Perfect Pieces

07

"Whoa..."

Naiiyak ako habang nakatingin dito sa beach na pinagdalhan sa akin ni Luan. It was a beach in tagaytay and may pool din dito and a resorts but I wasnt here for the pool. Ngiting ngiti ako habang nakatingin sa dagat habang naka tayo dito sa ibabaw ng rock formations. Gusto ko sanang maligo pero hindi angkop ang damit na suot ko para magbeach. Tsaka it was already sunset.

"Thank you, Luan." I looked up to him beside me.

"Of course," he smiled at me at ibinalik ang tingin sa dagat.

Hinahangin na rin ang buhok ko and I was just cherishing the moment here because who knows kung kailan pa ako makakabalik dito? Sobrang ganda ng lugar at ang lamig pa ng simoy ng hangin kaya ay nakalma talaga ako.

The beach and its waves really do make me at peace. Of how the waves reach the shoreline. How the waves were hitting the sea wall. Of how the beach smelled. I loved all of it.

Napalingon ako sa gilid ko nung pinatungan ni Luan ng jacket iyong balikat ko. It was a denim jacket. Alam ko kaagad na kaniya iyon dahil naaamoy ko ang kaniyang pabango roon. Ngayon, alam ko na kaagad kung nasa paligid siya because of his signature scent.

Bumaba pa kami don sa may buhanginan and sat on the cloth na nilagay na para hindi malagyan ng sand iyong damit namin. Tahimik lang kaming dalawa habang nakatingin sa paghampas ng alo sa tabing dagat. I looked up and noticed that it was a full moon tonight.

"I was born on a full moon," imporma ko sa kaniya at naramdaman kong nakatitig siya.

"Really?" he asked and I nodded. "I was born on a new moon so the moon was really dark at that time."

"We were like... the two different shades of the moon..." I whispered.

"Yeah... but we fit so perfectly like we were made for each other... like the two different phases of the moon." I hear him chuckle kaya natawa rin ako ng mahina.

It was already 10 pm when I arrived sa house. Hinatid ako ni Luan sinabi ko pang pumasok muna siya pero sabi may kailangan pa raw siyang ayusin kaya hinayaan ko nalang. Pagbukas nung gate ay nakita ko ang mga sasakyan ng mga kapatid ko na nakaparada sa garahe.

"I'm home," mahinang sabi ko sa kanila pagpasok ko sa bahay at tinatanggal ang aking sapatos.

"Hello, mahal ko." My mom approached me and gave me a tight hug. "Saan ka galing? You didn't text us to inform where you went." Rinig ko ang pagtatampo sa kaniyang boses.

"Tagaytay," sagot ko naman. I didn't want to lie to my parents. Hindi rin naman sila nagagalit kaya ay sinasabi ko talaga ang totoo. Mas magagalit sila kapag magsisinungaling ako.

"Sinong kasama?" hinawi niya ang buhok na nasa mukha ko.

"Luan," maikling sagot ko and smiled at her. "Akyat na ako ma," sabi ko at nilampasan siya. Nakita ko pa si papa at mga kapatid ko sa sala na nakatingin sa akin pero huminga lang akong malalim bago umakyat sa kwarto ko para mag aral.

Nasa gitna ako ng pag aaral nung may narinig akong mahihinang bulong sa labas ng aking pintua.

"Katukin mo na kasi..." aniya ni kuya Kyler.

"Eh bobo, nagalit nga sa atin!" rinig kong asik ni kuya Apollo. Hindi naman ako galit. Nagtampo lang. Hinding hindi ko kayang magalit sa mga kapatid ko.

"Sinong bobo? Baka ikaw!"

"Will you two stop bickering and just knock on her door? Why did you two even interrogate her? Look what you two have done!" alam ko na kaagad na si kuya Arch iyon.

"Luh! Kala mo naman hindi ka rin nagtanong!"

"That's it! I just asked! While you two got-"

"I can hear you three, you know?" I asked them when I opened the door. Muntik pa masubsob si kuya Apollo sa harapan ko buti nahawakan ni kuya Kyler ang damit niya.

