Tulog na si Red at humihilik. Hindi mapigilan in Cyan ang matawa sa mukha nito habang natutulog. Nakahiga sila sa buhangin, nakaunan naman siya sa mga braso ni Red at nakasiksik ang mukha niya sa katawan nito.
Malamig ang hangin pero hindi iyun alintana, anupa't sapat na ang init ng katawan ni Red para masurvive niya ang gabi. The dark sky that covers his whole scope gives him the chill. There must something beyond it. Something that aids them to be together.
"Ah, the universe must conspired for us!" He said smiling. Then memories few minutes ago before they lay their backs to rest flashes.
As they lips met, it taste like heaven. Red moved and Cyan just followed. "Damn it, Cy. You made me want more of you," Red said as their lips parted.
He chuckled the slap Red's face softly. "Baliw!" Then they hugged. "Thank you, Red." Nasabi niya sa walang mapagsidlang kagalakan. "Thank you for loving me the way I dreamed it would be,"
"No, thank you, for being here with me."
Bigla siyang natawa at humiwalay sa yakap. Tinignan niya ang gwapo nitong mukha. "Of course, may choice ba ako?"
"Wala, dahil nakatadhana ito..." Nakangiting wika nito.
"Ugh. You know what, I'm dying to know the real you. I mean, the 'you' before you became amnesiac in here with me,"
"Bakit pa? I doesn't make senses. You know what matters the most is you, I; You and I." Red said genially.
"Because I'm curious whether you are that cheesy or trite before knowing me. I wouldn't be shocked if I'll see a girl claiming you're the father of her baby," he said teasingly.
"Cyan!"
"Bakit?!" Natatawang tugon niya.
"You are that worried for what will come in the future, don't you?"
"I am. Sabi ko nga diba, the world is not agree with our relationship. Paano kung bumalik na tayo sa totoong mundo, natatakot ako baka paglayuin lang din tayo."
Humiga si Red sa buhangin habang inuunan ang dalawang kamay. "Now, you choose to worry about the future you've never seen over me that is right next to you,"
"I get it, but--"
"Stop over thinking, Cy. Why were you afraid that if the time will come that will be back to the real world, we'll be broken? Bakit, is this all a fantasy for you?" Bigla siyang natamaan sa sinabi nito. Umiling siya.
"Okay, I'm sorry...I get it. With all my heart,"
"Tabihan mo nga ako," aya ni Red sa kaniya.
Agad niyang tinabihan si Red sa pagkakahiga. Niyakap niya ito at ngayon ay sobrang hinahangaan pa niya ito. And now, he knew that he really needs a guy like Red. Someone who will remind him that love is all about taking risks, fighting your last card or defending a lawsuit without hesitations and doubts.
Naramdaman niya ang paghalik nito sa noo niya. Inangat niya ang paningin nginitian siya nito.
"Okay Cy, promise me that starting this day up to end of eternity that your fingers won't slip mine while we intertwine,"
"I promise,"
"Promise me that you won't stop loving me even if the world say so,"
"I promise,"
"Promise me that no matter what happen we won't part, just you and me,"
"I promise,"
"Also, promise me that together, we'll built our own empire. Together we'll raise a kingdom in this paradise,"
"But we already do," He giggled. These promises that Red made, gives his heart joy.
"Nah, just promise me." Red said tiringly.
"Okay, I promise."
"And promise me that you are only mine."
"Hala, grabe siya!" Then they both laugh hard. "Ngayon, ikaw naman ang mangako."
"Okay, spill it, Cy."
"Promise me that you won't break my heart,"
"But I can break your ass, I promise."
"Huy, baliw!" Natawa siya sa sinabi nito. Pinalo palo niya ito. Minsan talaga at umiiral ang pagkamanyak nito. "Okay next, promise me that you will still love me even if it means a lot of doubts, worries and hesitations from me,"
"Of course, I will."
"Even if I'm paranoid sometimes and a crybaby, promise me you'll be there,"
"I promise,"
"And promise me I will get unli 'I love you' from you,"
"I love you," He said then smiled. Red reached for his lips, passionately, it happened under the blanket of skies.
***
Damit lang ni Red ang nakita ni Cyan nang magising siya. Ang tanging kasuotan nitong sando at maong na pantalon. Bumangon siya. Nag-aadjust pa ang mga mata niya mula sa pagkakatulog. Maganda ang araw na iyun, maulap kaya hindi masyadong mainit, as usual, malinis at malinaw parin ang asul na karagatan.
"Cyan!" Pasigaw na tawag ni Red. Iginala niya ang mga mata para hanapin kung naasaan ito. Nasa malalim ito na parte nang dagat. Tanging ulo lang nito ang nakikita niya, dahil nakababad ang katawan nito sa tubig.
Tumayo siya at kinawayan si Red. Sumenyas naman ito na sumama sa kaniyang maligo. Pumayag narin siya at hinubad ang T-shirt na suot. Habang naglalakad siya sa papunta kay Red. Bigla niyang naalala na wala palang saplot na ito. Nagdalawang isip siyang umabante baka umiral naman ang pagkamanyak nito.
