War in Katipunan

Kabanata 18

Nanatiling nakabukas ang bintana ng kotse ni Luthor habang nasa biyahe kami. Masarap kasi ang simoy ng hangin dahil December kaya sinabi ko sakaniya na buksan nalang ang bintana. Hindi naman siya umangal at siya na mismo ang nagbukas ng bintana ng driver’s seat at passenger seat.

Ang sarap sa feeling. Parang nag-road trip lang kami ni Luthor. Banaag by Munimuni is playing on the stereo. Nakikisabay kami ni Luthor sa pagkanta. This is one of my favorite moments with him. ‘Yong nasa kotse niya kami, just driving while listening to the songs on his phone. Little moments but it has a big effect on me.

“We’re here.” Napatingin ako sa paligid. Mukhang nasa labas na kami ng Metro. I’m not really familiar on the cities or provinces around Metro. Hindi ko alam kung nasaan kami.

Luthor turns off the engine at lumabas na siya ng kotse niya at pinagbuksan ako ng pinto. Pagkalabas ko ay mas nakita ko ang paligid. Namangha ako sa ganda nito. The place is breathtaking! Para itong park na punong-puno ng Christmas lights. Or more like a street full of Christmas lights! It was beautiful.  Napaka-comfy ng atmosphere rito at maganda rin sa mata. May mga tao rin doon pero hindi naman ganoon karami. Tama lang para ma-admire namin ang view.

May mga kainan rin dito at mga batang naglalaro. Families are gathered here but I didn’t feel any envy at all.

Parang gusto kong maiyak sa saya. Sa tanang buhay ko, wala pang nag-abala para dalhin ako sa ganitong lugar. Lalo na kung Christmas eve! Nakangiti akong bumaling kay Luthor nang tumabi siya saakin.  He looked at me too.

“Bakit mo ako dinala rito? I mean, this is beautiful. B-but why would you bother?” He smiled before messing my hair.

“I just feel like bringing you here. I don’t want you to spend your Christmas Eve alone. I want to tell you that every Christmas is different. Hindi pare-pareho ang pasko. Last year’s Christmas is different from this year’s Christmas. So you have to celebrate it differently too.” I was dumbfounded.

Akala ko wala nang mas itataas pa ang pagtingin ko kay Luthor but he just proved me wrong. I always see him as a gentleman, a good brother and cousin, a good student, a man who has plans for his future, a very good friend. But I never thought that he’ll do things like this for me. I want to jump from too much happiness but I did the opposite.

In front of the amazing Christmas lights and the comfortable breeze of the December wind, my tears started to fall.  No one has ever gone this far for me. I appreciated Luthor’s effort. I really do. I covered my face with my palm to cover my crying face. I probably look so ugly right now.

“Hey,” Luthor held my arm. Iniharap niya ako sakaniya. “Hindi mo ba nagustuhan? Sorry, I researched many places that has a beautiful Christmas lights decoration because I know that you like lights pero ito lang ang nahanap kong malapit sa Metro. Sorry kung hindi mo nagustuhan. I promise, babawi ako.” Lalo akong naiyak dahil sa sinabi niya.

Sa isipin pa lang na naghanap pa siya ng lugar kung saan ako dadalhin ay nakakataba na ng puso. His efforts make my heart warm. I felt him pulling me towards him. Ikinulong niya ako sa mga bisig niya. I cried on his arms like a baby. My tears ran down like there’s no tomorrow. It’s been a while since I cried because of so much happiness. And it’s because of the man who’s hugging me right now.

Nang kumalma ako ay kumalas ako sa yakap. Dumuko siya mag-pantay ang mga mata namin. Our faces were a few inches away. Napakurap-kurap ako. His eyes. I felt this feeling again. The same feeling every time he’s this near. The same feeling every time our eyes met. I felt it again.