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Malamig, payapa, tahimik, masarap ang simoy ng hangin, at tanging tunog lamang ng alon ang maririnig habang naglalakad sila sa puting buhangin at nakatingin sa papalubog na kahel na araw.
“I’ve always admired sunsets, you know. Itong sunset na ata yung pinakamagandang nakita ko.” Joshua commented, breaking the calm silence that was surrounding them.
“This is actually my first time watching the sun set closely, madalas kasi sa malayuan or nakalubog na yung araw.” sagot naman ni Junhui.
Saglit silang tumigil sa paglalakad para pagtuunan nang pansin ang papalubog na araw sa ilalim ng malalim na dagat.
“Ang ganda.” “It’s so breathtaking.”
Sabay nilang sabi. Well, totoo naman. It’s breathtakingly beautiful. Isa nanamang memorable na araw ang matatapos, maaalala at babalikan.
“Upo tayo?” Junhui asked Joshua, who’s still looking at the wide horizon.
Without taking his eyes off the sea, Joshua took a seat beside Junhui, never minding the sand na napunta sa damit nila. Madali namang pagpagan.
Saktong pag-upo ni joshua ay nagsalita si Junhui, “Joshua, can I hold your hand?” Joshua, finally looking at Junhui, just smiled at him and he was the one who took Junhui’s hand and held it. “You don’t have to ask, you know? pwedeng-pwede mo hawakan anytime.”
Junhui smiled back at him, “Alam ko, I just want to ask for permission galing sa’yo like what I did kahapon.” Joshua laughed at him, amused by what he said. “You still remember that?”
Joshua moved closer to where Junhui is sitting at saka inihiga ang ulo sa balikat nito while still holding Junhui’s hand.
Junhui put his arms around Joshua, holding him close while rubbing Joshua’s waist and kissing his temple. God, Junhui could stay like this forever, with Joshua of course.
“How could I forget yesterday, Joshua? Baka nga hindi ko na makalimutan eh. It was a day to remember. Kulang na lang, gumawa ako ng rewind button para ulit-ulitin ang kahapon.”
OA at it seems, pero Junhui is genuine, honest rather, sa lahat ng sinasabi niya.
“I would laugh at you, but I won’t, kasi I feel the same. I could never forget yesterday.” Joshua said. Inangat niya ang magkahawak nilang kamay at saka hinalikan ito.
Letting his lips linger there for a while.
“Ang daya, ang bilis ng araw. Gusto pa kita makasama.” bulong ni Junhui, habang hinihigpitan ang yakap sa binata.
Joshua closed his eyes, trying to remember what happened yesterday. When he and Junhui met.
Tirik na tirik ang araw, masakit sa balat ang tanghaling araw. Halos hindi na gumalaw si Joshua sa kinauupuan niya at baka kapag tumayo siya ay tumulo lahat ng pawis na kanina pa na gusto tumulo sa noo niya.
Bakit nga ba siya nandito sa Beach Resort ng kaibigan niya?
Para magliwaliw? Hindi naman. Para mag-relax? Eh paano? Init na init siya, how could he relax?
Napairap na lang si Joshua, iritang-irita na talaga siya. He should’ve just declined Jeonghan’s offer to go sa resort niya.
Hindi naman kasi siya madalas lumabas and he’s not a beach-type of person, napilitan lang talaga siya kasi sayang naman kung tatanggihan niya.
So here he is now, nakaupo sa buhanginan, parang nakatutok ang araw sa kaniya, burning his skin and irritating the fuck out of him.
Tatayo na dapat siya nang biglang may narinig siyang papalapit, parang tumatakbo patungonsa direksyon niya.
Titignan niya dapat kung ano ‘yun nang may naramdaman siyang sakit sa may bandang kanang kamay niya.
Someone just ran over his hand and hell it hurts.
“HALA SORRY PO! SORRY PO! HINDI KO PO KAYO NAKITA! HALA KUYA SORRY PO! Yung kamay mo ata yung naapakan ko! Hala sorry po! Sorry po talaga.”
