Midnights to Remember

Memory: Twenty Two

Twenty Two

The sky was calm now after the meteor shower ended. I was still looking in the sky appreciating the beautifulness of the moon. I am always mesmerized by the sight of the moon no matter what shape it is, I have this habit that I look into it every night at my window.

"Ang ganda." nakangiting sabi ko while I raised my hand looking like I'm trying to reach for it.

"Oo nga ang ganda." narinig kong sabi ni Kaius. I looked at him and to my surprise he is looking at me while smiling widely.

I scoffed. I immediately looked away at binaling ang tingin ko ulit sa taas. What happened yesterday was still vivid in my mind. The feeling of our lips touching lingered on me, it was driving me crazy.

"Guys anong oras tayo uuwi?" tanong ni Ashley.

"Tambay muna tayo boss! Sayang naman ang pagtakas natin sa prinsesa sa tore tapos 10 minutes lang tayo dito." sabi ni Vince habang nagkakamot ng ulo.

"Edi maiwan ka." sabi ni Ashley at inirapan ito.

"Mamaya na, Ash. Maaga pa naman." sabi naman ni Cesha. Ngumiti naman si Ashley at sumang ayon dito.

"Wow kapag iba ang nagrequest oo agad!" nagmamaktol na sabi ni Vince. Nag make face naman si Ashley bago binaling ang atensyon sa pakikipagusap kay Cesha.

"Guys what are your plans after you graduate?" tanong ko out of nowhere.

"Plano kong magapply sa business company kapag nakagraduate ako ng business administration." nakangiting sabi ni Ashley.

"Ako balak kong magturo." sabi ni Cesha.

"Woah education ang course mo?" tanong ko.

"Hindi mo pa ba alam?" tanong ni Cesha.

I smiled sheepishly."Hindi e, actually si Ashley lang dahil business ad din ang course niya. While Kaius, I just found out recently that he's taking up Law."

"Grabe ang tatagal na nating magkakasama wala ka palang kaide-idea kung anong course namin. Akala ko sinabi sa 'yo ni boss noong briefing." sabi ni Vince.

Umiling ako."Ako Information Technology." sagot ni Vince.

"Civil Engineering." Jansen answered.

"Woah you guys have an interesting courses. Business administration is boring, oh Ash don't get me wrong it's just it's not for me." pilit na ngiting sabi ko.

"Ano bang desired course mo?" tanong nila.

"Architecture." nakangiting sabi ko. "I have always love drawing and stuff about art. I'm into architecture because of my cousin, he always love to share how nice Architecture is lalo na kung mahilig ka sa pagd-draw."

"Bakit hindi 'yon ang course na kinuha mo?" tanong ni Ashley habang ang iba naman ay nakikinig lang.

"Mom and Dad wouldn't let me." I smiled bitterly. "They said I wouldn't be able to take over our company kapag 'yon ang kinuha kong course. They're belittling it since art won't get me anywhere daw." kwento ko. I sighed then I hugged my knees because it's getting cold.

I looked at them and all I can see is sympathy in their faces. I smiled at them to break the ice between us.

"But it's fine though. I won't get to meet Ashley kung iba ang course ko." tumatawang sabi ko. Ngumiti naman sila at binalik na ang atensyon sa harap namin. I was still mesmerized by this spot, a cliff with blue led lights together with the crashing waves.

I rested my head on my shoulders while I hugged my knees. I'm staring at the waves crashing the sand.

~

"Guys baba tayo?" yaya ko. Gulat na gulat naman silang lahat sa sinabi ko kaya natawa ako.

"Kade walang daan pababa." sabi ni Ashley. Umiling ako at tinuro ang hagdan na gawa sa bato sa bandang kaliwang parte ng cliff. Nagtinginan kaming lahat at sabay sabay ngumiti.

Tumalon kami pababa ng mini van at nagunahang tumakbo sa hagdan. I removed my slippers before going down the stairs. Nang makababa kami I can feel the sand on my feet and the salt air embracing me.

