Elysian (Samantila Series #1)

8

Totoo ngang mas mabilis lilipas ang mga araw kapag gusto mong bumagal ito. It's already the day we'll enroll. With, you-know-who.

Ang usapan ay magkikita-kita kami sa bahay nila Blaid. Mabilis ang paghinga ko habang tinitignan ang nakakalat na damit sa'king kama. Why the frick am I getting nervous over enrollment? And the worse thing here is I am acting like I'm having a date! Hindi naman!

Mas lalo lang magkakaroon ng malisya ang lahat kung magbibihis akong parang pupunta sa mall.. My cousins will prolly think that way!

Kabado kong kinagat ang kuko ko kahit nanginginig ang kamay ko sa kaba.

You're pathetic, Ame. Akala ko ba'y 'di mo crush si Stage Lacsamana at kahit kailan ay 'di ka mafafall sakanya?

Hindi naman talaga!

I groaned when I realized I'm not being myself today. It's as if a girly spirit overtook my body from me.

"Let's just get this over with." ako saka kuha sa simpleng flannel shirt, white tshirt, at jeans.

This is the most simple outfit I could wear. Hindi na ito over-outfit!

Matapos no'n ay napagdesisyunan ko nang maligo nang makaalis na. We planned to meet at 1:30PM at isang oras nalang bago 'yon.

After makapagbihis ay naghanda ako ng maliit na shoulder bag na may lamang ballpen, ID (kung kailangan), wallet, cellphone at panyo. Typical things a normal person would bring.

"Aalis kana, Haze?" tanong ni Kuya Erwin, isa sa mga nagbabantay at driver sa bahay. Tumango ako.  Kaya inihanda na ni Kuya ang sasakyan.

While on the way I can't help but to sweat even if the aircon in the car is set high. This is so pathetic. It's like I'm proving that my cousins are right. Wala naman akong gusto sakanya. It's just.. maybe he's too much for me? His presence, his record, everything about him. It's overwhelming.

He's friends with Acee Montaruel and he's a Lacsamana. Maybe that's enough reason for me to shake? To feel nervous?

Bakit ko nga naman kasi sinabi na okay lang na sumabay siya? I'm obviously not okay right now!

Kabado kong pinunasan ang pawis nang dumating ako sa harap ng bahay nila Blaid. Bago bumaba ay nagpasalamat muna ako kay Kuya Erwin.

Ilang segundo akong tumayo lang sa harap ng bahay nila bago ko napagdesisyunang mag doorbell na. Kaso, bago pa ako makapagdoorbell ay may nauna na.

The one who clicked it first is taller than me, hanggang balikat lang niya ako halos. Nilingon ko ito at halos tumigil ako sa paghinga nang makita ang mukha ni Stage Lacsamana na nakangiti sa'kin.

"You're sweating, are you okay?" nawala ang ngiti niya matapos tanungin 'yon.

I averted my gaze, hindi mo siya crush, Ame!

"Mainit kasi." thank God I didn't stutter!

Nagulat muli ako nang subukan niyang harangan ang araw gamit ang kamay niya, "I have no umbrella. This is the best I could do." at nariyan nanaman ang ngiti niyang nakakaloko.

"Ayos lang! Ikaw ba? Isn't it hot? Ba't wala kang payong?" sabi ko at nilingon ang daanan.

"I got here by car. Nakisabay lang ako sa pinsan ko. Anyway, does it really take this long? Ang tagal naman nila." humalakhak siya, hindi parin inaalis ang kamay na nasa tuktok ng ulo ko para harangan ang "araw".

"Kaya nga, e." saka ko pinindot muli ang doorbell.

Ano kayang nangyayari kila Guinevere at antagal kaming pagbuksan ng gate?

Tiningala ko si Stage nang ilang minuto na ang lumipas at hindi parin niya iniaalis ang kamay niyang nasa may tuktok ng ulo ko. Naramdaman niya ata ang titig ko kaya napalingon siya sa'kin.

I know, nasabi ko na ito, but, Stage is really handsome. He's light skinned, kakulay niya ang pinsan kong si Pacen, but that complexion only makes him more attractive. His longish hair is down and parted in the side, magulo rin ang pagkakaayos nito. Pag tinignan mo naman ang mata niya ay mapapansin mo rin pagka-dark brown nito, katulad lang din sa buhok nya na may highlights. His eyebrows are also made perfectly, so as his nose and thin reddish lips.

In short, he looks like a good boy.

A good boy who any girl could die for.

"Why?" he bit his lower lip as if he's hiding a smile.

"'Di kaba nangangalay? Ayos lang naman sa'kin mainitan." sagot ko.

Tinitigan niya pa ako ng ilang segundo bago umiling. Why isn't he removing his hands? Ayos lang talaga sa'kin. Mangangalay lang siya.

Stage just removed his hand when the gate opened, Odysseus welcoming us with a bored look.

The man beside me laughed and said, "Akala ko you have no plans of opening the gate, dude. Muntik na kaming maging guards n'yo."

Tumawa rin si Dice, "I purposely didn't open the gate earlier."

"I could lend you some money kung wala na kayong pampasweldo sa mga helpers n'yo." Stage joked, na tinawanan ko rin naman.

"No need, Stage. Saka ayaw mo ba no'n may free tan session ka?" Dice smirked.

"The only reason why I don't like getting tanned is that girls will probably lick the floor I walked to if I do." Stage grinned boyishly.

Yabang! Guwapo nga pero mayabang!

Pero, I do admit that that joke of his made me smile.. A little.

Pagkapasok sa bahay ay sinalubong kami ng nakasimangot na si Guinevere, "Sinabi ko na d'yan kay Kuya na buksan na kanina ang gate! Ngayon lang ginawa." she glared at his brother who just walked towerds his fiancee.

Dice's fiancee looked at as apologetically, "I'm sorry for Odysseus's actions. Kanina pa namin pinagsasabihang buksan ang gate."

Umiling lamang ako sakanya at umupo na sa sofa.

"It's nothing, Anemone." Stage.

Si Guine ay abala sa pag-uutos sa kanilang katulong habang ako naman ay hinihintay ang pagdating nila Xautheus at Maze.

Lumapit sa'kin si Guine at inabot ang isang malamig na baso ng tubig, at habang inaabot niya naman kay Stage ang isa pang baso ay nagsalita siya, "We're now only waiting for Xau and Maze."

While drinking the water, I realized that we're really just waiting for Xau and Maze. Ibigsabihin, si Stage lang ang Lacsamanang kasama na'min ngayon. Pagkatapos kong uminom ay nilingon ko si Stage na umiinom parin ng tubig.

I asked him, "Ikaw nalang ba ang hindi pa enrolled sainyo?"

After placing the glass on top of the small table, he answered me, "No. Tyler's still not enrolled. Bukas pa raw siya."

Tumango ako at iniwas sakanya ang tingin. Then, I guess... Being one day earlier than his cousin is better..?

Lumipas ang limampung minuto at sa wakas ay dumating na sila Xau at Maze. Katulad ng ayos ni Guinevere kanina, nakabusangot na mukha ni Xautheus ang sumalubong sa'min. Habang si Maze naman ay dumiretso kila Anemone.

I eyed Xautheus who looked not in the mood, "Bakit?"

Hindi niya ako nilingon, "Mazikien." he answered then scrolled on the phone he's holding.

Ngumiwi ako. Bakit pa kasi sila nagsasama lagi-lagi kung 'di naman magkasundo?

Mazikien and Xautheus are an example that two opposite people can't be with each other. Another example is, Stage and I.