CHAPTER 47 | Warmth |
We went down to have dinner sa restaurant. Hindi ko mabitiwan si Yorrick kaya kinarga ko na, Seri keeps telling me that I can put him down but I won't. Sobra akong natutuwa sa bata, he's sweet and charming. Isa pa, hindi pa tuloyang nagsi-sink in sa 'kin na hawak ko ngayon ay anak ni Seri.
Pagdating sa restaurant ay wala masyadong tao, the place is cozy and refreshing. Ang paligid ay glasswall kaya kita ang labas pati na ang seashore sa kabilang side.
We're looking for a table to sit down nang biglang may tinawag si Chloe.
"Yijin!" she shouted at agad naman akong napalingon. There, I saw Yijin dashing with his black khaki shorts and white polo. His hair is kinda disheveled sa lakas siguro ng hangin sa labas. He's with Rio, Cruzel, and Klint who's looking at who I'm holding.
"Oh, my! Kamusta Engineer?" Seriah walk to them. My heart feels so warm seeing the four of them again together. Para silang bida sa kung anong teleserye, the four of them looked so great and well!
"Chantal!" Rio exclaimed upon seeing me. Kita ko ang gulat sa mga mata nilang lahat nang tuloyan din akong mapansin. Saglit na nagtama ang mga mata namin ni Yijin, ngumiti siya sa and I did the same 'kin bago ko sila nilapitan.
"Long time no see!" Rio excitedly approach me, Seri smirked at kinuha niya sa 'kin ang anak niya. Naabutan ko pa kung paano makatingin si Klint kay Yorrick nang buhatin ito ni Seri. Rio hugged me kaya I was distracted.
"Long time no see," I told him as well.
"How are you Chantal? We miss you!" Klint hugged me as well. Bigla na namang uminit ang sulok ng mga mata ko, I miss them too! So much!
"Grabe, it's been so long! Na-miss ko rin kayo ng sobra!" naiiyak kong ani.
"Iiyak na 'yan, iiyak na 'yan!" pang-aasar ni Chloe sa 'kin. Natatawa lang naman akong nailing. Napabaling ako kay Yijin dahil siya na ang sunod kong babatiin, bigla akong na-mental block kung ano ang dapat na gawin. Should I hug him too? Pretend that It's my first time seeing him again after long years?
"Y-yijin," I smiled at him. Silence filled the group, for some reason pareho namang inubo sina Seriah at Chloe. Lumapit sa 'kin si Yijin at bigla akong niyakap. My eyes widened a little, I was shock but I immediately hugged him back as well.
"The guys keeps asking me about my girl, I'm waiting for you to tell them," he whispered before letting me go. I saw the slight pout of his lips, it's like he's begging me to tell them already that we're together.
Rio, Klint, and Cruzel made an awkward noise. Nang-aasar. Kinunotan ko naman sila ng noo kaya natahimik sila at natawa.
"Wow! It's been so long 'no since na-kumpleto tayo!" Chloe break the ice, excitement was filled in her voice.
"Sinabi mo pa," Rio answered. Nakita ko kung paano sila nagkatinginan dalawa saka nag-iwasan.
"You know what? We all should sit down and have dinner together. We have to catch up things! Lalo na itong si, Chantal! It's been ages since she left at mula noon hindi na talaga tayo na-kumpleto!" mahabang lintanya ni Seri. Natawa naman kami at napailing. We agreed to have dinner together since 'yon din naman pala ang plano ng mga boys. We settle down and order our food while busy catching things up.
Sobrang ingay ng table dahil napakarami naming gustong e-kwento sa isa't-isa, though I'm more like the listener to them. Our food was served but it didn't stop us to talk about our lives.
I've heard stories and updates from my old friends pero mas maganda pala pakinggan na sila talaga mismo ang nagsasabi sa 'yo what they have achieved and who are they now. I can't help my self but to reminisce the old times, ganito rin kami rati, eh. . . we always go outside to eat food together and talk about our lives as if we didn't see each other for so long, as if we didn't talk about our lives just yesterday. We would always talk endlessly, our conversation had no dead end. And right now, it seems like things haven't change at all. There are things that remained despite the time.
