Beyond the Door (Completed)

Chapter 23

"Di-A! Saglit lang, hintayin mo naman ako!" Hindi ko mapigilang hingalin dahil sa bilis tumakbo ng aking nakakabatang kapatid.

Damn! It looks like his legs are quite longer than mine! Puberty did really hit him a lot.

Agad naman na lumaki ang aking ngiti nang tumigil siya at mabilis na lumapit papunta sa akin. Dahil doon ay ginulo ang kaniyang buhok at kinurot-kurot ang kaniyang pisngi.

"Naku! Binata na ang kapatid ko!" kunwari'y naluluha kong saad. Napasimangot naman siya sa aking saad at maya-maya'y napangiti.

"Ang iyakin mo naman, ate Ange." Mas lalong lumawak ang aking pagkakangiti nang tawagin niya akong Ange.

"Ang bantot naman ng tawag mo sa akin," natatawa kong saad. Inis naman siyang napatingin sa akin.

"Why would I call you Angel? 'Di ka naman mukhang anghel," bulong niya. Hindi ko mapigilang lakihan siya ng mata.

"Aba-aba, ang hard mo naman!" Inirapan ko siya at nagpatuloy sa aking pagkain. This kid... tsk.

"Shh!" Nagkatinginan kami ni Di-A nang pagalitan kami ng matandang babae na tahimik na kumakain sa loob ng fastfood chain.

Napakagat ako sa ibaba ng aking labi habang pinipigilan ang sarili na tumawa. "Ingay mo kasi..." bungisngis ko.

Sumimangot naman siya sa aking saad at nagpatuloy na rin sa pagkain.

Nang matapos ako ay agad akong nagpaalam para sumaglit sa banyo. Matapos umihi ay tahimik akong naghugas ng kamay. The joyous smile immediately disappeared as I continuously wash my hands.

Matapos no'n ay mataman akong napatitig sa aking repleksyon sa aking harap na salamin. I gave a long sigh and let my wet hands dry. I still kept my hair long because it reminds me of someone with a short hair.

Nothing change, I'm still the old Angeline.

How long has it been? 4 years? It felt like it was just yesterday. Tahimik kong pinagpag ang aking kamay sa aking damit at lumabas na sa loob ng washroom.

I saw Di-A waiting outside as a group of girls were talking to him. Some were trying to touch him, but Di-A immediately stepped back as he murmured something.

Hindi ko mapigilang matawa habang umiiling-iling at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. He's still shy towards teenage girls. Agad akong napatigil sa paglalakad nang makakita ako ng isang pamilyar na anino.

He's also staring at Di-A while he's under the old dark tree on the other side of the street. I just felt my breathing hitched when his familiar chocolate eyes darted on mine.

"Is it..." him?

His face expression changed as if he heard what I just said. Agad akong tumakbo palabas habang hindi inaalis ang aking paningin sa labas.

Ngunit agad akong napatigil nang mabunggo ako ng isang lalaki na nagmamadali ring naglalakad.

"S... Sorry," I whispered as I bowed down my head. Ibinalik ko ang aking paningin sa kabilang kalsada ang agad na bumagsak ang aking balikat nang makitang wala na siya roon. My chest tightened as I tried to swallow the lump in my throat.

"Angel... ang tagal mo—t-teka. Bakit ka umiiyak?" nag-aalalang wika ni Di-A.

I looked up to him. "I... I saw him..."

His face expression changed and began to look around. "Where?" I continued to sob as I looked around also. However, there's no sign of him everywhere.

"I swear, I saw him," I cried. Di-A stared at me as if I'm crazy. Later on, he sighed as he pulled me to hug.

My heart sank. We both know that I missed him so much that he starts to think I'm crazy. But I don't care. I still love him as much I love myself. I am willing to be crazy just to hold him even if I'm jut hallucinating.

__
"So, how's the first day of hell?" Jeo asked. Hindi ko mapigilang tumawa dahil sa kaniyang tanong.

'It's hot, pati ulo ni Sir Lance hot," biro ko. We can't help but to giggle at each other while doing my daily task on my job. In those 4 years, I continue to study Accountancy. It's not for me, but to help Di-A in his studies also.

"Uh, btw, Angel, since it's your first day. We're planning to have a small celebration for you, including ma'am Gwen," ani Jeo.

I bit my lower lip upon hearing what he just said. "Sure..." nagdadalawang-isip kong saad.

He smirked at me and clicked his tongue.

"Cool. I'll tell the others."

—
"Cheers!" The loud music of the bar rang into my ear. Making me hard to focus on my co-workmates.

Gumuhit sa aking lalamunan ang mapait na alak at hindi ko mapigilang mapaigik. Shit! I'm loving this!

"Cr muna 'ko," paalam ko at pasuray-suray na naglakad papuntang banyo. Dang! I am seeing double...

"Sorry," ani ko nang mabunggo ako sa isang dibdib ng lalaki. I can't help but to sniff his scent when my nose buried on his clothed chest.

It smells good... and familiar.

"Tsk," I heard the guy murmured something as his palm slid down on my waist. I stepped back as I tried adjusting my vision to look at him.

"Sino ka..." I can't help but to hiccup. I giggled at my chinky voice and starts to walk away.

"Go home, Angel," rinig kong saad nito.

Agad akong napalingon at kumunot ang aking noo habang pilit na inaaninag ang kaniyang mukha.

"Ba't mo 'ko kilala? Stalker ka 'no?" biro ko at sinundot ang kaniyang pisngi.

Kita ko ang pagtaas ng kilay nito kasabay ang pagkunot ng kaniyang noo. Napahalakhak ako sa reaksyon nito at mahina siyang tinampal sa pisngi.

"Okay lang 'yan. Kung liligawan mo ako basted ka na agad... may iba nang laman na ang aking heart," ngisi ko at kinindatan siya.

Napatiim bagang ang lalaki sa aking saad dahilan para mas lalo akong mapangisi.

"Bye~" pakanta kong saad at itinaas pa ang aking kamay at iwinagayway.

"I longed for you..." Agad akong napatigil nang marinig ko ang sinabi ng lalaki. Ang hilo na aking nararamdaman ay agad na nawala, at dahan-dahan kong ibinaling ang aking ulo paharap sa lalaking nasa aking likod. Agad na napahigit ang aking hininga nang sumalubong sa akin ang kaniyang pamilyar na kulay tsokolateng mga mata.

No way...

It seems like the world stopped for a second as the music inside the bar, too. The rhythm of the vivid lights felt warm as the song changes.

(Now playing 🎵: Brown Eyes by Destiny's Child)

Remember the first day when I saw your face?
Remember the first day when you smiled at me?
You stepped to me and then you said to me
I was the woman you dreamed about

That familiar song clicked the familiar memory I treasure inside my mind. Ramdam ko ang unti-unting pamumuo ng aking luha sa gilid ng aking mga mata.

His lovely name clicked the veins inside my mind. And my lips desired to mumble his name that I never try to say out loud in those 4 years.

His eyes darted at me with those familiar expression he used to stare at me. Those eyes never lie... and so does my feelings.

I opened my mouth, tears were running down on my reddened cheeks as my eyes never leave his handsome face.

"Tobias."

***
Yay! Nakapag-ud na rin! 💙 Enjoy po, give me your thoughts about this :'')