Heat Wave (Disaster Series #2)

Kabanata 27

Rollercoaster

We were already on the road when we called it a day after our date.

Gabi na pero mas naging buhay pa ang ciudad. And somehow, the flaring city lights from outside the window and the fast cars moving from the side brought me to think of a place so different from here.

"I miss El Valencia," I blurted out and sighed.

Gon is driving but he managed to glance at me and a small smile curved on his lips.

"We can go there this weekend."

Umahon ako mula sa pagkakaupo at hindi na napigilan pa ang biglaang pagkagalak sa narinig.

"Really?" I chuckled and lean in closer to him.

He laughed, amused at my reaction, and nodded.

"I'm looking forward to it!"

I paused and started thinking about what we're going to do first when we get there.

"Can we stay at our old mansion? It surely needs a lot of cleaning, but I will do it. We can stay there, right?"

I really can't help my excitement and started gesturing with my hands.

"Of course. And you won't do the cleaning alone. We'll do it together." Hindi na rin ngayon maalis-alis ang ngiti sa mga labi niya habang nagmamaneho.

I blinked and stared at him for a long while before my smile slowly faded. Posible pala na sa sobrang saya, napapawi ang ngiti mo dahil sa labis na intensidad nito.

With Gon, there are always moments like this. I am overwhelmed with his smile, in awe of his presence, and forever captivated by his soul.

Naiisip ko tuloy ang mga nagawa ko sa kanya noon. Ang pangloloko ko, ang pagpapanggap, at ang pagpapaikot sa kanya. And during silent moments like this, I sigh and wonder if I ever deserve to be with him.

But then again, this feeling is so rare. Not everyone gets the chance to even grasp how it really feels. Some gets to experience the attraction, the infatuation, but this? This is different. It's never temporary, or shallow. It burns deeper and hits harder.

"Hmm... It's been so long. How is El Valencia? The... people there?" I asked him just to interrupt my thoughts.

"El Valencia is the same peaceful town as you left it."

"And the people?" I smiled a little just to reign back the unpleasant memories that came rushing in.

I don't particularly have one good memory with the people there. But my family is there. Mama is there... resting.

"Some people stayed in El Valencia. Some people left. It is a small town, after all."

Right. May ibang gustong manatili sa nakasanayan. Walang mali doon. May iba namang gustong lumisan at magsimula, malayo sa lugar na nakamulatan nila. Wala ring mali doon. It's a matter of perspective.

I have left El Valencia too. To heal, to prosper. But I know that I'll always find myself wanting to go back. Not particularly for the people there but for the place itself.

"Is it too pretentious that I asked about the people there? I never liked the people in El Valencia. I even thought to some extent, that I hate them." I chuckled.

Dahan-dahan niya nang ipina-park ngayon ang sasakyan niya sa maliit na parking space ng apartment ko. Nang tuluyan nang huminto ang sasakyan niya ay 'saka siya bumaling sa akin.

He tilted his head and gave me a reassuring smile.

"It's not pretentious. There are surely people from El Valencia that you love, right?" Marahan niyang ginagap ang kaliwang kamay ko at pinaglaruan.