Right Here Waiting (Complete)

Chapter 18- Back to Zero

Xykie

"My Lady, Lord Henry is waiting for you at the boardwalk." Nagising ako sa boses ni Marissa. Malapit ng lumubog ang araw and I will miss the sunset if I will not move. Nakatulog ako pagkahatid ni Henry sa akin sa kwarto ko. Dahil na din siguro sa hindi ako nakataulog ng maayos kagabi, kaya plakda ako pagkahiga kanina.
"Shit... I will miss the sunset." Bigla akong napatayo sa kama. Nagulat pa si Marissa at napasigaw ng bahagya. Nagpunta ako sa toilet at naligo ng mabilis. Nagtooth brush at nagsuklay. Basang basa pa ang buhok ko ng lumabas ako ng toilet ng naka-jeans at blouse.
"I need to dry your hair." She said. Hawak na ang blower at pilit akong pinapaupo sa harap ng salamin.
"I need to go. Bye, Marissa." Tumakbo ako pababa ng hagdanan at palabas ng bahay.

"Sorry, nakatulog ako." I said.
Nakaupo si Henry sa isang upuan at nakatanaw siya sa papalubog na araw. He looked up when he heard me.
"Your hair is wet."
"Yup. Just took the shower." Tumabi ako sa kanya at pinanood ang pag-iiba ng mga kulay sa langit.
"You like to look at the sunset, don't you?!"
"Yeah. Lagi kong pinapanood ang sunset sa park kapag wala akong mission. I had so much time alone that I stopped everyday sa park just to look at it. I was wondering if the sunset at Country Club will be different from other places."
"And?" He asked.
"And it is very different from here," I replied. "This one is my favorite."
We remain silent until the sunset on the horizon. Nagsimula ng maglitawan ang mga fireflies sa paligid. Nilagyan ng fairy lights ang board walk at meron din mga lamp post at bollard kaya maliwanag dito.

"Morris likes to decorate," I said to him habang tinitingnan ang mga malamlam na ilaw.
"You have no idea..." Nakangiting sagot ni Henry.

"Are you hungry?"
"No." I replied. Umiihip ang sariwang hangin at ang sarap lang tingnan ng paligid. Nagsisimula ng lumitaw ang buwan.
"What did you do at Lucas' house?" Tanong ni Henry. Napangisi ako. Lucas told me he would ask.
"Wala naman masyado. Nag-ikot sa bahay, kumain. Naglaro..." Nagkibit balikat ako.Tiningnan ko si Henry sa gilid ng mata ko. Nakakunot ang noo niya habang nakatingin sa tubig.
"Play on what?"
"Why do you like to know?"
"I just like to know." He replied. Bumaling ako kay Henry at tiningnan siya.
"Does it bother you that I am with Lucas earlier?"
He opens his mouth to reply but closes it again. Whatever he wanted to say was just stuck on his head.
"No." He replied.
"Really? I thought you were jealous earlier."
"I am not." Mabilis na sagot ni Henry. Humarap siya sa akin. Nakakunot ang noo.
"You were standing at your door when we left." I pointed out.
"It's my bloody house. I can do whatever I wanted to do."
"And you called his house just to make sure I will go back in time."
"It was Morris that called not me." Palusot niya.
"Then maybe Morris like me more than a guest, then," I concluded.
"He is way older than you, Xykie! He is even older than me." He growled.
"Why does it bothers you?" I asked chuckling at his frustrated look.
"You are so exasperating to talk to." Napabuga ng hininga si Henry.
Natatawa akong tumingin ulit sa tubig.

"Ang cute mong magselos."
"I'm not jealous." Defensive na sagot niya.
"Pasasan ba at aamin ka din," I said.
"Xykie!"
"Yes, my dear?" I replied.
"Listen to what I am saying... You can't think... not even to consider to have a relationship with me."
Nalungkot ako sa sinabi niya... Sino ba ang nanakit sayo, bakit ganyan ka?
"It's too late," I replied honestly.
"It's not too late. You can still go to Paris. Meet other people. Spread your wings, fall in love with someone your age."
"Someone my age? Does our age gap is your issue again?" Tanong ko sa kanya. Hindi siya sumagot.
"George Clooney and Amal Clooney have 17 years age gap. Hugh Jackman and his wife have 13 years age gap. Clint Eastwood and Dina Ruiz-Eastwood have a fucking 35 years age gap. Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas have 25 years age gap..." Tumataas ang boses kong paliwanag.
"Xykie, listen."
"No, you listen. Even Jay Z and Beyonce have a 12 years age gap. You are not that fucking ancient for me." I shouted. Tumayo ako at nagpalakad lakad sa harapan niya.
"You know what? You are like my parents. You are like everyone else. You are underestimating me. You are just listening to what you want to hear. You don't listen to me. To ME!" I stop in front of him.

"And you know what? Huwag mo na akong samahan bukas kung nahihiya kang kasama ang isang bata. I will just ask Lucas to accompany me. Goodnight, Henry." Tumakbo ako palayo sa boardwalk at pumasok ng mabilis sa bahay. Henry is calling me and asking me to go back. 

Bahala ka sa buhay mo. Nakakabad trip kang kausap. Back to zero na naman ako sayo...