CHASING HAPPINESS

CHAPTER 2- LET'S FORGET EVERYTHING

Ashley spotted Dusk as soon as she reached the shore. Hindi niya alam pero bigla siyang kinabahan.

Dusk is sitting on the sand, with his knees both bended. Maliwanag ang buwan kaya naaaninag ang mukha nito.

Narinig malamang nito ang mga yapak ni Ashley kaya lumingon ito sa kanyang gawi. Ngumiti ito sa kanya na nagpabilis pa lalo ng pagtibok ng kanyang puso.

Relax, Ashley, sabi niya sa sarili.

"You've come, mi Cara," he said in thick voice and offer his hand. "Come, sit beside me."

Agad na lumapit Si Ashley kay Dusk at hinawakan ang kamay nito. He helped her sit at nang umupo na siya sa tabi ng binata, saka niya nakita ang isang bote ng whisky sa tabi nito.

"You’re drinking? May problema ka ba?" she asked him with concern on her voice.

"Yes, I am drinking but I don't intend to get drunk. I need to drink, pampalakas-loob lang," he told her as he holds her hand.

Biglang bumilis ang t***k ng puso ni Ashley, lalo na nang pisil-pisilin ni Dusk ang kanyang kamay.

"Kailan ka pa natutong uminom?" she asked him seriously.

"These past few days," he told her and locked her eyes. "Baby Ash, can I ask you something?" wika ng binata na punong-puno ng pag-alinlangan ang boses habang masuyong hinihipo ng mga daliri nito ang kanyang mukha. Bigla siyang namula.

She can't understand how Dusk's simple touch can make her blush, but she managed to be calm despite her uneven heart beats.

"Pinapunta mo ako dito para tanungin lang? Sana nag-text ka na lang," kunwaring yamot niyang sabi kay Dusk para itago ang kanyang pananabik na malaman kung ano ang itatanong nito.

"So, ayaw mo akong makita? Gano’n ba?" he asked her with his brows knitted. There was pain in his voice. "Nag-isip pa naman akong the feeling is mutual."

"No, I didn't say that," agad niyang bawi. Ayaw niyang magalit ito sa kanya. "Of course, I want to see you, kaya nga ako nandito, ‘di ba?" she said in sweet tone.

"I asked you to come here dahil gusto kitang makita at makausap. Ipapadala na naman kami ni Dawn sa orphanage bukas nina Mama at Papa dahil sinuntok at binugbog namin si Calvin," Dusk said in a sad tone. "Ayokong umalis na hindi ka nakikita," he told her as his eyes looks at the dark sea in front of them. He sighs deeply and heavily.

"Ha? Bakit? Teka, nasaktan ka ba?" sunod-sunod at tarantang tanong ni Ashley sa binata na puno ng pag-alala. Hinawakan pa nito ang baba ni Dusk para tingnan ang mukha nito kung mayroong pasa.

"I'm okay, mi Cara. Look, hindi ako nasaktan," madiing wika nito habang taimtim na tinititigan si Ashley.

"Dusk, naman kasi. Bakit ka ba nakikipag-away or nakipagsuntukan? Sana hinayaan mo na lang si Calvin," inis na saway nito sa binata.

"At hayaan ko siyang basta na lang halikan si Leeway. No way!" he hissed.

"Hinalikan niya si Dawn?" sindak niyang sabi.

"Ninakawan niya ng halik si Leeway, kaya nagdilim ang paningin ko bigla. Hindi ko napigilan ang aking sarili, ayun, nasuntok ko si Calvin. Then, binugbog siya ni Leeway," he told her and let out a a heavy sigh.

Napailing na lang si Ashley. So, Dawn lost her first kiss and she punched the culprit, sabi ng isip niya.

She shook her head, basagulero na talaga ang kambal.

They always associated themselves with riots and troubles in and out their campus.

Minsan nga, na-suspend pa ang mga ito dahil binuhusan nila ng pintura ang mga kaklaseng nahuli nilang dalawa na ninanakaw ang kanilang libro.

Kung mainitin ang ulo ni Dusk ay mas lalong mainitin ang ulo ni Dawn.

"So, Baby Ash, can I ask you something?" he asked her again with a hopeful voice.

"Sige, ano iyon?" She looked at him full of excitement.

"Can you be my girl, Baby Ash?" diretsahang sabi ni Dusk as he holds her chin. "Will you be my girl, Cara Mia?"

"Dusk? Seryoso ka ba? Lasing ka yata, eh," she said in disbelief. Yes, she wanted to be his girl pero masyado yatang mabilis.

"I'm not drunk, baby. I know you like me a lot, and I like you too, a lot. So, why don't we both agree to be sweethearts?" he told her plainly.

"Dusk, masyado pa tayong bata, we're only sixteen. Bawal pa sa atin ang magkaroon ng seryosong relasyon," she protested.

"Next four months, seventeen ka na. Then sunod, ako na din. I know you love me, Ashley, at type kitang maging girlfriend ko. Bakit pa natin hihintayin ang pagdating ng eighteen? Pareho lang iyon. Sige, if you’re afraid, then let's keep it a secret."

"Dusk, hindi mo alam ang sinasabi mo. We can't, saka magagalit ang mga magulang natin. Ano na lang ang sasabihin nila?"

"So, ayaw mo akong maging boyfriend?" he said angrily and rose to his feet. "Fine! Forget everything I said and forget that we've known each other."

"Dusk, please try to understand."

"I don't get it, Ashley. Alam kong may pagtingin ka sa akin, nararamdaman ko iyon. Pero siguro, nagkamali lang ako."

"Unawain mo naman ako, Dusk."

"No, Ashley. Let's forget everything because you’re a coward inside out!"

Ashley’s heart breaks into two as Dusk walks away from her.

Yes, she likes him a lot, but she can't just give in to his wishes… lalo na’t masyado pa silang mga bata.