"Everything will be alright. Just hang in there, Yuri!"

***

"Kiiro, let's be friends."

As I saw his smile, a familiar image flashes before my eyes. That's the exact words she told me that day.

I stood up while staring at the man in front of me. All this time, I haven't seen what his eye color looks like. Even his hair, his lips, it's all black and white in my eyes. I wanted to see his face while the rays from the setting sun is hitting his handsome face.

I flinched when Savior tapped my right shoulder. 'Uy, ba't ka nakatulala d'yan? May mali ba sa sinabi ko?"

"H-Ha? Anong bang sinabi mo?"

"Hays! Ang ganda ng timing nang pagkakasabi ko no'n e, tapos ipapaulit mo pa, ayoko na nahihiya na ako," aniya. Doon ko lang napansin ang hawak niyang paper bsg. My eyes narrowed when I saw a familiar logo on it.

"Wait, that's our brand!"

"Uhm, yeah? Um-order ako through online, planning to have a snack with you here. Bumaba lang ako para kunin iyong order ko," saad ni Savior at iniabot sa akin ang isang maliit na paper bag. I open it and saw a cup of coffee and a box of chocolate chip cookies.

"Wait, mom is waiting for me. Nakasakay na kasi ako ng kotse pero naalala kita." I almost forgot about mom! Baka nag-aalala na 'yon sa 'kin.

"Naalala mo 'ko?" mapanuring tanong ni Savior. Gumuhit sa labi niya ang nakakalokong ngiti. He even bit his lower lip to supress his smile.

"Stop what you're thinking. It's not in my habit to leave someone who's waiting for me." I unconsciously rolled my eyes on him.

Maglalakad na sana ako paalis nang bigla niyang hawakan ang kamay ko. I flinched when his warm hand wrapped around mine.

Nag-type siya sa cellphone niya at matapos ang ilang segundo ay nag-ring ito. I was just about to ask kung sino ang tinatawagan niya pero agad na sumagot ang isang pamilyar na boses mula sa cellphone niya.

"Hello?" It's mom!

"Hi po, Tita Café owner!" bungad na pagbati ni Savior. Teka, what is he thinking? Bakit niya tinawagan si mom? But putting that aside, he even have my mother's number, for Pete's sake!

"Oh, Savior, napatawag ka?" tanong ni mom mula sa kabilang linya.

I squinted my eyes on Savior. "Kasama ko po si Kiiro ngayon," aniya.

Just like what I expected.

"Pwede po bang mag-stay muna siya rito sa school? May kailangan lang po ako sabihin sa kaniya," dagdag niya pa. Napasapo na lang ako sa noo ko. Minasahe ko ang sintindo ko dahil sa stress na binibigay ng lalaking 'to.

I told mom that I left something. Now, she'll know that I lied.

But I shouldn't be bothered. Protective sila mom, alam ko na hindi siya papayag—

"Sige. Hatid mo na lang siya before 8 PM, okay?" Holy sheep?! Is she selling me out? Nasaan na iyong overprotective kong nanay?

"Thanks po tita!"

"O siya, sige na. Sabihin mo kay Kiiro, lagot siya sa akin kapag sinungitan ka niya," natatawang sagot ni mom.

"Opo, tita! Thank you po!" Then a beeping sound came after that.

Ibinaba ni Savior ang cellphone at tumingin sa akin. "See? You shouldn't be worrying about your mom. Pumayag siya, so you can't leave me here," he said with a mischievous tone.

Binawi ko ang kamay ko na kanina niya pa hawak. "Uuwi na ako," pagmamatigas ko.

"Hmm? Are you sure? Ayaw mo bang kainin muna 'yang binili ko bago ka umalis," sarkastikong sabi nito habang nakataas ang kilay.

"Knowing a person like Kiiro Misaki, a well-mannered man, he would never left someone who just did him a favour, right?"

Now, he's guilt-tripping.

"Okay! Oo na. But after this, make sure na hindi na 'to ulit mangyayari." Iniwan ko siyang nakatayo doon at umupo sa wooden bench malapit sa edge ng rooftop na nakatapat sa pagku Pagkaupo ko ay sumunod siya at tumabi sa akin. Kahit hindi ako direktang nakatingin sa kaniya ay kitang-kita ko ang ngiti sa labi niya. He looks like he won a million dollar on a lottery because of how happy he looks.

Lumingon ako sa direksyon kung saan makikita ang unti-unting paglubog ng araw. It was fascinating even if it's in gray scale. I bet it does look even more ethereal if I can see its color, but I'm afraid.

"Why don't you remove your glasses? Sunset is more beautiful if you can see its color," mahinang bulong ni Savior pero sapat na para marinig ko.

"I can't," I uttered while my eyes are pinned on the setting sun.

"Why?" He moved closer to me and rested his hand on both sides while looking directly at the sunset.

"I'm scared," I answered unconsciously.

"Bakit ka matatakot kung na'ndito naman ako?" It feels like his words rang a bell that made my eyes widen for a split pf second. I looked at him and saw that he's staring directly to the sun as well.

My heart is racing for an unknow reason. It's beating insanely fast while staring at his side features. Lalo kong nakita nang malapitan ang matangos niyang ilong at depinang panga pati na rin ang mga singkit niyang mata. His eyes turned to me then I saw him smiled.

Savior gently held my hand and told me something that I thought I would never hear again. "Don't be afraid to see the colors of the world. And if ever you did, I'm always here to take those fears away."

His words felt sincere, pure, amd genuine. Savior said those words like he meant it for real.

Nag-init ang gilid ng mga mata ko at unti-unting lumabo dahil sa mga luhang nagbabadyang tumulo mula rito.

Ibinalik ko ang tingin ko sa araw. "Don't ever take those words back."

"I will," he answered with assurance.

I took a deep breath. Using my right hand, I gently removed my glasses. In that moment, the grayscale world that I lived in was filled with the color that I never thought I would ever see again.

The slanting rays of the setting sun gave a touch of warm yellow and orange to the sky. I looked at the long shadows that the evening sun cast on the ground. Everything was yellow.

Tears began to fall from my eyes as I savour the sight of the sunset. I can clearly see the colors that I feared. I thought I was okay, but it was just for a moment. The warmth in my heart was replaced with fear that sent shivers to my system.

The yellow color of the sunset reminded me of that day. That yellow room, covered with blood. It's all flashing on my mind. It is as if I was watching a horrible endless film.

"Don't think about anything. Just think that right now, it's just me and you."

Nang marinig ko ang mga salitang 'yon ay parang naglaho lahat ng mga imaheng nakikita ko sa utak ko. They all vanished as if they never happened. Hindi ko inaasahan na sa mga salitang iyon, lahay ng takot ko, mawawala na lang nang bigla.

I looked at Savior and smiled. "Thank you, Savior."