Coldest War (War Series #2)

Chapter 21

#war2wp

Chapter 21

December

Tinutupi ko ang damit ko, pagkatapos, inilalagay ko na 'yon sa kulay silver na maleta na nakabukas sa ibabaw ng medyo magulo ko nang kama. My other stuff are everywhere too, waiting to be picked up and packed by me.

Nasa bukana ng kwarto si Hiel, inililibot ang tingin sa paligid ng kwarto kong makalat dahil sa pag-eempake. I tucked some of my hair behind my ear as I picked up a pouch where I plan to put my toiletries. Tumutugtog sa speakers sa loob ng kwarto ko ang isang pop song.

"Sorry, I'm packing," sabi ko kay Hiel, medyo tumatawa. "Hindi ko alam na dumating ka na pala."

Hiel picked up one of the clothes, removed it from the hanger, and started helping me with folding my clothes. Hindi ko na s'ya pinigilan dahil alam kong hindi s'ya magiging kumportable na tingnan lang akong nagliligpit.

He sat on the sofa near the door where my friends who visit me usually sit when they come. Nakasoot s'ya ng kulay itim na shirt. He tucked it inside a pair of jeans and paired them with white shoes.

"It's fine," aniya.

I smiled as I watch him fold my clothes.

"You're early. Akala ko, mamaya ka pa dadating," I said, walking to my bathroom to get some of my things there.

"I thought that coming early would let me spend more time with you."

Napahinto ako sa pagpupulot ng mga kailangan ko sa sink ng banyo. I pursed my lips and looked at the mirror. Through the reflection, I can see Hiel folding some of my clothes.

Tinuloy ko ang pagkuha ng mga kailangan ko at paglalagay no'n sa pouch na dala. I went back with a smile on my face.

"Aw. Thank you, Hiel," I said and placed the pouch inside the luggage. "I'll surely miss you."

Just thinking about leaving again made me feel gloomy but I knew that ruining the mood would just make me waste the remaining time I still have to be with my friends.

Tiningnan ko si Hiel at itinutupi n'ya na ang pangatlong damit. 'Don ko napansin ang kuminang na kwintas sa leeg n'ya dahil natamaan ng liwanag na nanggagaling sa bintana.

I walked to Hiel and he raised his gaze to me when he noticed that I did.

Nasa ilalim ng soot n'yang shirt ang kwintas kaya hindi ko 'yon kaagad nakita. But now that I look at it, the material seems familiar.

"You wore a necklace," I said.

Bumaba ang tingin ni Hiel sa soot n'ya. "Yeah," he mumbled before he took the necklace out.

Agad along napangiti nang ma-realize kung anong kwintas 'yon. It was the necklace I gave him before. The one with the knight pendant.

"You still wear it," I said, touched.

Seeing it made me remember the music box he gave me when we were younger. Agad akong lumapit sa malaking handbag na nandoon din sa ibabaw ng kama at kinuha ko ro'n ang music box. Agad akong bumalik sa kung nasaan si Hiel at umupo sa tabi n'ya.

"I always bring this with me," I said as I showed it to him. "Whenever I feel sad, I open this. Like a lullaby, this music would always make my pain sleep."

"Sleep," Hiel echoed what I said.

I gave it to him and he held it, watching it as the music from the box continued playing. Ang tunog mula sa music box ang pumainlalang sa paligid.