dusk beneath the city lights | Buenvenidez Series #4 [COMPLETED]

19

"Oh, no. You're not asking me for another round again..."

Napahalakhak ako dahil nahuli ni Caly ang tingin ko sa kanya nang makabalik kami sa harap ng McDo. We literally roam around the highstreet just talking about life.

"I am asking you. Hindi ka pa kaya nagkukwento! Puro ako ang nagkukwento!" I reasoned out.

He sighed heavily. Totoo naman 'yon, e. Madalas ako ang nagkukwento tungkol sa ilang nangyaring maganda sa akin noon. Ikinuwento ko sa kanya kung gaano kasaya ang mga unang taon ko sa highschool at kung gaano rin ako kasaya noong pinuntahan ako ni Faith sa North Carolina kahit pa hindi masayang balikan ang ibang alaala namin doon.

"Wala akong ikukwento." Aniya.

I rolled my eyes and leaned on his car. Tumayo lang siya sa harap ko habang hawak hawak ang cup ng coffee na inorder namin kanina.

"Tell me about your first flight, then. Your first times, your highschool life, anything! I want to know you." Sagot ko naman.

"Why would you want to know me?" Taas kilay niyang tanong.

I gasped and shrugged. "Because you're the least person I know among your cousins? Hindi ka namin nakakasama noong mga bata pa kami. It's either you'll leave or you're not simply there." I said.

"I was training that time. Nagiipon rin ako ng flying hours kaya hindi talaga ako nakakasama noon sa inyo." Aniya.

"Oh, edi ikwento mo sa akin 'yang mga 'yan!" Masigla akong ngumiti sa kanya at hindi inalis 'yon sa mga mukha ko hanggang sa dahan dahan na siyang tumango.

Napa 'yes' pa ako sa utak ko at agad na tumayo ng maayos para magsimula na ulit maglakad. Actually, hindi ko na alam kung nakailang ikot na ba kami. I just enjoyed the conversation without minding the distance.

Caly walked on the same pace as mine. Paminsan minsang umiinom ng kape niya at ganoon rin ang ginagawa ko sa cup ko. This is actually a lot better than alcohol. Kahit papaano, nakakalimutan ko rin naman ang mga iniisip ko kanina.

"So tell me about your first solo flight." I said.

Medyo interesado ako sa bagay na 'yon tungkol sa kanya. I haven't met a pilot before. Akala ko madaling proseso lang ang ginagawa nila pero hindi pala.

"Abuelo did my dodo bath," He chuckled.

What's dodo bath?

"It's a traditional bath of accomplishment before my first solo flight." He explained as if he heard my thoughts.

"Anong ginagawa doon? Papaliguan ka?"

Humalakhak siya at umiling. "They will pour a bucket of water on you. Sometimes it's dirty but for me, medyo malinis naman." Natatawa niyang kwento.

"So Abuelo was a pilot?" I asked.

He nodded. "Instructor. He actually inspired me pursue aviation kaya siya rin ang nandoon noong first solo flight ko. It was just a roundtrip from Manila to Clark and back. Maikli lang dahil isiningit ko lang 'yon sa schedule ko noong college."

"Anong course mo? Hindi ba mahirap 'yon? Pwede mo namang itake one at a time! College muna tapos saka ka pumasok sa aviation.." I said.

Hassle kasi kung iisipin. Nakakastress ang college kahit pa nag eenjoy ako. Yung freelance work ko, madalas ko lang tinatanggap kapag maluwag talaga ang schedule ko. Hindi ko siya naisisingit dahil mahirap humanap ng oras sa college. Pero nakaya ni Caly 'yon? Idagdag pa na may social life siya!

"Aeronautical Engineering. If I remember it right, my first class that day was until nine in the morning only and then the next one was four in the afternoon. I had plenty of time so I decided to do my first flight kahit maikli lang 'yung oras. 'Yung second flight ko siguro 'yung medyo mahaba dahil from Clark to Caticlan naman 'yon. Inihatid ko sina Mommy." Pagkukwento niya.