Heart of Darkness

Kabanata 20

"I waited for you, Win." Giit n'ya.

"And I'm sorry." I sighed and bit my lip, staring at him. "I am sorry for doing this to you, Max. I owe you a lot, you were a very good friend to me. It's just that...I fell for Warrion."

He stared at me, kita kong nagtataka pa rin at puno ng sakit ang mga mata pero lumambot iyon habang nakatitig sa akin.

"I love you, Win." He sighed.

"Thank you, Max." I said softly, inabot ko ang kamay n'ya at pinisil. "I will cherish this, I hope we can still be good friends despite of this... I hope you would still be the same."

"Hindi naman magbabago 'yun, Winter." He sighed. "You will still be my friend, my love, hindi lang talaga ako mapapanatag sa ngayon kay Alcantara. I always think he has a secret."

My forehead creased at that.

"What do you mean?"

"Don't you find him mysterious?"

"He looks mysterious, yes, because he's quiet most of the time pero kapag kasama ko naman s'ya ay hindi s'ya ganun katahimik."

"Hindi ako mapapanatag hangga't hindi ko nalalaman ang pakiramdam na ganito, I always feel like he's been hiding something."

"He is quite mysterious but I don't think he has a secret, maybe may mga bagay na hindi pa n'ya sinasabi sa akin but I don't think it's that big." I said, taking a glance at Warrion who is now looking at us.

His forehead creased, looking at us, nakita kong kinakausap s'ya ng guide pero wala nanaman roon ang kanyang atensyon.

He looks irritated and curious, akmang lalapit na kaya mabilis akong sumulyap kay Max at ngumiti.

"Thank you, Max."

"No worries," He sighed. "But I advise you to not trust that man too much, I can feel something is going on with him."

Hindi na ako nakipagtalo, sa halip ay tumango nalang at ngumiti. I was starled a bit when Max pulled me for a hug, hindi naman ako tumanggi roon at niyakap s'ya ng marahan rin pabalik.

"Be happy, Win." He said.

"Thanks, Max." I said and pulled away from the hug, smiling.

Napasulyap ako muli kay Warrion at nagulat man nang nasa may likuran ko na s'ya ay ngumisi ako.

"Hi, War!" I said and stood, walking towards him.

He stared at me, nakita kong saglit s'yang sumulyap kay Max, madilim ang mga mata pero umiling lang ako at hinawakan ang braso n'ya.

"It's nothing," Bulong ko.

"Sasakay ka sa'kin?" He asked me softly.

"Huh?" Tumaas ang kilay ko at napasulyap sa khaki pants n'ya. "D'yan ba? Sure, saan?"

His mouth parted a bit at me, ngumisi naman ako at napailing s'ya at ginulo ang buhok ko.

"Kakadilig ko lang sa'yo, diba?" Aniya at natawa ako at umiling.

"Wisik lang 'yun, Major." Tawa ko at nailing s'ya. He slowly pulled my waist and assisted me towards the end of the boat.

"What I mean is, would you ride to the kayak with me?" He asked.

"Oh, sure!" I grinned. "Pero marunong ka ba?"

"Yeah?" He looks confused. Tinitigan ko s'ya at kumurap s'ya sa akin. "I can try my best?"

"Oh? Paano kung tangayin tayo ng hangin, huh?"

"We won't," Aniya at marahan akong pinihit para ayusin sa katawan ko ang life vest ko. "Kaya ikaw kumain ka ng marami, baka liparin ka."