Crashing into Love

Chapter Four

Raven.

He is a broken man with a west to east smile. While I am only a living skeleton with a weird fascination about making a lasting importance in the world.

Nilagay ko ang kamay ko sa kaliwang side ng dibdib ko at dinama ang pagpintig ng puso ko. It thumped in normal speed. Napangiti ako bago muling nagpatuloy sa pagsusulat.

A famous person once said that living is one of the most rarest things in the world, because most people only exist. And as I think about the way his lips curl upwards to form a smile, I suddenly thought 'This is what it feels like to be alive.' Because living is not only about seeing beauty around you, but also about seeing beauty even in the smallest of things, in the simplest of gestures.

Life is such a wonderful traitor. One moment you have it, the next you don't. Love works in the same way, I guess. It's a heartless bastard. Such a sweet, sweet lie love can be. It can twist your brain and make you believe that black is white.

But I guess those two things will always be intertwined with one another. Life cannot exist without love and vice versa...

Ibinaba ko na ang ballpen, tulad ng lagi kong nakagawian ay inilagay ko ang notebook sa ilalim ng mga pajama sa closet ko. I checked the clock, ilang segundo nalang at magna-nine am na. I mentally counted and waited for it. And then it came.

Loud knocks broke my house's tranquility. I smiled when I pictured Raven's face. Naging routine niya na to, ang araw araw pumunta dito. Minsan tambay kami sa tinutuluyan niyang beach house. Pero madalas dito sakin. Halos madapa ako sa pagmamadali kong buksan yung pinto. I opened it and was greeted by a hug.

Tinulak ko siya at akmang babatukan, kunyari naman ay iilag siya. He grinned. "Goodmorning to you, twisted creature!" Masiglang bati niya habang nakataas pa ang dalawang kamay.

Nameywang ako bago pinitik ang noo niya. "Goodmorning to you, too, tortured soul." He chuckled while raising a bushy eyebrow. "I am a tortured soul no more, milady."

"Uhuh?" Panguuyam ko. Naiiling na hinila niya nalang ako palabas. Siya narin ang naglock ng pinto ko.

"San tayo pupunta?" Takang tanong ko ng hatakin niya ako. He just smiled without giving me an answer. Men are so unpredictable sometimes. Sumunod nalang ako sa paglalakad nya, maya maya ay may namataan akong hilehilerang bangka sa dalampasigan.

I arched my brow as I started to comprehend his idea. "We're gonna go boating?" Tanong ko para makasigurado. He nodded with a sunny smile. "Yep. Plans for today: Number one, go boating with you. Two, enjoy the moment."

My cheeks flushed and I lightly punched his chest in a lame attempt to divert his attention so he won't notice it. Can't believe I'm acting like a stupid teenager right now. Twenty one and still blushing. Like what the heck is that?

Tinulak niya ang bangka sa tubig at pinasakay ako. Good thing I'm wearing comfy clothes today. Ng maitulak niya ito ay sumakay narin siya at nagsagwan. The boat was wobbling because the current was unstable and it comes in huge waves. Magkatapat kami sa bangka. I was staring at him intently.

Seryoso siyang nagsasagwan at nagsimula ng lumabas ang butil butil ng pawis niya. Even the way his sweat falls from his face looks sexy to me. I don't know what kind of virus corrupted my brain. It's the kind of virus that makes me think about stuff like that. Nakarating kami sa part na payapa na ang tubig. Ang layo na namin sa mga nagsiswimming. Malalim na to.

I gazed at him again and this time I was caught. He gave me a wink and I kicked his shin because of that. Dahil napalakas ang sipa ko ay gumewang ang bangka. Napahawak ako sa magkabilang gilid ko at takot na napatingin sa kanya.

He just offered a vibrant smile that seems to be saying 'everything's gonna be alright'

"Don't be scared, Claire Faith. Don't worry, I'm not gonna let you fall.."

Nagkunot ako ng noo sa sinabi niya. "Falling is the least of my worries, Raven. Believe me."

Tumango siya. "At least not alone. If you're gonna fall then I'll fall with you." Sumeryoso bigla ang ekspresyon niya kaya tila nakaramdam ako ng mumunting paruparo sa aking tyan. Gusto kong umirit kaya lang nakakahiya sa kanya.

"Iba na yata yan. Pagkahulog pa ba sa bangka ang pinag-uusapan natin ha, Raven?" Nang aasar kong sabi ngunit nagulat ako ng marinig ko ang sagot niya.

"Mukhang hindi na, Claire Faith." Ano daw? Multik akong masamid sa sinabi niya. Hindi makapaniwalang tinignan ko siya but he acted like he didn't say anything. Ugh, this guy!!! Ibinaba niya ang sagwan at tinaas ang laylayan ng damit niya.