"s**t," kuya Kyler said and held his chest. Nanlaki ang mga mata nilang tatlo nung makita ako sa kanilang harapan at parang natakot bigla at napaatras.

"Seriously? Come in." I sighed and opened the door at pumasok naman sila at parang mga tutang nakatayo sa gilid ng kwarto ko. "Umupo nga kayo! What is happening to you, three?" sabi ko at sabay naman silang tatlo na umupo sa aking kama at magkaka dikit pa.

"You're mad at us." Kuya Arch pouted. Mukha akong nanay ng tatlong ito.

"Oo nga... hindi mo kami kinausap kanina," sabi ni kuya Kyler.

"Oo!" pag agree ni kuya Apollo. "Pagdating mo hindi mo kami kinausap! Eh noon kapag nakikita mo kami sa bahay, excited na excited ka-"

Hindi ko pinatapos sa pagsasalita si kuya Apollo at niyakap nalang silang tatlo. Hindi kalaunan ay narinig ko na ang mahinang paghikbi ni kuya Apollo sa balikat ko kaya ay natawa ako at binitawan na sila tatlo.

"Lumayo ka sakin... ayaw kong mahawa sayo... iyakin." Kuya Kyler stood up at nag tago sa likod ko looking like a kid habang 'yung isa ay nagpupunas ng luha niya.

I sighed at pinaupo ulit si kuya Kyler. "I'm not mad... I'm just... disappointed.. and pissed! You immediately judged the person just because he was from that family. We weren't raised like that," I shook my head slowly.

"We were just scared," kuya Arch said, looking away.

"And I'm not?" I smiled a little. "I was scared way before kuya,before I knew him pero hindi... hindi siya ganoon. Alam niyo bang siya 'yung nagpapakalma sakin kanina while I was having my panick attacks in the middle of the university earlier this day?" I asked.

"Really?" kuya Kyler asked and I nodded.

"Oo, you should thank him nga! Tapos ijujudge niyo pa 'yung tao," sabi ko at naga gitna ng upo sa kanila.

I was scared at Luan before... he was intimidating, alright? He looked very dangerous but very gentle at the same time. His touches were gentle like he was afraid to break me. But heck, he wasn't as evil as his parents. He had the aura... but he wasn't like that.

"I'm bored," sabi ni kuya Apollo habang pinapakialaman ang aking lalagyan ng ballpen.

"Let's have a study date until tomorrow. Are you up for it?" kuya Arch asked us at parang nagningning ang mga mata namin at mabilis na tumango. "Let's go to a coffee shop then"

Kaya ngayon ay nasa coffe shop kami pero nakapambahay nalang. Naka pajama na nga lang kaming apat habang nag aaral dito at napansin ko pang pag pasok namin ay parang nawala ang antok nung babae sa counter kasi nanlaki ang mga mata niya at ngiting ngiti na. Natatawa nalang ako ng mahina.

Tahimik kaming apat habang nagrereview at ang naririnig lang namin ay ang pagtatype ng isa't isa sa mga keyboard namin. Si kuya Kyler, hindi ko alam kung bakit nandito to eh tapos nanaman to mag aral ng college pero nakita kong mga documents pala mga binabasa niya at pinipirmahan.

"Sakit na ng ulo ko," sabi ko and stretched. When I looked at the time, it was 1 am palang.

"You can sleep here," sabi ni kuya Arch and scooted over sa couch na inuupuan niya kaya humiga ako dun at ginawang unan ang binti niya at kumot iyong jacket ni kuya Apollo.

I felt him kiss my forehead before I drifted to sleep. I woke up because I was feeling uncomfortable na and my neck was already hurting for not moving for a long time. Umupo ako at humikab. Tinignan ko ang orasan at 3 am palang pala. Madali lang iyong tulog ko.

