Crashing into Love

Chapter Three

"Andito ka lang pala." I sat beside him on the sand. He smiled when he turned towards me. Ng makaupo ako sa tabi niya ay inakbayan niya ako at hinapit palapit sa kanya. Napangiti narin ako. I rested my head on his shoulder as we waited for the sunset.

"You were looking for me." Mahina niyang sambit. It wasn't a question, it was a statement. "Oo. Masama ba?" Tanong ko.

Muli siyang ngumiti na parang baliw at tumingin sa malayo. Unti unti ng bumababa ang araw. The view was spectacular and mesmerizing.

"Breathtaking." He muttered. Napatingin ako sa kanya, his expression was priceless. Para siyang batang first time mabigyan ng cake. "Yeah." Mahina kong sambit bago nag-iwas ng tingin. Ginulo niya ang buhok ko.

"Bat mo ko hinanap Claire Faith?" He asked while his eyes were still fixed on the horizon. "Because I was afraid that you'd commit suicide once I let you out of my sight." Prangka kong sagot. It made him frown.

"Suicide? Bakit ko naman gagawin yun?" Nagtataka niyang tanong. I shrugged before answering. "Kasi brokenhearted ka. So-"

"Crazy. That's a crazy idea. Ikaw narin ang nagsabi, life is beautiful so why would I end it?" Napangiti ako sa sagot niya. "Good. I like your answer." I patted his back and he laughed. A genuine laugh. Oh what I'd do to see him laugh like that again.

Bigla siyang humiga sa buhanginan at napatili ako ng hatakin niya rin ako. Natumba ako sa kanya. He encased me in a tight hug and sniffed. "You smell good."

Naiiling na tinulak ko siya palayo. "I know, Raven Andrei. I could smell myself." He grinned before tugging at my wrist. Napahiga tuloy ako sa braso niya. "Wag ka munang tumayo, hintayin natin magdilim. Let's wait until the stars come out."

It was a silly wish but I gave in. Umunan ako sa matipuno niyang braso at tahimik na pinanood ang unti unting pagsulpot ng mga bituin sa kalangitan. The night sky was captivating. Its beauty was undescribable. Hindi ko alam kung gano kami katagal sa ganoong posisyon, ang alam ko lang ay sabay kaming nagsalita ng makakita ng shooting star.

"Make a wish!" Tili ko habang pinapalo ang dibdib niya. We both closed our eyes and made our wishes mentally. After letting two seconds pass, we opened our eyes. Nilingon niya ako kaya magkaharap ang mga mukha namin ngayon. I gave him a smile and he did the same.

But the smile vanished as soon as it appeared. He sighed and shut his eyes tightly. "O-okay ka lang ba?" I asked and he gave me a forced nod. Pagkatapos ay tumingin siya uli sa akin at hinaplos ang buhok ko. "Please say it. Say it, Claire Faith. Please." He sounded sad. It took me a moment to realize what he was asking for.

Hinaplos ko ang mukha niya. "I love you." Doon lang tila kumalma ang sistema niya. He pulled me and hugged me like he didn't wanna lose me. Pinagdikit niya ang mga noo namin at nararamdaman ko na ang init ng hininga niya na tumatama sa labi ko. This is trouble, Claire!

Ng binuksan ko ang mga mata ko ay nakita kong nakatingin siya sa labi ko. Oh my god. Is he gonna do what I think he's about to do?! I wanted to slap myself. Napalunok nalang ako ng unti unting bumaba ang mukha niya sa mukha ko. He is gonna do what I thought he was about to do!!!

Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars...

Bigla ko siyang naitulak palayo ng marinig ko ang pagtugtog ng musikang yon. He snapped out of the trancelike moment too. We sat bolt upright. Nakita ko ang iilang kabataang nakatingin sa aming dalawa habang nagpapatugtog ng kantang yon.

When I looked at Raven again, he was shooting those teens daggers with his piercing charcoal-colored eyes. Napayuko ako at niyakap nalang ang tuhod ko dahil sa labis na kahihiyan. Since when did I become a fan of overtly showing affection? Affection?! Baliw ka ba Claire? Anong affection ang sinasabi mo dyan?

Hinilot ko ang sentido ko dahil sa kabaliwan na dala ng sarili kong pag-iisip. Maybe that part of my brain is right, maybe I am crazy.

"U-uhm, hey. I'm sorry I pushed you, kasi ano.. Uhm." I couldn't form a complete sentence because of the awkwardness of this situation. I bit my lip and averted my gaze. I really don't know what to say! And I don't even know why I'm apologizing for pushing him. Mas nagmumukha lang na gusto kong halikan niya ako!!! Ugh. This is frustrating.

"Hey, don't mention it. No biggie." He said coolly. Hindi makapaniwalang tinignan ko siya. The same old smile was plastered on his face. Para bang normal lang ang ganong bagay. Normal ba talaga yun? Or it's just me who makes a big deal out of it?

