Letters to My Heartbreaker

6

I heard someone clear his throat behind me, making me flinch and defensively raise my fist out of alarm as I turned to the person at my back. I heaved a deep sigh of relief when I saw that it was Jarvis. His eyes were on the firepit before he focused his gaze on me.

The only burst of light was the one coming from the firepit, making it hard for me to see him clearly. He went nearer and pointed at the fire.

"You're burning something?"

"Mm-hmm," I answered as we both stared at the slowly dying fire.

"What were you burning?"

"Why are you here?" we asked each other in unison, making us chuckle.

"I saw you walking alone, so I followed you here," he answered.

Tumango-tango ako sa kaniyang sagot at niligpit na ang firepit. Nang bumalik, naroon pa rin siya at mukhang hinihintay ako.

Sabay kaming bumalik sa resort at napagdesisyunan ko na maglakad-lakad lang muna sa seashore ngunit sumama rin siya.

We walked and admired the calm ocean in silence. None of us spoke until I remembered what he asked me.

"Letters," I said, breaking the silence, "I burned letters a while ago."

I had no plans in telling him about the letters but a part of me wants to tell him about those, so I did.

We then started talking about random stuff and I'm glad that we did. I was able to get to know him more because of that. We didn't stay out long since I was starting to get sleepy so I bade him good night.

"Sugar!" panggugulat ni Diantha sa akin mula sa likuran ngunit wala iyong epekto dahil hindi ako mabilis magulat.

Hinarap ko siya at ang nakangiti niyang mukha ang bumati sa akin. Tiningnan ko ang kaniyang suot at napagtantong magsi-swimming siya.

"I'll go surfing today. Wanna join?" she asked.

I shook my head, "I don't know how."

"Then I'll teach you," a voice from behind answered.

Jarvis, probably.

"I'll help too!" pag-oofer ni Diantha.

Ayaw ko sana dahil hindi talaga ako marunong at baka malunod pa ako ngunit gusto ko ring sumubok ng bagong bagay at mapilit ang dalawa kaya napabihis ako ng swimsuit ng wala sa oras.

Pagkatapos kong magbihis, dumiretso na 'ko sa seaside at nakita ang dalawa na may dala-dalang surfboard. Bago nila ako tinuruan, ipinakita muna nila sa akin ang iba-t-ibang simpleng tricks. 'Di kalaunan, natagpuan ko ang sarili sa gitna ng dagat at sumusubok mag-surf.

Ilang beses akong nalaglag sa tubig ngunit nandiyan naman si Jarvis na taga-rescue sa akin. Hindi ko mabalanse ang sarili sa surfboard kaya titigal na sana ako at manonood na lang sa dalawa.

"Ayaw ko na! Hindi talaga ako marunong," maiyak-iyak kong sabi kay Jarvis.

"No one gets it right in their first try," aniya. "Come on, you can do this."

Gumaan ang loob ko sa kaniyang sinabi kaya sumubok ako ulit. Ilang beses pa akong umulit hanggang sa nabalanse ko na rin ang sarili at nagawa ang simpleng trick na tinuro sa akin.

"See! You did it!" ani Jarvis sabay palakpak.

I beamed at him, grateful for his patience. I always wanted to try these kinds of things but never got the opportunity to. I'm happy that I was able to do something new today and didn't let myself be overpowered by my fears.