Running the Risk (Nightfall Series #1)

Chapter 40

Chapter 40

I spent the days sorting my thoughts out. Malaki ang naitulong noon para malaman kung tama ba ang mga susunod kong desisyon sa buhay.

Si Dani lang ang kinakausap ni Rivo sa pamilya niya. He asked her to stay with me while he was gone. Kaya naman nang malaman ko na aalis na siya ay magkasama kaming pumunta ni Dani para ihatid siya.

Namimilog ang mga mata ni Dani at nakaawang ang bibig nang mamataan ang singsing sa daliri ko. I pursed my lips and showed my hand to her. She looked at me with disbelief.

"Putangina, Daiyu! Ano ‘yan? Ano ‘to?!" she asked as she held my hand to look at the ring closely.

I smiled. "Bigay ni Rivo. Promise ring daw."

Her eyes widened even more. "Shit! Daiyu, matalino kang tao tapos ‘di mo alam na nautakan ka no’n? Tangina niya, anong promise promise ring? Pang-engagement na ‘to, e! Kaya pala pumayag na umalis si bobo at makipag-cool-off, may assurance na pangmalakasan!"

It’s just a month and I already wore the ring that he gave me. I have come to realize a lot of things between us. Naging idealistic ang tingin ko sa relasyon namin kung kaya’t mabilis akong nakaramdam ng pagkadismaya sa unang beses na may malaki kaming hindi pagkakaintindihan. In reality, we were both flawed. But we both need and love each other. Mahal na mahal ko siya, at gusto kong malaman niya na may babalikan siya lagi sa akin.

Umawang ang labi niya nang mamataan ako. I drew a small smile when his friend pushed him. Sa huli ay sa akin na siya lumapit para yakapin ako nang mahigpit. I gently pat his back. God, I missed him so much.

"Nandito ka..." he whispered.

I chuckled. "I need to send my boyfriend off."

Napahiwalay siya para tingnan ako. I showed him my hand. His eyes welled up with tears but he chuckled and held my hand to touch the ring.

"Gago, totoo ang manifestations ni Chico. Naiiyak ako. Daiyu naman, e..."

I held his face with both of my hands. "I missed you, and I’m gonna miss you. Let’s communicate, okay?"

Tumango-tango siya. "Ang bitin, baby. Sana nag-date tayo kahapon. Miss na miss na kita. Sagutin mo mga tawag ko, ha. Mag-ingat kayo ni Dani sa apartment."

We spent the remaining minutes before his flight talking to each other.

"Take care, Rivo. Don’t worry about me, aalagaan ko ang sarili ko. Ikaw rin."

Humiwalay siya at kinulang ang mukha ko sa mga palad niya, pinalibot muli ang paningin na para bang sinasaulo ang bawat parte ng mukha ko.

"Mami-miss kita."

Nangilid ang mga luha niya at saka yumakap ulit sa akin.

"I’m going to miss you, too. I love you, Rivo," my voice broke.

Instead of responding with words, he kissed me passionately. Pabagal iyon nang pabagal na para bang hinehele ako. I mimicked the way his lips moved. When we stopped, he kissed the tip of my nose.

"I love you, Daiyu."

I wrapped my arms around his waist.

Without knowing that would be the last time.

When Rivo took his flight to Thailand, Dani and I went straight home. Doon ko pa lang naramdaman kung gaano kabigat na hindi bumaba sa kaniyang motor at umuwi sa apartment nang hindi na siya kasama.

"Wait lang, hoy! Pinapa-check pa muna sa’kin ni Rivo ang loob!" pagpigil sa akin ni Dani sabay agaw sa akin ng susi.

I arched my eyebrow and slowly grinned. I felt like an intersection of two different lane. Dito lang talaga sila nagkakasundo.