04

"Miru"

I said softly as I watched him walk towards a pile of people lining up para sa zip line. We're here at the Adventure Park in Bataan. Kanina ko pa siya sinusundan pero he didn't even noticed me. Wala rin siyang kasama. Tita assured me na mag-isang pumunta si Miru dito at wala siyang iba.

He's staying at one of the cottages here. I see to it na magkatabi kami ng cottage. I even payed double para lang mapunta sa akin ang katabing cottage nung sa kanya, kasi naka reserve na. Good thing my convincing powers worked.

Nasa likod na ako ni Miru. He's still not aware of my presence since he's really amazed with the zip line structure. This isn't his first time on an adventure park kaya nagtataka ako kung bakit parang bago sa kanya ang lahat ng nandito.

I noticed young girls eyeing him. Nagtutulakan kung sino ang kakausap kay Miru. I arked my brows looking at them. These girls, parang kinikilig pa habang nakatanaw kay Miru. I can't blame them though. Miru really is an eye catcher. His chinito eyes could make you stare at him. He has good looks and he's always smiling kaya nakaka attract talaga siya. And when he smiles lumiliit lalo ang mga mata niya. Para na nga siyang naka pikit pag tumatawa eh

After a couple of minutes it's his turn to do the zip line. Sakto naman na pwedeng dalawa ang magsabay kaya inunahan ko kaagad siya.

"Ready na po ako!" Sabi ko sa crew.

Miru was shocked when he looked at me. He can't take his eyes of me. Confusion is shown in his face. Nagtataka kung bakit ako nandito at kung bakit alam kong nandito siya. But before he could question me, the crew already begun putting the harness on me.

When I looked at him, kinakabitan na rin siya ng harness but his eyes bore over me. His creased forehead, his uneven breathing, his pouty lips makes him looked so cute. I smiled at him before I adverted my attention back to the crew fixing the harness on me.

"Okay na po ma'am" one of the crew said.

"Okay. Thank–"

"Double check her harness. Are you sure this is safe?" Miru commanded and asked the crew.

His voice is now full of authority. Malayong malayo sa boses niya kapag good mood siya. Kaya maman sumunod agad ang mga crew. I smiled at that. He still cares.

"Okay na po ito. Safe naman 'to diba?" I asked.

"Ay oo naman po ma'am."

"Yun naman pala eh okay na 'to. Salamat manong" i said with a smile on my face. Paano ba naman kasi the crew are starting to get uncomfortable because of Miru's aura.

I positioned myself doon sa end ng railing para makapag zip line na ako. Pero shempre hinintay ko si Miru.

"I thought you don't want these kinds of activities?" He asked as he positioned himself beside me.

"Change of mind" I said and then turned to the crew. "Sige na po. Ready na po kami"

"Release us together." Miru commanded the crew again.

Tumango nalang sila manong. Takot talaga sila sa itsura ni Miru ngayon. The crew counted 1 to 3 before releasing us both.

"1...2...3..."

Pigil hininga ako habang nag zi'zip line. Tama naman kasi si Miru, this isn't my cup of tea. Actually takot ako sa mga ganitong klaseng activities. Pero dahil kay Miru ginawa ko ito. I wanted him to know that I'll do everything to be with him. That I'm willing to do the things I hate the most just so I could talk to him.

Kanina, the crew advised us to shout para mailabas namin ang takot namin. But I didn't shouted. Naka tingin lang ako sa baba, admiring the beauty of nature. Napaka ganda pala nito, masarap din sa feeling. Bakit ngayon ko lang ito ginawa? Over all, the zip line experience didn't disappoint.

After that akala ko kaka-usapin na ako ni Miru. Pero hindi. He just walked away after he made sure na safe ako. I followed him anyway. Wala naman akong kakilala dito at takot akong mawala kaya kahit medyo naiinis na ako kay Miru ay sinundan ko pa rin siya.

Halos yata lahat ng activities ginawa niya kaya wala akong choice kundi gawin na din yun. Pero nahirapan talaga ako sa isang activity where you'll walk on a rope na naka hang papunta sa kabila side. The rope was hanging at yun lang talaga ang dadaanan mo, may makakapitan ka naman pero nahirapan talaga ako. Kaya naman nawalan ako ng lakas pagkatapos nun.

Miru saw how tired I was kaya pagkatapos nun pumunta siya sa isang kaininan dito sa Adventure Park. He kept on looking back at me to make sure kung sumusunod ba ako sa kanya.

When we reached the food court he pointed a table signaling me to stay there. And so I obliged. Siya na ang nag order ng pagkain. Pagbalik niya binigyan agad niya ako ng tubig. He even opened the bottle and put an ample amount of water sa baso. Bago ito ipa-inom sa akin. I smiled at what he did. Alam niyang hindi ako umiinom ng tubig na hindi nakalagay sa baso.

"Miru–"

"Mamaya na tayo mag-uusp. Kumain ka muna." He said.

I nodded and started eating na. Gutom na rin kasi ako. Apat na oras na simula noong nag zip line kami at simula din kanina ngayon lang ako naka upo at nakapag pahinga. I never expected this to happen in my stay here in Bataan.

Ang akala ko mag-uusap agad kami. Ang akala ko makikita ko siya sa dalampasigan. Pero mali ako, kasi unang araw ko pa lang dito sa Adventure Park ko na siya nadatnan. Kung hindi pa sinabi ni tita ay hindi ko malalaman kung nasaan siya

Nauna siyang natapos kumain. Gusto ko na siyang maka-usap kaya dali dali kong inubos yung pagkain ko.

"Slow down. Baka sumakit ang tiyan mo niyan. I won't go anywhere. I'll wait for you to finish then we'll talk." He said.

Sumunod naman ako. I took my time eating and savoured the delicious foods in front of me. Native dish kasi at minsan lang akong maka-kain nito. Back in Cebu palaging continental foods ang pagkain ko sa bahay kasi yun lang ang alam kong lutuin. Dad didn't know how to cook Filipino dishes din, tapos palagi pa siyang wala sa bahay dahil sa trabaho niya.

After I finished eating, I drunk my water and then wiped my mouth with a clean table napkin. I also arranged the utensils that we used para isang kuha nalang ng crew.

"So, bakit ka nandito?" He asked after I finished doing my after-meal routine.

"I should be the one asking you that."

"I'm here for a vacation."

"Without me?" I asked.

He inhaled deeply. "Look Bella, haven't I made myself clear to you? Diba sabi ko–"

"Sabi mo you want to break up with me. You wanted to end our relationship without giving a good reason. Sige nga paano ko maiintindihan yun? Paano ko matatanggap yun?"

He look away. Wala talaga siyang balak makipag-usap sa akin ng matino.

"Listen Bella–"

"No you listen to me." I slightly raised my voice kasi nakakapikon na siya. "Hindi ako pumayag na maghiwalay tayo, hindi ako papayag hanggat hindi mo ako bibigyan ng matinong dahilan. Ni hindi mo sinasagot ang tawag ko. Ni hindi ka pumunta sa graduation natin–"

I stopped talking when he stood up and faced me.

"I'm sorry." He said before walking away again.

Hes walking away again! He's avoiding my questions! He doesn't want to explain! Something is off with him and it frustrates me because I cannot pinpoint whatever it is running inside his head.

***

:)