When The Rain Stops

Chapter 16 - Cheating

Chapter 16 - Cheating

"Just remember to do the instructions and you'll be fine, alright?" Tumango na lamang ako saka ako nagpatulak kay Manong.

"Waaaaaaaaahhhhhh!" I felt the blood and adrenaline rushing all over my body. Para akong lumilipad pababa.

Nang tumigil na ako sa pagbagsak ay napatingin nalang ako sa paligid, below me is a river going to the sea, and it is clear to the point that I can even see the stones beneath the water. It's great that the locales are able to preserve such beauty of the nature.

Inakyat na nila ako at pagtapak ko sa platform ay doon ko na lamang naramdaman ang panginginig ng tuhod ko. Mabilis nilang inalis ang lahat ng gears at agad naman akong dinaluhan ni Vince.

"T-that was... fun" nanginginig pero natawa kong sinambit. Nakaka-kaba talaga sa una pero pag nandoon ka na ang saya.

Mahinang natawa na lamang si Vince saka niya ako inalalayang maglakad kasi nanlalambot parin ang mga tuhod ko. Natawa na lamang ako sa sarili.

"That was crazy, Vince." Natatawa kong sabi, I never thought I would really be able to try it.

"You're crazy."

Nang makabawi ako ay tumingin ako sa kanya.

"What's next?"

"Bridge."

"Hala may bridge talaga? Nagbibiro lang ako, baka ihulog mo naman na talaga ako sa bridge na sinasabi mong yan."

"There's really a bridge. You'll see." Naglakad na kami sa sinasabi niya, narito parin kami sa taas ng bundok papunta sa isa pang station. Pagkarating namin doon ay mga mga around sampu ang tao na naroon.

I looked around, and there I saw it. The bridge.

It's a freakin' glass bridge! I'm not sure if it is made of fiber glass but it looks like one.

"Diyan?"

"Yeah. It will be the last one."

Naglakad na kami palapit sa tulay saka ako tumigil at tumingin sa sahig nito.

"Walang cracks 'to Vince ha."

"You already jumped from a cliff Amira, this one is easy now. Let's go." Chill lang nitong pagkakasabi saka nito hinawakan ang likod ko at iginiya palakad sa tulay. Maingat ang aking paglalakad, nag-aalala na baka mabasag ang sahig. Napakapit narin ako sa shirt ni Vince habang tumitingin ako sa baba, nakakalula, parang anytime pwede akong mahulog.

"Look Amira" nasa gitna na kami ng tulay at napatingin nga ako sa paligid. Ang tulay ay naka konekta sa magkabilang bundok, sa mismong baba namin ay ang ilog na mula sa nakita ko kanina sa pag bungee jump, at kita rin dito ang pagsasalubong ng tubig ilog at ang tubig dagat.

Ang ganda talaga ng tanawin dito, hindi nakakasawa. Narinig ko ang pagtunog ng camera ng phone ni Vince kayaa napatingin ako sa kanya. Nakita ko itong nakatutok sakin at walang hiya-hiya akong nag-pose rito. Kumuha pa kami ng ilang litrato hanggang sa magsawa kami.

Masaya rin palang may kaibigan na ganito. Sumasabay lang sa mga trip mo sa buhay.

"Send mo sakin mamaya mga yan ha. I'll show it to Mom." Masaya kong sabi nang patungo na kami sa kabilang bahagi ng tulay para doon na sumakay ng cable car pabalik sa baba.

"Yeah." Ani lamang nito habang nakangiti na nakatingin sa kanyang cellphone.

Sinuotan kami ng panibagong gear kasi iniwan na namin kanina sa bungee jumping area yung suot namin kanina. Tahimik na lamang kami at inenjoy ang tanawin hanggang sa makarating kami sa baba.

Agad kaming tumungo sa isang stall para bumili ng burger, fries, soda, and ice cream saka kinain ito habang nakaupo sa isang bench nila.

"Did you have fun?"

"Sobra. Ang ganda dito, tapos ang thrilling ng mga ginawa natin. Mahilig ka sa mga extreme sports and activities?"

"Yeah."

"So hindi mo yun first time?"

"Nope."

"Hala ang daya. First time ko mga yun."

"Obviously. Your reactions were funny" nangaasar nitong tawa

"Ano pang na-try mo na?"

"Parachuting, Paragliding, Sky diving, mmmm, what else, they're not much extreme, but I also tried Skiing, Surfing, car racing?"

"Wow ang dami. Ang dami mo ring time a."

"Not really, just during vacations."

Nang matapos kaming magmeryenda ay pumunta kami sa bilihan ng souvenirs. Pagpasok namin ay dumiretso ako sa shirt racks, at doon ko nakita ang bagay na ayaw kong makita ka.

It's Dad... and his mistress.

And oh, is that the woman's daughter? She looks like around my age or probably a year older than me.They all look happy, including Dad. He's asking them both what they want to get, and that he'll give them everything they want. Nice Dad, you can't even do that for me. Well, except for the car which Mom insisted to get for me.

