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The pleasant breeze bearing the stench of salty seawater embraced Summer's fully clothed body as he strolled along the shoreline.
He breathed in the cool night air that was also ruffling through his hair. And as his feet were immersed in moist sand, he felt the tranquility of his own existence. 'What is it about the sea that makes someone feel so at ease? This incredibly relaxing?' Summer asked himself. He is not, after all, the type of person who has a deep admiration for the beach. Yes, he takes pleasure in it, but if there was a better alternative, then Summer would choose the more favorable one for him. Thus, he couldn't help but muse over those questions to himself as he wandered alone with the brightly lit moon watching him overhead.
How can it be so comforting?
How does the rumbling sound of the waves morph into something that's so soothing to the ears?
How could such incredible and amazing freedom be granted by the dismal and lonely night on the shoreline, which was only illuminated by the stars dispersed over the sky and the moon that was nearly tucked away by the canopy of clouds?
How?
How is it that someone's eyes resemble the crescent moon from above while his smile shines like a million stars?
And how can the person waving cheekily at him from afar provide him with such unfathomable happiness and fulfillment that this night alone makes him feel as though the best year of his life is currently happening to him?
"Summeru!! Dito, dali!!"
Migo yelled at him, overwhelmed with unknown joy and anticipation. He draped the strap of his DSLR around his neck and took a step toward meeting Summer. Hindi makapaghintay.
Summer signaled him to stop walking and just remain in his spot, but he was too stubborn to even follow him. He sighed in irritation and rolled his eyes when Migo finally got close to him. His best friend chuckled, snapped his DSLR into focus in front of him, and clicked the shutter button. Summer's knitted brows with a slightly puckered lips were what Migo's camera captured. He hides his grin.
'Another photo was taken para sa aking Summer's memory storage. Tangina, pinanalo na naman ako ng mundo!'
Summer pinched Migo in the waist, causing the latter to whine and back away from him. "Delete mo yan, Migo. Ayusin mo kung gusto mo pa mabuhay nang matagal."
Migo pretended to be scared as part of what Summer said. "Hala, gagi. I'm so scared." He mocked.
Summer rolled his eyes, obviously in frustration and defeat. After all, Migo was too hardheaded to follow him, especially if what Summer was asking was not favorable on his part. Sa pictures na nga lang sumasaya.
Summer pounded his feet on the sand and walked fiercely, leaving Migo behind, who isn't yet done teasing him. However, he is apparently unsure of where he is about to go. He even has no idea why he sought Migo to go along the beach with him.
"Sam, hintay! Daya, amp! Inistorbo mo kaya tulog ko!"
Rinig niyang sigaw ng kaibigan ngunit nagpatuloy lamang siya sa paglakad. At kahit na hindi sigurado kung saan siya papunta, hinayaan niya na lamang ang kanyang mga paa kung saan siya dalhin nito. Nevertheless, it is just inexplicably enjoyable to walk along the shoreline at night with someone who is struggling to keep up with you from behind. Summer giggled faintly to himself.
Wala pang tatlong minuto ay ramdam na agad niya ang presensya ni Migo sa tabi niya. Hindi na niya kailangang lumingon pa para malaman kung sino ito. Even with his eyes closed, he can tell Migo's existence is near him. He just knows him too well and in depth, to the point that, often times, Summer wishes that he could somehow unlearn him.
Migo had progressively become such an open book for Summer that he couldn't help but discover more and more about him. He feels like it isn't a life to be called when he misses one chapter in Migo's life. Pakiramdam niya, kulang siya. Hindi siya kompleto.
After a few minutes, Migo pulled Summer closer to him, putting his arms around his shoulders. They then proceeded to walk along the shoreline side by side, their bodies pressed close as they allowed themselves to get carried away by the sound of the tranquil waves and the breezy air.
***
"Summeru, bibilhan daw ako ni Papa ng motor sa sunod na buwan. Appeal, 'di ba? Hindi na natin kailangan mag-commute!"
They were now both sitting on the sand. Their knees were brought closer to their chests as they watched the swaying reflection of the moon in the calmness of the low-tide water.
Upon hearing what Migo had just stated, Summer's ears seemed to have likely been pierced by a sharp-pointed object. He moved his gaze toward him, his brow wrinkled in anticipation of a disapproving reaction.
