Chapter 4
"Jihann, sit down properly." Tumingin ako sa kanya mula sa paghahanap ng songs sa ipad ko pero hindi ako gumalaw para sundin ang utos niya. When will he ever get used to my clothes? I ignored him and continued browsing my ipad.
"Jee..." Saway niya ulit sa akin habang patuloy lang sa pagdadrive.
"I am comfortable this way Ian." Narinig ko pa ang buntonghininga niya bago tumingin sa pagkakaupo ko sa passenger seat ng kotse niya. I was sitting on folded legs while still wearing my cheerleading skirt. The skirt is hitching up and my mid-rise short shows.
Itinigil niya ang kotse sa gilid ng daan at iniabot ang jacket sa backseat ng kotse at ibinato sa lap ko. I raised my eyebrows at him in amusement.
"Seriously?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko sa kanya. Dalawang linggo na kami yet hindi pa din siya sanay na ganito kaiksi ang skirt ko. Para bang hindi niya ako sinusundo araw araw na ganito ang suot.
"Seriously." He said flatly and continued driving. Nagkibit balikat na lang ako at itinuloy ang ginagawa ko. Nung makapili na ako ng kanta, isinuot ko na ang earpods at ignored Ian. He's used to it. He doesn't mind that we don't talk that much while he's bringing me home. Frankly, ako ang hindi sanay sa tahimik na byahe. Siegfred and I usually chat our way home or sometimes we even ended up parking on the side of the road just to make out.
But then, Ian is not Siegfred. In fact, their attitudes are poles apart.
"By the way Ian, hindi mo ako kailangang sunduin tomorrow. I'll be attending Zack's party after class." Sabi ko habang hindi tumitingin sa kanya pero ramdam ko ang pagtingin niya sa akin.
"I presume, you're not asking my permission. You're merely informing me." I looked at him this time. Nakakunot ang noo ko nung makita ko ang parang galit or inis na expression sa mukha niya.
"Yes. I am telling you that I'm coming to Zack's party. Is there any problem?" Lalong nangunot ang noo niya pero hindi niya sinagot ang tanong ko. He maneuvered the car to the parking space allotted for my unit. He turned off the engine and unlock the doors then went out of the car. I scrambled for the seatbelt and immediately went out the car too. What's wrong?
"Ian!" I called after him. Nagmamadali akong sumunod sa kanya as he climbed up the stairs to my unit. We usually don't use the elevator since my floor is just 2 floors away from the parking.
"Ian, what's the problem?" Malakas na ang boses ko habang mabilis din na umaakyat sa hagdan while matching his long strides.
"I don't know." He sound mad and frustrated. Hindi na ako nakapagpigil, hinawakan ko ang braso niya para mapatigil siya sa pag akyat. Tumigil nga siya at humarap sa akin tapos bumuntonghininga.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know Jihann. Hindi ko alam kung dapat ba akong magalit dahil ngayon mo lang sinabi or magpapasalamat ako dahil sinabi mo pa sa akin." He brushed his hair with his fingers obviously showing his frustrations.
"Obviously you're mad." Kitang kita naman sa itsura niya na galit siya at frustrated. "Why?"
"Seriously, hindi ko alam kung saan lulugar. Hindi ko alam kung normal lang ba sa'yo na hindi nagpapaalam kapag may pinupuntahan. Ako kasi nasanay na nagpapaalam sa akin ang mga past girlfriends ko. So naturally, I would get mad upon knowing that you've decided without me." Oh! So that was it. Umakyat ako ng isang step para magkapantay kami at lumapit ako sa kanya. Enough, para magdikit ang mga katawan namin. I put my arms around his nape and smiled at him sweetly.
"So, you wanted to have an upper hand in this relationship?" I said too sweetly and I saw him swallowed as he look at me.
"It's not like that Jee. I just wanted to be informed." Nilapit ko pa lalo ang mukha ko sa mukha niya at nagsimula nang mamula ang buong mukha niya. Lalo akong napangiti.