Nagtakbuhan kami papunta sa dagat. We stopped at the sea shore, enough for our feet to get wet. Nagtampisaw kami at nagtawanan habang nagpapahabol sa alon na humahampas sa dalampasigan. I didn't know I could laugh this hard in my entire life.

Lumapit si Kaius sa shallow part at binasa kami ng tubig. I screamed because my clothes are soaked and wet. Nagbasaan kami hanggang sa mapagod, we were laughing like there's no tomorrow.

Nagulat ako nang buhatin ako ni Kaius ng bridal style, napasigaw ako at nagpumiglas. Tiningnan ko sila Ashley at buhat buhat na rin siya ni Vince, si Jansen naman ay buhat si Cesha. I screamed nang tumakbo silang tatlo pasalubong sa alon. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang paghampas ng alon sa katawan ko habang buhat pa rin ako ni Kaius.

I watched him laugh, I can't help but to smile. This man deserves the world because of what he's been through. Dahan dahan niya akong binaba nang hanggang bewang na ang lalim ng tubig. The moon was our only light from the darkness that's embracing us.

Binaba rin nila Vince at Jansen si Ashley at Cesha. Natawa ako nang pinaghahampas ni Ashley si Vince, tumakbo naman si Vince pabalik sa pampang at hinabol pa rin siya nito. Si Jansen naman ay bumalik na rin at naiwan naman si Cesha while smiling like crazy na ani mo'y kinikilig.

I was smiling when I faced Kaius again.

"Ang ganda mo lalo na kapag masaya ka, Aice. Mas maganda ka pa sa dagat na 'to." sumilay ang ngiti sa mukha niya. I was caught off guard all over again.

"Kaius Cane stop playing with me. Kung sa mga girls effective 'yong mga ganitong trip mo. Too bad your charm is not effective on me." seryosong sabi ko.

"Mali bang magkagusto sa pinakamagandang babaeng nakilala ko?" tanong niya. I looked at him with confusion visible all over my face.

"Yeah right." I said sarcastically.

I turned my back at him and I was about to walk away when he pulled my wrist.

"Ayaw ko sa lahat 'yong tinatalikuran ako kapag seryoso akong nagsasalita dito." he said with furrowed eyebrows.

"Stop toying with me, Kai. I know you're like this to other girls." seryoso ding sabi ko.

Nagulat ako nang hilain niya ulit ako at ikinulong sa bisig niya. We stayed like that for a few minutes nang marinig ko ang sigaw ni Vince.

"Lagnatin sana kayo! Magsiahon na mga PDA!" narinig kong sigaw niya habang hinahabol pa rin siya ni Ashley. Si Kaius rin ang kusang bumitaw sa yakap at hinawakan ako sa magkabilang braso.

"Posible palang mayakap ko ang mundo." narinig kong sabi niya. The butterflies inside my stomach started to flutter again. Parang matutunaw ako habang nakatingin sa mga mata niya, but I should not right? Kaius is a huge playboy, he is not good for my heart.

I tend to shrug things off dahil alam kong ganito siya sa ibang babae. Hindi ko na lang nilalagyan ng malisya but this time I feel it's different. Since I joined the Pathfinder I rarely see him with another girl or should I say never na. Unlike before I always see him with different girls every time kapag magkakasama sila ng grupo.

"Tara na, nilalamig na ako." sabi ko. I hugged myself while I'm getting out from the water. I looked back at Kaius at nakatayo pa rin siya doon habang pinapanood akong lumayo. Napansin ko si Jansen na nakatingin sa akin with his serious face while I walk towards them. I sat beside him while I watch Kaius get out from the water. Hindi siya dumiretso sa amin instead umakyat siya sa taas.

"Ang lamig." I exclaimed. Yakap yakap ko ang sarili ko habang nanginginig. I looked at Jansen when he removed his jacket at pinatong niya ito sa akin.

"Jansen 'wag na, lalamigin ka rin." sabi ko. I was about to take it off nang pigilan niya ako.

"Ikaw na lang, hindi naman ako gaanong nabasa." he said. I thanked him at binalik ko ang paningin ko sa dagat.

