When The Rain Stops

Chapter 11 - A Birthday Kiss

Chapter 11 - A Birthday Kiss

Palubog na ang araw at nakakamangha ang kulay kahel na langit at dagat. Naglakad ako palapit sa dagat saka tahimik na pinagmasdan ang tanawin. Palaging ganito ang nakikita ko tuwing nagpupunta ako rito ngunit hindi parin ito nakakasawang pagmasdan. Napakatahimik ng paligid, sa malayo naroon din ang ilang mga tao na naliligo sa dagat at pinapanood ang paglubog ng araw.

Bumalik na ako sa duyan ngunit sa buhanginan na ako umupo saka kinandong ang aking gitara habang nakatingin parin sa araw na tila'y nagtatago sa likod ng tubig dagat.

I strummed the guitar with the melody inside my head. Dumidilim na ang paligid at nagsimula ng umilaw ang ga lamparang nakasabit sa puno. Wala na 'kong hihilingin pa sa ganda at katahimikan ng lugar. Hindi ako natatakot sa aking pwesto sapagkat ginagabi rin ako minsan dito noon at sanay na rin. Hindi ganoon kadilim rito, maraming lanterns ang umiilaw sa paligid at nagdagdag narin pala sila ng fairy lights na nakasabit sa mga puno. Parang fairytale ang itsura pero totoo.

So this is how I will be spending my 19th birthday huh? Hindi ako nagrereklamo o ano, dahil ito rin ang gusto ko, tahimik at relaxed lang sa aking kaarawan, free from worries and other bullsh!ts of life.

But honestly at some point, it is kind of... sad... to spend your birthday alone.

I started to sing the song in my head until a voice made me stop.

"You are still here."

I looked where the voice came from. Archer. I wonder how long he has been standing there or if he heard me.

"Why are you here?" takang tanong ko, e kanina pa sila umuwi, at anong ginagawa niya dito e pwesto ko kaya dito.

"Tita Martha called me instead to check on you since Vincent is still having his exams"

"Na-check mo na ako, I am fine, you can tell that to Tita." Tumingin na ako sa madilim na karagatan. The moon is reflecting its beauty on the water. It looks serene. I strummed some strings, thinking of nothing, and just staring at the water and the crashing waves.

"She said... it is your birthday." I do not know what was in his voice, it does not sound like his usual plain and cold tone.

"Yeah, and so? You do not have to always check on me Archer every time they ask you to do it. You can just tell them that you already did and that I am doing fine, coz I am really doing fine. And by the way, you do not have to report to them where I am right now, nasabi ko na kay Mom." I answered looking at my guitar. Though hindi ko napan talaga nasabi kay Mommy kung nasaan ako.

"If you have nothing to say anymore, you can now leave, Archer."

After a minute, napansin ko na naroon parin si Archer nakatayo at nakatingin sakin. Anong problema niya? Sabi na ngang pwede na siyang umalis e. Nacheck na niya ako, alis na siya para mag-report.

I looked at him. "Why? May sasabihin ka pa?"

"Nothing."

I went back at strumming my guitar and looked at the waves, waiting for him to leave. But he did the opposite. Naglakad siya palapit sakin saka umupo sa katabi kong puno at doon sumandal. He's looking straight at the sea.

"Sophia has been asking you and your dog." He started.

"I sent Fury back home. Wala na 'kong mapag-iwanan sa kanya dito"

"Can I ask you something?" tanong ko at tumingin sa kanya nang makalipas ng ilang minuto na walang nagsasalita samin.

"Again?"

Natawa ako konti sa sagot niya. "Yeah. Again."

"You really got a lot of questions in your head, missy."

"So... can I?"

"Go on."

"Why do you also do that?"

"Do what?"

"That." I pointed at his creased eyebrows.

"Lagi kang naka kunot-noo para kang galit sa mundo na ewan tapos ang sungit mo. Pano pala kayo naging magkaibigan ni Vince, e siya Mr. Friendship kung makangiti, tapos ikaw nakabusangot lang buti nakakausap ka niya. Alam mo hindi pwede yan. Lalo kang papangit pag ganyan." Sunod-sunod kong sabi, totoo naman kasi, lagi siyang naka kunot ang noo, tapos kung makatingin parang papatay.

He snickered after I finished. Stifling a laugh. Then... he laugh.

fvck... holy..mother of... damn.

He fvcking laughed.

I never thought what I said was funny.

Napatitig lamang ako sa kanya, it was a rare sight to see! ang gwapo, hoy. I would rather look at him forever than at the beautiful scenery of the beach. Coz he was so, so much better to look at.

He stopped laughing, yet the smile on his face is still there. He also looked at me, smiling. And damn, kahit gusto ko ng ibaling ang tingin ko sa iba dahil alam kong nakakahiya ngunit hindi ko magawa, minsan ko lang 'to makita, pwedeng lubusin ko na?

His smile and his eyes, I never thought Archer would be very captivating. I know he has got good looks with all that serious expressions, but... he is like a fallen angel with his smile. God, is this your birthday gift for me?

"Close that mouth Rain Amira or I will do it for you." I immediately wake up from my reverie, and now, Archer's smirking at me.

Nag-iwas na ako ng tingin at tumikhim. Nahihiya ako, pero hindi parin mawala sa isip ko ang itsura ni Archer.

"You laughed. Nothing was funny about what I have said."

"Nah. It was just how you said that I will get more ugly when in fact you yourself knows that I am not.... Look at me, Rain..." He moved closer and touched my chin and made me look at him. I know that I am red as tomato already and I thank God for the dark night na kahit may ilaw alam kong hindi masyadong mahahalata ang pamumula ko.

"Am I ugly? like you said?" have I mentioned already that Archer got a deep voice? Not yet? Well, yes he has.

"You... have no idea what you did to me..." What? Wala naman akong ginagawa sa kanya a.

"Ever since you came, Rain Amira... you have been driving me crazy for months." His gaze was so intense that I can't look away, it was pulling me to depths.

His eyes moved lower from my eyes to my lips. And I do not know what to do now. I should push him, right? But I can't move, wtf?

He closed the distance between us, and my eyes widened in shock...

His eyes are closed when I felt his soft lips on top of mine. My breathing stopped, and my heart started beating so fast.

He moved his lips gently as a foreign feeling in me resurfaced and woke up the sleeping butterflies in my stomach.

After seconds of being under his spell, he bit my lower lip lightly before pulling away.

He stared at my eyes and smirked before uttering...

"Happy Birthday, Rain Amira." He then smiled and move back and I was still left speechless.