For a lifetime (CHAPTER FOURTEEN)

Ezekiel's Point of Viev

I looked at the woman beside me, she's peacefully sleeping. I smiled upon seeing her angelic face. I think I'm already falling for this girl on the passenger seat.

I looked straight the road again. I should drive safely because I'm with the woman I like. I should be taking good care of her. And as promised, I should be watching her. I told her Ate that I will bring her home safely so I'm keeping that promise. And I want to keep her, too.

When I first saw her, I was mersmerized by her beauty. When I got to talk with her, I admired her even more. When I got to know her, I started to get attracted on her because of her very unique personality. She looks intimidating outside, but actually she's so kind inside. I see the goodness in her and the compassion she has for her patients.

I don't know what do I call this. I don't know how do I interpret this feeling, but I've expreienced this before. I've felt this feeling when I'm with Meredith. And it's true that I've already moved on. I'd already set Meredith free. And we now talk to each other. We are still in touch. We're friends eh. I won't let anything and anyone to ruin our friendship. She's a precious friend of mine.

"Aisha, wake up. We're here na." I shake her and nagising naman na siya.

"Andito na ba tayo?"

"Kasasabi ko lang 'diba? Vaklang twoo!"

And she laughed. " Saan pala tayo matutulog?"

"Sa hotel, may branch kami dito."

"Rito." And she sheepishly smiled.

"Tss. Grammar nazi."

"Hindi naman, Kyle."

"Yes, you are."

"Eto, napakajudger. Judgemental, prejudice, mapanghusga!"

"Dumaldal ka na talaga."

"Diwow. Tara na sa hotel?"

"Ay may dala akong tent pala."

"Ahh so you're telling me na magtatayo tayo ng tent at this hour, Kyle?"

"Why not? Dalawa 'yung dala kong tent. And isa lang ang available na room. So.. ikaw ba--"

"Ahh asan ba 'yung tent?" Pagpuputol niya sa'kin. I laughed. She rolled her eyes. Her hobby is rolling her eyes.

After setting our tents, sinet na rin namin 'yung loob. Tig isa talaga kami ng tent because I know this girl is very conservative. She's a real dalagang Filipina and that makes her attractive even more.

"O chips and cookies."

"Wow. Prepared na prepared ka Elailai ha."

"What?!"

"I-I-me-uhm.. Ezekiel I said."

"Ohh.." I just looked up at the sky. "There are so many stars even at this hour." I said.

"Yeah, they are so beautiful." She said.

"Yeah, so beautiful." I said while looking at her.. She caught me, but she looked up again.

"Okay. Spell awkward." I whispered, but it seems like she heard it because I saw her smiled. Yeah, she smiled. It made me smile, too. I stare at her while she stares on the stars above. I think it's time to voice out these feelings that I'm feeling towards her.

"Aisha.."

"Yes?" She answered while still looking above.

"I think, I--"

"Ay! Umaambon na. Tara silong na tayo. Lalakas na ang ulan. Mababasa pa 'yung mga tent, dali!!"

"Panira naman oo." I whispered, but this time I made sure na hindi na niya maririnig.

"Oh, ano pang inuupo upo mo riyan? Tayo na dali!"

"Tayo na?"

"Not now, Ezekiel. Dali!"

I helped her fixing our things. Tig isa kami ng binubuhat ngayon.

"Dito? Tayo? Matutulog? Na magkasama? Sa isang kama lang?" Iritableng tanong nitong katabi ko habang tinititigan niya 'yung room na tutuluyan namin.

"Arte neto. Halatang may crush ka sa'kin. Odi sa floor.."

"Ka?"

"Ka. Sa floor ka, Aisha."

"Neknek mo, kano." At inunahan niya na ako papunta sa bed. Hinayaan ko nalang siya. Naglatag na ako sa floor at humiga na. Biglang dumilim.

"Hey!? Why did you switched off the lights!?"

"Syemrpe matutulog na tayo. Sayang naman kuryente. 'Wag ka mag-alala, wala naman akong gagawin sa'yo. 'Wag masyado assuming, okay?"

