"So we're going to Boracay?" Tanong niya. Magkatabi kaming nakaupo ngayon sa loob ng plane. Nilingon ko siya bago tumango. Hindi na siya umimik at sinuot ang kanyang aviators.
"Alright then. I'm going to sleep." She said before placing her head on my shoulders.
***
"Eleanor," I smiled as I gently tapped her cheek. She was still sleeping with her head on my shoulders. Hindi ko makita ang kabuuan ng mukha niya dahil suot pa din siya ng kanyang aviators. Malapit na kasi kami sa pupuntahan namin.
"Wake up," I tapped her again. Eleanor stirred bago dahan-dahang umupo ng maayos. She yawned and I had to keep myself from smiling like a lunatic. She's too adorable for my liking.
"Glad you're awake now. Malapit na tayo." I told her. She removed her aviators before looking at me.
"Chance, when we get to the hotel, I want to sleep. I feel so tired." She muttered. Halata din sa mukha niya ang biglang pagkapagod. Bahagya naman akong nabigla dahil parang hindi naman napapagod si Eleanor. She's always cheerful and happy.
"Why are you tired? Dahil ba sa ginawa ko?" I asked her. Kinabahan din ako. Baka kasi dahil sa biglaan kong pag-kidnap sa kanya kaya siya nagkakaganyan.
Umiling lang siya, "Not really. I've been studying for my Finals for next, next week. Nakakapagod pala." Naalala ko naman na nag-aaral pa din pala siya sa Law School.
"Ah. Fourth year mo na sa Law School diba? You'll be graduating in a few months." Saad ko. If I'm not mistaken, ngayon nga siya gagraduate. Dahil kung isang taon ang tanda ko sa kanya and I was 20 when I graduated Summa Cum Laude from UP, she graduated Cum Laude at the age of nineteen.
"Right." She nodded. Napangiti naman ako sa sarili ko. I was proud of her, for some reason. Malapit na siyang maging Lawyer at natutuwa ako dahil alam kong yun talaga ang gusto niya sa buhay.
"Since August nagstart ang first sem mo sa fourth year then, ngayon first week ng December ang finals niyo?" Tanong ko.
"Right again." She smiled. Hindi na lang uli ako nagtanong dahil dumating na kami sa pupuntahan namin. I held Eleanor's hand as we got out from the plane. Madami kasing tao.
Nilingon niya ako na nagtataka, "What's wrong?"
I shrugged, "Baka mawala ka. Ang dami pa namang tao." Then I held her hand tighter.
Nginitian ako ni Eleanor before squeezing my hand, "I'm not going anywhere." And ironically, as we stand amidst the crowd of unknown people, I felt safe.
***
YOU ARE READING
No Strings Attached
General Fiction[For my beloved Chance Lucas Sandoval] Chance Lucas Sandoval meets Eleanor Kai Gonzales in the most unlikely place, and you can guess that the most unlikely thing happens. He agrees to date other women, as Eleanor has stated, to help him move on wit...
