BEA's POV
"Are you okay?" I ask Jho kasi kanina pa siyang nakatulala lang. "Are you afraid?"
Tumingin siya sa'kin at umiling.
"No." ngumiti siya "Are you gonna be okay kung papasok tayo dito?"
Napangiti ako nang sabihin niya 'yon. Here I thought na baka naiirita na siya dahil bigla ko nalang gustong pumasok sa lumang bahay namin at isama siya, when the fact is, she's just concerned as to how will I feel about this.
Jhoana is really sweet.
"I'm not sure." I smiled and showed my hand "Can you hold my hand so I won't feel scared?"
I saw how she shook her head before taking my hand. It's so warm.. I already feel safe while holding her hand.
Binuksan ko ang pinto at bumungad sa akin ang pamilyar na lugar.
"It's..clean."
Imbis na malungkot o kabahan ay natawa nalang ako dahil sa sinabi ni Jho. This place brings back so much memories that I feel like crying, mabuti nalang kasama ko si Jho.
"Are you expecting something like in the movies?" she look at me and nod. "Like some spider webs and creepy sounds?"
"Spider webs lang." My laugh echoed at the whole house. I can never be bored when I'm with this girl.
"May naglilinis dito twice a month. Tita promised me that this place will be the same if I decided to come back." I look around and smiled "She kept her promise."
"Are you okay?" tinignan ko siya at tumango.
"Yes. I just.. missed this place so much."
"Gusto mo pa bang tumuloy?"
"Yes. Let's go to my room."
I held her hand tighter and drag her upstairs. Second door at the left. I can clearly remember everyting.
Huminto ako saglit sa harap ng pinto at tumingin kay Jho. I felt her thumb gently rubbing my hand so I smiled.
Binuksan ko ang pinto at hindi agad pumasok.
Ahh, this is my room. My safe place when I was young. I missed everything in here.
Tuluyan akong pumasok at nakasunod naman sa akin si Jho. I let go of her hand and walk towards my bed. Malinis lahat. Parang walang pinagbago kung paano ko ito iniwan dati.
When I turn to look back at Jho, she was looking at a portrait hanging on my wall.
Is it too familiar for you, Jho? Naaalala mo ba 'yan?
I smiled and walk towards her.
"J, gave that to me." she didn't even bother looking at me. She was too focused at the portrait "Sana sa susunod, nakangiti ka na habang naghihintay. That's what she said in her first letter to me."
"Ahh.." she managed to say habang nakatingin pa rin sa drawing.
"You like painting too, right? I saw your works at your house."
Tumango siya at humarap na sa akin.
"Yeah. Past time lang."
"Hmm. You're great though. Just like her."
"T-thanks."
Sinubukan kong basahin ang expression ng mukha niya pero wala akong nakita.
Is it you, Jho? Ikaw ba siya?
