When I Chase (When #1)

Chapter Twenty

He wiped off the water from his face first before nodding. I smiled at that and started swimming my way to the deep part. Sumunod naman agad sa akin si Grant.

Nasa gitna na ako ng malalim na parte nang lumapit si Grant. Ipinulupot niya ang braso sa bewang ko at bahagyang idinikit ang katawan naming dalawa.

I wasn't underwater but it feels like I couldn't breathe because of him. My eyes were on him, my mind thinking of how close our faces were. Grant didn't seem to mind. Ipinagpatuloy niya lang ang paglangoy patalikod kasama ako.

He continued swimming until we finally reached the end. He cornered me on the edge of the pool, bracing his hands on the stone to lock me between his arms. Hindi ko naman magawang umalis sa pwesto ko.

Sinubukan kong abutin ang likod dahil napapagod na ang binti ko sa pagpapalutang. Grant hinted my plan and grabbed my hand and placd it on his shoulder.

We both stopped moving and now I can finally concentrate on my racing heart and my lungs that needed air. Aabutin ko sana ang pendant pero naalala ko na tinanggal ko nga pala yon kanina.

My wings...

Sobrang lapit na ng mukha namin sa isa't isa. The tip of our noses were inches a part. The water was cold but I could feel the warmth radiating from his arms that he locked my body with and his shoulder that I was holding on for support. Having him this close, my insides felt warm too.

"Fall.." Grant murmured. Napatingin ako sa labi niya dahil doon. Nagtagal ang titig ko sa bibig niya bago ko inangat ang tingin sa mga mata niya.

"Hmm?" I hummed because I couldn't find my voice.

Matagal rin bago nagsalita si Grant. Tinitigan niya muna ang mukha ko. Huminga siya ng malalim at lumabas ang lungkot sa mukha niya. Bigla naman akong nakaramdaman ng kaba dahil doon.

"W-What is it?" I asked, slightly afraid to know what it was about.

"I won't be here for Christmas." tahimik ang boses niya nang sabihin ito.

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag pero hindi nabawasan ang kaba sa dibdib ko. "Why?"

He sighed. "My family and Maxwell's will be spending the holidays out of the country. It's an annual thing."

"Oh." bigla akong nakaramdam ng lungkot. Napatingin ako sa dibdib ni Grant na natatabunan ng tubig. The mention of Maxwell's name made me sad but Grant going away for a short time made me even sadder.

Inangat ko ang mukha ko at tiningnan siya sa mga mata. His face looked guarded, like he's trying to be careful at everything he's doing. "Where are you going?"

"Japan." sagot niya sa akin. His voice was soft and cautious at the same time. Like he's being careful not to break me or something.

"Kailan kayo aalis?" I asked again.

"Twenty-two." he shortly answered. That's two days from now. "We won't be back till twenty-seven."

Mas lalong bigat ang pakiramdam ko. That's five days of no Grant. Nasanay ako na lagi kong nakikita at nakakasama si Grant araw-araw kaya kahit wala pa ay pakiramdam ko may kulang.

Napanguso ako. I shouldn't act like this. I shouldn't be clingy and immature over this.

"Okay." I nodded with a sigh. I smiled. "Bring home cherry blossoms for me."

Grant's lips curved upwards, forming a small smile. It reflected in his eyes. My heart swelled at the sight.

Ito ang kauna-unahang beses na nakita ko si Grant na ngumiti sa personal nang ganito kalapit. At dahil pa sa akin.

He reached for my lip and grazed his thumb against it. "Stay out of trouble for me."

Pakiramdam ko ay maiiyak pa ako. Tumango ako sa kanya. My lips were so close to shaking because I'm trying so hard to stop myself from letting my emotion win over.

Grant leaned closer and pressed his lips near my ear. He slipped his arm around my back and pulled me close to him for a hug. My eyes closed and I listened to my wild fluttering wings.

I'm going to miss him.