Chapter 15

It was one for the books.

I never thought in a million years I would spend summer like this. With someone who appreciates life so much and the beauty of it. I'm so lucky I've got to know her and shared all these moments with her. If I could live in another lifetime, I'd love to live it with Synestine over and over again.

"What do you want for a drink?" I asked Sy.

"Can I get some fruit tea?" she said. "If they've got passion fruit tea, I would love to have it! Pero kung wala naman, I think an orange juice would be fine. . . I don't like drinking coffee now."

"Sure! I will check in on that for you. What about your meal?"

"Anything available," she said. "Pick one for me, Mister de Amos."

I chuckled. "Alright, Miss de Amos. . ." Her eyes widened when I told her that and I laughed it off. "I'm just kidding. I'll be back," I said, grinning then turned around walking away from her.

I didn't know what I was thinking and why I said that to her. She must be weirded out by it. Sana isipin niyang nagjo-joke lang ako at sana hindi niya seryosohin 'yon. I lined up to get our orders and waited for them to serve them to us. I got what she asked, good thing they have it available today, or else Synestine would become a monster out of nowhere.

As I went back to her holding two cups of drinks and some chips, I stood behind her as she was painting the scenery of the butterfly meadows in front of us. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na marami pa siyang kayang gawin. She kept on surprising me and I loved every moment of it. Is there anything she can't do? I highly doubt it.

If there's someone I would like to be with, it would be the one who likes to paint and brought me on a spontaneous trip out of town. I guess, this would be an easy guess after all.

"That's beautiful," I commented.

Mabilis niyang inangat ang ulo niya at nilingon ako sa likuran niya. I noticed how she startled a little upon showing up behind her back. Natawa na lamang siya nang bahagya. 

"You almost killed me to death, Cho," aniya sabay hagikgik.

"Nah. I don't want that to happen," I said. "Here's your request, Madame. Just like you said, a passion fruit tea. . . And oh, they've got a pain au chocolat. They said it was their special pastry for today so I thought I shouldn't get it for you since you make this trip special for me."

"Well, you're welcome, Mister de Amos. I couldn't thank you enough as well, alam mo na 'yan. . ."

I smiled. "So. . . How long do you think will you finish painting it all?"

"Hm. . ." she hummed. "I don't have an idea because drawing on a big canvas like this could take much time. I could continue it back home. This beauty has already made a deep mark on my mind so I won't ever forget it."

"Kahit na kung ilang petals meron ang isang bulalak do'n?" pagturo ko pa sa fields.

Confident naman siyang tumango sa akin. "Yes! I remember it all."

I chuckled. "Bilib na ako, Sy. Could you also picture our future together?"

She raised her brow upon my question. "Bakit gusto mo ba?"

I scoffed. "Well, ikaw ang bahala."

"Alright. . . Just wait for it and you'll know it by the end of this trip."

We went into the Butterfly Meadows around eight in the morning, just after we had a quick breakfast at the hotel. Mas minabuti naming pumunta rito ng maaga dahil wala pa gaanong tao sa paligid at tahimik pa. Nagpaalam pa si Synestine sa staff kung pwede ba niyang ipuwesto ang painting set niya at pumayag naman sila. Excited din sila na makita kung anong kalalabasan ng painting nito.

Throughout the day, when visitors came over to witness the beauty of this place, all were curious enough to see what was going on and somehow got amazed at how artistic Synestine was. When some people came to her and complimented her painting, I noticed how it made her light up so well. What I love about her is her confidence. I guess, that was the reason I couldn't stop looking at her. She made me smile.

"Hey, Cho. Do you want to try?" she asked, handing the paintbrush over to me. "You can make a few brush strokes."

Mabilis akong umiling. "No, I don't think I can. I also don't want to ruin your masterpiece."

"Dali na! Pratice mo lang for our future classes?" pagpupumilit pa nito.

Nanindigan ako. Umiling ako at tumanggi sa kagustuhan niya. "As much as I want to, this is different, Sy. This is special for you and I don't want to ruin it for the sake of it. I want you to do it on your own. It should only be your masterpiece."

She scoffed. "Ang dami mo namang sinasabi, Mister de Amos. Fine, kung ayaw mo, e 'di okay. Watch me finish it! Hopefully I can do it before sunset. . ."

"I believe you can." Lumapit ako sa kanya at pinatong ang kamay sa braso niya.

"Thank you, I really appreciate you. . ."

Synestine continued painting on the canvas. Some visitors took a picture with her and I gladly took those pictures for them. Kapag sinasabi nila na ang cute raw namin as a couple, I want to argue with it dahil hindi naman kami mag-girlfriend at boyfriend, but she always responded thank you to everyone of them. I guess, I can't argue with that anymore.

At lunch, the staff gave Synestine free food, and the same for me. We thought to pay for the meals they serve to us, pero hindi na raw. It's on the house and somehow what she was doing made a little buzz online. 

"Nagtataka ako kung bakit gusto nilang magpa-picture sa akin. Hindi naman ako artista," aniya habang kumakain.

"I guess they were fascinated by your art. Gusto nilang alalahanin ang mukha mo."

"Para ipakulam?" anito at halakhak ang itinawa ko. "Tawang-tawa, Cho? Kalma ka lang, ha. Baka ma-fall ka talaga sa akin."

"You're so funny, Sy."

"Gano'n talaga kapag pretty," dagdag pa nito. "I just want to be honest, I don't think I can finish working on this all day."