"Hi can I get a coffee please... with four shots of espresso." I smiled at the girl on the counter at tumango naman siya. I looked around at nanlaki ang mata ko ng magtama ang tingin namin ni Luan. He looked like he was staring at me for a long time. Kasama niya rin iyong dalawang kaibigan niya and I just smiled at him bago ko kinuha ang aking kape at umupo ulit.

Nakatulog na pala si kuya Apollo dun sa inuupuan niya kaya ay nilagyan ko ng throw pillow iyong leeg niya para hindi sumakit bago ko ininom ang kape ko para mag aral ulit.

"Hello ma..." rinig naming pagsagot ni kuya Kyler sa cellphone niya. It looked like mom was calling. She's still up at this hour?

"Hello, Kyler! Kasama mo ba si Lani? I was about to check on her pero hindi ko siya nakita dito sa bahay?" mom asked him, klaro sa boses niya ang kaba.

"Opo, she's here with us sa coffee shop. Nag aaral." He glanced at me and gave me the phone.

"Mama?" I asked her.

"Jusko! Akala ko kung napano ka na, Leilani!" she sighed.

"Sorry po for making you worried. Hindi na kami nakapag paalam kanina kasi wala kayo sa bahay. Nag aaral po kami nina kuya."

"It's okay. Take a rest will you? Sobra sobra na iyang pag aaral niyo. Mata ko iyong sumasakit eh!" I heard some shifting on the bed so I assumed she's with dad na on the bed.

"Yes ma, after this po," I said. "Tulog ka na, ma."

"Sige. Ingat kayo, huh?! You four better get home safely and in one piece! Dapat buhay rin! Malalagot talaga tayo sa tatay niyo, jusko!" she exclaimed kaya napailing ako. Andami pa niyang paalala bago niya ibinaba ang cellphone.

"Mom's always extra," sabay na sabi ni kuya Archer at kuya Kyler kaya napatawa ako at sinimsim ang aking kape.

"It's almost your birthday!" sabi ko at kinisap kisap ang mata sa kapatid kong kambal.

"So?" kuya Arch sighed. "I have so many reading to finish... I want to spend my day, reading." he rolled his eyes.

"But... I want you two at home to celebrate," mahina kong saad.

Last year, hindi sila umuwi sa bahay so I had to fly to Seattle just to give a cake to kuya Kyler! Si kuya Arch ay nandito lang naman kaya ay hindi ako nahirapan.

Nagka tinginan silang dalawa. "Then we'll be at home." Kuya Arch smiled gently at me. I smirked because I got them.

"Did you just... used your power over us, Lani?" kuya Kyler asked me and I smiled.

"Wow... she has us wrapped around her fingers and she's using it damn well." Napailing si kuya Arch kaya ay natawa ako.

Hanggang sa ako nalang mag isa saming magkakapatid naiwan sa coffee shop kasi may pasok pa 'yung dalawa. 'Yung isa naman ay may tumawag kaya nagmamadaling umalis... must be his new... whatever. It was not my business to tell.

"Hello," tawag sa akin nung isang kaibigan ni Luan na si Rusev. Napansin kong umupo sa tabi ko si Luan at nasa harap naman 'yung dalawa niya pang kaibigan.

"Hi," I slightly smiled at him kasi parang paubos na talaga 'yung energy ko sa kakaaral dito. Sana pala nagpahatid ako sa tatlo sa bahay kanina.

"Kanina pa kayo dito? Kami rin! Grabe sobrang daming pinag-aaralan namin! Nakakastress pa yung prof kasi hindi-"

"Sorry... he's talkative." tinakpan ni Killian, yung isang barkada nina Luan ang bibig ni Rusev and Rusev glared at him. "Yuck!" Killian exclaimed at tinanggal yung kamay niya sa bibig ni Rusev.

"Oh ayan," Rusev smirked at his friend.

"You look like a dog... and yuck! Nilawayan mo pa yung kamay ko! You look like you have rabies pa naman!" he made a disgusted face and parang halos ipanligo na iyong alcohol.

