Terra Firma

IKALABING - ISA

"R-Riva... shouldn't you be resting back home right now? Kakatapos lang ng birthday mo at sigurado akong napagod ka," saad kong hindi makatingin sa kaniya. Sa gilid ng mga mata ko, kita ko rin kung paanong kamutin ni Eos ang buhok.

"As if hindi mo alam na dito ako laging natutulog kapag natatapos ang party ko?!" Riva hysterically said while walking closer. I had to step back in fear of her. She's really scary.

"Alam niyo kanina pa kayo eh. Masiyado rin kayong magkalapit noong makita ko kayo sa bahay kanina. Pati ngayon? Ang bilis niyo namang mahulog?"

"R-Riva," Eos called out. God. Even he is stuttering around my best friend. That's how scary she is.

Akala ko mas lalo lang siyang magagalit pero ikinagulat ko noong bigla itong tumawa. Nagkatinginan kami ni Eos na parehong nagtataka. She was just angry earlier, now she's laughing like crazy?

Really?

"I'm just happy that my best friend finally found someone to lean on," she said and covered her mouth with her hand as if she's getting emotional.

Or is she?

"Riva, seriously?!" I scowled but she just laughed at me. I was nervous for nothing!

"Buti na lang talaga at pinakilala ko kayo sa isa't-isa. Sige na, papasok na ako sa loob. As for you, continue being all lovey dovey. See you later, best friend!"

Halos malaglag ang panga ko noong lagpasan kami nito at dere-deretso nang pumasok sa loob ng bahay ko. I can't believe her. Pinakaba niya pa kami ni Eos para lang sabihing natutuwa siya sa mga nangyayari.

"Is she always... like that?" Tanong ni Eos sa tabi ko. "I mean, I thought she was crazy the first time we met but I didn't know it was this extreme."

"I'm sorry, she lived the past 25 years living like that," I said and he just let out a humourless laugh.

"Yeah. Anyway, I think I should go now. I'll see you tomorrow?"

Tumango ako. Napag-usapan namin kanina na bukas namin sisimulan na alamin ang lahat tungkol kina Hiraya at Eli. Hindi namin alam kung ano ang mga malalaman namin at kung paano nito maaapektuhan ang kasalukuyan namin pero kailangan naming mas maintindihan ang nakaraan para makapagpatuloy ngayon.

We want to take risks together. We want to be braver than Hiraya and Eli and knowing their story even better will help us do just that. Bahala na kung ano man ang mangyari. Ang importante na lang sa'min ay magkasama kaming harapin ang mga pagsubok na 'yon.

"I'll see you tomorrow," I said.

Akala ko aalis siya nang gano'n-gano'n na lang pero nagulat ako noong lumapit ito sa akin at patakan ng marahang halik ang noo ko. I was literally caught off guard. It was the first time a guy ever kissed my forehead. So, this is what it feels like?

Ang gaan. It feels magical.

"Good night, Kia," he whispered.

Flustered, I just nodded and turned my back against him. "G-Good night! Ingat ka pauwi!"

Narinig ko pa siyang tumawa pero hindi na ako lumingon at agad na ring pumasok sa loob. Nakita ko si Riva na parang binudburan ng asin sa sobrang likot habang nakatingin sa labas ng bintana. Hindi ako nito napansin kaya lumakad ako palapit sa kaniya at binatukan siya.

"Aw!" she whined and looked at me while caressing her head. I raised my brows at her.

"Ang chismosa mo talaga!" I reprimanded her.

"Kwentuhan mo na lang kaya ako!" Hinila ako nito paupo at nagsimulang magtanong ng napakarami. Sunod-sunod at halos hindi ko na alam kung saan ko isisingit ang mga sagot para sa lahat ng 'yon.

"Wala kang mapipiga sa'kin," saad ko na lang matapos niyang ilapag lahat ng tanong niya.

"What?! That can't be possible! Alam kong marami kang masasabi at makekwento sa'kin kaya huwag mo nang subukang tumakas!"

"Hindi ba katatapos lang ng party mo? Pagod ako, Riva. I want to rest and I think, that's what you need to do too, hmm?"

I caressed her hair and planted a soft kiss on her cheek before making my way into the room. Tinawag pa ako nito pero tinawanan ko lang at itinapon na rin ang sarili sa kama.

Masiyadong maraming nangyari ngayong gabi at gusto ko na lang ipahinga ang lahat. Kung tutuusin, mahirap pa ring paniwalaan ang lahat ng namamagitan sa amin ni Eos. Who would want to believe that we were both reincarnated and has loved each other in a lifetime that's different than this? Sabi nga niya, it's absurd. But for some reason, I am determined to stay with him and hold his hand in discovering who we really are in each other's lives.

Because finally, we met again and I don't want to let go of a hand that I believe once held me tight.