Chapter 18
1485 Words
CHAPTER 18
Lightning
Fears are inevitable, but how you cope with them will determine whether or not you realize your full potential.
Being with Law, I learned new perspectives about life. Facing my fears is one of them.
“Now, slowly release the brake pedal,” utos sa akin ni Law habang pokus siya sa pagmat'yag ng mga ginagawa ko. Katatapos ko lang i-shift ang gear ng sasakyan mula parking tungong driving. Ka-re-release ko lang din ng handbrake gaya ng utos niya.
After months of dating the great Lawrentius Zryan Arquero del Grico, he finally convinced me to buy a car. God knows how he took so long to convince me. Ngayon, bumili na nga ako ng simple lang.
I bought a Honda Civic, in color morning mist blue. Hindi ko alam na ganito pala sa pakiramdam kapag bumili ka ng bagong kotse. Puro takot lang kasi sa pagmamaneho ang iniisip ko noon.
“Like this?” nagdalawang-isip kong sinunod ang utos ni Law. Dahan-dahan kong itinanggal ang pagkakaapak ko sa brake pedal. Unti-unti na ngang umandar ang kotse ko. Dahan-dahan nga lang.
Law was currently teaching me how to drive. He was sitting in the passenger seat, teaching me how to be a good driver step by step.
Dapat nga ay hindi na muna ako bibili ng bagong kotse at ang plano niya, isa sa mga kotse niya muna ang pag-practice-an namin.
Kaso paano naman ako papayag e ang gagarbo ng mga kotse niya? Mamaya ay magasgasan ko pa't mapagastos pa ako. 'Tsaka wala naman akong balak bumili ng gaya sa mga kotse niya. Baka mahirapan lang akong mag-drive ng normal na sasakyan kung magarbo ang pagpa-practice-an ko.
Kanina niya pa itinuro sa akin ang parte ng sasakyan. Kung ano ang mga dapat gawin bago lumiko gaya ng tumingin muna sa side mirror at kung anu-ano pa. Ngayon, nasa parte na kami kung paano magpaandar ng sasakyan.
Law really tried his best to convince me to face my fear in driving. Aniya, hassle daw kung palagi na lang akong mag-u-uber.
“Yes,” pag-aproba niya sa ginawa ko. "Then, slightly step on the accelerator.”
I did what he told me to. As I did so, my car accelerated.
“Hell!” Nataranta agad ako nang hindi ko inasahan ang pagbilis ng takbo namin. Buti na lang, nasa bakanteng lote kami ngayon nag-pa-practice.
“Slightly, Alya,” paalala ni Law na medyo napaabante rin dahil sa biglang pagbilis ng takbo ng sasakyan.
“Oh. Alright.” Bahagya na lang akong kabadong napatawa dahil sa sarili kong katangahan.
Bumagal nang kaunti ang takbo namin nang bawasan ko ang pagdiin sa accelerator. Doon lang ako nakahinga nang maluwag.
Pinanatili kong katamtaman lang ang bilis ng takbo ng kotse ko dahil natatakot akong makabangga.
Makalipas pa ang halos isang oras, nalibot din namin ang subdivision na pinag-practice-an namin.
Somehow, I wanted to shout "yes" in celebration of my new achievement in life.
Marunong na 'kong magmaneho ng sasakyan!
Law and I were completely opposite. He loves extreme things; I don't. He's a very sporty guy while I am an idle type of person.
But staying beside him made it easier for me to step out of my comfort zone little by little.
Napakarami kong nasayang na pagkakataon dahil sa pagiging duwag ko. Maski ang matutong mag-bike, hindi ko nagawa noon. Buti't nandiyan si Law.
“Woah! I did it!” hiyaw ko matapos kong makapag-bike nang ilang metro tungo kay Law.
Sinalubong niya naman ako nang nakangiti.
"Good job," he said as he held her neck and then kissed her. It caught me off guard. Still, my heart ached so good because of what he did.
Hell! I didn't see that coming!
“W-What was that for?” nauutal kong tanong matapos pamulahan ng pisngi.
“For winning,” pagdadahilan naman ni Law na siyang hindi bumenta sa akin matapos kong makabawi.
If I know, he just wanted to kiss me.
“For winning, huh?" Pinagtaasan ko siya ng kilay. Hindi nagtagal, napahalakhak siya, guilty kasi alam kong chancing lang siya.
“One more time.” He changed the topic.
Nagpokus na lang din ulit ako dahil gusto kong gumaling sa pag-ba-bike.