I looked at Luan at nagkibit balikat nalang siya. Siguro ganito ang araw araw niyang nasasaksihan sa mga kaibigan kaya ay nasanay na siya sa ganito. The two kept bickering with each other pero ako at si Luan ay tahimik na nagbabasa nalang ta minsan ay natatawa ako sa mga jokes ni Rusev.

"Eto... anong sinabi ni mommy donut kay baby donut nung umakyat si baby donut sa puno?" he asked us and I thought of an answer pero joke pala yon.

"What?" Killian lazily asked him, nakikisakay nalang rin.

"Edi... bavarian!" tawa siya ng tawa and I blinked. 'Yung dalawa, imbis na tumawa ay naweirduhan pa na tumingin sa kay Rusev.

"Hey guys!" napalingon kaming apat kay Keziah na bagong dating lang. She looked very fresh in the morning. Amoy na amoy ko rin ang matapang niyang pabango and I fought the urge to scrunch my nose so I wont look rude in front of her.

"Hello, Ziah." Rusev grinned.

"You're all here studying pala! You didn't even bother texting me so I can join you!" she laughed and sat down next to Luan at his left side. At itong isa naman ay lumayo sa kaniya ay nausog sa akin kaya lumayo rin ako. "Hello, Lani." She smiled lazily at me na parang she was just obliged to say hi to me.

"Hello, Keziah." I greeted back at umiwas ng tingin. Sa pagiwas ko ng tingin ay nahagip ko ang tingin ni Killian na pabalik balik ang tingin sa amin and pursed is lip so my brows furrowed.

My phone rang and we all looked at it. Abuelo, it wrote.

"Excuse me," I said before I picked up my phone and walked outside. "Abuelo?" I asked, using my Spanish accent kasi kapag nagtagalog ako dito ay mapupuno nanaman ako sa sermon.

"Hello, my favorite granddaughter," he chuckled on the other line.

"I'm your only granddaughter, abuelo," paalala ko at napailing ng konti. "Anyways, how are you? Is there a problem?" I asked him kasi ang randon ng tawag niya. Abuelo is my father's dad.

"Not at all! I just miss my grand kids. I cant reach your dad or your siblings. I don't want to disturb your mon, either." He sounded sad now!

"I'll visit you on the weekend abuelo!" sabi ko kaagad dahil sa panic ko. Last year, he was so sad we couldn't make it to him because of the storm, inatake siya dahil hindi raw kami lahat macontact dito sa Pilipinas!

"Really?" he sounded hopeful.

I bit my lip and sighed. "Of course, abuelo."

Marami pa kaming pinagusapan bago niya ako binabaan ng tawag. I say that like ang near lang ng Spain sa Pilipinas, gosh! But I don't want to upset my abuelo! I love him! And I miss abuela too.

"You look problematic." Nagulat ako sa pagsulpot ni Luan sa tabi ko.

"I'm not but I'm just... I'm flying to Spain this weekend." I shrugged.

"And?" he asked me.

"And... nothing!" I sighed bago ako magpaalam sa kaniya at kinuha ang mga gamit ko dahil may pasok pa ako.

For the following days, nag asikaso lang ako ng mga papeles ko papuntang Spain. I'll just stay there for a week for me to roam around too and give time to my grandparents. I also booked my flight on Saturday. Nung araw na nung lipad ko at naka upo na ako sa window seat ko ay tahimik akong nanood ng music sa aking earphones nung naramdaman kong may umupo sa tabi ko. Napatingin ako sa kaniya at ganon nalang ang gulat ko nung makita ko si Luan sa tabi ko.

"What... what are you doing here?!" my mouth opened slightly dahil hindi pa ako nakamove on na nandito siya.

His brows furrowed. "You're here too?" he asked me and my mouth opened more.

"What?"

"My dad sent me to Spain to process some papers." he shrugged.

I pursed my lip and nodded. I looked away at tumingin nalang sa bintana. My gosh, Lani! Anong nasa isip mo? Nandito siya dahil sasamahan ka niya sa Spain? Ah, ang tanga. Grabe, assumera nga siguro ako.

"Cute," I hear him chuckle and I felt my cheeks blush.