Lost Stars

Chapter 33 | Her Magnetic Pull

Chapter 33 | Her Magnetic Pull

"Got nowhere to go
we could be here for a while
but the future is forgiven, so smile"
-Mikky Ekko, Smile

•••

Liam's Pov

I open my eyelids slowly at the feel of someone touching my lip ring. Agad naman inalis ni Tiffany 'yung darili niya sa lip ring ko and immediately looking away while blushing.

"Hey." I greeted in a lazy tone. She greet me back with a smile, bago siya bumangon. I rub my eyes and saw that the sun was only about to show up.

"What time is it?" I asked. Kumuha naman ni Tiffany 'yung cellphone niya sa bulsa ng pantalon niya, checking the time.

"Five fifteen." Sagot niya, sabay hikab. Then she hug herself because of the early morning breeze. Good thing I was wearing a hoodie.

Bumangon na din ako and grab my bag. Binuksan ko 'yun at kinuha 'yung Cardigan na binili ko yesterday.

"Wear this." Sabi ko, sabay abot ng Cardigan kay Tiffany. Nag tataka naman niya 'yun tiningnan that made roll my eyes. "Para sa'yo 'yan."

"Salamat." Naka ngiti niyang sabi, as she get it from me, bago isuot. After a minute, bumyahe na ulit kami. This is gonna be a long day for sure.

"Kamusta tulog mo?" Tanong ko kay Tiffany.

"Okay lang. Masakit sa likod." Na tatawa niyang sagot.

"Same."

Within an hour naka dating kami sa isang small village dito sa Tagaytay. I went here a lot when I was younger everytime we took a vacation on our rest house here and got bored as hell. The last time I went here eight years old pa ako, ewan ko kung na tatandaan pa ako ng mga naka tira dito. I liked it here, it's fun, everyone's warm and hospitable.

I park the the pick up truck outside the entrance of the village, as we went out dala 'yung gamit namin. The look of the village was more alive now, siguro may festival na gaganapin or something. Pumunta kami ni Tiffany sa isang small diner and as we enter, madaming villagers na ang nag a-almusal doon. May isang kumpulan din ng mga elder men sa isang booth na nag ja-jamming. Then my mouth immediately turn upward to see a familiar face.

Tatay Banjo as what I call him back then.

Siya 'yung nag aasikaso sa akin noon lagi pag na punta ako dito, together with his wife. I grew close to them even in a short period of time of vacationing here. They are like the grand parents I'm wishing for that time. Wala din kasi silang anak ng asawa niya, kaya tuwang-tuwa sila sa akin noon.

He was singing his lungs out to a classic song, while the other man I remember one of his friends playing the guitar. Lumapit ako sa booth nila at kasunod ko naman sa likod ko si Tiffany. They didn't noticed our presence at first until I spoke.

"Sintunado ka pa din." Napa tingin ang lahat ng kalalakihan sa amin with a frown, napa tigil din sila sa pag jamming.

"Teka, pamilyar ka ah." Kunot noo pero naka ngiting sabi ni tatay Banjo sa akin, and I can't help not to chuckle.

"Ang batang mabait, hindi makaka tikim ng palo sa pwet." Naka ngiti kong sabi. That's the line he always use against me whenever I refuse to go back to our rest house.

"Liam!" He exclaimed, standing from his seat and lock me in a bear hug.

"Nice to see you again, tanda." Natatawa kong sabi, patting his back.