Hatid

H: Chapter 18

— 18 —

"Merry Christmas mahal kong prinsesa!" Aniya sa video call at humalik pa sa camera. "I love you."

"Merry Christmas, I love you too." Ngiting sabi ko habang nagtatawagan kami ng ala una ng madaling araw.

Pasko na at kay dali ng panahon na para bang kahapon lang. I woke up early to eat my breakfast, dressed up and go to church with Max and Mom.

I just wore a simple sunny dress and had my hair down. Hindi na ako nag-abala pang magbihis dahil sa bahay naman ang punta namin pagkatapos magsimba.

"Ang bilis talaga ng panahon, akalain mong pasko na tapos sa susunod naman ay bagong taon." Ani ni Mom habang papauwi kami.

"Oo nga Tita, ang bilis talaga, ngayo'y boyfriend pa lang ako baka sa susunod asawa na po nito." Sabay turo ni Max sa 'kin at nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa kaniyang sinabi. Sinapat ko siya sa braso at napatawa naman si Mom. Grabe ang lalaking 'to!

"Saan nga ulit ang bahay niyo hijo?" Tanong ni Mom dahil doon daw kami maghahapunan sa kanila. Kahit wala pa kami 'don, grabe na ang kaba na nararamdaman ko. Nakapunta na ako ng ikalawang beses at sa grabe ang kaba ko, napagtanto kong namumutla na pala ako 'non.

"Susunduin ko na lang po kayo sa inyo. Magtetext lang po ako kay Tina." Aniya sabay sulyap sa 'kin habang nagmamaneho.

"O'sya sige hijo, kita na lang tayo mamaya." Sabi Mom ng makababa na kami sa kaniyang sasakyan. May ngiting tumango si Max kay Mom na siyang naunang pumasok sa loob ng apartment at iniwan ako dito.

"Kinakabahan ka ba?" Tanong niya at pinalibot ang kaniyang braso sa 'kin. Tumango ako habang nakayuko.

"Alam mo namang hindi ko 'yon maiiwasan 'di ba?" Sabi ko at gamit ang kanyang kamay, dahan-dahan niyang inangat ang aking ulo at naging dahilan upang magtama ang aming mga mata. Hindi man lang siya nagsalita nang bigla niya akong ninakawan ng halik sa labi.

"Max!" Nahihiyang saway ko at napalingon sa paligid at sa likod. "Baka may makakita sa 'tin!"

"So gusto mo 'yung pribado?" He wiggled his brows. "Ikaw Tina ha, iba na 'yang nasa isip mo." He smirked.

"Hindi 'yon! I mean—" Hindi ko na napatapos nang tiningnan niya ako na may malaking ngisi. "Ah basta! Papasok na ako." I turned my back at him who's laughing while I took my steps towards the apartment. Nakakairita!

"Mom! Is this okay?" I confusedly asked while staring myself wearing a off-shoulder maroon dress ending above my knees together with a 2 inch black sandals. Mom curled the bottom of my hair which compliments the outfit. But I'm still not convince in myself if this is nice or bad. Nakakasakit talaga ng ulo 'to.  

"Oo nga. Ang ganda mo kaya kahit anong suotin." Aniya na ngayo'y nakabihis na at wala nang pinoproblema. I ended wearing that outfit when Max's car was park iutside our apartment. Kinakabahan ako!

"Wow. Ang..." His eyes were amazingly sparkling when he saw me standing in front of him.

"A-Ang?"

"Ang ganda mo." He said with a smile while observing the whole me on this outfit. It's really strange because this is out of my comfort zome.

"Sobrang ganda mo at ang suwerte ko talaga." Aniya at naglakad papunta sa 'kin at humalik sa aking noo.

Nang makarating kami sa kanila, nagbatian muna at habang nasa hapag, may kung ano ang pinag-uusapan nina Mom at ang mga magulang ni Max. It's like we're both left in air at wala kaming ambag 'don kaya natahimik na lamang kami.

"Ang ganda mo talaga." He whispered and I looked at hin who's smiling at me.

"Tss." I avoided and gazed my food.

"Ang ganda ganda mo." Napatigil ako sa sinabi niya at ramdam ko ang pag-init ng aking pisngi.

"E-Ewan ko sa 'yo, manahimik ka." Tanging sabi ko at tumawa naman siya. Dito talaga sa hapag pa niya sinabi?

We went to their backyard to freshen up because we didn't had knowledge about adult talks they're doing. We're staring at the sky with full of scattered stars.

"May I ask you something?" I looked at him who's now looking at the stars then gazed at me. "Did you know na may sakit si Tita Nora noong nanliligaw ka pa sa 'kin?"

I saw how he looked at me with a blank expression. I returned my sight on the stars and closed my eyes, waiting for his answer.

"Oo, alam ko." He sighed. "Sabi sa 'kin ni Viv na 'wag daw sabihin kahit kanino."

"Kahit sa 'kin?" I opened my eyes and glanced at him.

"Tinanong ko rin 'yan sa kaniya pero sabi niya, siya na raw ang sasabi sa 'yo." He answered. Well, Viv told me, but it was late.

Tumango lang ako at pinikit ulit ang aking mga mata pero napadilat naman ako ngang ramdam ko ang pagpalupot ng kaniyang mga kamay sa aking beywang at nilusog ako papalapit sa kaniya. He rested his chin on my shoulder and I can hear his breath that's near in my ear. In every breath of his, I felt electricity travelling down on my spine.

"Galit ka ba?" He asked, more like a whisper. Umiling ako at hinayaan lang siya sa ganoong posisyon.

"I'm just, confused." I said then sighed. He didn't even questioned me but he apologised.

"I'm sorry dahil hindi ko sinabi sa 'yo." He said but I stayed quiet and choose not to responed.

Days has passed, a new year will be welcomed and to celebrate by many people. Me and mom are preparing the foods for tonight's dinner dahil sina Max naman ang pupunta dito. We'll be celebrating and welcoming a new year together.

We ate dinner and talked about other things that is related to school and their favourite topic, business. Nasalabas kami ngayon ni Max at sinusubukan ang mga sparkler para sa countdown.

"Ready?" I asked him when I lighted our sparklers and we both started to count down.

"5, 4, 3, 2,-" I was about to say when he pulled my arm and kissed me. The kiss was passionate and slow. We only heard tons of fireworks explosion above and when he pulled away, a massive yellow firework explosion light up against the sky.

"Happy New Year mahal ko." He said and hold my hand. "To be with you always."

"Happy New Year. I'll make you happy and promise to be with you, always." I smiled at him.

I love you and I'll be here for you, always.

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