Muling hinawakan ni Law ang upuan ng bike ko gaya ng ginagawa niya kanina para gabayan ako.
Pagkatapos noon, itinuon ko ang atensyon ko sa daraanan ko gaya ng utos niya kanina bago ako nagpedal ulit.
All I thought, he was still beside me, guiding me on my way. 'Tsaka ko na lang napagtantong hinayaan niya na ako ang magsalita siya.
“Look straight, Alya.” His voice sounded as if he was far away from me.
“W-Where are you?” Sa taranta ko, lumingon tuloy ako sa likuran. “What the—”
Nataranta ako bigla kasi ako na lang pala mag-isa ang nagpapatakbo ng bike. Kinabahan ako at tila nawala ulit sa isip ko kung paano magbalanse.
“Focus ahead! Careful!” dinig ko pang paalala ni Law pero huli na ang lahat. Sumemplang na ako.
Hell!
“Damn!”
Law immediately ran towards me. I got no wounds but I sprained my ankle that time.
Kinda tragic if I would describe it because it hurt so much. But I guess pain is part of learning. So, it was worth it.
Si Law mismo ang gumamot sa paa ko. Sanay na siya dahil madalas ding ma-sprain ang paa niya sa pagkakahilig niya sa kung anu-anong sports.
Later that day, we stayed in his condo.
His grandmother on his mother's side has a property here in Sacramento, California but he chose to live alone in a condominium. He preferred to be independent.
Bumuhos ang ulan noong gabing iyon. Nangangalit din ang langit at ang lakas ng kulog. Kahit ganoon, ang payapa ng puso ko.
We cuddled on his bed. I was sitting while he was laying on my legs.
I played the song I Like Me Better by Lauv and we listened to it, chilling while the weather was raging outside.
It was indeed one of the peaceful nights of my life.
Suddenly, Law thought of a silly idea. Tumayo siya mula sa pagkakahiga sa legs ko.
"Let's dance," biglaang aya niya ba naman.
I almost laughed at his idea.
“Are you kidding me? Ni-tumayo nga, hirap ako ngayon e.” Inginuso ko ang paa kong nilagyan niya ng benda kanina. Baka kasi nalilimutan niya.
He chuckled but still proceeded to persuade me.
“Ako ang bahala. Trust me,” aniya pa. He stared at me intently as if he wanted me to see his genuineness.
Tumitig ako sa kanya pabalik at nang mapagtanto kong seryoso siya sa sa ideya niya, bumuntonghininga na lang ako at sumang-ayon.
He excitingly stood in front of his bed.
“Step on my feet,” utas niya.
“Huh? Mabigat ako! Baka mamaya, mahulog pa ako.”
That’s his idea? Seriously?
“Trust me.” pag-uulit niya.
And I did, no matter how doubtful I was of his idea.
Kumapit ako nang mahigpit sa braso niya bago tumapak sa paa niya. Nag-aalala ako’y baka mabigatan siya sa akin pero nang tingnan ko naman ang ekspresyon niya, parang wala lang ang timbang ko.
I was nervous we would tumble on the ground. Buti’t sinigurado niyang hindi ako mahuhulog nang ikulong niya ako sa kanyang bisig.
Pagkatapos noon, humakbang-hakbang na siya, alinsunod sa tugtog.
“Did you fall?” he asked the obvious. Umiling ako. “See? Told ya. Trust me.”
Ngumisi na lang ako dahil sa sinabi niya.
I couldn't help but be amazed by his resemblance to my favorite thing in the world: lightning.
Law is so unpredictable. Some days, he's the coolest person you would ever know. Some days, he could be the sweetest too.
We continued moving to the music. He even rested his forehead on mine. The tip of our nose, grazing; our lips almost touching. I could feel the warmth of his breath.
We continued in that position until the loud beats of my heart eventually surpassed the sound of the music and rain.
I was tempted to kiss him. Fortunately, before I do, he already did. As if he was able to read what was on my mind. Parang isa sa mga pangarap ko ang natupad dahil doon. Marahan akong napapikit para damhin ang bawat segundong kasama siya.
"Didn't know you're capable of being corny, Zryan.” I tried to tease him to hide his effect on my system. “Aren't you afraid of losing your title as the coolest guy I've ever known?"
“I am not. I am even willing to be struck by the lightning you are afraid of,” seryosong sagot niya naman.
How? If you are like the lightning itself?
I wanted to say that but I remained silent. Kaya naman nagpatuloy si Law sa pagsasalita.
"Nothing scares me the most aside from losing you."
- Writer