I already saw Dad with the same mistress once before when I was in high school doon sa probinsiya namin. Hindi ko alam kung taga rito ba yang babae o taga doon saamin at kung paano siya narito. I did not confront dad kasi alam naman na ni Mommy na may babae ito dahil naririnig ko sila minsan na nagaaway.

I was frozen on my place and I do not know what to do. If I should go surprise my Dad and sarcastically say Hi in front of his mistress and her daughter or nah.

Hindi ko na sila nakita nang may katawan na humarang saking harapan at napatitig lamang ako dito. I looked up at Vince when he suddenly touched my cheeks to wiped the tears I didn't notice.

"You're crying." Malumanay nitong sabi. Saka niya ako inikot at dinala na sa sasakyan.

He opened the door for me and I immediately get in. Tahimik lang kaming dalawa habang nagmamaneho siya. Hindi na siya nagtanong, alam kong nakita niya rin ito. I did not bother crying again, nakakapagod kayang umiyak and besides it's not worth it.

We stopped on a hill and he moved out from the car proceeding at my car door to open it for me. 

"Where are we?" Hindi na ito sumagot kaya lumabas na lang ako ng sasakyan at tumungo sa harapan nito. It's 5:30 and the sun is starting to set.

Sa baba ng burol na ito ay kita ang mga kabahaya at ilang gusali na hindi masyadong matayog kumpara sa mga gusali sa Manila.

Umupo siya sa damuhan at sumunod rin ako dito.

"You can cry... you can tell me anything you want, your frustrations and all, if you want to."

We are both staring the sun that is about to set. Another breathtaking view.

"I... don't know, Vince." Napabuntong hininga ako dahil hindi ko alam ang sasabihin o kung may sasabihin man ako.

"I don't wanna ruin the fun just because of it."

We watched there in silence. I smiled when the sun is saying goodbye while turning the sky in a color or red and orange.

"It's... beautiful" I uttered while watching the sun starting to hide behind the mountains.

"Yeah, it is." I looked at Vince whom I found staring at me. I just slightly smiled at him and turned to the sun. I am thankful that he's here with me right now. At least I know that someone knows my problem and what I feel about it, unlike before when I keep it all to myself.

"Thank you, Vince." It seems like we're back when we were kids, when he was always there for me, even until now. Thank God that we met again.

"Anything for you, Amira."

We stayed there until the darkness covered the night and the houses started to turn on lights.

This place... is really amazing. I watched the lights coming from the houses below us and they are like stars twinkling in the dark night.

"How did you find out this place? Ang ganda dito. You can see the sunset, and now the lights!" I was smiling at the view totally forgot an ugly sight I saw at the souvenir shop. I don't wanna ruin this day.

"And the stars decorating the dark sky, Amira." He said looking up so I looked up as well. And yes, he's right.

"I can't describe how pleased I am at this place right now, it offers too much overwhelming beauty."

Humiga ako para mapagmasdan pa ang mga bituin. "I wish I could be at peace right here, forever,"

"Will you sell this place to me, Vince?" I jokingly added. Bumaling ang tingin nito sakin habang mahinang tumatawa.

"Give me your heart and you can have this place forever."

"Gusto mo talaga akong patayin no? Tapos dito mo ako ililibing para sa akin na talaga ang lugar na 'to forever." Hingin ba naman yung puso ko, edi patay na ako kung ganon, tapos baka dito rin niya ako ililibing para sakin na talaga itong lugar. Mautak din itong si Vince e.

He just laughed at my response. "You're still the innocent Little Amy."

"Hoy, alam kong hindi ako katangkaran pero hindi naman na ako bata. Kung makatawag ka ng little."

He laughed even more.

"We should go, Amira." Aniya saka tumayo. Umupo naman ako saka nilahad ang kamay ko sakanya para hilahin niya ako patayo.

Napatingin ako sa kanya nang mahila niya ako patayo at napansing masyado kaming malapit sa isa't isa. Ngumisi ito kaya agad akong umiwas ng tingin at lumayo saka naglakad patungo sa sasakyan. My cheeks are getting red, it's embarrassing.

"Say thank you, Amira." Sambit nito na natatawa habang sinusundan ako pabalik sa sasakyan.

"'Wake up, Little Amy." Nagising ako at nandito na kami sa shelter. Kinuha na namin si Azlan saka tumuloy na sa condo.

"Um. Thank you for today, Vince. I had fun. And about earlier, thank you for being there. I... didn't know...what to do if you weren't there to drag me out. I really appreciate it. Thank you." I finished and look at him with a smile.

He smiled at me in return saka inabot ang ulo ko at ginulo ang buhok ko.

"Anything for Little Amy."

I walked up to my condo and found Archer sitting on the floor with his back against my door. He looked up when he noticed me... and boy, he's fuming mad.