Kabanata 2

I wiped the sweat off my forehead and neck using my hanky and combed my damp hair. My phone rang again. I glared at it. Pahamak. I saw Manong's name on the screen.

"Ma'am. Sandali lang ho, ah? Traffic kasi eh. Malapit na po," I rolled my eyes and sighed.

"Okay po. Just make it a bit fast po, please? I badly wanna go home." I said and hung up the phone.

Napapikit ako ng mariin nang maalala ang senaryo kanina. Everyone from our batch knew about Forth's reputation. Some even find it amusing and cool. While me? I hated it. I don't like guys playing with someone's feelings. They are bunches of idiots.

I jumped a bit at the presence of someone beside me. My heart thumped. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba sa gulat, o kaba. Syempre, sa gulat. Bakit naman ako kakabahan, diba? Hindi naman ako ang nahuling nakikipaghalikan.

I lazily turned to him. "What?" Kailan ba ako makakauwi. I'm so tired. Dumagdag pa ito.

His brow shot up. "Nasaan ang sundo mo?" Aniya at sumandal sa pader ng waiting shed nang nakapamulsa. He looks hot there. Parang nasa photoshoot siya samantalang nakauniform lang at slacks. I shoved that thought off my mind.

"Wala pa." I said coldly.

Silence stretched between us. It's awkward and uncomfortable. Nasa tabi ko siya, ilang dangkal lang ang layo sa akin. Nanatili akong nakahalukipkip samantalang diretso ang tingin niya habang nakasandal parin sa pader.

He sighed. In my peripheral vision, I saw him turned his head on me. I remained stoic.

"I'm sorry you have to see that." My brow shot up at his statement. Doon na ako napatingin sa kaniya.

"I know you saw me earlier. I..." He licked his lower lip. It became redder, which made me a bit distracted. I tried hard to focus on his eyes. Mukha namang hindi niya na kayang dugtungan pa ang huling sinabi. Its like he's out of words.

Tuluyan ko na siyang hinarap at humalukipkip. "Don't be sorry for something na ginusto mo. Tss." Hindi siya dapat nagsosorry pero sinamantala ko iyon para pagtakpan ang hiya ko dahil sa paninilip sa kanila. Damn! Ako naman talaga ang sumilip pero siya ang humihingi ng sorry. 

Umayos siya ng tayo. Sa malayo ay halatado ko nang matangkad siya kumpara sa iba naming ka- batch. Mas lalo lamang palang nakakalula ang kaniyang height kapag malapitan. He messed his hair. Some strands fell on his forehead. His hair is in a a badboy cut, nasa tamang tabas, hindi gaanong mahaba. He has this playful, mysterious and dark aura, making girls go crazy. Dapat ay makakasira ang magulong buhok sa kaniyang porma pero lalong bumagay sa kaniya ang ganoong ayos. Wala talaga akong maipintas kung hitsura at dating ang usapan kay Forth.

"I.. uh...she initiated it and..." he trailed off. Why is he even trying to defend himself? 

" I don't mind. Do whatever you want." I shrugged.

"Hmm. Really?" He asked in a small voice, with a hint of irritation and sarcasm.

Hindi ako sumagot at tinaasan lang siya ng kilay.

He looked at me darkly. I feel like his stares is a trap, luring you to fall into it. Natigilan ako nang lumapit siya sa akin. Dahan-dahan ang hakbang habang nakatitig parin. He stopped inches away from me. This is the closest I've been to him. Our chest almost touched.

"What?"

He looked at me with playful eyes. I glared at him. His brow shot up. "What if I want to kiss you? " He said in a rasp voice. It sounded sexy and illegal. Nanlaki ang mata ko at halos umusok ang ilong sa inis. Hinampas ko ang shoulder bag ko sa kaniya na nakuha pang tumawa! 

"Aww." tawa niya. "Hey, I'm just kidding! I'm sorry, okay?" 

"Bwisit ka talaga! Huwag mo 'kong igaya sa mga babae mo!" I hissed. He stopped laughing and caught my wrists, pinipigilan ako sa ambang panghahampas sa kaniya. Kinalas ko ang hawak niya sa akin dahil para akong napaso sa hawak niya. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. 

"Hindi naman, ah. Hindi ka kagaya nila, okay? I'm just joking. Galit na agad eh," pang-aasar niya pa. 

"Umalis ka na nga! Nakakairita," singhal ko at pinagkrus ang mga braso. 

"Okay, hindi na. Samahan lang kita hanggang  sa makarating ang sundo mo." he said, amusement still dancing in his eyes while looking at me. I rolled my eyes which made him chuckle. I shivered bit at that. His laugh sounds so good. Damn. 

"Sungit." He teased. I looked at him sharply.

"Nakakainis kasi yang mukha mo," bulong-bulong ko na narinig niya pala. Akala ko ay mao-offend siya ngunit kabaliktaran ang reaksiyon niya. He bit his lower lip, nagpipigil ng ngisi. Why is he so amused?

"Anong nakakatawa?" Singhal ko.

He tilted his head, nangingiti parin. His eyes shined, scanning my face. Like he's memorizing every detail. Bahagya akong nailang sa pagtingin niya. My face flushed a bit. Itinago ko ito sa pagngiwi.

Damn him and his moves. Lalo akong napasimangot. 

Napatitig ako sa mukha niya. His brown eyes looks enticing. It is deep and tantalizing. But as I stared a little longer, I saw how empty it was. Like its hollow..and dull. But very breathtaking.

What the hell am I suddenly thinking? 

Naputol ang titigan namin nang dumating na ang aking sundo. I tore my gaze off him. Bumagsak ang mga mata ko sa dibdib niya.

"Go now. You look tired. You should have a good rest." He said softly now, nawala na ang pagiging mapaglaro.. Nahimigan ko pa ng kaunting lambing ang tinig na iyon.

I cleared my throat and nodded. "I-Il go now." I said. I looked at him and saw him staring intently at me. He smiled a bit at umatras, nagpapaalam.

I sighed as soon as I got inside the SUV. I saw him leaning on the wall, watching our vehicle leave the premises.

Maayos na ang disposisyon ko matapos makaidlip. I stared at the ceiling for minutes, feeling light and better now.

Gusto ko pa sanang tumunganga kaso naalala kong may usapan kami ng mga kaibigan ko. I just stayed for a few minutes, nakatingin sa puting kisame. Tinatamad ako at ayaw sanang pumunta pero baka magtampo ang mga kaibigan.

Sumagi sa isip ko ang eksena namin ni Forth kanina. Napapikit ako nang mariin at tinampal ang kaliwang pisngi. 

It took me almost 20 minutes to shower. I did my lotion and skin care. I blow dried my hair too. Hindi na ako nahirapang maghanap ng susuotin dahil hinanda ko na ito bago pa maligo.

Wearing a dark red thin-strapped spaghetti dress ending above my knees, my tan skin glowed, mas lalong nadepina ang aking bone structure sa napiling outfit. My straight black hair is on loose curls, hanggang ibaba ng dibdib ang haba. I paired my outfit with a gold Cartier necklace and earrings and a black YSL heels.

I looked at my reflection at the mirror. My high cheekbones got more defined by the make up. I got a round expressive eyes, narrow nose and thin red lips, which I inherited from my mom. Wala akong namana ni isa kay daddy. I am the young version of Cecilia Veronica Zulueta-Velasco. Magkapareho ng mukha at postura, sa ugali lang nagkaiba.

Alas otso ng gabi nang makaalis ako ng bahay. I hailed a cab. I just texted my parents about my whereabouts. As usual, I got no response. But at least, they know where I am and that I am still alive.