Seeking Serendipity

Kabanata 16

Kabanata 16

Post

We finished our work earlier and decided to stay here until the sun will be set. I breathe heavily and slowly closed my eyes, feeling the warm breeze of the sea. This is kind of wistful.

Dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang mga mata ko at tiningnan ang kulay asul na kalangitan. Memories of Sean and I keep on questing me. But I don't feel the sorrow of it, I feel blessed and happy, blessed for being a friend of her and happy for the moments we shared together. Missing and loving her are the only things that wouldn't change. For a moment, I want to write my supplications towards her right now.

"What are you thinking?" Laurence asked in a light tone.

"Thinking about her, but it's different now," tiningnan ko naman siya.

He nodded. "I see that, that 'different' you've pertaining of." he smiled.

Ngumiti rin ako pabalik sa kaniya. I just love how he knows me well for a short period of time. My eyes wandered to his. And I was surprised to see how soft his eyes as he looked into mine.

"Wait a second," he muttered.

He took his phone and gradually stole a picture of me. I gritted my teeth as I looked at him.

"Bwesit! That's stolen shot!" I exclaimed.

Laurence burst out of laughter as he looked at my picture.

"Delete it!" I demanded.

He shook his head. "No," natatawa niyang sambit.

I furrowed my brows and frowned. "You're getting into my nerves," I said as a matter of fact.

"How 'bout in your heart?" he asked in an amused tone.

I rolled my eyes and looked away. Geez, I suddenly felt that my face turning into scarlet now. Lumakas din ang tibok ng puso ko.

Tiningnan ko ang araw na unti-unti nang lumulubog. Napakagandang tingan. Nang binalingan ko ng tingin si Laurence ay dali-dali niyang ipinasok ang cellphone sa bulsa niya.

"You're doomed. I caught you." I hissed. Ilegal na naman siyang kumukuha ng mga litrato sakin.

Nagkabit-balikat lang siya at tiningnan pabalik ang araw. Tumahimik na rin ako.

The sun set filled with varied colors along. The color of sun is slowly fading away and it makes my heart loom and far. Wala sa sariling napangiti ako, realizing that this sun is the greatest gloom and a comforter. He can melt a frost (just like me) who used to be that small ice crystal before.

***

Alas sais ay nakasakay na kami sa bus. Walang masyadong tao kaya magkatabi kaming umupo.

"Isang araw lang natin natapos ang by pair na activity at may natitira pa tayong dalawang araw, anong gagawin natin don?" I asked.

"Ipipinta ka," he directly told me.

"Okay," wala akong ibang masabi. I was too distracted to his brown eyes who is firmly looking into mine to come up with a witty reply.

Unfortunately, it didn't last that long. The ride back to the assigned room took only several minutes. Mas lalo akong nagulat nang hinawakan niya ang kamay ko. Lahat ng gamit na dala niya ay inilipat niya sa kaliwang kamay niya para mahawakan niya ang kamay ko na walang sagabal.

He gently held my hand as I climbed out of the bus and this heart is now frantically accelerated again.

"Hey!" agad na bungad ni Aimee sa amin nang nakita kami ni Laurence.

I waved my hand to her dahilan kung bakit nabitawan ko ang pagkakahawak ng kamay niya sa akin.

"Woahhh, natapos niyo????" she asked with amazement.

Tumango naman ako. "Yeah."

"Sana all!" kantiyaw ni Adi sa amin.

Tumawa naman ako nang mahina dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Sana all talaga, wala ka kasing kwentang partner Adi. Puro kalokohan lang lumalabas diyan sa bibig mo. Sa huli wala tayong nagawa!" reklamo ni Aimee.

So they are partner. I wonder who's the partner of Hannah, si Torce ba o si Yves?

Adi burst a loud guffaw. "I already warning you," he paused and laugh again. "Nagback-out nga si Yves sakin dahil nairita sa mga ginagawa ko. Hays, It really sucks when I partnered with a kind of introvert person,"

Aimee rolled her eyes. "That's why you choose me, don't you? Cuz I'm extrovert?" she sarcastically stated.

He grinned and shrugged. "Where's Hannah and Torce?" seryosong tanong niya.

"Ewan ko, ako ba sila?" pabalang na tanong ni Aimee.

"Sila ang magka-partner?" sabat ko.

Aimee nodded. "Yeah, mabuti nalang at may kakilala si Yves dito at niyaya siyang maging ka-partner." she explained.

"Oh,"

***

Nagpwesto na kami nina Aimee at Hannah para matulog. Iba ang room ng mga lalaki pag natutulog na. A yawn escaped from my lips and tried to sleep pero hindi ko magawa.

Gabi na at natutulog na sina Aimee at Hannah sa tabi ko. Ilang beses ko na ring inulit ang pwesto pero hindi parin ako tinatablan ng antok. I suddenly received a text from an unknown number.

Unknown Number:
You still awake?

I raised my brows as I reply the text.

Me:
Who's this?

In just a minute I received a reply.

Unknown number:
Laurence :) If you'll going to ask where on earth I get your number, It's from your mom.

Hindi ko na siya ni-replyan. I set his number into his real name. Pero hindi ko pa yun natapos, I received another reply from him.

Laurence:
Can you accept my friend request in your facebook account?

I replied.

Me:
I'm not fond in facebook. Periodt.

Cu'z it's true. It's such a waste of time. Wala nga dapat akong fb account pero ginawan ako ni Sean. I just hate how some people spreading some gossip that were fake and others who uses facebook are toxic, and inflating their stupidness can causes a trouble.

He texted me again.

Laurence:
Please :(

I mentally rolled my eyes.

Me:
Do I have another choice?

I turned on my data and logging in my account. Nang nakapasok na, I immediately accepted his friend request. I clicked his profile and stalked him for a while.

May bago siyang post at naghihintay ako ng ilang segundo para makita ito dahil napakahina ng signal. My eyes literally widened as I saw his post.

It was my silhoutte and the background of it was the alluring sunset. Kuha niya ito kanina sa dagat. I read his caption.

Watching the spectacular view <3

And that caption enffectuating me into confusion.