He's gonna strip?! Warning signals were quickly sent to my brain. Glowing danger signs are appearing on my vision because of what he's doing. Dali dali kong kinuha ang nakita kong fishing rod sa gilid ng bangka at ipinalo sa binti niya. Napaaray siya dahil napalakas ang pagkakapalo ko.

He shot me a confused stare. "What the hell was that for?" Ang aga aga ay ang brutal ko kay Raven. Pano ba kasi, maghuhubad ng tshirt sa harap ko! Hawak ko parin ang fishing rod. I didn't even bother lowering it down. Why would I? I can hit Raven with this whenever I want to and I know that he won't get angry at me. Mildly annoyed, pwede pa. But angry? I don't think so.

"Wag kang magtanggal ng tshirt, ano ka ba naman! Mahiya ka sakin. Makikita ko ang taba mo sa tyan!" Inismiran ko siya ngunit tinawanan niya lang ako.

"Sus, aminin mo lang na nahihiya ka dahil baka pag nakita mo to ay pagnasaan mo—Aray!" I hit him with the fishing rod again and he got the message. Isang asar pa, tatamaan ka uli sakin. Tignan mo lang talaga, Raven Andrei.

"Chill, Claire. Masyado kang mainit diyan. Let's go for a swim?" Bago pa ako makasagot ay tumalon na siya sa tubig. Nanlaki ang mata ko ng gumewang na naman ang bangka. Nakalabas ang ulo niya sa tubig habang kinakampay ang kamay. He threw his wet shirt at me and it hit my face.

Inis na tinignan ko siya at nginisian niya lang ako. "Peace on earth, Claire Faith! Peace on earth!" He shouted from the water. I rolled my eyes. "Pasalamat ka talaga at hindi kita mapalo ng fishing rod dahil nandyan ka." Nakasimangot kong saad. Basa na ang mukha ko dahil sa pagbato niya ng tshirt niya. Napaka talaga ng lalaking to!

"The water's great! Join me." He coaxed but I shook my head to signify that I'm vetoing his idea.

"Ayoko. Ikaw nalang." Pagtanggi ko. Nagfloating siya ng nakapikit kaya kita ko rin ang rock hard abs niya. Anak ng foot spa naman!

Inilihis ko ang tingin ko at nagfocus ako sa magandang tanawin. Hindi ko na alam kung anong ginagawa niya dahil nasa iba na ang atensyon ko. Muntik akong atakihin ng umahon siya sa gilid ng bangka. Half of his body was still submerged on the water, he propped his chin on the rim of the boat.

Tumagilid na naman ang bangka kaya pinalo ko ang kamay niya. He let go. "Tara na, swimming na. C'mon. How would you enjoy this if you don't jump in here with me?" Pamimilit niya.

"I don't swim anymore, Raven. Kinakalawang na ang swimming skills ko. Do you want me to die?" I crossed my arms and he knitted his brows. Matagal na akong di nakakalangoy.

"No, I don't want you to die, okay? And who says I'm gonna let you?" Seryoso niyang tanong.

Umiling iling nalang ako. He swam closer and reached for my hand. Napapitlag pa nga ako dahil sa gulat. "You just have to trust me."

Napapikit ako ng mariin. "Trusting people will earn you a few bullet holes on the heart. Because those you trust are often the ones who would aim a gun at you."

He pressed my palm eagerly.

Binawi ko ang kamay ko at hindi nagsalita. He sank in the water and floated again, on the other side of the boat this time. He was still looking expectantly at me. "Claire, a little jump won't hurt."

"But the fall might." He c****d his head as if to say jump. s**t. Tinignan ko siya ng matagal, tapos ang tubig. I rose to my feet, the boat wobbled and I forced myself to have courage. He's right Claire. A little jump won't hurt. A little jump won't kill.

I closed my eyes and jumped in the water. I braced myself for the impact, the water felt cold on my skin. Kinampay ko ang mga kamay ko para makalutang and I'm slowly succeeding.

I felt his arms on my waist. He was pulling me upwards. We broke through the surface and I catched my breath as my eyes surveyed my surroundings.

Nakayakap ang isang kamay ni Raven sakin, habang ang isa ay kumakampay. My hands were on his shoulders. Nakatingin siya sa mata ko bago inabot ang mga braso ko at iniyakap ito sa leeg niya. My cheeks flushed again.

"You're not the type of person I'll be willing to shoot." He said in a voice that makes me want to swoon. His eyes were still trained on me that I almost felt shy.

He pressed his body closer and whispered next to my ear. "You're the type of person I'd take a bullet for."