Para matanggal ang awkardness ay dumistansya muna ako ng kaunti sa kanya. I think he understands. Bigla nalang siyang tumayo at may pinulot sa buhanginan. Ng maaninig ko ito ay nakita kong isa itong nylon. Nagkunot noo ako. Ano na namang binabalak mo, Raven Andrei?

I watched as he made his way towards the sea. The water was splashing on his feet and he bowed down to pick something. Mga limang minuto sigurong ganon ang ginagawa niya. Yuyuko para magpulot ng kung ano man at mamaya ay ibabato niya uli ito sa tubig.

Ng huling beses na may pinulot siya ay napangiti siya sa kawalan. Is he picking up seashells? Napailing nalang ako. I wonder what he's upto. He jogged towards me and sat directly in front of me. Tinignan ko lang siya habang hinihintay kung ano ang gagawin niya.

He winked at me while inserting a beautiful spiral seashell the size of my thumb on the nylon. Tapos ay umikot siya sa likod ko at hinawi ang buhok ko. Tumalon yata ang puso ko ng gawin niya yun.

"So, you made a necklace for me." Maikling puna ko habang ibinubuhol niya ito sa likod. "Uhuh. It's not much. But it's the thought that counts, right?" Masiglang sabi niya bago bumalik sa pagkakaupo sa harap ko. I can't help but smile.

I was touched. Hindi kasi ako mahilig sa mahal na regalo. Mas gusto ko nga yung mga DIY gifts eh, dahil alam kong mas may effort yun. I touched the seashell and a silly smile formed on my lips. "Salamat Raven."

"No problemo! Basta pag kailangan mo ako, hawakan mo lang yang seashell at ibulong ang pangalan ko darating ako." Nakangising sabi niya. Sinabuyan ko siya ng buhangin habang napapangisi narin. "Loko."

"Oo nga!" He was almost laughing and I bleated at him. "Heh! Whatever!" Tumabi na uli siya sakin at inakbayan ako. I just let him. It feels safe in his arms. Tumingin uli siya sa langit.

"Do you know what the brightest star is?" He asked randomly and I shrugged to signify that I don't.

"Sirius. Sirius ang pinakamakinang na bituin. Alam mo ba nung bata pa ako, I always ask my mother why there are stars. And she would say 'There are stars because not only do they spread beauty in the sky but also because they give luminance to many lives.' I never understood her, you know?"

Nanatili lang akong tahimik. I was taking the story in. Naramdaman ko ang marahang pagpisil niya sa balikat ko. Tumingin ako sa kanya at nakitang nakatingin siya sakin.

"And now I think I know why." Nag-iwas siya ng tingin but I caught him smiling. He looks weird. Hindi na lang ako nagtanong, baka bigyan niya na naman ako ng weirdong sagot. It seems like that's what we're both good at, giving cryptic answers. Nagyaya na akong umuwi, pagod na ako. Ihahatid niya daw ako sa beach house, hindi naman na siya iba sakin kaya pumayag ako.

Tahimik lang kaming naglalakad pabalik na naririnig ko na ang mga kuliglig at palaka. Ilang beses ko siyang nilingon pero tuwing gagawin ko yun ay makikita kong nakahalukipkip lang siya habang nakatingin sa buhanginan. I don't know what has gotten into him to make his mood change. I decided not to ask, maybe he remembered Cassidy again.

Wala sa sariling kinapa ko ang seashell and the moment I did it, a smile shone on my face. Dagli ko rin itong binitawan. I breathed in and out and tried to act normal. Raven was still silent. Ng makarating kami sa tapat ng bahay ko ay nun lang siya tumingin sakin. He gave me a smile so I did too.

Lumapit siya sakin at niyakap ako. Nagiging hobby nya na yan, ang yakapin ako. I didn't hug him back, I forced myself not to hug him back. Dahan dahan siyang humiwalay at inayos ang buhok kong nililipad ng hangin. He tucked loose strands on my ear and I found the gesture cute.

"Pasok na ko." Mahinang saad ko. Tumango siya, I can almost see his eyes twinkling. "Pasok ka na." He agreed.

I bit my lip again. "Salamat sa paghatid, Raven. Mag-ingat ka." I tried to make it sound casual but I failed. I sounded nervous.

Humalukipkip siya uli at tinignan ako. His eyes were always smiling, napansin ko na yun dati sa kanya. "Lock the door, okay? Goodnight Claire Faith. See you tomorrow."

Huminga ako ng malalim bago tumalikod para pihitin ang door knob ng pinto. "Yeah, see you." Sagot ko. He didn't reply. Ng mabuksan ko na ang pinto ay pumasok na ako, he was still standing outside watching me.

Nahigit ko ang hininga ko. Bakit nasa labas pa siya? Anong hinihintay niya diyan? Binalewala ko ang mga tanong sa utak ko, akmang isasara ko na ang pinto ko ng muli siyang magsalita gamit ang malambing at marahang tinig.

"Thank you for being the Sirius in my night sky, Claire Faith."