****
TINIGNAN NI ELISHA ang bawat dinaanan nila. Basta nalang sya hinila ni Drew pagkatapos nyang maligo at magpalit. Ngayon ay nasa sasakyan sila patungo sa kung saan
"Where are we going?"
"Secret and please, baby, that's the fourth time you asked me that" sabi nito
Napairap sya "Because you wouldn't tell me"
"And I've been telling you, it's a secret"
"Fine" sabi nya at pinagkrus ang braso. Maya-maya ay tumigil sila sa isang bakanteng lugar. Puro puno at parang bangin na ang dulo
Lumabas sila ng kotse at nagtungo sa dulo ng cliff. Tinignan nya ang buong kapaligiran mula roon at nakikita nya mula rito ang dagat
Kahit madilim ay natatanaw ang dagat dahil sa liwanag na dulot ng buwan at mga bituin "Ang g-ganda..."
"I saw this place while I'm on the way, it has a perfect sunrise so I assumed it also has a perfect view at night"
"Thank you for bringing me here, Drew. It's so beautiful" sabi nya at napangiti
"I know you're not okay because of what you saw earlier. You can shout, scream and cry until your heart contents. I won't judge, I promise"
"This place is so beautiful to---"
Hinawakan ni Drew ang pisngi nya "You're crying already"
Napahawak sya sa pisngi nya at naramdamang basa nga iyon. Mapait syang napangiti at tumingin sa kapaligiran "Noon....I was behind a shadow. Ngayon....I was stuck in this stupid--whatever" sabi nya at napailing nalang saka malalim na bumuntong hininga
"Go on, Suzzy. Shout..."
Napahikib sya at pinikit ang mga mata "Ahhhhh!"
"Louder!"
"AHHHHHHHH!"
"AHHHHHHHHH!"
"Shout it all, Suzzane!"
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
BINUHAT NI DREW si Elisha na nakatulog na habang pabalik sila. Alas-onse na ng gabi at alam nyang napagod ito kaya hinayaan na nya
"What did you do to her?"
Napatingin sya sa mga tao sa sala "Chill, dudes. We just went somewhere"
"You kidnapped her when she should be spending time with us" sabi ni Jess
Ngumiti lang si Drew "Sorry for my recklessness, bro. I did asked her if we could go somewhe---"
"And you didn't even bother to tell us?" pagpuputol ni Jess sa sinasabi nya
"That's why I'm sorry, bro" sabi ni Drew
"You know what, I don't want to be rude but I think you need to go home"
"Jess, tama na" sabi ni Clarence at tinignan si Elisha
Bumaba ang tingin ni Drew kay Elisha at nakitang lumuluha ito. I thought she cried it all out...maybe I was wrong...it was not enough now...
"I should bring her to her room. Excuse me" sabi nya at nagtungo sa silid ni Elisha. Maingat nya itong binaba sa kama at tinanggal ang mga sapatos
Akmang aayusin nya ang kumot ni Elisha ng may suminggit sa tabi nya. Si Jess. Ito ang nag-ayos ng kumot ni Elisha at nilagyan ng isa pang unan sa uluhan nito
"Where did you bring her?"
"Somewhere" tipid na sagot nya
"I don't trust you"
"I know, I can see it clearly" sabi nya at pinasok ang mga kamay sa magkabilang bulsa ng shorts nya
"Don't go near Eli again" sabi ni Jess at masama syang tinignan "That's a warning"
"Don't decide for her, bro. She's not a kid that you can boss around and she's not your girl" sabi nya at nginisian si Jess
"She's my friend and she's my responsibility"
"I'm also her friend--oh scratch that! I'm not just a friend to her... we're more than that" sabi nya saka nilapitan si Elisha at hinalikan ang noo nito "Good night, baby"
Tinapunan nya pa ng tingin si Jess saka lumabas ng silid ni Elisha
KINABUKASAN AY MAS magaan na ang pakiramdam ni Elisha. Napangiti sya at mabilis na naligo at nagpalit. Masaya syang bumaba at hinanap agad ng mata nya si Drew
"Nakita nyo si Drew?" tanong nya sa mga kaibigan na nasa sala
"May biglaan atang nangyari, biglang umalis eh" sabi ni Seth
Kumunot ang noo nya sa sinabi nito saka kinuha ang cellphone at tinawagan si Drew
(Hey, baby. Good morning)
"Good morning, Drew. Where are you? Umalis ka ba?"
(I'm going back to Minnesota, baby. My Dad called, you know him)
Napatango sya "Okay. Are you in the airport na?"
(C'mon, don't be sad)
"I'm not" sabi nya at mahinang natawa
(I know you are. I'll just kiss you when I get back)
"Kiss? We never kiss, baby"
(Then we will when I come back there)
Natawa sya sa sinabi nito "Whatever, Drew. Have a safe trip"
(Thanks, baby. Love you. I'll see you soon)
"Love you too" sabi nya saka pinatay ang tawag. Nagtungo sya sa dinning hall at tinignan kung anong nakahain
"Join us, Suzzy" sabi ni Alexandra na kasabay si Jess, Clarence at Casey
"Seth and Charice already ate?" tanong nya kay Casey
"Oo. Maaga silang nagising" sabi nito
Tumango sya at naupo sa tabi ni Casey saka nagdasal bago kumain
"What happened to Drew?" tanong ni Clarence
"Family matters. His Dad called" sabi nya
"Is he strict?" takang tanong ni Clarence
"Not really but once he called for Drew, it's important" sabi nya
"Death and life situation?" sarkastikong sabi ni Alexandra
Tumango sya "Something like that" sabi nya at nagpatuloy sa pagkain
*kring kring*
Tinignan nya ang cellphone at sinagot ang tawag ng makitang Daddy nya iyon "Good morning, Dad"
(Good morning too, my princess. Are you eating breakfast?)
"Yes po. Have you eaten? I didn't see you around" sabi nya
(We're island hopping. Gusto sana namin kayong isama but your Mom said no so hindi nalang)
"Island hopping? Why did you have signal?"
(Malapit na kami sa port. Anyways, I just informed you because you might find us)
"Dad, you're not 13. You're 54 "
(I love you, Princess. And drop the numbers. I'm still young)
"Love you too, Dad" sabi nya at pinatay ang tawag
"After this let's play a game" sabi ni Alexandra
"What game?" takang tanong ni Clarence
"Any game" sabi nito at umirap "What do you think, Jess?"
"Yeah, sure"
ŞİMDİ OKUDUĞUN
Behind That Shadow
Genel KurguElisha Suzzane Perez is the epitome of a true friend. She perfected the art of faking her smiles and laughs even if she's hurting deep inside. A woman whose stuck in an unrequited love for a long time. Secretly loving a person who will never be hers...
