Eukrania Academy

CHAPTER 24: A Trip

I just remained silent. I did not talk. I am irritated by his mere presence.

"You are just too easy to predict," he chuckled.

I looked at him, and our eyes met again. Umiwas din ako kaagad. Oo na, talo na ako. Hindi ko kayang makipagtitigan nang matagal sa kanya. He's just playing with me.

Nagsimula na kaming bumiyahe. Sabi nila, mahaba-habang biyahe ito. Si Miguel ang katabi ni George sa unahan. Kung sakaling gusto nang magpahinga ni George sa pagmamaneho, si Miguel naman ang papalit sa kanya.

Nagpatugtog si Erica ng isang pop rock music. Napapasayaw sina Alice at Erica sa tugtog, habang sinasabayan at kinakanta din ang ibang lines nito. Napapayugyog naman ng ulo sina George at Miguel sa harapan. Familiar ako sa kantang ito, kaya halos mapasayaw din ako sa beat ng music. Nakalimutan ko na katabi ko nga pala si Tyrone. Shit.

Napatingin ako sa kanya, at nakita ko siyang nagpipigil ng tawa sa gilid ko.

"Hey, may nakakatawa ba?" I confronted him. Buti na lang masyadong malakas ang tugtog para hindi marinig nila Alice ang sinabi ko, pero sakto lang ito para si Tyrone lang ang makarinig.

"Hindi ko alam na magaling ka palang sumayaw," nagpipigil siya ng tawa sa pagsabi nito.

"Excuse me? Iniinsulto mo ba ako? Baka hindi mo alam, magaling talaga akong sumayaw," pagmamayabang ko sa kanya.

"May sinabi ba akong hindi ka magaling sumayaw? I was giving a compliment, yet you are ungrateful," he smirked.

"Well, to tell you this, I don't need your compliment as if it is only insulting me," I said.

"Then, I am sorry to make you feel that way," he said.

I looked at him, and he suddenly became silent.

"What's your problem?" I asked him. He looked at me, too. "Why are you like that? Why aren't you enjoying your life like what others at your age usually do? Since I met you, you've been so distant, and you've been so cold. Do you have any problem that hinders your from having the life you are supposed to have, thus this makes you who you are today?"

"You do have a lot of questions on me regarding the way I live my life, don't you?" he seriously said. "You don't need to know who I really am, and what I am. It's none of your business, Alvira. Because you would never want to get involved in my fucked up life once you get to know it, I swear. So, stop digging in my life."

Sinabi niya iyon habang nakatingin kami sa mata ng isa't isa. He was really cold, and I am afraid that I am getting used to it. Hindi man lang ako nasaktan sa mga sinabi niya. I did also not get offended. Habang sinasabi niya iyon, may diin sa mga salitang binibitawan niya. Ngunit isa lang ang katotohanang hindi niya maitatago sa akin ⎯ na may lungkot sa kanyang mga mata. Kahit pilit niya pang itago, mukhang unti-unti ko nang nakikita ang totoong siya.

He might be rude. He might be cold. But the fact that he's been hiding that feeling inside, it must be hard for him. The emotions in his eyes have been betraying him, lately. I guess, all his life, he's been in pain. He's been hurting. 

You could never alter the truth that your eyes have been telling those who see them. You may tell them lies through your mouth and make them believe with your words, but you could never change what your eyes really tell them. Most of the time, our eyes alone speak for ourselves.

Tyrone might be hiding what he feels inside, but he could never deny the truth behind it for too long because in his eyes, emotions are very visible. And they are exactly telling me that he is dealing with such a great pain. 

He looked away. I understand now why he's like that. But, I would respect him by not asking him to spill everything about him, even if I just want to know him better. Unless, he opens up about it himself.