CHAPTER 5

Chapter 5

"Cleir, can we talk?" I just stared at him. Hindi ko alam bakit pero sobrang natatakot ako sa itsura n'ya ngayon. The cold person I know is colder today. It feels so indifferent. His eyes has no emotion at all.

Arc cleared his throat and then umiwas naman ng tingin si Cielo. Lumabas naman s'ya kaya sinundan ko nalang kung saan man s'ya pupunta. He stopped infront of a park. Naglakad s'ya papunta sa mga cottages, he offered me a seat so I accepted it.

Hindi ako komportable sa ganitong set up. Usually kasi, kahit walang nagsasalita sa amin habang nag-aaral, hindi kami ganito kaawkward.

"Kumusta?" I started the conversation habang nakatingin lang s'ya sa akin.

"Fine." Tipid n'yang sagot. Ang hirap basahin ng isip n'ya.

"Okay." Hindi ko na alam ano pa ang sasabihin ko. Ang tagal na rin kasi noong huli kaming nag-usap.

"You look happy." Actually, medyo masaya nga ang mga nakaraang araw. Palagi kong kasama si Arc. Minsan, pinupuntahan n'ya ako sa canteen para sabayang kumain, minsan naman sinasamahan ko s'ya sa library ng College of Engineering tapos doon nalang din ako mag-aaral.

"I hope so." Sana totoo nga na masaya ako. Kasi kahit anong gawin ko, there's a part in me na hindi masaya. I think it's my parents who made this.

"You look like a mess." I stared at him realizing that he has cuts on the side of his lips and eyebrow. Mukha s'yang restless.

"I'm sorry." Ha? Bakit n'ya kailangang mag-sorry? Wala naman s'yang ginawa? I mean, yes, we seldom talk but he always ensure me na we're just friends and hanggang doon lang talaga. He never did mislead me. He never gave mixed signals. So, alam ko na talaga na walang pag-asa kahit konti.

"Can you wait for me?" I was dumbfounded. Ano raw? Wait for him?

"Ha?" I was lost in words. Hindi ako sanay na kahit sa ganitong usapin ay straightforward pa rin s'ya.

"You know that we're friends right?" Binalik na naman n'ya ang topic na nananakit sa damdamin ko. Ano pa bang gusto n'yang sabihin? Tumango ako at tinikom nalang ang bibig ko. I shouldn't talk so much. It's his time to speak.

"Pumunta ako sa dorm n'yo kasi may pinahatid ang magulang ni Cielo. I wasn't sure na nandoon ka kaya pumunta nalang ako only to find out that you have a visitor."

"Manliligaw mo ba iyon? Maybe he treats you so well that's why you look happy." He said while looking away. Anong pinagsasabi nito? Pagkatapos n'yang sabihin na friends lang kami, ngayon, nagddrama naman s'ya. Mas komplikado pa s'ya sa tax e.

I didn't say anything. I was silently wishing na may kadugtong na magandang balita ang sasabihin n'ya.

"I also wan't to make you happy. Kaya lang, it's not the right time yet. My life's in chaos. I couldn't let you suffer because of me."

"Why would I suffer?" He's being so deep again. Pwede naman n'yang sabihin nang on point like he always do, bakit ang daming sugar coating this time?

"It's a long story. I tell you when we have a lot of time to waste. But for now, please answer my question. Do you like me?"

I blinked thrice. I couldn't believe that he is back on being savage again!

"What?" I don't know what to say. I don't want to hurt myself and I don't want him to make his life more unbearable for him.

"Maybe. I don't know, I'm afraid to get hurt. I can't handle the pain." Honestly, I have never been into a relationship because I know how complicated it is. I don't want tosee myself crying in pain again just like how I felt when my parents left me with my lola.

"I'll take that as a yes. I like you even though you're not the best.You have captivated me the moment I first laid my eyes on you." I felt some tingling sensation in my stomach! I also felt the heat on my face.