"Ikaw ang assuming. I wasn't thinking about that." Binelatan niya ako. Switch on the lights, Aisha!"

"What's your problem ba? Don't tell me, you're afraid of the dark? Omg! Or takot ka sa multo?!" She laughed, she laughed real hard, as in really really hard. Damn, minus pogi points 'to.

"No! I'm not!"

"Hindi naman pala eh. Ganyan na." Naramdaman kong nagbounce 'yung bed so probably nakahiga na siya ngayon.

"Aisha?"

"Oo, ako 'to." And she laughed again. "Tulog na tayo, lalaking takot sa mumu. Goodnight, Kyle! Sweet dreams. Dream of her."

"Her?"

"Si Felicisima."

"Felicisima?"

"Iyong katabi mo riyan."

"Shit!"

"Oh! Akala ko ba 'di ka takot? Bakit bigla kang napaakyat dito?"

"Tinatakot mo ako eh."

"So takot ka nga?"

"Tss. Just please switch on the lights. And let me sleep here in this bed. Ayaw ko sa baba baka may katabi na talaga ako."

"Okay, fine. Dito ka na sa tabi ko. Pero 'di ako sanay matulog nang may ilaw so ganito na. Pareho tayong mag adjust. Mag aadjust ako kasi may katabi akong unggoy at ikaw matulog ka ng lights off."

"Lights off? Ops.."

"Nako. Kung ano 'yang iniisip mo, itigil mo 'yan kung ayaw mong itulak kita riyan sa baba ha!"

I closed my eyes. "I said nothing. Aaargh! Goodnight!"

"Goodnight!"

Aisha's Point of View

Bakit parang ang bigat ng pakiramdam ko? I opened my eyes.

"Ouch!!! Why did you push me? Can't you see that I'm sleeping yet!? Ang ganda na ng panaginip ko eh!"

"Di ko naman sinasadyang ihulog ka. Bakit ka kasi nakayakap sa akin, nagulat tuloy ako. It's not my fault, it's yours!"

"Hmm I had a bad dream earlier, a very scary dream and I can't get my sleep again so.. yeah, that's why."

"Takot ka lang kasi masyado kamo. Amin ka na kasi. Lahat naman may kinatatakutan eh. We're just humans, having fears are just innate to us humans, it's just normal."

"Wow so deep. San nanggaling 'yun?" Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata. "Fine, fine, fine! I'm afraid of the dark. You? What are your fears?"

"Me?"

"Yes, ano ang kinakatakutan mo? May kinakakatakutan ka ba? Seems like wala naman?" Then he shrugged his shoulders.

"Takot akong mawala uli siya." I seriously stated. Sumeryeso rin expression niya.

"Who?"

"Someone important to me. Twice na siyang nawala, ayaw ko na maging thrice.'Yung bestfriend ko, siya tinutukoy ko."

"I know."

"How did you know?" Gulat kong tanong. "Alam mo na ba?"

"Kain na tayo?"

"Ahh oo, gutom na ako."

----

"Picnic?" Tanong ko kay Kielle habang nilalatag niya 'yung mat sa sand, sobrang prepared na prepared na talaga siya.

"Obviously, Aisha, obviously."

I just rolled my eyes at him. Now, we're both staring at the sun. Tapos na namin iayos 'yung foods, all set na.

"Remember the scene two years ago?" Napatingin ako sa kanya habang kumukuha ako ng cookies. "When we were seated next to each other while watching the sunrise?" He continued.

"Yeah. How could I forget that?"

He smiled.

"You know what, Aisha.. our friendship.. how long do you think it would last?"

"Will it last?" I asked him.

"No."

"What do you mean?"

"Co'z this won't last, I don't want this to last no matter what happens, Aisha. Our friendship shouldn't come to an end because I want to keep this friendship for a lifetime."

"Can you promise me that you won't leave me?" I asked.

"I won't ever leave you. I may be somehow far from you, but I will always do my best to keep in touch with you. I will find you when I lose you, but I won't let that happen. I will do everything I can to treasure you."