"Oh Kaius saan ka galing?" narinig kong sabi ni Vince mula sa likod ko. Napatingin ako sa likod ko at nakita kong may hawak siyang jacket. Napatingin siya sa jacket na suot ko at bumuntong hininga na lang siya bago tumalikod sa amin.

~

"Let's go, guys. I think I'm gonna freeze to death." sabi ko. Sumang ayon naman silang lahat kaya sabay sabay na kaming umakyat pataas. Nadatnan namin si Kaius na nakasandal sa pinto ng mini van.

"Mababasa 'tong seats." sabi ko.

"Okay lang, Kade. Matutuyo naman 'yan." nakangiting sabi ni Ashley.

Isa isa kaming pumasok sa loob, nauna akong pumasok kay Kaius. Akala ko sa akin siya tatabi pero hindi, sumakay siya sa passenger's seat at si Ashley ngayon ang katabi ko.

Is he mad?

I just shrugged it off then I hugged Ashley for warmth. Nagsimulang umandar ang mini van at binuksan ni Vince ang speaker.

Dancin' around the lies we tell

Dancin' around big eyes, as well

Even the comatose

They don't dance and tell

I looked outside the open window and let the cold breeze brushed my face and blow my hair away. Pinagmasdan ko ang makukulay na ilaw ng city lights at ang nagtataasang mga gusali dito.

We live in cities you'll never see on-screen

Not very pretty, but we sure know how to run things

Livin' in ruins of a palace within my dreams

And you know, we're on each other's team

"Vince daan tayo sa convenience store, magkape tayo tsaka cup noodles." Ashley said.

Sinunod nga ito ni Vince at huminto kami sa sa 7/11 na nadaanan namin.

"Papapasukin ba tayo ng ganito ang lagay natin?" natatawang tanong ko.

"Hindi naman tumutulo e." sabi ni Ashley. Pumasok nga kami sa loob at hindi naman kami sinita. Kumuha kami ng kaniya kaniyang flavor na gusto naming cup noodles pati na rin ang kape sa vending machine.

Hindi nanaman tumabi sa akin si Kaius which is odd, he always do. Did I upset him? Hindi ko na lang ulit ito pinansin at sinimulan nang kumain. Nang matapos kami ay nagbyahe na ulit kami papunta sa bahay.

We stopped in front of our house quietly. Nilabas nila ulit ang hagdan at sinamahan pa rin ako ni Kaius. Dahan dahan niyang pinuwesto hagdan sa tapat ng bintana ko. Pinauna niya ako at nasa likod ko lang siya habang umaakyat. My heart took a leap nang madulas ako sa isang baitang ng hagdan but he caught me by my waist. Napasigaw pa silang lahat kaya halos sumigaw rin ako para sabihing tumahimik sila.

Inalalayan ako ni Kaius hanggang sa makapatong kami sa bubong ng first floor. I carefully opened my window at pumasok ako rito. Kaius was about to go nang hawakan ko ang kamay niya.

"Are you mad?" nagaalalang tanong ko.

Ngumiti lang siya at umiling. I have no other choice but to let go of him nang magsimula na siyang lumayo. I watch him as he climb down the ladder. He successfully crossed our house's wall. Isa isa silang nagsenyas na aalis na sila.

Ashley and Cesha gave me a flying kiss while Vince formed his hand into a finger heart, I cringed but I smiled from their gestures. Jansen waved at me while Kaius made his way inside the mini van. I got sad but I decided to shrug it off, they were about to go nang senyasan ko sila ng wait.

Umalis ako sa bintana at naghanap ako ng papel at marker sa night stand ko. Sinulatan ko ito bago ako bumalik sa bintana at pinakita ko ito sa kanila. Napangiti sila at kumaway kaway bago pumasok sa loob ng sasakyan. I rested my chin on my window sill habang pinapanood kong mawala ang mini van sa paningin ko. I smiled when I looked at what I wrote, I've really been affectionate towards them this past few days.

I had a blast on our little rendezvous, Pathfinder. I'll see you again next week. Just remember me loves you all. Ciao!