Terra Firma

IKALABING - ISA

Ikalabing-isang Kabanata:
M A H I K A

K I A

"So, we're here. Thank you for bringing me home," I told Eos once we arrived outside my house. Napatingin siya sa kabuuan ng istruktura ng bahay ko at nakita ang maliit na ngiti sa labi niya.

"Your house is nice," he commented.

I chuckled. "Hindi naman masiyado. Sakto lang para sa'kin na mag-isang nakatira rito."

Tumango siya bago tumingin sa'kin. Nandoon pa rin ang ngiti niya na hindi naman mawala-wala mula kanina kaya hindi ko rin mapigilan ang pagguhit ng kasiyahan sa labi ko. Ganito pala ang pakiramdam kapag natagpuan mo na ang matagal nang hinahanap ng puso mo, ano?

"Ah!" Umiling-iling siya at nag-iwas ng tingin habang natatawa kaya nagtaka ako.

"Para naman akong baliw kakangiti rito eh," I heard him said in a low voice - almost whisper like.

"It's normal if you're happy, right?" I asked. He just nodded but brushed his hair with his fingers anyway.

"Yeah. But we need to rest. I just can't stay here with you. Sigurado naman akong hindi ka na ulit mawawala, di'ba?"

The smile on my face was gone in an instant as he became serious himself. Sa mga panaginip ko noon, si Hiraya ang unang nabaril noong gabing hinabol sila ni Estefano. Sa tingin ko naman hindi pa iyon ang ala-ala na nakita ni Eos kanina pero kahit gano'n, natatakot pa rin siya na baka mawala ulit ako.

We had to cross multiple lifetimes to meet each other again, after all.

As I stared at him, there was this urge to close the gap between us and hug him; so I did. I moved closer and wrapped my arms around his waist making him flinch not because he didn't want it but probably because he was caught off guard at my sudden action.

I sighed and hugged him tighter. "I'm sorry if Hiraya and Eli had to end up in a tragic love story, Eos. Pero nandito na ako ngayon. Nakabalik na ulit ako at pinapangako kong mas magiging matapang na ako na ipaglaban 'yong tayo."

I looked up at him. "Hindi na ulit ako aalis, Eos. Pangako 'yan."

I saw his ears turned red making me chuckle as I bury my face on his chest again. Hindi kagaya kanina, tila mas handa na siya at yinakap niya na rin ako pabalik.

"You know, this is all too absurd to believe but the fact that memories are rushing inside my head when you're close to me like this, it makes me want to believe that everything is real and that I'm not just making things up," I heard him mutter as I felt him lightly tap my back.

"But it's you, so I'll believe."

A smile automatically crept up on my lips when I heard him said those words. Ang dami niyang alam pero hindi ko naman mapigilang kiligin. Was this Eli's effect on Hiraya before too?

"Excuse me, ano 'to?!"

Mabilis kaming napabitaw ni Eos sa isa't-isa noong marinig ang matinis na boses ni Riva. Noong lumingon ako, kitang-kita ko 'yong best friend ko na magkasalubong ang kilay at nakapamewang pa. Anong ginagawa niya rito?