I Could Fall

Chapter Eleven

"Do you feel sick?" Atticus asked with a hushed voice as we got settled on the bar stools by the kitchen countertop instead of joining Cynthia and Ruth at the kitchen table.

The two girls were silently eating their food but I noticed the way they constantly glance at our way.

"Are you hungry? What do you wanna eat?" he asked.

I shook my head. With the way my heart was racing and the activity of my brain? Eating will be a hard task. I can't focus. I wanted to pace. I wanted to squeal. I was... overyjoyed.

"I-I need some air. I'm just gonna go outside."

"Samahan na kita," sabi ni Atticus at agad na tumayo.

Gusto ko sanang mapag-isa dahil pakiramdam ko ay tatakas na ang malaking ngiti ko at magmumukha akong baliw sa sobrang kilig... but I know it will be futile to reject him. He'll surely insist. So I didn't argue and just stood up.

He walked first and I just followed behind him. He brought us to the back of their house.

Pagkalabas ng sliding door ay may outdoor couch na nakasilong sa bubong. Sa tapat nito ay ang malawak nilang pool na may jacuzzi sa gilid at tatlong rattan sun loungers with wooden floorings underneath. There's even a spacious green grass beside the wide pool that probably leads towards the front of the mansion. It's the same place that I saw from Atticus' tagged photos. Ang kaibihan lang ay wala ang mga outdoor table and chairs.

"Is this okay?" Atticus asked.

My eyes found at a spot where I can imagine where Ali's photo was taken. I bit my lip to stop myself from smiling hard again and took a few steps towards the edge of the pool.

I saw him again. I saw Ali! I can't believe it. I dreamt about meeting him again a few times. Ngayon ay nangyari na nga.

Our first encounter after five long years happened so fast and abrupt. I wasn't able to look at him properly  notice every single about him that changed. It's like he's still my Ali when I was eleven years old but not really.

He grew taller and his features matured. I don't need to stare at him for a long time to notice that. His hair was longer and handsomely styled. He wasn't lean anymore. I think he was wearing a black polo shirt but I can't say for sure because I couldn't look away from his face.

He called my name. He remembered me! My heart rejoiced at that. He looked so surprise and I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing.

Syempre, nagulat siya sa pagkakita sa akin. Ganoon naman talaga kapag nakita mo ang isang tao na matagal mo nang hindi nakita 'di ba? There's no meaning behind it.

It doesn't matter to me though. Masaya na ako na naalala niya ako. I'm so happy. So very happy.

"Hyon," Atticus called for my attention again.

His voice pulled me out of my trance. I quickly faced him. His eyes widened when he saw my face and quickly closed our distance.

"Ang pula mo, Hyon!" His voice was laced with panic. His eyes turned wild as he scanned my face and my body. "What's wrong? Can you breathe? Is it allergies?"

"Huh?" I touched my face and realized that it was burning. I was just blushing and Atticus thought that I have allergies!  "I-I'm okay, Atticus."

Mukhang hindi siya naniniwala sa akin. Bakas pa rin sa mukha niya ang pag-aalala. "Why are you so red then?"

"Uh... My skin... is uhm... a bit sensitive," I answered. Technically, it's true. Mabilis talagang mamula ang balat ko.

Sumimangot siya. "Are you sure? Pwede kitang ihatid kung masama ang pakiramdam mo at gusto mo nang magpahinga."