"You're blushing." He teased me habang ako naman hindi ko alam kung paano ko itatago ang namumula kong mukha! My goodness, Faustino! I should have known that you're a good talker!

"Wait for me okay? For now, let's just be friends first." I knew it. This will be a chaotic set up not only for me but for the both of us. If this fails, at leased we tried.

"Alam mo para tayong innominate contract! Walang label!" I joked around remembering our topic in Obligation and Contracts.

"Do ut des?" He said while laughing. Do ut des means I do that you may do.

"Facto ut facias?" I added. It means I give that you may give.

We just talked a lot until we decided to go home. Pagkabalik namin sa dorm, wala na doon si Arc at nagbabasa pa rin si Cielo.

She didn't bother to ask questions and I don't want to disturb her.

Medyo nagsstruggle ata s'ya sa acads this past few days. She's not the competitive Cielo I know.

Tinanguan lang s'ya ni Austin bago ito umalis.

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"Malapit na matapos internship mo tapos Integration mo na. Sana all, graduating." Busy sa thesis si Austin kaya ako nalang ang nag-aya sa kanya na magdate. Today is his birthday kaya lang wala ata s'yang balak na magcelebrate! Nandito kami ngayon sa Law Library.

Nagrereview ako total wala rin naman akong gagawin dito. Tapos na ang exams namin kaya pwede na munang magchill kahit sandali.

"Austin, natutulog ka pa ba?" Pumayat kasi s'ya tapos sobrang itim ng ilalim ng mata n'ya! May eyebags na.

"Minsan." Tinignan n'ya lang ako tapos bumalik na s'ya sa ginagawa n'ya.

"Gutom ka ba? Kain tayo pagkatapos mo d'yan?" Actually, I just want to celebrate his birthday. Gusto ko sana sa resto kaya lang for sure, ayaw n'ya. Kaya, daan nalang kami sa grocery store para bumili ng rekados.

He didn't answer, instead, tumango lang s'ya. My phone vibrated. Someone texted me so I immediately checked kung sino.

From: Arc

Please come here sa gym. I need a hand.

It's the first time na magsend s'ya sa akin ng ganito. Sinuot ko ang blazer ng corporate attire namin at tumakbo papunta sa gym. I told Austin na may kikitain lang ako sandali sa gym para hindi na s'ya sumunod doon.

To: Arc

I'm on my way. Just stay there.

Arc texted me na nasa may CR s'ya at hindi raw s'ya makaalis doon kaya binilisan ko nalang ang lakad ko para agad makarating doon.

I checked kung may tao sa loob and noong lumabas yung huling lalaki, I immediately called Arc to check if nandoon pa s'ya sa loob.

"Hello, Arc, nasa loob ka pa ba?"

"Oo, pasok ka na." I pushed the door and agad kong nilocked baka biglang may pumasok. Pagkarating ko doon, binuksan n'ya yung cubicle and I found him sitting sa may bowl.

"What happened?" He looks fine! Anong nangyari dito? He just gave me an awkward smile.

"Ahm, yung pants ko kasi" I was wondering what happened sa pants n'ya pero noong tumayo s'ya ay alam ko na kung ano ang problema.

"Ang bobo mo!" I yelled at him! Sino ba kasing tanga na bubukaka sa harap ng babae para ipakita ang punit n'ya seda! He's only wearing boxers for the love of god!

"Mas bobo ka! Baka ano pang isipin ng mga tao sa labas! Manahimik ka nga!" I rolled my eyes and umalis na ako doon. I gave him my blazer para pantakip n'ya sa butas. The fuck! He's insane!

Kinuha ko yung sewing kit ko sa locker at agad bumalik sa CR. Thankfully, walang tao kaya pinahubad ko sa kanya yung seda n'ya para matahi ko.

"Tangina, amoy utot!" Nilayo ko sa mukha ko yung seda.

"Sorry, masam talaga yung tyan ko ngayon. Kaya lang, malas noong paupo ako kanina, napunit pa ang seda ko!" He looked so humiliated. Hindi ko nalang s'ya inasar.

