Elyse Sierra's life isn't exactly stuck in a rut but for years now, she's been living like a hermit with no dreams to chase and plans for her future. Ito ang kinalabasan ng kanyang plano para hanapin ang kanyang sarili. Kaya't ngayon, ang hangad lan...
Oops! Ang larawang ito ay hindi sumusunod sa aming mga alituntunin sa nilalaman. Upang magpatuloy sa pag-publish, subukan itong alisin o mag-upload ng bago.
"Nothing's amusing about that. If anything, it's heartbreaking. But that's not fair, you know?" I finally said.
Tumayo ako't nakapaang naglakad hanggang sa tabing-dagat. Medyo tipsy na ako dahil sa diretsong pag-inom ng hard beer.
"What is?" Nanatili siyang nakaupo at patuloy na umiinom.
Parehong iniihip ng hangin ang aming mga buhok. I look like a mess for sure at nakaka-conscious pa ang malagkit niyang titig sa akin.
"Ang ikompara ang noon sa ngayon. That you actually know a lot about me when I know nothing about you. And what? Do you want me to ask someone else? Hindi ba't mas okay na sa'yo ko mismo malaman? That's how people become friends, right? Through sharing?"
Umupo ako para suyurin ang buhangin sa tapat ko. Right now, it looks like he's trying to understand what I just said. Dahil baka tama ako—
"I didn't try to make a move before. Every chance I get, I just watched you. Back then, it really felt like love and saying it differently would just be a fucking insult to my feelings. And I'm not treating you nicely just because of nostalgia or anything. I'm not trying to spoil you either. That's what you're thinking, right?Is it that wrong to worry about you? Next to being neighbors, your brother is our business partner and friend. What you see is what you get, Elyse. You might not like it but at least it's true."
Napaawang ang aking bibig dahil sa sinabi niya. So he can be honest, huh? O kapag nakainom lang?
Also, that's not how I'd word it exactly. Not nostalgia, but familiarity. He teases and treats me like he know me all too well. I get flustered and might end up getting the wrong idea. Sino ang masasaktan sa huli? It'll be me. This notion in itself is scary.
He has Jen and I'm just someone he once liked, who is now his fucking friend. Damn it, umaakyat na yata sa utak ko ang alak!
"Of course. I understand. Maybe I'm just overthinking." I gave him a weak smile.
"Ano pa ang gusto mong malaman? Hey, bonding time," aniya sabay angat sa hawak na bote.
Humakbang ako para salubungin ang parating na alon. Nanginig nga lang ang katawan ko nang dumampi na sa balat ko ang malamig na tubig. But I'd rather stay here than be next to him.
"Paano mo napalago ang CHAOS? Wala talaga akong ideya na parte ng kumpanya ninyo si Kuya Jaren. At oo, hindi talaga ako naging interesado sa business ng pamilya namin," pag-iiba ko ng usapan.
"It just started with a dream."
"How clichéd." I grinned.
Pagkalingon ko sa kanya ay nagbubukas na siya ng dalawang panibagong bote ng beer. Maya-maya'y lumapit siya para iabot sa akin ang isa.
"Some of the universal truths are cliché, Elyse. That's really just it. I wanted to get rich. I had an idea and all I had to do was to put myself out there. I failed but tried again. Before I knew it, I have all of this."
