Chapter 2 - Date

"Kuya? Huy?"

"Huuy, huuuy, kuyaaaaa"

Nawala, bat nawala?

Nakatulala lang ako sa blankong notebook na hawak ko at di ko iniintindi bawat sigaw ni Liam.

Hays, pati notes ko sa school nawala author, bobo ka ba?!

Nanginginig kamay ko at parang gusto kong magwala sa sobrang galet, sobrang ines, anytime pwedeng pwede akong sumabog but i'm calming myself, magtimpi ka Aize--

"KUYAAAAAA AIDEEEEEN!!"

Nawala atensyon ko sa notebook at napatingin ako kay Liam, kala mong babaeng umirit eh.

"Ano po bang nangyare kuya?!"

Nakakunot nyang tanong at halata kong medyo natakot sya sa kinilos ko.

Lumapit si Liam at tinignan yung notebook na hawak ko at lalong kumunot noo nya.

"Ano bang meron po dito!?" Sabay turo nya sa isang pahina ng noteboo--

Yung notes, wth.

Nagulat ako nandyan na ulet yung mga notes ko sa school at agad ko namang tinignan ulet kada pahina para hanapin yung mga sinulat ko kanina.

Hirap magpalit palit ng page author pilay isa kong kamay, pagalingin nyo na nga to HAHAHA, tsk.

Paspas kong hinanap kada pahina yung sinulat ko kanina, desperado nako nyeta, pag to wala--

"Ano bang hinahanap mo po kuya?!"

"Ahh, ehh yung ano Liam--"

Yung ano..

Yung ano Aize?

Yung ano.

YUNG ANO.

ANOOOO AIZE?!

bigla kong tinigil pag hahanap ko kada page at natulala ako sa pader ng kwarto ko as I lean back to my chair and exhaled a lot of air.

"...yung a-ano po kuya?"

I heard Liam but my soul is floating around, i'm too exhausted to speak and it's like my mind suddenly shuts down for a minute as my heart is pounding fast and loudly.

Umiling nalang ako kay Liam saying to him na wala lang yon saka ko sya nginitian.

Agad naman syang naglakad palabas ng kwarto ko as i hear his footsteps loud and clear ket tiles yung sahig, it's like my hearing ability is enhanced HAHAHA.

Hindi to fantasy, dinescribe ko lang yung pagkarinig ko sa lakad ni Liam wala akong powers, atsaka yung tiles namen hindi yung white para maimagine nyo ng ayos sksksksks.

"Kuya"

Napalingon naman ako sa may pinto at nandun pa si Liam nakatingin saken di pa nalabas ng kwarto.

"Enjoy your date today" *wink

Sabay ngiti nya saken at saka lumabas na talaga ng kwarto.

Oh right, may lakad pa pala kame ni Ava ngayong araw and it kinda lightens my mood.

Tinignan ko ulet yung notebook ko saka napabuntong hininga, what was i searching?

This world is fictional, weird things happen and it's normal.

Bulong ko ulet sa sarili ko just to calm myself from all of these weird things.

Enjoy this day Aiden, stop thinking unnecessary things, may lakad pa naman kayo ni Ava.

Muli akong napatingin sa notebook ko saka ko binalik ulet sa bag ko.

Lumabas nako ng kwarto at saglit na napatingin sa sala.

Asan yung mop?

Naiwan ko yon sa sala nung pagtakbo ko ah--

"Kuya! Tinapos ko na po yung pagmop sa sahig" sigaw saken ni Liam na galing sa kusina

Oh, right kala ko..

Hays sabay napabuntong hininga nanaman ako, kala ko may weir- may weird nanaman na may nawawala aish-- stop it Aiden.

I'm shaking.

Nginitian ko nalang si Liam nung umakyat sya sa hagdan at nadaanan nya ko pabalik sa kwarto nya.

My mind is exhausted author, can you freshen it up? and please, no weird things on our date.

Please author.

Inalog alog ko ulo ko pati buong katawan ko para lang bumalik ako sa wisyo.

Hmmmm, I should finish my shower

Saka ko bumaba at bumalik na ko sa cr.

..

"Dad, can i borrow you car again? May lakad lang po kame ni Ava"

"Oh, sige e-nak" medyo barok paden mag tagalog si papa imaginin nyo na lang HAHAHA.

"But meg-i-ngat ka ha? Pi-lay ka pa neman" I smiled at Dad and nodded at him as an agreement, he's trying to learn tagalog don't judge beltok HAHAHA

Dad lend me the keys at saka nako naglakad palabas ng bahay.

Our house is not that big but there's a plentiful of space from the living room up to the kitchen and bedrooms.