Tarantang-tarantang sabi ng lalaki na katatayo lang din kasi pagkatapos niyang maapakan ang kamay ni Joshua ay nasalubsob rin siya sa mainit na buhangin.
Mukhang hindi lang sa init ng panahon siya maiirita, pati ata dito sa lalaki na nakaapak ng kamay niya.
Bago pa man ulit makapagsalita ang lalaki ay inunahan na siya ni Joshua, “Impossible naman na hindi mo ako nakita.” masungit niyang sambit habang tumatayo, holding his right hand na naapakan.
“Sorry po talaga, hindi ko po talaga sinasadya! May aso po kasi na humahabol sa akin kanina hindi ko na po natitignan dinadaanan ko.”
Joshua took his shades off para matignan niya ng lalaki nang maayos. As soon as he did, hindi niya maiwasang matulala.
Buff, Handsome and Tall as a tower.
He’s also shirtless, just wearing swimming trunks.
‘Diyos ko po.’
Hindi namalayan ni Joshua na nakatulala pala siya. So, the shirtless guy carefully walked towards him.
“Can I see your hand? Baka may sugat, let me treat it.”
“Hey? Tulog ka ba?” biglang nagsalita si Junhui, causing Joshua to open his eyes. “No, just remembering kung paano mo naapakan yung paa ko.”
Junhui laughed at him, obviously knowing what Joshua said kasi kasalanan niya ‘yun. Hindi niya tinitignan ang dinadaanan niya.
“I’m still sorry about that, pero hey! Akala mo hindi ko napansin na nakatulala ka sa katawan ko?” Junhui teased him, resulting Joshua to blush and pinch Junhui’s waist. “Masisisi mo ba ako? It’s not everyday na makakakita ako ng gwapo, matangkad tapos maganda pa katawan.”
Now it’s Junhui’s turn to blush, not expecting Joshua to agree to what he said. Natawa na lang sila parehas and back they go to hugging each other. Silently basking in each other’s warmth.
“Sana hindi na lang lumubog ‘yung araw.” Junhui suddenly said. “Bakit naman?” Joshua replied, wondering why Junhui said that. “Para makasama pa kita nang matagal, mahawakan ko pa kamay mo, mahalikan ko pa ‘yang noo mo—“
Pinaupo ni Junhui si Joshua sa harapan niya, wrapping his arms around Joshua’s waist and putting his head on top of Joshua’s shoulder at pasimpleng inamoy ang leeg nito.
“— and of course, spend another wonderful day with the person I love.”
Joshua can’t help but tear up at Junhui’s words, hindi niya maiwasan na maiyak kasi gusto niya rin eh. Gusto niya pang mahawakan si Junhui, mayakap siya, mahalikan siya at makasama siya.
“You don’t know that, we just met yesterday,” his voice cracked because he is really close to crying. He hugged Junhui back by hugging Junhui’s arms that was around his waist and kissed Junhui’s cheek that was beside his face.
“I don’t care. I fell in love with you yesterday. I fell harder today. Maybe even more tomorrow, if we had another.” Junhui said as he hugged Joshua tight, parang ayaw niya na pakawalan sa mga bisig niya.
No one said a word after that, Joshua just made himself smaller under Junhui’s hug, ayaw niya ring umalis sa mga braso ni Junhui.
Parehas silang ayaw umalis. Not when the both of them were just starting to write their very own love story.
It was warm, it was peaceful, it was calming. Yet, it was bittersweet for just having the thought to part with the sea who witnessed their first and last scene.
“Joshua, can I kiss you?” Junhui requested, and who is he to deny such a kiss from him?
Joshua didn’t answer, siya na mismo ang nag-initiate ng halik. And God, Joshua wished he kissed Junhui earlier. Yung marami pa sana silang oras.
Iniharap ni Joshua ang buong katawan niya kay Junhui, now sitting on top of his lap and kissing the living the daylights out of him.
Jun’s hands still around on Joshua’s waist and his hands around Junhui’s neck. No one would dare to interrupt such an intimate moment, sila lang din naman ang nakaupo doon at naglalampungan.
Hindi alam ni Joshua kung bakit bigla nanaman siyang naiiyak, kaya mas lalo niyang linaliman ang halik kay Junhui. Pouring every emotion he felt to that kiss. Happiness, Longing, Sadness.
