I smiled way too widely. It could have been goofy but I can't stand it.
"Please, it would be a pleasure, Madam."
After so many weeks, I saw her smile. That same passionate regal smile I missed. The same intensity of her eyes and her flying all over her face as she turns around while she was running ahead and telling me to come on over and follow her. It's the same smile I knew no one in the world would ever own but only her. And I believed that smile.
She took my hand and removed her stilletos. She told me softly, "Halika na."
Then we ran, fingers intertwined, running through doors and doors and people to people.
"Don't look back," she told me. I can feel her palms tightening their grip. And I run faster. Dumiretso siya sa passenger seat ng Picanto ko and I flew the driver's seat open and jumped right in. Hinihingal pa kaming dalawa. We both looked at each other, catching our breaths, our stares imply we have something the same in our minds and we laugh.
"Paano na si Charlie?"
She opened the window and answered. "He's going to take care of himself. I'll deal with him later." And I nodded. I roared this little pixie to life and we're off.
Hindi siya nagsasalita. So do I. My mind is booming of things I want to say to her, but I have no words for it. Our breaths are steady now. I smiled. The silence again that draws between us is pure. Ito ang pinaka gustong parte ko kapag kasama ko siya. Hindi niya alintana ang katahimikan. It's like we're in a safe bubble.
Tiningnan ko siya. She looked outside the window, and I can't see her face. Her hair is flying all the way around in wild places and I saw her glint a small smile in the side mirror.
I can see her face through the streetlights of the highway. I love how everything about this feels so pure and electric.
I sped up and turn left. Malamig ang gabi at sinighap ko ang matamis na hangin na bumabalot sa akin habang ini-imagine kong lumilipad ako.
After three minutes, we arrived. In the same usual spot we always had our worlds together. Tanging dito nagkaka-isa ang mundo at mga isip namin. Sa labas, we're Yzzer and Amber people have always imagined us.
Yung Yzzer na kabisote at kasama ang dalawang kaibigan niya. At walang ibang ginawa kundi magpaka-lunod sa Engineering at magpa-cute sa gilid sa paraan ng pagiging tahimik at misteryoso.
At yung Amber na bigla nalang sumulpot at naging parte ng mundo ng taong kanyang nakikilala. Isang magandang baliw na babae na hindi mo kayang iwaglit sa isip at puso mo.
We climbed down the emergency stairs and she gasped. The roof top is still the same, only that it was filled with pink roses and white lights above. I giggled to myself, pinaghirapan kong i-set up yan buong gabi kahapon.
"Wow," she breathed. I leaned down the wall and crossed my hands in my chest, aliw na aliw sa panonood sa kanya na manghang mangha sa kanyang nakikita. "Did you seriously made all this?"
Lumingon siya sa kinaroroonan ko at nakita ko sa mga mata niya ang ibang klaseng saya. Na kahit kailan hindi ko pa nakita. Tumango nalang ako bilang sagot sa kanyang tanong.
She ran up to me, her hair a tangled mess and barefoot, and hugged me tight. I almost stumbled, but thank God I catch my footing.
Niyakap niya ako ng sobrang higpit. I can almost feel her fingertips clawing onto my back just beneath my polo shirt and my gray hoodie. I smelled her, and drink her in, and God how I missed this, I hugged her back.
"Thank you." I said. Kumalas siya sa mainit na yakap na iyon. Her hands still in my shoulders. Tiningnan niya ako. Once again, I felt the urge to hug her. So I did. "Sobra kitang na-miss. Akala ko..." I let out a big sigh and twitched my lip. "Akala ko mababaliw na ako."
She smiled, and stared at me forever. Then looked down. "I'm such a bitch." Niyakap niya ako ulit. "Patawarin mo 'ko, Yz." I thought her voice would break, and I scooped her head.
"Sssh now, baby. You shouldn't be."
Binaon niya ang kanyang ulo sa dibdib ko. And we lay there, standing. She broke the hug and turned her attention to the flowers.
"I love them." sabi niya, at lumapit sa isang pot at kumuha ng isang bulaklak.
"Lahat yan, para sayo." I smiled. Alam ko kasing paborito niya ang pink roses.