"Uy, kailan ko makikilala ang wife mo?" I asked Cruzel randomly. We're sitting in a circular table, napapagitnaan ako nina Yijin at ni Chloe na nasa left side ko. Katabi niya si Seri, katabi naman ni Seri si Rio. Sa kabilang side ko, katabi ni Yijin si Klint, katabi naman ni Klint si Cruzel.
"Baka bukas mo na siya makilala, we're not allowed to see each other tonight," Cruzel said while sipping on his drinks. I just nodded upon remembering the tradition.
"Who would have thought na ikaw pala ang unang ikakasal sa grupo natin?" Yijin said, saglit ko siyang tinitigan pero agad kong nakita ang saya sa mga mata niya.
"Well, love hits hard, she's the one. I don't want to let her go, I don't want to lose her," Cruzel said seriously. Saglit kaming natahimik, it's like we gave the special solemn moment to Cruzel for his very serious answer. Maski ako nagulat nga rin, eh.
"Usapang love, how's the relationship going?" Chloe asked. Lahat naman kami ay napatingin kina Seri at Klint, kalong-kalong ni Klint si Yorrick na abala sa paglalaro sa pagkain.
Seriah rolled her eyes, "Why are you guys looking at me? Si, Chantal ang tanongin n'yo since you don't have any update about her for so long." Napamaang ako sa sinabi ni Seri, now they are looking at me curiously. I saw Rio's smirk as if he knows something.
"Si, Yijin din tanongin n'yo, parang inspired lagi, eh. . . you saw his posts?" ani Rio.
I guess it's time now to tell them, we have lot's of time and everybody is here so I guess. . .
Muntik na 'kong mapatalon sa gulat nang biglang hawakan ni Yijin ang kamay ko sa ilalim ng mesa. I looked at him with eyes widened but he only look at me as if everything is casual.
He slowly interwined our fingers together, I felt the warmth of his palm and I think I'm going to hyperventilate so soon.
They are clueless of what's happening under the table but they are looking at us as if thirsty of our lives updates.
"Si, Chantal muna! I haven't heard a lot about her, do you have boyfriend?" Klint asked me. My heart started to pound fast, I also felt Yijin's hold tightened. Saglit akong napatingin kay Yijin, he's looking at me as if a confirmation that, go you can tell them about us now.
I straightened my back, I know this will really surprise them. "Well, a-ahm. . . I do have a boyfriend—"
"Naku ayan na naman tayo! I Know whose name you're going to drop! It's either one of the fictional characters you wrote or the one that you've read!" Chloe cut me off. Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ko sa gulat sa kanya.
"H-hindi—" I tried to defend myself but they are all laughing now, pati si Yijin ay natatawa rin. Nagmamaktol ko siyang tiningnan pero natatawa pa rin siya. He shake our hands together underneath the table.
"Chantal is obviously single, hopeless romantic 'ata 'to dahil abala sa writing career niya," dagdag pa ni Seriah. Oh, gosh I felt defeated!
"Yeah, I heard about your book! Congratulations on that," Cruzel greeted.
"T-thank you," I said but still bothered about what Seri and Chloe said and thought of me.
"How about you Yijin? I also saw your posts, may nakita nga akong my day mo na shadow ng isang girl," ani Seri. Kumunot ang noo ko at tiningnan si Yijin na nakangisi lang ngayon. I squize his hand under the table as if asking for an explanation, saglit naman siyang napatingin sa 'kin.
"You met her," aniya sa mahinang boses.
"Huh?" Chloe asked.
"You'll meet her," Yijin said sa mas klarong boses. Everyone shouted after hearing what Yijin said. Natahimik lang naman ako, medyo kinakabahan pa rin.
