TAKIPSILIM: Jian Glenn Villareal-Cardejas

xxxviii see you

Chapter 38

Staying here in Paris made me question why we are like this? There's no proper talk in everything we have. Ang alam ko lang kung panaginip ito baka hindi ko na gugustuhin na magising pa.

"Hey!" Nilingon ko siya habang nakatayo ako sa tabi ng bintana at tanaw na tanaw ang eiffel tower. "Kanina pa kita tinatawag. Ang lalim ng iniisip mo."

Hindi na ako nagulat ng sandaling yumakap na siya sa baywang ko habang nasa likuran ko. Ibinalik ko na lang ang tingin ko sa harapan naming dalawa. Pakiramdam ko pareho kaming basta-basta na lang nagpapadala sa agos ng buhay. Walang plano, walang kasiguraduhan sa lahat.

"I booked a hotel near us. We're having dinner there."

We're in our suits when he gives me a key. Naguluhan pa ako pero siya mismo ang natawa sa reaksyon ko.

"Dating gawi. After eating in a restaurant, let's take a stroll?"

Hindi na ako magugulat na mahal pa sa buhay ko ang motor na minamaneho ko ngayon. At least I still know how to ride this big bike he had. He's still into it pa rin pala. We eat in fancy restaurants. Hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin talaga ako makapaniwala at hindi masanay sa ganitong lugar.

After having our good time in the whole hotel he booked we are now strolling in the city. I thought he booked a restaurant but he booked the whole hotel just for us to enjoy our alone time.

"Are you happy?" he asked as we stopped to grab some coffee.

"I'm enjoying the peace and the place," I said before sipping coffee in my cup.

"I'm happy then."

After we enjoyed the coffee we continued strolling around the city. Sabi niya may magandang place at mataas kung saan makikita ang Eiffel tower.

Nang tuluyan na akong makababa sa big bike na pagmamay-ari niya ay nilingon niya ako bahagya saka ngumiti. Dahan-dahan ang paglapag ko ng helmet sa may motor bago ako tuluyang lumapit sa gawi niya. Sabay kami pumasok sa isang hotel. They have this bar in the roof top so doon na kami dumiretso. Little did I know he booked the entire roof for us. Kasalukuyan nakatingin sa ganda ng Eiffel tower at sa mga ilaw ng buong lugar habang nasa mataas kaming lugar. I saw him holding the anklet Caramel gave us and the earring paired with mine.

"Why are you giving those to me?" I asked as I saw his tears running through his eyes. "I don't understand, Jian."

"I hid it when you left me 8 years ago. I told myself that time I will return those things which are paired with the things you have. That anklet Caramel gave us is paired to each other. The earring I am wearing is paired with the earring on your left ear."

Napahawak ako sa tainga ko na minsan nagiging gawi ko sa tuwing tense ako.

"I really don't understand. H-hindi naman talaga ako may-ari ng mga iyan. Ikaw, Ji. S-sa'yo lahat ng iyan."

Binigay niya lang namin iyon sa akin. Hindi naman talaga akin. Ako dapat ang magsauli.

"I want you to take care of it."

I laughed and tried figuring out what he was saying. Nagugulohan ako. Parati na lang kaming ganito. Parang hindi nagkakaintindihan.

"I'm going abroad after this week with you. I think it will be a year before I can finally go home. So I want you to take care of it."

"S-so this is a g-goodbye?" I asked.

Why should he do this? Nahihirapan ako na ako. Ayoko na ulit mangyari ang nangyari noong nakaraan. Ang hirap-hirap isipin ng mga bagay-bagay na hindi ko naman kayang sagutin.