near the harbour (Undiscovered Paradise Series #1)

01

"Wash your troubles away."

"How do I do that?"

"Close your eyes and feel the ocean air brush through you."

"Like this?" Dahan-dahan kong ipinikit ang dalawa kong mata bago nilanghap ang malamig na hangin. Hinayaan ko lang na hanginin ang mahaba kong buhok.

All I can hear are the ocean waves. A hand tightly held mine as I relax.

"That's right. Just like that. Gumagana naman, 'di ba? Palagi akong narito kapag gusto ko na magpahinga muna." Rinig kong sabi ng kalaro ko.

"I feel happy." I whispered in the air. I heard him chuckle.

I didn't hear anything from him after so I got curious. Hawak pa rin naman niya ang kamay ko ngunit hindi siya kumikibo. Didilat pa lang sana ako nang may maramdaman akong dumampi sa mga labi ko.

I opened my eyes and saw him right in front of me.

"D-did you just kiss me? What was that for?" Gulat kong sambit. We're just kids! Paano kapag nalaman ng mga magulang namin iyon? Baka hindi na kami payagan kitain ang isa't isa!

"Yeah... I like you, Jay. Promise me that whatever happens, we'll still be together until the end."

Unti-onting napalitan ang gulat ko ng kasiyahan. I nodded my head excitedly before humming.

"Hm, I promise you, Gael!"

Magsasalita pa lang sana ito nang may tumawag sa akin.

"Jay! Jay! Pumarito ka!" I heard my Mom shouting, looking for me.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Gael bago nagmadaling tumayo mula sa pagkakaupo namin doon sa kahoy na boardwalk.

"Yes, Mama. I thought I can stay until the sun sets?" Nagtatakha kong bungad sa Mama ko na nagmamadali.

"Kailangan na natin magmadali dahil napaaga ang flight natin papuntang Maynila." Kunot noo akong umayos ng tayo.

"Maynila, Mama? A-ano ho ang gagawin natin doon?"

"Doon na tayo maninirahan, anak, kaya't halina rito at baka ma-late pa tayo!" Hinablot ni Mama ang braso ko palayo kay Gael na naguguluhan na rin.

"Pasensya ka na, Gael, ngunit kailangan na namin umalis. Mag-iingat ka palagi, hijo. Send my regards to your Mama, okay?" Mama glanced back at Gael who was wearing a confused and hurt  expression.

I looked back at him while tears are forming in my eyes.

"Gael!" I tried escaping from my Mama's grip, but she singlehandedly picked me up from the ground.

"Jay! Jay!" Gael tried reaching out to me. Isinakay ako ni Mama sa loob ng kotse namin bago unti-onting umandar ito. Agad akong kumalas bago nilingon si Gael mula sa likod. Umiiyak ako habang siya ay sinubukang habulin ang kotse namin ngunit palayo kami nang palayo sa isa't isa.

He tripped on the ground and I saw blood gushing out of his knees.

I screamed again and tried opening the door of our car, but Mama stopped me.

Gael wiped away the tears now forming in his eyes before standing up and running after us again.

"Ms. Soledad."

"Boss, your Father is on the line. Do you want me to tell him to call again later?" I got back to my senses after a while. Gulat kong nilingon ang sekretarya ko. "Your Father is on the line." Pag-uulit nito.