Love.
Joshua made sure to waste no second when he’s kissing Junhui, they don’t care kung halos mawalan na sila ng hininga, basta huwag lang maghiwalay ang kanilang mga labi.
Pero syempre, they need to breathe. So, they had to part for a while. The both of them panting and only huffs of breaths can be heard.
“Kung alam ko lang na ganito ka pala kagaling humalik, sana kahapon ginawa ko na.” Joshua joked and Junhui laughed, softly hitting his head to Joshua’s forehead.
“One more?” Junhui asked him. “One more.”
After 10 minutes of making out at the sand, naisip nila na tumayo na kasi puro na buhangin ang damit nila, so, they decided to just continue their walk.
Magkahawak kamay silang naglalakad, nakalubog na ang araw. Tanging ang buwan na lang na maliwanag ang nagsisilbing ilaw sa kanila.
Sumasabay ang hampas ng alon sa kanilang mababagal na hakbang, ninanamnam nila parehas ang bawat segundo at minuto na lumilapas.
“Malapit na mag 7:30, malapit na ako umuwi.”
Junhui held his Joshua’s hand tighter when he heard that. Halatang ayaw paalisin si Joshua, pero hindi pwede.
“Sumama kaya ako sa’yo?”
“Kung pwede nga lang eh, but you have a flight to catch din.” Sadness evident on Joshua’s voice.
7:23 pm, Sunday.
“Junhui, I want to say something.”
The both of them halted, Junhui waiting for Joshua to continue.
“Alam mo bang dapat hindi talaga ako pupunta dito? Sa Beach Resort na ‘to? But i’m glad I did.
I also met the person na hindi ko akalaing mamahalin ko kaagad.
Funny how we both fell for each other in just one day. But I also think na that’s such a wonderful feeling.
I guess what I’m trying to say is, I’m thankful.
I’m happy. So so happy that I agreed to go here and enjoy my stay here with you.
Thank you for making my summer memorable, Junhui.
Know that I will forever remember and cherish you, treasure every single thing we did yesterday and today.
It just saddens me na isang araw lang naibigay sa atin. If only we could make this day longer, i’ll spend another one with you.”
Junhui felt like crying, but he didn’t. Instead, he pulled Joshua closer and hugged him tight.
“God, Joshua. Sabihin mo lang, I won’t leave. I’ll stay with you here, tell me and I will.”
Joshua badly wanted Junhui to stay here with him, continue what they started and never ever part. But of course, Joshua wouldn’t do that, even if he wants to Junhui to stay.
“Tumigil ka nga Hahaha. Hindi pwede at baka ma-late ka sa flight mo.”
Junhui broke the hug and proceeded to hold Joshua’s jaw, holding him softly.
“I love you yesterday, today and the following tomorrow’s, Joshua.”
“I loved every second, every minute and every hour that we spent together, Junhui.”
Junhui placed one last kiss on Joshua’s forehead, then on his pointy nose, his hazelnut eyes, his rose cheeks and of course, Joshua’s cherry lips.
“Aalis na ako.”
“Go, at baka ma-late ka pa.” Joshua said with finality in his voice.
Junhui sweetly smiled at him, his eyes shining with the moon. “Ingat ka, okay?” paalala ni Joshua sa kaniya. “You too, Joshua.”
With one last look and hug, they both walked away from each other, never looking back while their hearts longed for each other to just come back so they could reunite again.
Unfortunately, they didn’t. Maybe not today, not tomorrow and not the following days. But one thing’s for sure, they won’t forget what happened yesterday, today and will definitely remember it tomorrow and the following days.
It was fast, it was magical, it was worthy and of course, It was a summer to remember.
Junhui and Joshua may not meet in the future or maybe, never meet again at all. Hindi nila alam, ang mahalaga, nagkakilala sila ngayon, fell in love with each other even if it’s just for one day but who the fuck cares?
As long as their heart is beating for each other, they would be okay, alive and remembered.
'Cause nothing ever changes the fact
That summer is for falling in love
Summer is for falling in love.