Pagkatapos kong tahiin ay inabot ko na sa kanya.

"Next time, wag mo na pilitin kung hindi na kasya!" I reminded him while palabas kami sa comfort room. Hindi ako makagalaw nang pagkalabas ko ay nakita ko si Cielo na nakatingin sa amin.

"Ahm, she just helped me fix my pants." He even showed her my sewing kit. Hindi naman naalis sa akin ang tingin ni Cielo. It was as if may gusto s'yang sabihin sa akin pero hindi n'ya magawang sabihin.

"Look, wala talaga kaming ginawang masama." I stared at her para maniwala s'ya na hindi ako kagaya ng iniisip n'ya.

"I know." She cut me off. She just heaved a sigh and then ngumiti s'ya.

"Birthday ngayon ni Austin. Hindi 'yon magse-celebrate for sure." She told me that he hates his birthday but she didn't told me why. Maybe it's for me to find out.

"At least be there for him. By the way, may ganap kami sa org tonight. Ipagluto mo nalang s'yang sinigang na hipon tapos tirhan mo ako." She waved good bye kaya naman naglakad na ako pabalik sa library.

"Hey!" I greeted when I saw him palabas sa Library.

"Sorry natagalan. Nag-usap pa kasi kami ni Cielo. Anyway, let's go? I'll cook for you." He nodded and we left the campus. Agad kaming bumili ng mga sangkap sa supermarket. He was pushing the cart while sinusundan n'ya lang ako. I also got a bottle of wine for us. Pagkalabas namin sa grocery ay inutusan ko s'yang bumili ng pizza and I told him na hintayin ko nalang s'ya sa baba kasi kailangan kong mag-cr.

Nang makaalis s'ya, I immediately went sa NBS to buy him a present. I don't know kung ano ang ireregalo ko sa kanya, he already have the calculator na katulad ng saakin. However, nakita ko naman iyong mga leather case ng calculators. I bought two of them para sa amin. I had our name engraved sa may harap.

Juan Faustino Y. Rivera, CPA

Cleir Isobel A. Garcia, CPA

After that, bumili na rin ako ng cake na maliiit para sa kanya. Kahit hindi n'ya gusting icelebrate ang araw na ito, I'll make it extra special for him. Pagkarating ko sa parking lot ay wala pa rin s'ya. What took him so long? Baka mahaba ang pila sa Pizza Hut? I don't know. I just waited patiently. After 10 minutes, dumating na s'ya. Luckily, dumating na yung grab na binooked ko.

I prepared the dinner habang s'ya naman ay nasa dining area at nagbabasa. He's really the busy guy! Hindi ko nalang s'ya pinansin at nang matapos akong magluto ay inihain ko na sa mesa ang dinner. He also fixed his things para makakain na kami dahil gutom na rin sguro s'ya.

"Happy birthday, Tangi." I walked towards him hawak ang maliit na cake na binili ko. He looked surprise.

"Alam kong birthday mo today at alam ko rin na ayaw mo ng celebration. Kaya ako nalang hihipan ng candle for you." It awkwardly smile.

"This is too much." I gave him my gift and then he embraced me with his arms. Hawak ko pa yung little cake! Muntik nang mahulog!

"Thank you, Isobel." He closed his eyes. I thought hahalikan n'ya ako but he just made a wish so he could blow his candle! I frowned because of that.

"We're you expecting something?" He raised his brow while looking at me.

"Of course not" I denied. Of course, who wouldn't like to be kissed, right? We've been exclusive for a year or so, tapos nagyon ko lang s'ya nayakap!

"I thought you were. Nevermind, I'll just do it!" He held my hand at hinila ako papalapit sa kanya. Hinawakan n'ya ang pisngi ko kaya naman pinikit ko nalang ang mga mata ko. I did not saw this coming! I thought we're just friends for now? Do friends kiss like this? I was busy thinking of it when I felt his lips touched mine.