AYA was starting to get exhausted from all the walks and climbs. Nagsisimula nang tumaas ang sikat ng araw at tumatagaktak na rin ang kanyang pawis. She had already tied her hair up in a ponytail but some loose strands were sticking to her sweaty face.
It was a good thing na pinili niyang magsuot ng sleeveless shirt at kumportableng shorts, pero pakiramdam niya ay kanina pa pinapapak ng kung anu-anong insekto ang naka-expose niyang balat.
Her heart was pounding hard and she was practically catching her breath. Hindi sila nakapagpahinga ni Mr. Hum sa campsite kanina. Ang sabi nito, mas mainam daw kung mararating nila ang kanilang destinasyon nang mas maaga. Ang akala niya ay malapit lang ang lugar na tinutukoy nito kaya't pumayag siyang sumunod dito paderetso sa hidden trail.
Iniwan siya ni Mr. Hum sa bukana dahil may sisilipin daw muna ito saglit sa malayo. That's when she saw Vince coming to her direction. She hid behind a huge tree and decided to pull a prank on him. Ilang minuto na ang lumipas mula nang mangyari iyon, pero hindi pa rin bumabalik si Mr. Hum.
Sandali siyang tumigil para uminom ng tubig.
"Nasaan si Uncle?" narinig niya ang boses ni Vince mula sa likuran niya. Kanina pa siya nito sinusundan pero wala siyang balak pansinin ito. After what he said earlier? She would rather get struck by a lightning than to look at his stupid handsome face again.
Masukal na kagubatan ang natatanaw niya sa gawing kanan at pababang libis naman ang karugtong ng trail na nasa kanyang kaliwa. There was still no sign of Mr. Hum. O kahit ng ibang tao.
Tatawagin sana niya si Humberto sa paligid nang maalala ang bilin nitong huwag sisigaw sa lugar na iyon. Baka raw may mairita sa ingay at bigla na lamang siyang paglaruan ng mga elemento.
"Ano bang nangyari kanina at naghiwalay kayo? Did he just ditch you there?"
She quietly turned to her left and traversed the descending slope. Numinipis ang mga hanay ng puno sa bahaging iyon dahil sa matataas at malalapad na batong naroon. Ilang dipa lang din ang layo ng isang bangin mula sa nilalakaran niya.
"Alam mo, mas mapapadali ang paghahanap natin kay Uncle kung mag-uusap tayo." Pumaikot ang mga mata niya nang marinig muli ang boses ni Vince. Why couldn't he just go away?
"Look, Aya. I'm sorry if I have offended you. I didn't mean it, okay? The thing is, you caught me off guard last night. Bigla-bigla mo akong tinanong kung gusto kita. What was I supposed to say?"
The wind blew heavily again. Hiling niya na sana ay tangayin ng hangin si Vince at dalhin na ito sa kabilang panig ng mundo. She increased her pace, ignoring the soreness of her feet. In-adjust din niya ang mga strap ng daypack na nakasukbit sa kanyang likod.
"Great move, Ayana Savalle. How long are you going to ignore me here?" Narinig niya ang malakas at magaspang nitong pagpapakawala ng hininga. Bumilis ang mga yabag nito at sa isang iglap ay nakaharang na ito sa kanyang daanan.
"What do you want?" she spat.
"Talk to me, that's what I want," he replied dryly.
She arched her brow. "Fine. Tigilan mo na ang pagsunod sa 'kin!"
"Playing the rude card now, really? Can you be a little bit friendlier than that?"
"What, you want me to smile?" She stretched her lips and bared her teeth.
The corner of his mouth turned up. "You're mad, so I'm not gonna be an asshole and say that that is the worst smile ever."
"You are an asshole!" This conversation between them was definitely going nowhere. She used the back of her hand to push him aside and stomped off.
"Walking away again, really?" he bellowed, halata na sa himig na napipikon na rin ito. "Kailangan ba kitang itali sa puno para lang hindi ka na lumayo sa tabi ko? Why are you making this so hard, Aya?"
Napahinto siya sa paglalakad at naikuyom ang dalawang kamay. Pakiramdam niya ay sasabog ang kanyang dibdib nang dahil sa matinding pagpipigil sa kanyang emosyon. Ubos na ang pasensya niya.
Mabigat siyang humarap kay Vince at pagak na tumawa. "So I'm the one who's making this hard? Bakit hindi mo tanungin 'yang sarili mo? You keep doing and saying things that tell me you like me and don't like me at the same time! Do you know how messed up that sounds?"
Vince put his hands on his hips and looked away for a second. Sa dinami-dami ng mga lalaki sa mundo, bakit dito pa nag-free fall ang puso niya? Bakit hindi na lang kay Steve? O sa ibang lalaki? Parang gusto niyang sampalin nang paulit-ulit ang kanyang sarili.
"Hindi ko alam kung nagpapatay-malisya ka lang o talagang manhid ka!"
Hindi ito umimik.
"I'm in love with you, you idiot!" Hinabol niya ang kanyang hininga. May kung anong matigas na buhol ang namuo sa kanyang sikmura sa pag-amin niyang iyon. It wasn't easy, but she felt a rush to let it all out now. "You're a despicable, insensitive human being, and I have no idea why I'm going crazy over you!"
Hinintay niya ang magiging reaksyon ni Vince. Beads of sweat kept dripping from his forehead, but not a single piece of emotion could be recognized from his face. His slightly parted-lips and dusky eyes gave her nothing. Walang pagkabigla o pagkalito. He simply… stared at her. Quitely. Not moving. Barely breathing.
They were standing less than ten feet apart from each other, but it felt like he was miles away from her.
"Damn it, Zarona. Say something!"
Vince blinked. "Sorry, I'm waiting for the part where you'll say it's all a joke," he said it casually but he wasn't smiling.
Napanganga siya at napabuga ng hangin. "Ipinagtapat ko sa'yo ang nararamdaman ko, at 'yan ang sagot mo? God, I feel stupid!" She turned her back and shook her head hard. Ipinikit niya ang mga mata at humugot ng malalim na hininga. She could feel her insides burning in rage and frustration.
There was a short uphill climb ahead and she readied her legs for the brutal ascent. Wala siyang pakialam kung nagmamakaawa na ng pahinga ang katawan niya. Physical torment was what she needed at the moment. To somehow relieve the other pain she was feeling right now. The disappointment. The embarrassment…
Malakas siyang napasinghap nang makaramdam ng matigas na kamay sa kanyang braso. She spun round from his powerful tug, and she found herself looking up at Vince's serious face.
"Why do you always walk away? Napapagod na 'kong habulin ka." A tingle descended down her spine upon hearing his grave tone. His lovely eyes looked duskier in this proximity. What the hell did he want now?
"Kung napapagod ka, eh 'di tumigil ka na. Turn around and leave, Vince. It's that simple."
Nagtaas-baba ang mga mata nito sa kanyang mukha at tumigil sa mga labi niya. The thinning of air around them made it difficult for her to breathe. He was too close and she felt trapped. Vince reeked of earth and sweat and sunlight. But he still smelled so darn good for some reasons. She was distracted, and it didn't help that she was staring at his lips too.
"You're a pain in the ass, Poodle."
"Tell that to yourself, jerk."
A shadow of small smile pulled up one corner of his mouth and he suddenly lowered his face, sealing her lips with a kiss. She froze and for a second, she thought she was imagining things. Her lashes quivered as ripples of strange sensations began coursing through her body.
It was different from the night their lips first clashed. Hindi na sila lasing sa pagkakataong iyon.