𝖬𝗂𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗄𝖾𝗇 | Zilong x Ling

XIV

The lunch of the whole family was full of laughter and exchange jokes, some are just going with the flow habang kumakain. Sa dami ng pamilya nila, nahirapan pa mag serve mga chef ng resort, may naka dalawa or limang plato and guess what, it's Yin.

"Tsaka itong si Zilong noong bata siya, I remember he saw a grosshopper at nagbabasa ako ng libro, tapos tinanong niya if its edible. Sasagot na sana ako pero pagtingin ko dinura na niya pala" Zilong looked down and laughed, so as Ling na hindi rin napigilan ng tawa, all of insects na pwede niyang nguyain yung grosshopper pa. Zilong  is full of embarrassing yet enjoyed childhood kahit nawalan siya ng ama at ina. He's an independent one, in conclusion. Hanga nga ang kaniyang mga tiyo sa galing niyang mag alaga ng sarili at kaya niyang alagaan ang iba, pero kahit ganon, Yuzhong and Baxia always thought that Zilong once their baby niece, the baby they used to carry when he was born, the baby that often cry because he craved for his mother's touch, the baby they never expected to be a grown gentleman, and Zilong will never regret for growing up with his tiyos.

"As we experience to watch him grow, hindi kami nagsisisi na i-train siya ng maaga without pressure. Look at him, he owns a business already kahit nag stop siya ng college, yet matalino. Nag-aaral siya mag isa with my books sa bahay na iniwan ko. No wonder maraming nagkakagusto diyan." Yuzhong and Baxia bragged, who wouldn't be proud of having Zilong?

On the other hand, Ling is silently agreeing with Yuzhong and Baxia, he always thought that maybe Zilong won't continue his college anymore pero he's willing to teach him somehow. He bet marami ring alam si Zilong sa medical stuffs, maybe Yuzhong and Baxia taught him a lot since he was younger.

"How about you Ling? may naaalala ka ba from your childhood?" Napukaw ang kaniyang attention kay Yuzhong noong tinawag ang kaniyang pangalan, napatigil siya sa pag nguya at tumingin kay Luo Yi na unting may pag alinlangan sa kaniyang mga mata. They all know that Ling is adopted pero hindi nila pinaramdam na hindi siya kabilang sa pamilya. Zilong is staring at him too, intensely na parang naghihintay. He don't know but bigla siyang nanginig, he don't remember it clearly about his childhood but there's a memory that triggers him the most kaya bigla siyang pinagpawisan at nanginig.

"u-uh.. a-ano.." He tried to talk but he failed, he tried to take a deep breathe, when suddenly a hand holds his, tinignan niya ang may ari ng kamay and its Zilong, of course. Zilong asked him what's wrong at hindi siya nakasagot. Luo Yi cleared her throat making everyone look at her, tila nakahinga ng maluwag si Ling doon. Bigla siyang na pressure sa tingin at tanong nila kaya hindi siya nakasagot.

"I remember Ling.. " Nalang ang narinig niya noong inaya siya ni Zilong umalis, nagpaalam naman si Zilong kay Baxia na magpahangin muna and Baxia agreed, busy sa kwentuhan ang iba kaya hindi na nila sila napansin. Zilong started to walk at sumunod sakaniya si Ling, dumiretso sila sa tabing dagat. Zilong's hands is in his pocket at si Ling ay nakatingin sa kaniyang paanan, hindi niya alam kung paano simulan ang conversation nila.

"Are you okay now? Naramdaman ko kasi panginginig ng paa mo kanina" Zilong said, he turned towards Ling na tahimik. Ling rubbed his nape at tumingin din kay Zilong, he smiled and started to walk papunta sa isang pwesto kung saan may silong. Umupo siya doon at tinignan ulit ang itsura ng isla.

"Im okay now, salamat sa pag-aya" Sabi nito habang nakatitig parin sa karagatan. The sea is his peace, nararamdaman niyang malaya siya tulad ng tubig. Oh he wished na sana sirena nalang siya para tamang langoy lang gagawin niya, but no. He don't know that his human world will be like this, and he's hoping that this world will be kind to him.

"Of course, concern ako eh" Sabi ni Zilong, Ling smiled from it. Maybe the world had given him the kindness.

"salamat ulit" The silence was followed after, pakiramdam nila ang awkward ng araw na 'to pero hindi na nila inabala, maybe gustong gusto talaga nila ang presensya ng isa't isa.