Chasing Sunsets

Chapter 37:

♪♪ Darling just swear you'll stand by my side. Be my forever, be my forever, be my forever...

Nagcelebrate kami ng pagkapanalo namin with the Lyric Music School family. May isang parent na nagpaparty sa isang restaurant. Kompleto kaming nagkasayahan dun. I'm so thankful for this new family.

Pero I was feeling uncomfortable simula nung umalis ako sa bahay hanggang ngayon. Feeling ko may nagbabantay sa bawat galaw ko. Or paranoid lang ako.

The party was so fun, though. The music was cool. The food was great. But I decided to be alone at the moment. Mag-isa akong pumunta sa may terrace para makapag-isip. I can see Nikos talking with some parents inside. He waved when he saw me.

Hindi ko alam kung makakabalik pa ba ako sa pagtuturo once na umuwi na ako sa amin pero gagawin ko ang lahat para maipagpatuloy parin to.

I have learned to love this place, the school, the kids, everything about this new environment. At ayokong iwan ang lahat ng to kahit umuwi na ako.

Naputol ang katahimikan ko nung mga lumapit sa akin na isang student.

"Teacher Serene, kayo pa rin naman po ang magtuturo sa amin magplay ng ibang instruments para sa susunod na recital diba?" Tanong nya.

"Oo naman." Nakangiting sagot ko sa kanya.

*****

Maaga kaming umuwi because I just kept on feeling uncomfortable. Isinama ako ni Nikos sa bahay nya para dun magdinner. Naghanda daw sya e. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. I guess I really can't say no to pizza and pasta. Lalo na at sya ang nagluto.

He's really good in cooking, I must say. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nagpapaluto pa sya sakin lagi dati. Ngayon ako na yung lagi nyang pinagluluto. Nakakahiya naman kasi diba, mas magaling pa sya sakin.

His house is on the other side of Tenerife Heights. It was a nicer place than mine, actually. His balcony overlooks the sea and he has a small pool in his garden.

"Gusto mo magswimming?" Tanong nya.

"Ayoko. Ang lamig lamig na kaya."

"Sus wag ka na umarte, babe. Swimming tayo."

"You're actually calling me 'babe', love?" Tanong ko sa kanya na may mapanlokong tono. "I thought you think it's too childish?"

"Nah. You secretly like it. I'm reading your diary." He said, smirking.

"WHAT?! How about my right to privacy?!" OMG, PAANO NYA NABASA YUN? NAKAKAHIYA!

"Tingnan mo yung reaction mo. Jino-joke lang kita uy!" Nagtatawang sabi nya pagkatapos ay inakbayan ako. "Pero by the looks of it, mukhang may diary ka nga at totoong nga yung sinabi ko."

"Wag ka ngang assuming!"

Pumasok na kami sa loob for dinner. Napaparanoid pa rin ako. Parang may tumitingin samin.

Nagvolunteer ako na gumawa ng pizza. Kinuha naman nya yung pasta sa ref at  nilagay sa microwave. Kanina pa nya kasi yun niluto bago sya umalis. Lumapit sya at tinulungan ako pagkatapos.

"Ang galing mo pala magluto. Bakit lagi ka pang nagpapaluto sakin dati?" Tanong ko sa kanya pagkatapos kong ilagay sa oven yung pizza.

"Ninja moves." Sagot nya with a sheepish smile.

"Really?" Natatawang tanong ko.

"Turo sakin ni Jon." Sagot nya habang nilalabas yung cake sa box. "At saka I liked it din naman."

"Ang dami nyong alam." Komento ko.

"Effective naman e, diba?" Sagot nya na may kindat pang kasama. Ang bata ng itsura nya dun. I just smiled as an answer, thanking God for giving me someone like him.

Bumalik kami sa labas after namin mag-dinner. Madilim na sa labas pero may Christmas lights sya sa may garden, which are always there all year kahit hindi Christmas.

Ewan ko kung paano nya ako napapayag magswimming kahit gabi na. Malamig na rin dahil malapit na ring mag-Pasko.

Umahon na kami sa pool when it got too cold. Nahiga kami sa dalawang lounge chairs sa tabi ng pool. Maraming stars at sobrang ganda ng moon. We stargazed and talked about random things, supernovas, dark energy, blackholes, aliens, and the universe. He's so smart and the nerd in me is loving him more.

"Ang galing no. Sa sobrang layo ng stars, some of them are already dead even before their light reach us." Sabi ko sa kanya.

"Yeah. My mom is a star, matagal na syang wala but I can still see her light." He answered.

"Hey, you haven't talked about your mom for a long time." I looked at him.

"Birthday nya ngayon."

"Kaya pala naghanda ka? Dapat binisita natin sya sa cemetery."

"I can't, malulungkot lang ako." Sagot nya.

"I see. Maybe someday?" Tanong ko.

"Yeah, of course."

We were silent for minutes. I bet he's missing his mom. I'm missing my mom, too. Next week or next month at most siguro uuwi na ako. I can hear him breathing. I guess we were both trying to look for constellations in our clouded minds.

"Hey, I'm gonna give you something." Bigla nyang sinabi. Bumangon sya at humarap sa akin. "Get up there, potato."

"Anong ibibigay mo?" Tanong ko sa kanya habang umuupo paharap sa kanya. Kinuha nya ang mga kamay ko pagkabangon ko at tumingin sa mga mata ko.

"Okay, here we go. My name is Nikos and it means victory. Yet in my years of existence, I have never felt the real feeling of victory. Everyday of my life was a constant cycle of battling and losing. Until I met you." He smiled. I smiled back at him.

"When I first met you, that was the first time I won. And everyday with you, be it a good or a bad day, I just kept on winning." Pagpapatuloy nya. kinuha nya mula sa pagkakasuot yung guitar pick necklace na may engraved na pangalan nya at sinuot yun sa akin. "So I'm giving you my necklace because you are my victory. You are the prize I got from years of fighting and suffering. And you're worth it."

I smiled and thanked him. Sobrang nakakaoverwhelm. Mukhang medyo nahihiya pa sya sa pagsalita. Napapangiti sya kapag nagtatama ang mga tingin namin, which made him look a lot younger.

God, I must be really a good person to deserve someone as amazing as him.

"It's my turn now, love. My name is Serenity. Laging sinasabi sakin ng nanay ko na bagay sakin yung pangalan ko because I'm always peaceful. But Nikos, I've never known real peace until I looked into your eyes for the first time, until you wrapped me in your arms for the first time, until you kissed me for the first time. We are each other's peace. With you, everything's light and calm. The world disappears and it's just me and you, us."

Mabuti na lang at suot ko rin ngayon yung guitar pick necklace na may pangalan ko. Kinuha ko yun at isinuot sa kanya.

"I love you, Serenity." He said, his face just a few inches from mine and still going nearer.

"I love you, Nikos." I answered before he completely closed the distance between us.