We even have a roof top if you want some fresh air without leaving the house.

Lumabas nako ng bahay and may lot kameng maliit sa harap ng bahay at sa gilid non yung garahe ng sasakyan ni papa.

I entered Dad's car at cinall ko muna si Ava para mainform ko syang papunta nako.

"Aize?"

"Pupunta na po ko dyan love"

"Ahhh, Aiden--"

Dead air filled the call at matagal natigilan si Ava bago sya ulit makapagsalita sa kabilang linya.

"Love?--"

"Mom won't let me"

"Ha, Nagpaalam nako love ah?"

I told her mom already, hays ayaw nanaman ba syang payagan dahil lulunurin nanaman sya kakastudy, typical Gale's.

"Pausap moko kay tita lov--"

Bigla namang naputol yung kabilang linya bago ko pa matapos sasabihin ko.

Bat ba ganon kastrict, why make her parents like that author?

Tinext ko si tita at tinanong kung baket di nya pinayagan si Ava all of a sudden, nagpaalam nako kahapon ah? Pumayag naman sya.

To_Tita Celestine Gale

:Tita bat po biglang

di nyo pinayagan si Ava?

Nagintay ako ng ilang minuto pero walang reply, alam ko tamad si tita magtype-type at magreply HAHAHA.

I decided na puntahan nalang si Ava sa kanila though sinabihan na nga akong bawal pero baka naman payagan pa pag nagpaalam ulet ako.

I drove to their house at magkalapit lang naman kame ni Ava just differrent villages.

I'm from Alvia Valley and she's in San Lorenzo village both right next to each other.

I drove down their rode and finally right in front of their house.

Pumarada ako sa bahay nila and it's huge, a little bigger than our house but it's still ginormous.

Bumaba ako ng sasakyan at saka nagdoorbell.

Nakita ko namang lumabas si Tita Celestine at naglakad papalapit saken sa may gate nila.

She's wearing a plain white shirt and short shorts with her hair pony tied.

That's what I like about Gale's, simple yet so elegant and beautiful.

Oh, right di ko napakilala si Tita sa inyo, freeze scene muna author. *wink

Celestine Ava Morgan Gale.

Yes, middle name nila is Morgan at based kay tita name ni Celeste Ava.

She is one of the founders of Ava University kaya sya yung strict sa grades and studies ni Celeste, Tita is also young she's on mid 30's

Meanwhile her husband or Ava's Father is..

Damiel Mel Morgan Gale

Civil Engineer, A cum laude, Magna Cum Laude kahet Magna 'the second position' wag mong i-lang lang, mahirap maging cum laude, Tito Mel is also young like tita both around 30's

A founder of Ava University, an Engineer and a Cum Laude both has 'names' for themselves.

Now you know bat ngudngod sa pagaaral si Ava.

Back na author HAHAHA.

"Goodmorning po tita" bati ko sa kanya habang pinagbuksan nya ko ng gate.

"Ava's inside you should come in" sabay anyaya nya saken sa loob ng bahay nila.

Naglakad ako papasok ng bahay nila at nakita agad si Ava sa sofa nila sa sala at nakabusangot ang mukha.

"Tita, pumunta po ko para sana ipaala--"

Agad namang sumenyas si tita na tumigil ako as she raises her hand, facing her palm towards me.

Agad naman akong umupo sa sofa as a sign of respect and a sudden silence filled the air, only the indistinct noises of their tv was heard throughout the living room.

"Pinayagan ko na si Ava kahapon para manood sa Game nyo and i'm sorry about your arm by the way.."

I can see Ava from my peripheral, she looked at me saka yumuko ulet as she clenches her fists at pinipigilan nya ulet luha nya.

"..Ava needs to study today dahil may klase na kayo tomorrow, you know naman na we have a 'name' to maintain Aiden"

Straight up na sinabe and it's kinda prideful the way she said it with her tone, napakagat nalang ako sa labi ko stopping myself from saying anything.

I glanced at Ava and she's still holding back her tears, i know nagagalet na yan si Ava especially when nababanggit yung 'name' kuno pero dahil di nya malabas galet nya, naiiyak nalang nya.

It kinda sucks when your anger became tears.

Ang hirap at sobrang bigat sa pakiramdam.

"Tita, pwede po ba kahet kumain nalang po kame sa labas tas hatid ko na lang po ulet sya dito?" I asked politely, i hope she agrees, umagree na sya kahapon eh.

I can tell she's thinking if papayagan ba nya kame, Tita Celestine is caustious when she's deciding, di sya yung basta basta oo at hinde.

Once na umagree sya makakasure kang pumayag talaga sya but on the other hand pag humindi sya umalis ka na siguradong hindi na yon HAHAHA.

