Enchanted

072

Liline's Point of View

2:29 pm

Hinayaan kong si Jordan ang pumili ng palabas na papanoorin namin ngayon. Ayaw nga niya sanang sumama ako sa kanya, knowing that he knows, na ngayon ang midterms namin. Pero, sa sobrang takot ko sa posibleng mangyari, nandito ako sa tabi niya.

"You should've taken your midterms before this, Araminta," pagpapasok na naman niya sa topic habang naghahanap kami ng mauupuan sa loob ng sinehan.

Sumimangot ako, "Ayaw mo 'kong kasama?"

Natawa siya, "Wala akong sinabing ayaw ko."

"Yun naman pala," inirapan ko siya. Narinig ko lang ang mga tawa niya.

3:00 pm

Nagpla-play na ang palabas. Isang romantic comedy na palabas ang pinapanood namin ngayon. At, natutuwa ako kasi naririnig ko ang mahihinang tawa niya, at maging mga  halakhak habang nanonood.

Yet, suddenly felt this heart beat to be fast, as he intertwined his fingers on my fingers. Napatingin ako sa kanya. His gaze's on the screen. He's laughing. He's smiling. He seems happy.

Bumaba ang tingin ko mula sa mga mata niya pa-labi. It's really pale. Even his hand when I put my stares on it. It loses its warmth. Napalunok ako sa kaba.

"Araminta," sumandal si Jordan sa balikat ko.

"Hmm?" I asked.

"Wala lang, gusto ko lang sabihin ang pangalan mo..." sabi niya. "Ya have the cutest name. Pero, hindi mo pa rin ina-accept ang request ko sa facebook."

Kaya ako natawa, "Ia-accept ko mamaya."

"Okay," he giggled. "Araminta?"

"O?" He took breaths, but I noticed he's struggling. "Jordan,"

"I'm fine," he sighed, "I thought, hindi na mauulit 'to. Akala ko, hanggang sa unang beses lang nating paglabas matatapos ang lahat. But no. Here I am now, watching again, some movie. With you."

"Jordan..." pagsaway ko, kasi pansin kong nahihirapan na siyang magsalita. "U-umalis na tayo rito. P-pumunta tayo ng ospital. Please—"

"Let's stay here." Kalmado lang niyang ani. Still, the way he breathe, were no good.

"Jordan, please—"

He cuts me off, "Now, I'm never envy."

"Jordan—"

"Araminta..." he lowered his voice, catching his breath. There, I cried. "Listen..."

Hindi ko alam. Sobra na akong naiiyak.

"That night, lonely place vanished when I saw your face. It was really enchanting to meet you." Pagsasalita niya. "The playful conversation starts. I countered all your remarks. And it was enchanting to chat you."

"Teka... lyrics ba 'yan?" Tanong ko.

"Oo, medyo pinalitan ko lang," bulong niya. Natawa na lang ako sa kalagitnaan ng pag-iyak. Siya rin. "Lingering question kept me up, you like me too, do you? I really like you but would just say, hey. It was enchanting to meet you, Araminta. All I know is, I was enchanted to meet you."

Naiyak ako, "Nag-aral ka ba talagang mag-confess?"

"Oo. Pangit ba?" He asked.

"Ang corny," umiling ako.

"Corny? No. That's Noa. I'm horny." Pagtawa niya.

"Gago," patuloy lang ang pagtulo ng luha ko.

Nakasandal pa rin siya sa balikat ko. Bumubulong, "This is me praying that this was the very first page not where the story line ends... My thoughts echoes your name, until I see you again..."

"Jordan..." I'm stopping him, again.

But he didn't, "Now saying words I held back, as I was leaving too soon. I... was enchanted to meet you." He said. Na, labis na ikinadurog ng puso ko.

"Stop—"

He again, took one more deep breath, "Can be in love with someone else. Ya can have somebody waiting on you. Because you have somebody waiting on you..."

There, humarap siya sa 'kin. He saw me with tears, kaya niya ito pinunasan ng marahan, "Yet those nights were sparkling, I can't let it go. I'm wonderstruck, blushing all the way home. I've spent forever, baby now you knew. This time is flawless, but have to let it go. I'm wonderstruck, dancing around not alone.  I've spent forever, Liline, now you knew. I was so enchanted to meet you..."

"Jordan—" he stopped me by gently kissing my lips.

Lahat ng gumagalaw sa paligid, tumigil. Lahat ng ingay, nawala. All what I'm just hearing's my fast heartbeats, and his... slow heartbeats.

I wanted to stop him already. Gusto kong umalis kami rito at dalhin siya sa ospital, pero... mukhang ayaw na niya talaga.

He then kissed my forehead after, saka muling sumandal sa balikat ko. Mahigpit na hinawakan ng malamig niya nang kamay ang kamay ko, saka nagsalita. "Thank you so much for this, Araminta. Love Noa as I leave... okay?"

Suddenly I heard that... last breath I'm really scared of.