"Motor?! Pumayag ba si Tita Mary? Naku, Migo! Hindi ako aangkas sa motor mo! Ayoko pang mamatay! Gagraduate pa ako, gago ka!"
Migo burst into fits of laughter as he watched his best friend become agitated in his own thoughts. "Gago, patay agad? 'Di ba muna pwedeng madisgrasya lang?" The remark was made purely in jest, but Migo pursed his lips when Summer maintained his attitude of stoicism and didn't laugh at all. He shook his head and sighed. He extended forward his hand and gently ruffled Summer's hair. "Sam, hindi naman ganun yung purpose ng motor. Hindi tayo papatayin nun. Wala ka bang tiwala sa best friend mo? Gago, ako na 'to oh!"
Lumingon si Summer sa kanya, bakas pa din ang pag-aalala sa kanyang mukha. "Hindi ka naman marunong magmaneho ng motor, Migo." Rason niya.
A smile formed on Migo's lips as he looked Summer directly in his own eyes. "Kaya nga mag-aaral kung paano, Sam."
"Paano kapag— "
Hindi na pinatapos ni Migo kung ano pa ang sasabihin nito. "Ang pessimistic mo, Summeru." He can't help but utter it softly to Summer.
"Ayoko lang naman may mangyaring masama sa'tin, Migo."
"Wala namang masamang mangyayari, Sam. Seryoso, feeling ko wala ka lang tiwala sa'kin. Sa tingin mo ba hahayaan kong may mangyaring masama lalo na kapag kasama kita? Sa tingin mo ba, papabayaan kita, Summeru?"
A splash of waves broke the deafening silence that was ready to crumble on them. Summer stared at Migo for a long time as he wondered about those questions. Kailan nga ba siya pinabayaan ni Migo? Not once, Summer said to himself. Kahit maraming beses siyang pwedeng hayaan nito.
Migo cares for him. In fact, Migo always does. In the long run, for the longest time.
Summer punched Migo in the shoulder. The latter looked at him with wide eyes, clearly taken aback by his unexpected attack on him. "Aray ko, gago! Para saan yun?!"
"Para magtino ka. Ayoko ng mayabang sa kalsada." Summer murmured. His gaze was pulled to the natural view in front of them.
Maya-maya pa ay naramdaman niya ang malalim na pagtitig sa kanya ng kaibigan. Madalas ay hinahayaan niya lamang ito pero may kung ano sa gabing ito na pakiramdam niya ay unti-unting hinihila ng bawat titig nito ang kabuuan niya. It was like a magnet, drawing him in even more. And Summer, for whatever reason, felt as if he had lost his sense of momentum because of that. He wanted to pull himself back to his own composure, but something held him back from doing that.
"Gusto ko na gumraduate, Summeru."
Migo held him back.
"Mabilis lang naman ang paglipas ng oras. 'Wag mo lang hintayin, babagal yan."
He allowed his fingers to gently gather the sand between them, feeling its softness and dampness. Pinigilan niya ang sariling lumingon sa kaibigan.
"Ang tagal-tagal na kasi. Parang walang katapusan. Parang habang tumatagal, habang lumilipas yung oras, lalo lang nadadagdagan. Lalo lang akong nahihirapan." Migo breathed deeply. Itinuon niya ang kanyang siko sa likuran upang suportahan ang kanyang sarili. "It feels to be repeating endlessly, as if I keep going around in circles just to find out that I am trapped."
This time, Summer paid a glance at him. Yung matagal na. His words drew him in, like they weren't only about graduating from college anymore. It feels like there was something more to it that Migo kept to himself.
Migo returned his gaze. "If there was something I hated, it was being trapped. Pero tangina, bakit pagdating dito, kaya kong ikulong yung sarili ko?"
And then there was it—finally, the silence. Only the murmuring whispers of the wind and the crashing waves of the sea provided Migo with an answer he never asked for. He gazed up at the starry sky when Summer chose not to say a word about it.
"Summeru."
Huling beses na pagtawag niya, ngayong gabi.
"Hmm?" Summer watched Migo's side profile as he took in the vastness of the night sky.
"Ga-graduate ako. Promise."