Where the Sun Sleeps

Chapter 08

CHAPTER 08

Matapos naming magpaalam kina Ark at Serena, maging kina Silver at sa iba pa niyang mga kaibigang naroroon sa mesa, Kasper and I immediately walked our way out of the venue.

I inhaled a huge amount of breath and sighed heavily when we finally arrived in front of his car.

"Where are we going exactly?" I asked Kasper as I carefreely tied my hair into a low ponytail. He opened the door in the shotgun first before looking at me.

"Just somewhere to escape," he uttered. "You looked so tense back there."

The side of my lips rose up. "It was so awkward for me, I felt anxious. Naco-conscious din ako dahil mukhang ang bibigatin ng mga naroon. At tsaka, hindi ako sanay umattend ng mga birthday parties dahil iilan lang naman ang mga kaibigan ko."

"You look pretty, Eli. I swear," Kasper held my chin to lift my face. "And I don't want to end it here when you dressed up like this for tonight. Let's go to my favorite place."

Humawak ako sa pinto ng kotse na naghihintay na lang sa aking pumasok. "Saan 'yon?"

Imbes na sumagot si Kasper ay ngumiti lang siya at inalalayan akong pumasok ng sasakyan.

***

"Woah..." I beamed when I opened the car window on my side and felt the cold breeze hugging my skin. Then, I closed my eyes as I heard the waves crashing against the surface below.

"Paano mo nalaman ang lugar na 'to?" Hindi ko maiwasang mamangha sa ganda ng tanawin mula rito. We can clearly see the ethereal beauty of the city lights. "Ang ganda-ganda," I whispered.

"Comfort zone," Kasper simply expressed. "It has been my safe place that I want to share now with someone," he added in a low tone and voice which made me look at him as he spoke.

I pursed my lips and glanced elsewhere afterward. "Do you own this place?"

"Well, you can say that," Kasper chuckled and seconds later, the car stopped. We're finally here.

Parehas kaming tahimik na lumabas ng sasakyan at kaagad na dumako sa likuran nito. Kasper opened the compartment where the chicken and beer, that we bought earlier, are. Sa trunk ng kotse rin kami umupo. Tipid lang akong ngumiti nang mabuksan ko na ang aking lata.

"Alam mo," after a couple minutes of silence, I took one sip on my beer before I decided to talk. "Sa ganda ng mga chismis na narinig ko tungkol sa 'yo, hindi ko alam kung ako pa rin ba 'yong dapat mahiya dahil ang pangit ng first impression mo sa akin, Kasper, he/him," I emphasized the last three words.

He eventually chuckled, getting the context. "What happened to your plate then?" he asked, pertaining to the paper na nabasa niya dahil sa banana milk na ipinatong niya roon. "I swear, I didn't mean that. I was drunk as fuck," tumatawa niyang sinabi.

"Magpasalamat ka talaga at naipasa ko pa rin that day 'yon. Kung hindi, may sama pa rin ako ng loob sa 'yo," I smirked, putting down my can. "But you know, you're interesting. You're... different from all the stories I've heard about you."

Kasper smiled meaningfully as he leaned back, nakaalalay ang mga kamay niya. He looked at me for a moment all of a sudden. "While I don't have a single clue about you, Eli. So, tell me about yourself first."

Natawa ako saglit kasabay ng pag-iwas ng tingin. I looked above and smiled as I saw the myriad stars shining before my eyes.

"Well... I'm Eliott Rose Suarez," natatawa kong simula, looking at Kasper who's listening intently. "Nineteen na ako. BS Architecture, first year. May isa akong kapatid, si Eros, six years old naman siya. Sa Batangas siya nakatira kasama 'yong mga magulang ko," I bit my lower lip as soon as the topic went there. I shifted to my seat uncomfortably and I noticed Kasper, suddenly sitting properly beside me, too.