Deja Vu [Escaping Hara]

Chapter 18: PROMISES

CHAPTER 18: PROMISES

***

THIRD PERSON

“What did you just do?” Singhal ni Aivan kasabay ng pagtulak nya kay Haruto palayo.

“Siraulo ka ba?!” Napasapo ang dalaga sa batok nito. Di nya alam kung anong dapat nyang maramdaman.

Haruto’s still standing in front of her. Nakatitig sya sa mukha ng dalaga na para bang marami syang gustong sabihin dito.

Sinubukang lumingon ni Aivan para hanapin kung san nanggaling ang boses ni Yoshi na tumawag sa kanya kanina pero bigla syang kinapitan ni Haruto sa braso at agad na hinatak paalis.

“Teka, san mo ko dadalhin? Bitawan mo nga ko!” Aivan shrieked trying to escape from Haruto’s grip but he was too strong.

“May sumusunod satin.” Haruto said without looking back. Patuloy nya lang na hinahatak ang dalaga at nakipagsiksikan pa sila sa pagitan ng mga taong nakatambay dun sa tulay.

“Sina Yoshi yun, bakit tayo tumatakas?” Naiiritang sabi ng dalaga. “Aray, buset!” she hissed when she bumped unto some random guy’s shoulder.

“Yoshi?” Saglit na napatigil ang binata at napalingon sa dalaga. “Anong Yoshi pagsasabi mo, hinahabol tayo ng mga sanggano.” Taas-kilay na sabi nito.

Nagsalubong din ang kilay ni Aivan.

“Eh ba’t tayo tumatakas, dapat labanan natin sila—”

“Sumunod ka nalang!” Haruto hissed losing his patience. Agad nyang hinablot si Aivan at ikinarga sa balikat nya bago tumakbo palayo.

“Aray syet! Ibaba mo ko!”

“Wag kang malikot! Madudulas ako!”

“Pochak ibaba mo kasi ako, kaya ko namang tumakbo!”

“Wag na! Wag ka nalang magulo.” Mas binilisan pa ni Haruto ang pagtakbo at nakarating na sya malapit sa tabing-ilog. Eto yung karugtong ng ilog na nasa ilalim ng tulay kanina pero nasa ma-punong parte lang ng baryo.

Ibinaba nya si Aivan sa batuhan nang makitang wala nang sumusunod sa kanila.

Haruto sat on one of the largest stones still catching his breath.

“Ayan, ambobo mo kasi. May pa karga2x ka pang nalalaman.” Aivan rolled her eyes when she noticed him taking deep breaths.

“Hiningal lang ako. Magaan ka naman.” He replied half smiling.

“Hinika kamo, anak ka ng pusa, mukha kang bangag.” Aivan just can’t stop herself from nagging.

Nagpigil ng tawa si Haruto.

It just feels good hearing her nag at him again.

“Teka, tumawa ka ba?” Gulat na puna ng dalaga. “Nakita kong tumawa ka, anong nakakatawa? May joke ba sa sinabi ko?”

Huminga nang malalim ang binata bago tumayo at humarap sa dalaga. Ipinatong nya ang dalawang kamay nya sa magkabilang braso nito bago ngumiti ulit ng kaunti.

“Masaya lang akong marinig ulit ang panenermon mo.” He said before pulling her into an unexpected but warm embrace.

“Bumalik ka na sakin Van. Please… pagod na ko.” With his deep cold voice, he whispered those things as he wraps his arms around her, tightening the hug.

Aivan stood frozen on her track.

Why does his voice suddenly sound so familiar?

Bakit parang sanay na syang palaging naririnig to?

“Anong pinagsasabi mo?” Kumunot ang noo ng dalaga at humiwalay sa yakap ng binata. Talagang nalilito sya ngayon.

“Sino ka ba talaga?” Aivan asked starting to doubt his identity.

Haruto is sounding weird.

Why was he acting like he knew Aivan before? Why does it seem like he remember something about their past?

Was he recovering his memories?

Hinawakan ng binata ang kamay ng dalaga at kinapitan ito ng mahigpit. He stared at her eyes, both with sadness and longing.

“Even if my memories get erased again and again. This heart would never forget you.” Haruto whispered placing Aivan’s hand on his chest.

She can feel his heartbeat.

It’s—

Weak…

Napa-atras si Aivan palayo kay Haruto.

“S-sino ka? Hindi k-kita kilala. B-bakit–” The girl was shaking her head as she stutters with her words.

No matter how hard she tried, she can’t remember anything. But her emotions are killing her.

Anxiety is eating her alive.

Wala dapat syang pake sa lalaking nasa harap nya. Pero bakit ganto? Bakit pakiramdam nya andami nyang nagawang mali?

Bakit sobra syang nag-aalala?

Bakit nanghihina sya nang maramdaman nyang nanghihina na din si Haruto.

[Your whole existence is my weakness, kid.]

[Should I disappear then?]

[Idiot. Let’s disappear together, you shouldn’t go anywhere without me. I should, at least, keep you alive.]

Aivan felt a sharp pain on her brain when she heard those words from her mind.

She was certain, it was her and Haruto’s conversation. But she didn’t know when or how they’re able to say those words to each other.

“Even I…” Haruto uttered sounding desperate between his soft painful wheezes. “Have a hard time remembering myself.”

He took another deep breath running his fingers through his hair before fixing his composure.

“But what can I do, if the only clue I can recover, was you.” His voice cracked at the end of his sentence.

“And our promises…” He continued.

***

-Mr. SlyFox