Ironic no? Umagree na sya kahapon tas binawi nya ngayon, I know it's due to some circumstances.

"Okay, be back at 2"

Napangiti naman ako sa sinabe ni tita at agad na nagpasalamat, a sudden change of heart tita? HAHAHA, i saw Ava's gloomy weather finally shined by sun rays and rainbows HAHAHA, i'm being metaphorical stop judging magbasa nalang kayo HAHAHA.

"Oh Ava, mag-ayos ka na"

Agad namang tumayo si Ava at dumiretso sa kwarto nyang may ngiti sa mukha, I know tita is strict pero alam kong hinahayaan nya kahet minsang sumaya anak nya, she's still a mother and she can't stand her child being sad.

Tita also agreed yesterday kaya siguro na den napayagan nya kame ngayon.

Pero parang kanina lang puro studies pa binabanggit nya.

"Our Ava must study but she also needs to live"

I smiled again nung nasabe ni tita yon, there are parents that are strict pero deep inside kaya lang naman sila strict is kase gusto nila yung the best sa mga anak nila ket minsan nakakasaket na sila, wala namang perpektong magulang they all have reasons bat ganon sila and i kinda understand that.

"Aiden"

Tawag saken ni tita atsaka kame nagkatitigan.

"Please take care of my daughter, sure naman ako sayo wag mo lang sirain future nyong dalawa"

"Mahal na mahal ko po anak nyo tita and i'm serious about her, i won't do anything na ikasisira ng hinaharap namen.."

My face became serious as i look directly into her eyes.

"..and I promise you that"

I highly value promises, di ko sya binibitawan ng di ako sigurado and they can assure once i promised di ko sinisira alam ng Gale's yan lalong lalo na si Ava.

Tita Celestine smiled at me at saka na sya tumayo at nagpaalam na may gagawin pa daw sya.

Tita is strict and all but she's caring and loving deep inside.

Nakita ko namang bumaba na si Ava from her room and damn she's cute..

Ayaw nyang tinatawag syang maganda kaya minsan cute nalang nasasabe ko but she's cute also, sobra cheeky cheeks HAHAHA.

"Shall we?" Sabay abot ko ng kamay nya

She hold my hand at ngumiti saken.

"Let's go love"

..

We attended church first before namen kumain then after non dahil maaga pa naman may time pa kame before mag 2 niyaya ko muna sya sa favorite na lugar namen.

At the beach

We got off the car and walk towards the ocean barefooted, the breezes are soothing and calming plus the sounds of waves crashing towards the shore.

Our feets soaked in the sand and we're holding each others hands habang naghahanap pa kame ng mapwepwestuhan.

The sun is high and i can tell you mainit pero dahil sa hangin ng dagat medyo nababalance yung temperature.

We set our beach mat and sunshades near the ocean at saka umupo at nagpahinga, the place is like a therapy nakakakalma ng kaluluwa.

Thank you author, no weird things happened.

"Love, thank you"

Napatingin ako kay Ava na nakahiga sa lap ko habang pinaglalaruan ko buhok nya.

"Thank you saan?"

"For saving me out of our house"

Natawa naman ako sa kanya but yeah, it's kinda true sinasabe ko nalang sa kanya na di sya nakakulong, sinusundan lang sya kada step nya para maging successful sya.

Sometimes the cages aren't even there,

We make our own cages inside our shitty heads, tho strict ang parents that doesn't mean nakaimprison ka na.

Meron lang galit na naggagabay sayo at ayaw kang mapahamak.

But still, nakakasakal minsan at wala tayong magagawa.

That's reality even i'm in this fictitious world.

Sanaol nga totoo not like me,

living in this fantasy.

Dinala ko pala gitara ko di ko den alam baket eh di naman ako makakatugtog HAHAHA pilay braso ko hays bobo Aize.

Still kinantahan ko nalang si Ava, minsan kase I kinda express best what i want to say in a song, cause i can't find the right words to utter.

"Falling out, fallin' in, nothing's sure in this world no no..

"Breaking out, breaking in, never knowing what lies ahead~

"We can really never tell it all, no no no~

I saw Ava closed her eyes alam kong pinapakinggan at dinadama nya lang yung kanta ko alam nya kaseng may gusto akong sabihen..

"Take a little time baby, see the butterflies colors, listen to the birds that were sent to sing for me and you~

"Can you feel me, this is such a wonderful place to be~

"Even if there is pain now, everything will be alright, for as long as the world still turns there will be night and say~

"Can you hear me, there's a rainbow always after the rain~

I looked at her and she opened her eyes, I slowly enclosed the space between us and I touched her lips with mine long and gently.

