Elysian (Samantila Series #1)

24

Nakangusong tumingin sa'kin si Blaid, saka tinanong, "Saan ka mag-aaral sa Manila?"

Agad ko namang sinabi ang eskuwelahan na pinag-enroll-an na'min ni Stage.

Guinevere looked shocked, "Seriously? Ang yaman n'yo naman pareho."

"Why? Aren't you gonna study abroad?" I said. She's making a big deal out of our school. It's not like ginintuan ang tuition sa eskuwelahang 'yon.. It's just known but quite affordable for us. Saka, s'ya nga itong mag-aaral abroad.

She scowled, "Yeah. Gusto ko nga sanang mag-stay dito at mag-aral nalang sa Manila kagaya n'yo kaso ayaw nila Mommy. It's just so lonely to live abroad..."

"It's a great opportunity, though. Naiintindihan ko sila Tita. But I also understand you. It's hard to live alone, especially abroad. Lalo na't mag-aaral ka rin."

"Exactly. I already said I don't want to but Kuya Dice is pushing my parents to say no. I don't know what is his problem." mas lalong sumimangot lang si Blaid.

At natuloy nga ang kanya-kanya na'ming plano para sa kolehiyo. Stage and I will be going to Manila by an airplane instead of using neither of our choppers. It's his decision and I let him. I don't see anything wrong with riding a public airplane.

We're now packing his things together. Kahapon naming dalawa natapos ang akin at ngayon ay kanya naman. He wanted us to do the packing together. Wala naman sa'kin 'yon 'cause, I wanted to help him, too. Besides this will be our couple or bonding time.

"Ang tanga mo talaga. Bakit 'di mo nalang gamitin yung chopper? Talagang magpupublic airplane pa kayo, ah. Hassle pumunta sa airport." reklamo ni Yeuane matapos sabihin ni Stage na pupunta kaming Manila gamit ang isang public airplane ng isang airline company. They're having a video call right now, because Stage wanted them to fetch us after we arrived at the airport.

Rinig ko namang sumingit ang isa pang pinsan ni Stage, si Tyler na kasama ata ni Yeuane. "Baka gusto lang n'yang ma-experience ang makasama si Amaterasu sa eroplano."

Agad namang 'di sumang-ayon si Stage. "I'm not that kind of guy!"

I rolled my eyes, so defensive.

After rolling my eyes, I just realized that Stage was staring at me, "Did I make you mad?"

"Patay ka, entablado. Aminin mo nalang kasing gusto mo syang makasama sa eroplano." ani Yeuane na nakikinig pala.

I shook my head, "No. I just find you defensive. Yun lang."

Namumutla s'yang tumingin sa'kin, "Huh?" he swallowed, "S-sa totoo l-lang totoo yung sinabi nila Tyler..." pahina ng pahina ang boses nya habang sinasabi ang mga salita.

I looked at him, confused, then when I slowly smiled when I realized what he said.

"What are you saying? You don't really need to admit it if you don't want to.. But I'm happy that you said that.." I spoke then sat beside him.

"Hay! Bye na nga!" I heard Yeuane say and turned off the call.

"I thought you were m-mad.. But, I'm relieved that it made you happy." aniya habang sya'y nakayuko dahil sa pamumula ng mukha.

I held his chin and made him look at me. I smiled widely when I saw how cute his face is. Mas lalo pa siyang namula nang halikan ko ang tungki ng kanyang ilong. Sunod kong hinalikan ang kanyang kaliwang pisngi. At ang kasunod naman ay ang kanyang kanang pisngi.

"Oh my god, you look so cute." namimilog ang mga mata n'yang nakatingin sa'kin ngayon, tila gulat na gulat parin sa mga ginawa ko kahit na magtatatlong taon na kaming in a relationship.

But, then, the tables turned when he stole a peck on my lips.

Ako naman ngayon ang namumula ang pisngi at 'di makatingin sakanya.

"Oh my god, too. I'm so addicted to you.." ani Stage saka ako hinalikan na ng totoo.

I closed my eyes. It's a slow and soft kiss. This is the first time I tried this kind of kiss but.. I can already say that this is my favourite.

Dahan-dahan akong dumilat at tinignan ang tahimik na mga pasahero ng eroplanong sinasakyan na'min ngayon. We're on our way to Manila and I just took a nap. I reached for my phone with my right hand 'cause Stage is holding my left. I checked the time. It's past one hour after we flew.

Nilingon ko si Stage na mahimbing na natutulog sa tabi ko. Like his normal slumbers, mukha syang inosente kapag natutulog sya. He doesn't even have the usual sleep mannerisms, talagang kahit natutulog sya ay gwapo parin sya.

Dahil hawak ang cellphone ay pinicturan ko sya. This will be a part of my "Stage" photo album here on my phone. Mayroon kasi akong gallery folder na dedicated para lang talaga sakanya. And most of his pictures there are his sleeping pictures. I find him adorable in every way he is but one of my favorites is his sleeping face.

I even had his sleeping face as my wallpaper before but I decided to remove it ‘cause Stage once saw it and he never stopped talking about it all day, trying to boost his ego and all.

Ginising ko na rin si Stage nang malapit na kaming bumaba. It's a quick flight and we had their Manila-based driver fetch us. Dapat nga ay ang mga pinsan n'ya ang susundo pero nagbago ata ang isip nya ng last minute.

"Sir, sa bahay n'yo po ba?" tanong ng driver nila. Tumango naman siya at iginaya ako sa back seat. He sat next to me.

Dahil madaling araw palang ay nakatulog parin ako sa kotse. Nagising nalang ako nang sabihin ni Stage na nakarating na kami.

The ride was not long or short. Ngayon ay isang araw muna akong tutuloy sakanila bago pumunta sa condo na ibinigay sa'kin nila Mama noong 18th birthday ko.

I haven't set up my condo yet so, I'm gonna stay in their place for today.

"Love," tawag n'ya sa'kin habang naglalakad kami palapit sa bahay nila. "Do you want to stay on my room or stay on a guest room?"

I'm not ugly when I sleep but I am not ready for him to hear me snoring, just in case. Kaya..

"Guest room nalang."

He nodded and proceeded on asking the house helpers to ready a guest room.

"Uh, Ate Nida, yung pinaka malapit sana sa room ko, please." dugtong ni Stage.

Matapos ang ilang minutong paghihintay ay naihanda na ang kuwarto.

"Aw, akala ko sa kuwarto ko ka matutulog." he  fooled around.

"I'm scared of you seeing my sleeping face on a bed. So, not yet." I bantered with him.

Nagpatuloy ang pagsusuklian namin ng mga biro hanggang sa makarating kami sa guest room na tutuluyan ko muna sa ngayon.

"Please do sleep well, I love you." He kissed my forehead when we stopped by infront of the room's door.

"You too. Love you always." I grinned.