Pero kami naman na ah!
Naisip niyang ano naman kung umiral ang kamanyakan nito, na kung iisipin ay nagpromise na sila sa isa't isa na committed sila. At parte na ito ng mga pangakong iyun.
Naglakad siya papunta kay Red, at nung umabot na ang tubig hanggang dibdib niya ay tumigil na siya. After all, may takot pa siya sa tubig. He knows how to swim, that's why he survived but dealing with that experience is a different story. He better be safe, kaya tinawag niya si Red na lumapit sa kaniya.
Malaki ang ngiti nito habang papalapit sa kaniya.
"Isn't it amazing that your skills in swimming wasn't forgotten?" Biglang sabi ni Cyan.
"I dunno. Paggising ko I just felt like I wanted to swim," sabi pa nito.
"Nang nakahubad?" Cyan said glowering at him.
Hindi sumagot si Red at palinga-linga sa paligid na parang may nawawala.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"Nawala..." Sabi nito at patuloy na sinusuyod ang paligid.
"Ang alin?"
"My brief," Red said with a big shamed smile.
Cyan's eyes squinted. "Lumayo ka sa akin," sabi pa niya sabay palo sa tubig.
Umilag si Red sa mga tubig na tumatama sa kaniya. "Stop it, Cy! It's making me hard looking at the spurting waters!" Natigilan si Cyan. Red said it in a full serious mode.
"Eh bakit pa kasi hinubad mo pati brief?" Tanong pa niyang hindi makatingin ng direkta sa mga mata nito.
"Gusto ko eh! Gusto mo nga di naman ako nag tanong." Nakangising wika nito.
"Hala, feeling!" Papaluin pa sana niya ang tubig kaso baka magstrong na naman ang baby Red.
"Bakit, hindi ba?" Hindi makasagot si Cyan. Guilty siya.
"Eh, ikaw din naman." Depensa niya.
"Oo na, payakap nga." Sabi nito. Red spread his arms letting Cyan be in his embrace. Lumapit si Cyan nang walang pagaalinlangan. Niyakap siya nito ng mahigpit. Matagal. Mainit.
"Red..."
"Bakit, Cy?"
"Ugh," he moaned. Red's way of calling his name is everything. Inangat niya ang mukha niya mula sa pagkakasubsob sa mga dibdib nito. "You're calling me 'Cy' and it feels great in my ears,"
"Bakit ba, eh Cyan naman ang name mo, so Cy for short." Turan nito.
"Oo nga. But your way is too sexy that my system turns destruction mode,"
Napawingi ito sa sinabi niya. "So dapat pala hindi na kita tawaging 'Cy'."
"Why?"
"Cause it will destruct you. And dapat hindi mangyari yun."
He giggled. "You're too literal. Whatever," he said rolling his eyesballs.
"Alam ko, pinapapatawa lang kita." Sabi nito sabay halik sa noo niya. Tinitigan siya nito sa mata. Those piercing gaze gives his brain the signal to produce some kind of hormones that's all for love. "I hope...this won't end." And he died for so much kilig.
"What if may dadating na tulong, I mean, yung search and rescue...would be that our end?"
Umiling ito na parang bata. "Tatanungin kita kung saan ka nakatira. O nag-aaral. Pupuntahan kita."
Kinilig naman siya. "Talaga? Will you do that?"
"Bakit naman hindi,"
"You've forgotten, right? That the world is a big trash, underestimating, stigmatizing and bullying gay couples,"
"We'll make a difference, bahala sila."
"Talaga?" Paninigurado. Halos maluha siya sa narinig mula dito. "Even if you are a man before?"
Red give him a warm smile. "Common, were you still doubting me, Cy?"
"No. I just want to hear it from you, please. Will you do that?" Pangungulit niya.
Red tightened the hug then sighed. "Of course I will. Pupuntahan kita sa bahay niyo, tatanungin ko ang magulang mo kung pwede ko bang hingin ang kamay mo. Pupuntahan kita sa eskwelahan mo, hihintayin kita sa gate at magde-date tayo. Dadalhin kita sa mall, sa park, sa coffee shop, sa perya, kahit saan mo gusto. Hahawakan ko ang kamay mo kahit marami pang tao."
Tumulo ang mga luha niya sa sobrang kagalakan. He's never been this happy his whole damned life.
Red wiped out his tears then kissed his forehead. "Gagawin ko yun kahit pa ayaw mo akong paniwalaan."
"No," he argued. "I just love to hear your promises."
Red's brow furrowed. "And please tell me why?"
"Because I do believe your promises are meant to be fulfilled,"
"But it would take forever, will you mind?"
Sinapak niya ito ng mahina. "OA ne'to." He smiled. They smiled. "Tara na, kain na tayo ng almusal." Aya niya kay Red.
"Pwede din ako na lang ang gawin mong aga--"
"--sige, ipagpatuloy mo pa yan!" Banat niya dito dahilan para hindi maipagpatuloy ang sasabihin nitong kamanyakan. Red just chuckled, then they head for the shoreline to have their breakfast.