"I know it's hard. . . I think some artists took a few days to finish their artwork. It's understandable if you didn't finish it. Are you worried we'll be back home with an unfinished artwork?"

Umiling naman ito. "Not really. I thought I can do it for a whole day, pero masakit sa braso, balikat, at sa likod. Do you think you could give me a massage tonight? Tomorrow babalik na tayo ng Chester Town and summer at the coffee shop begins."

"I'm not good at giving massages."

"Dali na," pagpupumilit pa nito. "Hindi mo naman kailangan maging license to do it."

"I'll see what I can do."

She cheered for it. "Yes! Thank you so much, Cho. I'm already looking forward to it. Gusto ko ng hard, a?"

That request threw me off at hindi ko na rin napigilang tumawa. Before she could start again, she let me massage her shoulders so she could feel relaxed for a bit. Tuwang-tuwa naman siya dahil nagustuhan nito ang pag-massage ko. I thought it was weird, but if it makes her happy then I'll be happy to do it.

As time passed by, she was still hopeful to finish it, but she wasn't even forty percent done with it. She doesn't know, but I took many pictures of her while painting. I know she would appreciate that.

When sunset came, we both watched how the sky turned orange and the flowers blew by the breeze. Dahan-dahan ko namang ipinatong ang kamay ko sa balikat niya. I thought she would move my hand away, but she didn't.

"How many times would you come back here?" I asked.

"The future is uncertain," she said. "But I would keep coming back in this place as long as I live. . ."

"That's. . ." I was about to say scary, but might not be a good idea. "That's good. If you wish to come back sooner, just ask and I'll come with you."

"I don't want anyone else to come with me, but you," she said. "I think you made this trip much more special for me. Thank you for everything you've done for me. . . I know you didn't have to come, but you did. You're the best, Cho. . . Kulang na ay maging boyfriend kita."

"Hm?" I hummed.

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa at nangusap lang ang mga mata namin. "I would love to. . . You know. . ."

She smiled and didn't say a word.

With that response, I was so ashamed of myself and how I fell for it. It was embarrassing. Siguro nga nagbibiro lang siya kapag sinasabi niya 'yon sa akin at ako naman ang uto-uto rito. Dahan-dahan ko ring inalis ang pagkakaakbay ko sa kanya para hindi niya mahalata. Matapos ding lumubog ang araw ay tinulungan ko na siyang magligpit ng gamit niya at dalhin iyon sa sasakyan. Nagyaya rin naman siyang kumain ng dinner at siya ang mag sagot no'n. Tatanggi pa sana ako, pero dahil last night na namin ngayon ay gusto niyang bumawi para sa akin.

I mean, she doesn't need to do anything for me. Her presence was enough to complete my day even though half of my heart was shattered earlier.

***

After dinner, we went straight back to our hotel room, and said she was so tired. I asked if she wanted to get some massage, but she said I should get some rest too. I kept thinking about what happened earlier and it could be the reason why she didn't want it now.

When I checked in on her, she was asleep, even snoring a little. Kung ano-ano na ang tumakbo sa isipan ko kaya naisipan kong tumambay sa balcony at magpalipas ng oras. Malamig ang simoy ng hangin at tahimik. I could see the lights of the Butterfly Meadows from where we are. It looks so beautiful at night.

Mayamaya lamang ay may tumawag sa phone ko at bumungad ang pangalan ni Tomas. Agad ko rin naman itong sinagot.

"Hoy, pre! Kamusta ka naman diyan?" bungad nito. "Maayos pa ba ang baby ko? Inaalagaan mo naman ba?"

Natawa ako nang bahagya. "Oo naman. Baka hindi na ako makaulit kung hindi ko aalagaan, e."

"Tama, tama! Kasama mo pa rin ba si Synestine? Okay naman ba? Naka-score ka?"

Napangisi ako. "Loko ka. Walang gano'n, 'no. But I'm having so much fun with you. I couldn't say them in words. Thank you for letting me use your car and because of that, I was able to make a girl's dreams come true."

"Naman, pre! Lubos-lubosin mo na, ha?"

I laughed. "Ewan ko sa 'yo. We'll be back home tomorrow. . ."

"E, bakit parang disappointed ka naman? May nangyari ba?"

I paused then laughed it off. "Wala naman."

"Sus! Ikwento sa akin lahat nang nangyari kapag pag-uwi ko, ha! Teka, tawagan na lang ulit kita mamaya. Aalis muna ako."

Nang ibaba ko ang tawag ko ay nagulat ako nang nakatayo si Synestine sa gilid ko. Sinamahan naman niya akong sumalampak sa sahig ng balcony.

"Si Tomas ba 'yong kausap mo?" tanong nito saka ako tumango. "He must be missing his good ol' car."

"Yup! That's the first thing he asked," aniko. "Ah. . . About pala kanina, Sy. . ."

"Don't say a word, Cho. . ." pagputol nito sa akin. "I felt so guilty for saying nothing earlier, but. . . I like you, Cho. I just don't know how to say it right because I was so scared you won't like me back even though Tomas kept teasing you to me."

Hindi ko alam kung tatawa ba ako o magtatago.

"I'm sorry if I make you feel bad earlier, hindi ko naman siya—"

I went in for a kiss. Nabigla lang din ako sa sarili ko kaya inilayo ko rin kaagad ang sarili ko, but she didn't look surprised when it happened. Siya na mismo ang lumapit sa akin at hinalikan ako. At that moment, I knew something came out good. 

I wasn't wrong after all. Those stains in my thoughts fade away with a simple brush of kiss.