Masyadong sweet tong scene sorna, mahal ko yan eh..

I love the touch of her lips in mine.

I lift my head and looked at her eyes, as i say those three words.

"I love you"

"I love you too"

We both smiled at each other atsaka nya ko hinampas sa mukha, mahiyain yan eh pero gusto den naman psh.

Tumayo sya at tumakbo papuntang dagat saka ako tinalsikan ng tubeg, raulo.

Sanaol ba readers? Hanap na jowa charing HAHAHA.

Wait for God's perfect time *wink

Hinabol ko naman agad si Ava para gumanti siraulo buti hindi nabasa phone ko eh HAHAHA.

Nagtalsikan kame ng tubig sa may dagat at ayon basa kame parang ewan kase ampupu HAHAHA.

After ng ilang beses na nagbasaan napagod den kame at nagpatuyo muna wala pa naman kameng dinalang pamalit jusq love.

Di ko napansin yung oras malapit na pala mag-2 at nakita naman ako ni Ava na tumingin sa oras at nakaramdam na sya.

I looked at her all worried kase uuwi nanaman sya but she just smiled at me telling me everything is alright.

Inayos na namen lahat ng si-net namen kanina at binalik na lahat sa sasakyan, we took a last glance at the sea at napabuntong hininga, sarap kase sa dagat minsan ayaw mo nang umalis pag nandun ka na.

"Let's go, Love" sabay hawak nya sa kamay ko at tumingin sya saken, napansin naman nyang nagaalala ako sa kanya kase baka atakihin nanaman sya..

"I'll be alright love, strong to no! Ako pa, wala ka bang bilib saken HAHAHA" sagot nya sa mukha kong nagaalala HAHAHA ganyang ganyan si Ava..

After some breakdown and all, babangon ulet sya and will encourage herself again, matapos bumagsak makikita mo ulet yung Lion sa loob nya, she has a fighting spirit and I admire her for that.

I just kissed her forehead and smiled at her.

Sumakay na kame sa kotse at saglet na tumigil ulet para tignan yung dagat one last time again..

I will forever be inlove with Ocean's Chaos.

Saka na kame umalis sa lugar..

"Love, di ka na makakasama sa mga practice nila sa basketball no?" Tanong saken ni Ava out of nowhere..

"Di po ko makakapagpractice pero manonood lang daw ako sa kanila para ket papano hindi ako mawala sa gist ng game."

Hays, monday nanaman bukas, gusto ko sanang umabsent reasonable den din naman pilay ko pero ayokong malate sa lessons.

Seryoso ako sa studies no, balance lang dapat yan kasama extra curricular activities gaya ng basketball.

Consistent honors kame, never nawawala lalo na si Ava katali-talino nyan HAHAHA.

My phone vibrates and i think someone texted pero di ko nalang muna pinansin at hinatid ko muna sya pauwi.

"Tita andito na po anak nyo, thank you po ulet"

Saka nako nagpaalam kay Ava at kay tita and i went back inside the car.

Tinignan ko naman kung sino nagtext saken dahil di ko nacheck kanina dahil busy ako sa pagdradrive.

Thanks btw author, nothing weird happened today.

What weird? Sksksksks AAAAAHHH.

Chineck ko inbox ko and surpise-surprise mga loko.

Dale

:Bro, nasa inyo kame kasama ko sila Ray at Joshua tambay lang hahaha XD kelan tapos ng date? Hahaha

Mga gala sa bahay pa talaga namen HAHAHA, well lagi naman kase silang samen natambay sila mga kaclose ko talaga ng sobra sa team, sila sila ni ano--

Dale..

What's up with dale.

Dale, dale, dale.

Everytime he comes across my mind parang may blur memory na nagreresurface sa utak ko arghh.

My head started aching as I tried remembering something..

What's with Dale?

My mind started creating chaos inside as I battle with an unknown, ano ba kase yon?!

Think Aize, think.

Think, think, think.

Oh wait is it--

"ARF! ARRF! ARF!" Wth, nagulat ako sa asong umamba sa pintuan ng sasakyan ko nyeta, my heart skipped a beat.

I tried pushing it away but it won't go.

Psh.

Nagdrive nalang ako palayo dun sa aso and parked at a distance, phew.

I tried remembering what was i thinking a while a go and it kinda pisses me off! Sksksksks.

Bat ba kase di ko maalala yung mata ni Dale?!

... whut?

Saglet akong natahimik and a memory started flashing right before my eyes.

Near the caferia

When I was about to meet Ava

Dale called me and informed me about the basketball practice but..

His eyes.

His eyes are different.

It became..

Blue.

...