Runaway

Runaway (5)

After that night, they became good friends. Lagi na rin tumatawag si Louis kay Paola. Hindi man maiwasan ang magkapikunan, but they enjoy each other's company. Marami na rin silang nalaman na sikreto tungkol sa isa't-isa.

"So you're an engineer pala?" he bluffed. "Then why are you-"

"Bakit call center agent ako?" she chuckled. "Kailangan ko kasi ng pera eh. Wala naman akong makuhang matinong trabaho. Kaya nagtitiis ako dito."

"Why? Are you broke?" he asked.

"Hindi naman. May binabayaran kasi akong bahay eh. Para sa parents ko yun. Kung hindi ko siya mababayaran, baka hindi ko na siya makuha." she answered.

"I see." he continued. "May opening kami sa firm namin. You want to try?"

"Engineer ka rin?" gulat na tanong nito.

"No. I'm an architect."

"Wow." she said, smiling.

"Alam mo, bihira akong makakilala ng babaeng engineer."

"Grabe ka naman. Haha."

"That's why I salute you."

Napangiti siya sa sinabi ng lalaki. It was her first time na masabihan ng ganun mula sa taong hindi pa niya nakikita.

Bolero.

Paola was eating her dinner nang biglang lumabas si Nikki galing sa kanyang kwarto.

"Friend nauna na akong kumain. Gutom na gutom na kasi ako eh."

Nikki sat beside her and she looked at her bestfriend.

"Blooming ka friend."

"Haha. Blooming ka dyan." she laughed.

"Seriously." sinipat niya ang mata ng kaibigan. "Inlove ka'no? Uyyyy."

"Inlove ka dyan. Tadyakan kita eh."

Nikki moved closer to her and she hugged her friend so tight.

"I'm happy for you friend."

"Sira."

"Yes Ma'am. Okay. Good morning again. Thank you for calling."

Maaga naman siyang natulog pero pakiramdam niya pagod na pagod ang katawan niya. Simula kasi nang naging pang-umaga siya, nahirapan siyang mag-adjust. Nasanay na rin kasi siya na madaling araw umuuwi.

She was stretching her arms when the telephone rang.

"Hello. Good morning. What can I do for you?"

Matagal siyang naghintay ng sagot pero walang umiimik mula sa kabilang linya.

"Hello?"

"Hello?" she repeated.

"Say it's true.."

She already knew the man on the other line. When she heard his voice, it felt like her heart melted.

"There's nothing like me and you.."

Hindi niya mapigilan ang sarili na ngumiti. It felt like an angel was singing to her.

"Not alone, tell me you feel it too.."

Napakaganda ng boses nito. She never knew that he can sing so well.

"Cause I have runaway.."

She want to stop him because if he don't, her heart might able to explode.

"I will runaway.. Yeah.. Yeah.."

She was there, listening to him.

"I will runaway, runaway.."

Then he stopped.

"Oh? Bakit ka tumigil?"

"Look to your right."

Like what he said, she looked at the right side. She was shocked when she saw a man standing just a few meters from her.

"I will runaway with you." then he smiled.

Hindi niya binaba ang telepono. He walked closer to her.

"Cause I.. Have fallen in love.."

Napatayo na rin siya. Her heart beats so fast like she was going to have a heart attack.

"With you.. No never have i'm.."

He walked closer.

"Never gonna stop, falling in love.."

He walked closer again until they met.

"With you."

He pressed the end button then he put his phone on his pocket.

"Ano na namang kailangan mo?" she asked, smiling.

"I hope you kept all the things that I gave to you."

"Huh?" naguguluhang tanong nito.

"The blue box, I hope that you kept it too." he smiled.

Then she remembered the box. Her tears shed from her eyes.

"Did you read the note inside it?"

'Let's runaway.' She remembered the note.

"Ikaw? Ikaw yung-"

He looked straight to her eyes.

"Yes. I was the one who gave you flowers, chocolates and stuffed toys when we were in high school."

"Pero bakit ngayon ka lang.. Bakit ngayon ka lang nagpakita?" she muttered.

"Sasabihin ko dapat sayo ang lahat nung prom kaso I heard na kayo na pala ni Jared kaya ayun, lumayo ako."

"I thought he was the one who gave me all of those stuffs."

"Because he liked you ever since." he said.

"Dapat sinabi mo sa'kin. I was waiting for you."

"I was so broken hearted that time. When I saw that you're happy with him, I said to myself na kakalimutan na kita. Then I met Kristine, katulad na katulad mo siya. Kaso iniwan niya ako. Exactly 1 month before our wedding."

"Kaya mo ko tinawagan."

"Haha. Yeah. And when I heard your voice, dun na ako naghinala na ikaw yung babaeng minahal ko nung high school ako. That's why I called again. Tama nga ako. It was you. At first, I didn't knew what am I going to do."

She stared at him.

"Kaya naisipan kong hanapin ka. Nung nalaman ko kung saan ka nagtatrabaho, pinuntahan kita agad to make sure na ikaw talaga yun. Sinadya ko pa ngang bungguin kita eh." he giggled.

"Ikaw yun?!" she exclaimed. She can't imagine that the man that she loved for years was there, standing in front of her.

He held her hand.

"Gusto kong tuparin ang nakasulat dun sa note na binigay ko sayo." he said.

He took a deep breath.

"Paola."

"Hm?" she answered.

"Will you runaway.. With me?"

She smiled and touched his face.

"Yes."

They hugged each other and sealed their promises with a kiss.

END.