Zeno's Sapphire

Chapter 5

"A boyfriend, then?" He asked with his eyes straight on me. His gray eyes are really beautiful, kahit hindi makikitaan ng emosyon... ang ganda ganda.

Tumikhim ako, "H-huh?"

Hindi ko naman inaasahan ang tanong niyang iyon. Even with the thought of it, I haven't had the chance to consider or see myself.

Ngumisi siya at naiiling na nanatili ang mga mata sa akin. "You don't want to call others with the same name and you blushed."

Huh.. Nag-init naman ang pisngi ko dahil sa kanya.. Hindi naman dahil sa..

Agad akong umiling sa kanya at napaiwas ng tingin. Ngayon lang siya ngumisi..

"H-hindi.. Wala pa akong ganoon.." sagot ko. 

Ito kasi ang unang beses na kausapin ako sa ganitong bagay. I used to hear that some of my classmates have a crush on me pero hanggang ganoon lang dahil hindi naman ako malapit sa ibang tao. Noong nasa U.S pa kami ay tatlo lamang kaming magkakaibigan na laging magkasama, ngayon naman ay si Duchess at ang isa pa naming kaklase na nakakasama ko sa art club ang parati kong kausap.

"I see. When I was in your age, I used to have tons of boyfriends." He said and shrugged afterwards.

Napalabi ako bago muking itinikom ang mga lavi at hindi napaligilang mapanguso.  Hindi na ako magtataka roon, gwapo naman kasi talaga siya.

"Anyway, you're still a little girl. It's right to just focus on your studies," pahayag niya na tinanguan ko naman. "What are you about to say?"

That's what I think too! I can't still see myself being in a relationship or even having a crush on someone ay wala pa, naiilang ako lagi.

"Uh.. S-sino kasama mo rito? Relatives?" I shyly asked.

Nagsimula siyang hawakan ang mga plato at isinaayos iyon sa tray. Hindi na ako nag-abalang tulungan siya dahil takot ko na lamang na mabasag ko pa iyon, I am not clumsy but I don't trust myself with this kind of matter too.

"Besides from the helpers and guard--I live alone," He answered. Tumayo na siya dala ang aming pinagkainan, sumunod na rin ako at sinarado ang pinto.

How does he managed to live alone? That's too sad, just thinking of being in his situation— I can't bear it.

Sabagay, kung ikukumpara naman sa akin ay parang wala pa naman talaga akong kakayahan. He's already an adult and I am not. Siguro ay kakayanin ko na rin kapag nasa edad na ganyan na rin ako.

As said, he take me home. Katulad noong una tahimik lang din naman kami, nakakatuwa lang dahil mukhang hindi naman siya nairita sa akin gaano. I don't really talk that much but I do like having conversation with people close to me. Eventhough we're not close yet, I get to enjoy his presence. It doesn't overwhelmed but I admit that somehow he still made me a little bit nervous, lahat naman siguro dahil may pagkaistrikto siya.

Pagkalipas ng ilang minuto ay narito na kami sa apartment ni kuya. His face is just blank but intimidating, kahit ang paghagod niya ng kanyang buhok at pag-ayos ng kanyang suot ay makikitaan ng kaartehan hindi pa rin nawawala ang awra ng kastriktuhan. At least, hindi niya naman na ako sinungitan muli.

"Thank you!" I smiled looking up to him.

Saglit niyang sinilip ang taas ng building. He put his hands inside his coat's pocket before returning his glance at me. "Your welcome," aniya. "Go upstairs, I may not be able to greet your family. I still have remaining errands," dugtong niya, wala pa ring kahit anong emosyon.

"Sige... s-sorry sa istorbo," sagot ko nang hindi na nakatingin sa kanya, nakatuon ang atensyon ko sa kanyang sasakyan.

"Don't apologize, tumaas ka na." The strictness in his voice is too evident.

His eyes are just piercing through me kaya
hindi na ako nag-aksaya ng panahon, ngumiti na lamang ako muli sa kanya at kumaway saka umakyat papunta sa apartment ni kuya.

Pagkapasok ko sa apartment ay dumeretso ako sa kusina kung saan naabutan ko si mom na naroon na may hinahalo sa kawali.

"Mom, I'm here!" tawag ko sa atensyon niya at agad humalik sa pisngi.

She faced me after the kiss, "You're here, finally. Akala ko nawala ka uli e, I tried calling you earlier. Hindi mo nanaman dinala ang gadgets mo," Mom stated.

Taas ang kilay nito at napunta na sa bewang ang isang kamay. Ngumuso ako bago umupo sa may lamesa. "Sorry, Mom. I was in hurry to come with you..."

Her brows shot up on me. Hindi ko na iyon pinansin at bumaling sa tahimik na paligid. Where's my brothersnaghugas muna siya ng kamay bago ako muling hinarap.

Mom walk towards the sink and wash her hands before facing me again, "Come with us? Uhuh." Ramdam ko ang sarkasmo sa boses nito, Kuya really got it from mom.

My mom started wiping her hands when she speak again, "Umalis pala ang boys kanina pagkabalik namin. We went home earlier than you, hindi ko alam ang number ni Zen. I forgot to ask Duke,"

Tumango ako kay mom. Hindi ko pa itinatanong ipinaliwanag na niya, sometimes I feel like all the people can read me. Well, I have a different case, I can't tell what's with people unless they tell it directly.

I told her that I will take a bath first again kaya iniwan ko muna siya sa sala. Itinago ko na rin ang binili sa akin ni Zeno sa bag. I can't help but to smile. Something is really different with his presence, siguro dahil sinamahan niya ako nung mawala ako. Hanging out with other people wouldn't be the same as I am with him.

I do still felt shy and a little bit nervous dahil sa kasungitan at kastriktuhan niya but I wouldn't erase the fact that i still felt comfortable around him. Sounds ironic, but it's the truth. Hindi kagaya kapag sa ibang tao ay gusto ko na lamang agad tumakas at magpaalam para umalis.

"How's your day our princess?" Dad sweetly asked in the middle of dinner. Nakatingin din sa akin si mom habang patuloy silang kumakain, she maybe forgot to ask me earlier.

They all continues eating but their attention is on me. This is somehow the first time I got to hang-out outside that's not for school purposes.

"It.. was fun.." I smiled genuinely.

Dad nodded his head. "Good to know,"

Ngumiti ako roon maging si Mom ay ngumiti na lamang. I saw Kuya looked at me, katabi niya si Mom while Clane is beside me. Samantala, si Dad ay nasa gitna.

"You really hang-out with Zen?" Kuya Duke confusedly asked. "You're growing up," dagdag nito na ani mong proud na nahahaluan ng sarkasmo.

Ngumuso na lamang ako. I know he's taking about my socializing issues. Ganito kasi si Kuya Duke, hindi naman niya isinasawalang bahala ang pagiging ganito ko but at the same time he doesn't like the thought of me being so dependent to them.

Ang sabi nga nila he's really mature for his age, and that's how he is to us too.

Dad drank a water and later on chuckled, "Don't grow up so fast. Hindi kami sanay ng mom mo, right hon?"

Sumulyap ito kay Mom na may ngiti sa mga labi. Mom just give an agreeing expression but I give them a frown, I won't.

Nagpatuloy na lamang kami sa pagkain, hindi na rin ako sumagot. Clane is just quiet listening to us, like he is as always.

Hindi rin naman talaga ako nagmamadali tumanda e.