The Ever After

Chapter 23

I smiled way too widely. It could have been goofy but I can't stand it.

"Please, it would be a pleasure, Madam."

After so many weeks, I saw her smile. That same passionate regal smile I missed. The same intensity of her eyes and her flying all over her face as she turns around while she was running ahead and telling me to come on over and follow her. It's the same smile I knew no one in the world would ever own but only her. And I believed that smile.

She took my hand and removed her stilletos. She told me softly, "Halika na."

Then we ran, fingers intertwined, running through doors and doors and people to people.

"Don't look back," she told me. I can feel her palms tightening their grip. And I run faster. Dumiretso siya sa passenger seat ng Picanto ko and I flew the driver's seat open and jumped right in. Hinihingal pa kaming dalawa. We both looked at each other, catching our breaths, our stares imply we have something the same in our minds and we laugh.

"Paano na si Charlie?"

She opened the window and answered. "He's going to take care of himself. I'll deal with him later." And I nodded. I roared this little pixie to life and we're off.

Hindi siya nagsasalita. So do I. My mind is booming of things I want to say to her, but I have no words for it. Our breaths are steady now. I smiled. The silence again that draws between us is pure. Ito ang pinaka gustong parte ko kapag kasama ko siya. Hindi niya alintana ang katahimikan. It's like we're in a safe bubble.

Tiningnan ko siya. She looked outside the window, and I can't see her face. Her hair is flying all the way around in wild places and I saw her glint a small smile in the side mirror.

I can see her face through the streetlights of the highway. I love how everything about this feels so pure and electric.

I sped up and turn left. Malamig ang gabi at sinighap ko ang matamis na hangin na bumabalot sa akin habang ini-imagine kong lumilipad ako.

After three minutes, we arrived. In the same usual spot we always had our worlds together. Tanging dito nagkaka-isa ang mundo at mga isip namin. Sa labas, we're Yzzer and Amber people have always imagined us.

Yung Yzzer na kabisote at kasama ang dalawang kaibigan niya. At walang ibang ginawa kundi magpaka-lunod sa Engineering at magpa-cute sa gilid sa paraan ng pagiging tahimik at misteryoso.

At yung Amber na bigla nalang sumulpot at naging parte ng mundo ng taong kanyang nakikilala. Isang magandang baliw na babae na hindi mo kayang iwaglit sa isip at puso mo.

We climbed down the emergency stairs and she gasped. The roof top is still the same, only that it was filled with pink roses and white lights above. I giggled to myself, pinaghirapan kong i-set up yan buong gabi kahapon.

"Wow," she breathed. I leaned down the wall and crossed my hands in my chest, aliw na aliw sa panonood sa kanya na manghang mangha sa kanyang nakikita. "Did you seriously made all this?"

Lumingon siya sa kinaroroonan ko at nakita ko sa mga mata niya ang ibang klaseng saya. Na kahit kailan hindi ko pa nakita. Tumango nalang ako bilang sagot sa kanyang tanong.

She ran up to me, her hair a tangled mess and barefoot, and hugged me tight. I almost stumbled, but thank God I catch my footing.

Niyakap niya ako ng sobrang higpit. I can almost feel her fingertips clawing onto my back just beneath my polo shirt and my gray hoodie. I smelled her, and drink her in, and God how I missed this, I hugged her back.