Five O'clock Sky (Nueva Caceres#1)

CHAPTER 7

Sumalubong ang malakas na buhos ng ulan paglabas namin ng Casa Lucio kaya nanatili muna kami sa shaded part sa labas ng bar. I wasn't expecting this. Mukhang kanina pa umuulan pero hindi ko lang namalayan nong nasa loob pa ako.

I hugged myself. Hindi naman malakas ang hangin pero sadyang malamig lang. Heavy rain and cold weather amidst damn summer season. Climate change has gone unequivocal.

On my peripheral vision, I saw Sandro taking off his black leather jacket. Bago kami lumabas ay nagtungo muna siya sa locker nila para mag-bihis.

Sandro softly held my shoulders at pinaharap ako sa kanya. Tahimik niyang sinusuot sa'kin ang jacket nya. Now, he's only with his faded jeans and white t-shirt.

If not only for the sound of the pouring rain and the muffled music coming inside Casa Lucio, nakakabinging katahimikan ang babalot sa'min ni Sandro.

Nakatingala ako sa kanya. Hanggang dibdib nya lang ako. Ang ilong ko'y malapit ng sumayad sa ibabang parte ng leeg nya sa sobrang lapit namin sa isa't-isa. I'm certain that he can feel my warm breath on his neck and his adams apple slightly moved in response.

"How long have you been working here?" I asked, not just to break the silence, but also to stop my thoughts in getting wilder.

"Just last week." Malamig nyang tugon.

"You're working at the plantation during the day and being a waiter at night. You're not resting." I said softly, genuinely worried about him.

Saglit siyang natigilan at sinalubong ang aking mata. "Hanggang alas-dose lang ng gabi ang shift ko. May tamang pahinga pa rin naman ako."

Matapos nyang masuot sa aking dalawang braso ang sleeves ng jacket, he zipped it up. I probably look like a hanger dahil malaki sa'kin ang jacket nya, but I don't mind. It's comfy, only that, his smell on it could take my sanity away.

"Kapag ba pasukan na ulit mag tra-trabaho ka pa rin dito?"

"I don't know yet." Mataman niyang sagot, "But for the time being, I need to work double time to save up for my next enrollment."

I bit my lower lip. I really don't know how does it feel to be in Sandro's shoes. All my life, I lived like a princess. I was pampered. I never knew the feeling of struggling to earn money. Hindi ko kailangang mag-hirap sa trabaho para lang makuha ang gusto ko. My whims and caprices are quickly provided.

I don't pity him. A hard-working man is far from being piteous. The only thing I'm feeling towards him is an overflowing adoration.

"Mag tra-tricycle ba tayo patungong hacienda?" Tanong ko.

"It's past twelve in the evening, Lucy." He stated a matter of fact, "Wala ng tricycle sa ganitong oras."

"Oh!" I bit my lower lip, "T-then I'll just call Tang Kael. Magpapasundo tayo."

I brought my cellphone out. I pressed the button many times, but it won't open. Kagat labi kong nilingon si Sandro. His brow arched questioningly.

"Lowbat."

I forgot to charge my phone. Ngayon pa talaga, seriously?!

He sighed loudly and took his phone out from the pocket of his jeans.

"Use this." Kinuha ko ang iniabot nyang cellphone.

Walang password. His screen is all black as well. I was about to type Tang Kael's number but my fingers remain unmoving.

Kagat-labi ulit akong tumingala kay Sandro na kunot-noong naka-tingin sa'kin.

"Hindi ko kabisado ang number ni Tang Kael."