Reclaiming the Stars (Agustin Series #1)

Kabanata 30

Kabanata 30

Escape

Have you ever looked at the stars and wonder if they were burning just for you?

I do. I always do.

I believe we are all haunted, we are all a ghost of our emotions. Succumbing in the dark, afraid of what lies ahead. We will forever be caged until we gather up that courage and use it as a key to get out.

It was a fine and normal day. The sky's awake and there was something the breeze is trying to say, peace, at last. Everything was smooth. Everything was fine. And my heart is the only exception.

"Wala pa ba tayo, Kuya Dim?" si Yñigo na inip na inip na sa byahe. Maglilimang oras na kami sa sasakyan pero medyo malapit na naman sabi ni Dim. I'm with him, Yñigo, Ade who is sleeping soundly and Crispin.

"Isang kurap nalang<' Dim said.

"Wala pa rin naman," si Yñigo na kumurap talaga.

I have this strange habit of searching for the ocean whenever I'm lost. There's something about the waves that brings me to my own port.

"We're here!" Dim announced at mukhang may radar si Ade dahil agad bumangon.

"OMG! Yes! Sa wakas! Dagat, here I come!" agad s'yang bumaba ng kotse at pumunta sa dagat. Iniwan na talaga ang gamit n'ya sa sasakyan.

"Tayo na naman pagbubuhatin," reklamo ni Dim.

"Anong tayo? Ikaw lang!" I ran with Ade and Yñigo making Dim call our names loudly.

We stayed outside and when the heat turned painful on our skin, we went to our room. Iisa iyon na may tatlong kwarto sa loob, one for Yñigo and Dim at sa amin ni Ade. The other one's left vacant.

I made up my mind to get tanned. I wanted to have bronze skin, those that shine under sunlight. I am a fan of morenas. Kaya kahit sobrang init ay nagbabad ako sa sun lounger.

I bought tons of bikinis, like Ade. She loves dressing up, nahawaan na ako. I'm wearing a cute cow print, two piece and placed my hair in a bun. May suot din akong sunglasses to keep myself away from the excruciating heat.

I stared at the horizon and infinity ahead of me. I felt one with the ocean, ruling my own waves.

In the afternoon we tried jet skis and other rides. We spent nights on the beach, playing with sand on our feet. Kahit ngayon lang, kakalimutan ko muna ang katotohanan. Hahayaan ko muna ang sarili kong magbabad sa pantasya.

Masayang tumakas kahit paminsan-minsan. Tumakas sa magulong mundo. Today, I will treat myself. I think I deserve some goodness too.

I was busy sipping a coconut juice when someone familiar sat beside me. Pumasok na si Ade sa loob dahil medyo malamig na. I think it was our second or third night in the resort. Dim and Yñigo on the other hand are fast asleep, kanina pa. Napagod siguro sa mini adventure namin.

"Destiny na talaga tayo," Doctor Cris said.

"Doc!" I happily chanted at pumaling ako sa kanya to see a clear vision of him.

"Architect." We both reached our dreams, hindi man sabay, hindi man magkasama but we both reached it.

"Kumusta?" I asked.

"I'm doing pretty well," he sound contented, I wish I was too. "Ikaw? Anong ginagawa mo dito?"

"Bakasyon," I sipped on my juice. The silence stretched.

"I heard about what happened. I didn't know," he said at bumuntong hininga ako. "I knew nothing before, the Agustins were quiet about this."

"They don't want their names ruined," I said as I recalled what their lawyer told me.