Orphic Love

Chapter 13

Chapter 13
Shy

I still couldn't believe it. Aedion is courting me!

I buried my face on my pillow and uttered a curse. Mas lalo akong nabalot ng matinding kahihiyan ng maalala ang mga sumunod na nangyari pagkatapos noon.

It was so embarrasing! Halatang-halata na wala pa akong karanasan sa mga ganoong bagay. I didn't know what to do nor what to say to him. All I did was panic and flush. I couldn't even utter a single word without stuttering badly! Hindi pa nakakatulong na tila natutuwa si Aedion sa reaksyon ko. Damn it!

Kung hindi pa siguro tumawag si Mama at pakiusapan akong umuwi dahil bibisita sila Tita sa amin ay hindi ko na alam kung papaano makakatakas sa sitwasyon na iyon. Mabuti nalang at hindi na rin umapila pa si Aedion nang sabihin kong uuwi na ako, though he looked so amused the whole time he walked me to the parking area.

Bumaling ako sa aking kanan at nagpakawala ng malalim na buntong hininga upang pakalmahin ang naghuhumerantadong puso. Kusang kumurba ang labi ko at sumimangot nang maalala ang may halong pagmamayabang niyang titig sa akin kanina.

Pinulot ko ang aking cellphone na nasa tabi ko. Medyo natagalan ako bago makapagbihis dahil hindi ko malaman kung papaano ko ipapaalam kay Aedion na nakauwi na ako. Hindi ako makapaniwalang maski sa bagay na ito na nakasanayan ko na'y mahihirapan ako.

My heart pounded hard when I saw a notification for his reply. I noticed my hands slightly shaking due to nervousness. Relax, Yuri! It's just a text!

Aedion:
Okay.

This ain't good. Just a simple text is making my heart beat wildly!

Dahan-dahan akong bumangon. I combed my hair using my fingers before slowly typing another message. I bit my lower lips.

Yuliana:
Ikaw?

I muttered a curse after sending it. Para akong mababaliw. A part of me is saying that I shouldn't have asked him back, but there's another part of me, telling me it's fine.

My heart almost jumped out of my ribcage when my cellphone beeped for his reply.

Aedion:
Pauwi pa lang, traffic po kasi. :(

Umuwang ang labi ko. Nagsimula na namang magwala ang puso ko kasabay ng pag-iinit ng aking pisngi. Unti-unting kumurba ang maliit na ngiti sa aking labi. Ewan ko sa 'yo, Aedion.

Naudlot ako nang biglang may kumatok sa pintuan ng aking kuwarto. I turned to my room door and spoke.

"Yes?"

"Ma'am, hinahanap na po kayo ni Ma'am Hestia sa baba," tinig ng isa naming kasambahay.

"Bababa na 'ko," I said and stood up.

Sandali kong inayos ang sarili bago tuluyang lumabas at bumaba sa sala kung nasaan sila Mama.

Nang makauwi ako'y narito na sila Tita Kuja at Kuya Sam. Kuya Eliron wasn't with them. When I asked where he was, Kuya Sam told me he was busy with other things, which I quickly concluded to him being busy with a new girl. Doon lang naman siya nagiging busy.

Pagkababa ng hagdan ay naabutan ko si Mama at Tita Kuja na nagtatawanan tungkol sa kung ano. May nakahain nang tsaa at panghimagas sa center table. And as I walk near them, I caught a glimpse of Kuya Sam at the balcony talking to someone over the phone. I shrugged it off and continued walking towards the sala.

"Oh, ayan na pala si Yuri," si Tita Kuja na agad akong napansin.

Binalingan ako ni Mama. The smile on her lips was slowly replaced with a malicious smirk. Napakurap-kurap ako doon ngunit tumuloy pa rin at naupo sa mahabang sofa.