Coastline From The Sky- (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 07

Kabanata 07

Görüşürüz

Arshed offered me a bottle of flavored beer, which I gladly accepted. There is also a pack of black cigarettes beside the other bottle of beer and a black rechargeable pocket lighter.

I quaffed it and looked down at the city lights.

I always wonder why I find it peaceful to watch city lights every night. When I was young, I didn't like living in cities; it's noisy, always busy—the traffic is always busy, people are always into something, and they walk fast as if they'll always catch time. I always thought that living in rural areas was much better. I saw how my parents are always on the run. It's like there's no time to waste; there's no time to be with us because their job is more important than us—their time for their business is too precious to spend it with us.

But right at this moment, beside Arshed, watching this picturesque scene in front of me, I feel at peace. I found peace beside him.

I sipped on the beer. Arshed did the same at nakatanaw rin ito sa harapan.

Arshed's jawline was well-defined from my sight. His eyelashes exemplify the curl every time he blinks. And his adams apple moved every time he swallowed hard, and his lips... his heart-shaped lips match his skin very well; pinkish.

I shook my head and looked away when he smirked and sipped on his beer. Mas lalo siyang gumwapo sa paningin ko kapag naggaganyan siya.

"Doğru. O muhteşem," (True. He's gorgeous,) I murmured unconsciously. Nilingon ako ni Arshed habang nakakunot ang noo. Nagtataka itong nakatingin sa akin kaya kumurap ako.

"Evet, Kaptan?" (Yes, Captain?) He was so confused while he asked.

I looked at him, nagtataka rin.

"Huh?" I asked incoherently.

"Did you say something?" Arshed asked again. My brows furrow, trying to cover my embarrassment.

Don’t tell me he heard what I said? I'm out of the blue while saying those words!

I cleared my throat, stood straight, and checked my wristwatch. Napatingin rin si Arshed sa kamay ko.

"Uh... hiç bir şey. It's getting late; I guess I need to go inside, already, maaga pa tayo bukas." (Uh... nothing.) Tumango si Arshed kahit na halatang nagtataka pa ito.

"İyi geceler, Kaptan, görüşürüz." (Goodnight, Captain, see you.)

"Görüşürüz, Officer Salvaleon." (See you, Officer Salvaleon.)

I tossed off the remaining beer in my bottle, and silence enfolded us. Bago tuluyang magsara ang elevator ay tiningnan ko pa ang rooftop... and saw him watching me before the elevator totally closed.

Pagkarating ko sa kwarto ay humiga na agad ako. The taste of beer straggled from my throat down to my stomach, which calmed me even more.

I closed my eyes and placed my hand on top of it. I feel at peace after spending my time with Arshed, even though we just talk a little. Iyon ang kailangan ko, ang palipasin ang oras nang mahinahon lang.

I was having a hard time dealing with my family for the past week. Imbes na trabaho at bakasyon ang ipinunta ko roon sa Denmark, ginugulo lang ang isip ko dahil sa pagtawag ni Mommy sa akin. I am mentally tired because of them, I admit it.

I sighed and got up to get some water. Pagbalik ko sa kwarto ay nag-ring ulit ang cellphone ko.

Cassimer's calling.

Bumuga ako ng hangin. Kanina si Ate Raia, ngayon si Cassimer na naman.

"Don't tell me that mommy ordered you to call me again and to convince me about the anniversary, Cassimer." Inunahan ko na ang kapatid ko dahil alam ko naman na si Mommy ang palaging may pakana kapag tumatawag ang mga kapatid ko sa akin.

"Ate, hindi naman ako inutusan ni Mommy..." I heard Cassimer sighed on the other line. "I called to ask how are you?” he added.

I am touched. Cassimer has been very thoughtful since then.

"I'm fine, Cass, how about you?"

I sat down on the single sofa beside the glass wall in my room.

"I'm fine, Ate." I scratched my nape and stared outside.

"Ate..." Cassimer called me again. I just hummed. "Are you gonna attend the... anniversary?"

"It seems like our parents leave me a choice, Cassimer, or else they'll ruin me; you know them very well."

Narinig kong bumuntong hininga sa kabilang linya ang kapatid ko. Alam kong nag-aalala lang naman ito sa akin. He knew how I hated attending celebrations with them. Kasi sa tuwing uma-attend ako in any of those gatherings, nagtatapos lagi sa hindi magandang pangyayari lahat, either they'll insult me, or they'll ignore me.

"Ate..." Cassimer gets my attention again.

"Cassimer—"

"What do you think if you do not attend anyway?" nag-aalangan ang boses na tanong nito sa akin kaya bahagya akong natawa.

"As if you don't know them, Cassimer—"

"Ate... huwag ka na lang um-attend, m-may next year pa naman."

I knotted my forehead because of what Cassimer said. I can sense something the way he struggled.

"Cassimer, is there something I need to know?" seryoso kong tanong dahil nararamdaman kong may hindi ito sinasabi sa akin.

"W-Wala naman po, Ate." He stuttered.

I massaged my temple.

"Cassimer," I warned him. I'm out of patience and he knew it.

"Ate, wala naman po. Sabi mo kasi pagod ka kasi galing ka pang ibang bansa dahil sa trabaho mo, hindi ba? Tsaka sabi mo mahihirapan ka sa pag-leave,” paliwanag ni Cassimer pero hindi ko makuhang makampante sa sinabi niya. He never insisted before me not to come back to the Philippines for the occasion. And it bothers me a lot.

Bumuga na lang ulit ako ng hangin at hindi na ito pinilit pang magsalita. I wont push him hard kasi alam kong nahihirapan din itong pumagitna sa pagitan namin nina mommy't daddy. Cassimer is very precious to me and I don't want him to get upset even more, kasi sa aming tatlong magkakapatid, kaming dalawa ang mas magkalapit. Mas malapit ito sa akin kaysa kay Ate Raia kasi mas nag-i-invest ako ng oras sa kanya dati kaysa ni Ate Raia. Hindi nga kami magkasundo ni Ate Raia dahil lagi itong galit sa akin at busy, how much more sa bunso naming kapatid? Kaya kahit na malayo ako, I always remind him that I'm always here for him.

Cassimer is 24 years old already, but I know, deep inside, he's still the 12 year old boy who cried hard when our father sent him to America alone for his boarding school and study hard for our business. Kaya kahit sa murang edad nito ay may sarili na itong negosyong hinahawakan. He is successful in his field, but I can clearly see in his eyes that he's not happy with what he's doing. He’s obviously longing for our parents’ attention, well, apparently, all of us siblings were longing for our parents’ love and attention that we deserve.

"Tamam... pakisabi sa kanila na a-attend ako sa anniversary. Don't worry about, Cassimer, I can ask my superior for a one week leave." (Okay...)

"Tamam, ate, İyi geceler." (Okay, ate, goodnight.)

"İyi geceler, Cassimer, seni seviyurom. Görüşürüz." (Goodnight, Cassimer, I love you. See you.)

"Seni seviyurom, Ate. Görüşürüz."

I ended the call and blew a loud breath. Hinilot ko pa ang sentido ko bago nagpasyang magpahinga na.

_

GorgoeusYooo