"Geez," she murmured. Dumako siya sa isang table na sinet-up ko sa gitna. Namatay lang yung kandila nang dahil sa ambon. Narinig kong tumawa siya sa kanyang nakita. Mga baby ruth na chocolates. "You surely did know how to tick me, didn't you?"
I shrugged, "I know that you love Baby Ruth's too."
"Wow." her voice is filled with awe. Kinuha ko sa bulsa ko ang isang regalo ko pa para sa kanya.
"Amber, hindi lang yan." tapos lumingon siya sa akin. Kinuha ko sa maliit na kwadrado na pinaglalalagyan nun at lumuhod sa harap niya.
"Oops, hindi ako magpo-propose." I said. She laughed.
"Ano yan?"
"Isang anklet. Ginawa ko 'to para sayo. This is what I got for being so damn lonely without you." I looked up at her, and smiled in a tiny romantic bit. And clasped the thing together. "Sana nagustuhan mo."
She raised her left foot up. "Yan ang pinakamagandang anklet na nakita ko sa buong buhay ko." Tumayo ako at tiningnan siya sa kanyang mga mata.
"Binobola mo pa ako."
She shook her head. "Ano ka ba. Syempre, ang cute kaya. Salamat."
Kinuha ko ang polaroid camera na nasa may likod niya. And I took lots of pictures.
"Ano ba! Wag yung stolen!" angal niya. Tumawa lang ako. Napansin kong lumalakas na yung ambon. Pero hindi pa rin namin alintana. The night is getting colder, but I don't care. This is by far the most perfect night in my whole life.
Lumapit siya sa akin at niyakap ako ulit. I did too. Tahimik lang kaming nakatayo.
"Ngayon ko lang din naramdaman ang pangungulila ko sayo." her voice is muffled in my chest, but I heard it clearly. Inamoy ko na naman ang buhok niya. "I'm really sorry." she murmured.
"I'm sorry too."
Hindi na siya sumagot. Kinuha ko ang aking cellphone sa bulsa ng aking jacket. I started humming to the sound of her song.
"That's..." she caught her breath. "That's my super favorite song in the whole world."
I looked at her face. "I know. Naisip kong isinulat talaga 'to para sayo."
"I'll intend the August sun,
the light shines on your eyes, and I have won,"
I have won
She closed her eyes and sang with me. Our whispers coming apart. "In a day of sadness,
when my self esteem is lowest, there you are,
I have won,"
"I have won the greatest prize
just to look into your eyes." I sang. I placed her hands on my neck, at ipinuwesto ko ang aking kamay sa kanyang baywang. It felt right.
Never look away, I'll never leave this place.
If you're still standing here, then I can see your face
I swayed her softly. Drizzle pouring down in on us.
"Oh, I have won the greatest prize,"
Nagtama ang aming mga tingin at nginitian ko siya.
"Oh, I am in my paradise.
Oh, I have won the greatest prize,
Oh, I am in my paradise."
When I am around you,
all my worries wonder off, at different times,
Different times
Hinawakan ko ang isang kamay niya at inikot siya. She giggled. I got her back and pulled her so close to me. So close that the tip of our noses are barely touching.
I hummed to her ear. "When you speak so softly, I'm entranced and cannot move, I'll blink and nod
blink and nod."
I have won the greatest prize
Just to look into your eyes
She looked into my eyes. Not breaking away, almost non blinking.
Never look away, I'll never leave this place.
If you're still standing here, then I can see your face.
Oh, I have won
"...the greatest prize,
Oh, I am in my paradise."
Oh, I have won the greatest prize,
Oh, I am in my paradise
Huminga siya nang malalim and rested her head right next to my heartbeat.
"Lift me up, shoot me down.
Turn my head spin me 'round."
Shake my heart, twist my world
"Please just stay right where you are girl..."
Inikot ko ulit siya. And looked straight into her eyes. The intensity of it is almost burning the coldness of the night.
"Never look away, I'll never leave this place.
If you're still standing here, then I can see your face.
Never look away, I'll never leave this place.
If you're still standing here, then I can see your face..."
Oh, I have won the greatest prize,
Oh, I am in my paradise.
Oh, I have won the greatest prize,
Oh, I am in my paradise
And we both embraced each other. I closed my eyes. Nakikinig lang sa bawat paghinga ng isa't-isa, me humming until the end of the song. I knew it suddenly made her feel that everything is all right. I just knew it did.