sakin.

"Why?" he broke the silence. "Why are you leaving?"

I shook my head. "I never wanted to leave..." my eyes heated, almost teary. "But you gave me a reason to leave." my tears fell, I remembered he was with Fia earlier.

He uttered a cuss, he pulled me. "Bakit ka umiiyak?" his jaw aggressively clenched.

I shook my head. "Bakit mo sya kasama..... kanina?" I bit my lips, 'di ko napigilang humikbi.

Natigilan sya, titig na titig sakin. He clicked his tongue and messed his hair, hinatak nya ako paupo sakanya.

"Napaka-two timer mo! Bitaw...." I tried to stand up, but he wrapped his arms around my waist.

"Bakit ko bibitawan 'yong babaeng mahal na mahal ko?" he raised his brows.

"Ilan ba kaming mahal mo?" I sarcastically laughed as my tears continued to fall.

He laughed at me. "Marami..." he shrugged.

"Fvck y—" he cutted me off by giving me a deep kiss.

"Stop cussing." he glared at me. "Marami... pamilya ko saka ikaw, saka family mo. Balang araw madadagdagan pa 'yon."

"Madadagdagan pala huh..." I raised a brow. "Tantanan mo nga ako, Josh."

He pouted. "Syempre... 'yong baby natin balang araw."

My lips parted, uminit ang mukha ko. I heard him chuckled as he tightened his hug to me. Paulit-ulit nyang binanggit na mahal nya ako.

"Bakit ka aalis?" he asked again.

I rolled my eyes. "Bakit mo nga kasama si Fia kanina?"

"Selosa." he laughed. "May kinuha lang ako... 'yong book nya dati. Pinakuha ni mommy, pwede raw magamit ni Kim. Saka hindi ko sya kinausap kanina, alam ko namang magseselos ka 'pag nalaman mong kasama ko 'yon." he explained. May kinuha sya sa gilid namin, pinakita nya sakin yon. Libro... 'di ko manlang napansin kanina. Ghad, I'm so stupid!

"Psh..." I chuckled.

"Tawa ka dyan. 'Yong tanong ko!" he pinched my nose.

I pouted. "Gustong magpahinga nila mommy, syempre pagod na rin sila sa paghahandle ng business nila rito. Pero believe me... I never wanted to leave. I never planned to leave..." I looked down.

Sandali syang natahimik, patango-tango lang. "Go with them..." he seriously uttered.

"I can't... pano tayo?" nagsimula nanamang tumulo ang luha ko.

"Iyakin..." he chuckled. "You'll need them, baby... I can wait. Hihintayin kitang bumalik." he nodded as an assurance.

"They're leaving next week." I stated. His lips parted, animo'y di inexpect 'yon.

"Biro lang... dito ka lang muna. Di ka aalis diba?" parang batang pagbawi nya sa nasabi.

I chuckled. "Yes... I'll stay."

"Kaya mo ba?" he asked, ramdam ko 'yong pag-aalala nya sakin.

"Kaya ko, boo... I'll finish my grade 10 here saka ako susunod sakanila. Maybe during those times... kaya na kitang i-let go." naramdaman kong bumigat ang dibdib ko. Kaya ko nga ba? Kahit kailan ay 'di ko makakayanang gawin 'yon...

"Walang magle-let go, boo." he hugged me tighter. "Saglit lang 'yon... saglit lang nating haharapin 'yong long-distance na 'yon. It's gonna be hard, pero worth it 'yon balang araw. Someday, we'll be together... no more distances. Tiwala ka lang... He got us. I'll wait, baby..." ramdam kong nabasa ang damit ko, he's crying!

"I love you." I faced him, niyakap ko sya ng mahigpit.

"I love you so much...."

******