"So, meron na nga?" pang-iintriga ni Seri, the girls are so into this! Nakangisi lang naman si Rio sa 'kin, doon ko nakumpirma na meron siyang nalalaman.
Yijin shyly smiled, I saw again his soft spot but his eyes are gleaming with happiness. "W-well, yeah. . . there is someone who's making me happy." My heart warmth at what he said, he also squeeze my hand.
"Ay, iba rin! Ganito pala ma-inlove si, Yijin!" Chloe said.
"You have to make sure we'll meet her bago kayo ikasal," ani Cruzel.
"When she's ready," ani Yijin sabay tingin sa 'kin. Agad naman akong umiwas ng tingin, kaya lang nahalata ko ang kakaibang titig sa 'kin ni Seri. . . bumaba rin ang tingin niya sa braso ko na halos nakadikit na sa braso ni Yijin. I acted as if I didn't notice it and continue with our night. Napakaraming beses na gusto nilang tanongin si Yijin kung sino ang maswerteng babae. Yijin refuses to say more, he will just squeeze my hand and assure me something I know.
"Mommy, I want to sleep," ani Yorrick bigla na gusto nang magpakarga sa ina. Roon lang din namin napansin na alas dyes na pala ng gabi at kailangan na naming umakyat para makapagpahinga. Halos bumagsak na rin ang talukap ng mga mata ko pero naaaliw ako sa mga kwento nila kaya ayaw ko pang tumayo.
Lumapit si Seri sa anak at kinuha ito kay Klint. "You want to sleep na? Tara, punta na tayo sa room," ani Seriah at kinarga ang anak. "You guys continue to catch up, mauuna na 'ko at nagreklamo na ang bulilet," she said jokingly.
"I'll accompany you," ani Klint na hindi naman sinagot ni Seriah.
"Hindi na, as much as I want to talk more kasal pa ni kuya bukas. Patay tayo sa bride niya kapag hindi siya nagising nang maaga bukas," ani Chloe.
"As if naman makakatulog ako," sagot ni Cruzel na agad nakatanggap ng pang-aasar sa mga boys.
We decided to end the night and just rest. Kung hindi pa nagreklamo ang anak ni Seri na inaantok na hindi pa kami matatapos.
I secretly bid farewell to Yijin using my eyes, I know he understands that. Nasa kabilang building ang hotel room ng mga boys kaya sa exit palang ng restaurant ay naghiwalay na kami.
Malapit na kami ni Chloe sa elevator nang bigla akong makatanggap ng text galing kay Yijin.
Yijin:
I want to see you. Alone po. . .
I stopped on my track, nagulat sa text niya.
"Chantal," tawag sa 'kin ni Chloe. Nakapasok na siya sa elevator at akmang isasarado na niya.
"Ah, Chloe. . . m-mauna ka na pala sa room. M-may pupuntahan lang ako saglit."
Yijin texted again. . .
Yijin:
I'm at the seashore
"Huh? Saan?" Mula sa cellphone ay napatingin ako kay Chloe na nakakunot ang noo.
"A-ano, saglit lang ako," utal kong ani.
"S-samahan na kita—" My eyes widened, I immediately cut her off.
"H-hindi na, madali lang ako. Mauna ka na!" I closed the elevator door for her, gulat siya at nagtataka sa 'kin pero bahala na. The elevator closed and I immediately run outside the hotel to look for Yijin at the seashore.
The wind blew my hair, I stepped on the sand to look for Yijin. The sea breeze felt so cold yet relaxing. The sound of an acoustic guitar from afar mixed with the sound of waves felt so good.
I smiled upon seeing Yijin's back, he's facing the sea and I can't help myself to admire him. He's like someone who came out straight from a painting.
"Yijin!" I called him and run towards him. He face me with a smile and immediately meet me halfway. The moment I reach him, I can't help myself but to jump and hug him. Just because. . . I wanted to be comforted.
Just because I wanted to have rest. . . and he's my both comfort and rest