Certain Uncertainties

IV

A/N: I made a confusing mistake. Kung napansin n'yo po sa Prologue (before I edited it) baligtad ang names hahaha to make it clear: NADINE AS DENICE VELILIA; KATH AS DEANNA BANSON. Thank you for the votes, and continuous support! Mwa

"I think we're heading the right way, now" Sabi ko at nilingon si Deanna, "30 minutes na halos tayo nagpapaikot-ikot dito, why wouldn't you admit we're lost?" May bahid ng inis sa tinig n'ya.

"It's impossible to get lost in such a... small place" napabagal ako ng pagsasalita at napatigil sa paghakbang when we realized something.

"We're here again, nice" she sarcastically said. "Shit" kasabay na sabi ko.

Nakatitig kami sa falls. Earlier, this was a mesmerizing view. Now, it's nothing but a sign that we're actually lost in this place.

She let out a frustrated sigh saka napatingin sa itaas at nagsalita, "Had I known going here with you would be a disaster, hindi na sana ako sumama"

"Wow! Kasalanan ko? Hindi ba ikaw nagsabi na samahan kita?" Papatulan ko na 'to kahit gano s'ya kaganda. Aba?

Earlier.

"Can... can you stay here with me a little longer?" Saglit akong hindi nakapag-react. I didn't expect to hear that from her. Kita ko ang lungkot sa mga mata n'ya.

And I thought of a sudden idea, "I think I might know a place"

"Huh?" Tanong n'ya. "Kanina, habang nililibot tayo nina Sister Ria, I saw this certain sign saying 'Hardin sa Paraiso' I asked this kid Jake, and he told me they are not allowed to go there. Tara!"

"Why would we go to a forbidden place?" Tanong n'ya. I shrugged. "Because it's fun!" I really wanted to go there, I just didn't think I'd actually ask this girl to go there with me.

Paulit ulit s'yang umiling, "No, no, no. We can't just, hey!" Hindi ko na s'ya pinatapos at nagsimula nang maglakad. Pinigilan n'ya ko, "We're not even sure what's in there!"

"Doesn't uncertainty excite you?" Ang lapad ng ngiti ko habang tinatanong s'ya.

For a second, nakatitig lang s'ya. "I'll take that as a yes, let's go. This is gonna be fun!" Somehow, I got to convince her.

Naglalakad na kami sa lugar na tinururo ng signage. Medyo masukal, "I think... I think this is a wrong idea. Bumalik na kaya tayo?" sabi ni Deanna.

I saw her scratching her thumbnails against each other. "You still do that when you're scared"

Napatingin s'ya doon, saka tinago sa likod n'ya ang mga kamay. "N-No, I'm not scared. I just have a bad feeling about this place"

"And I... have a bad feeling na ang KJ mo tonight" Inilahad ko ang kamay ko. "For old time's sake, may I?"

When we were young, habang nasa acting camp kami there's this particular director na sobrang takot na takot s'ya. Kapag nakikita ko na kinikiskis na naman n'ya ang mga kuko n'ya, I'd hold her hand to calm her down.

"This used to work, right?" Binigyan ko s'ya ng alangan na ngiti. Inabot n'ya iyon, ang lambot ng palad n'ya at ang lamig.

"Let's go!" sabi ko saka tumakbo hila ang kamay n'ya.

"Hey! Slow down! Baka sa kung saan tayo mapunta!" Basta takbo lang kami ng takbo,"That's the point! Let's get lost!"

We both slowed down upon realizing we're at the end of it.