The Brightest Stars

[3]

"Do you... know me?" Pinagsingkitan ko siya ng mata. He met my gaze and I saw how he quickly surveyed my wholeness. Ilang minuto rin siyang natahimik kaya kinailangan ko pang kunin ang atensyon niya.

"Ya! I'm asking you!"

"Hindi." And then he muttered something under his breath na hindi ko na narinig dahil sa sobrang hina. "Hindi na."

"What are you murmuring about? Are you cursing me?"

"Hala siya, hindi ah! Napaka-mapaghinala mo naman."

"Tsh."

We went silent for a while until I stood up to dust the dirt off my pants. Napaayos rin siya ng upo at tumingala sa akin. Ramdam ko ang pagsunod niya ng tingin sa bawat galaw ko.

"So?" I suddenly gazed at him and raised a brow. Gulat naman siyang napatingin sa akin na para bang pinatay ko ang animal pet niya sa kanyang harapan.

"A-anong so?" Taka niyang tanong.

I scoffed. "Aren't you suppose to apologize? Say sorry or something?"

"E-eh? P-para saan?" Animong wala sa sarili'ng tanong niya.

"P-para saan?!" The anger inside me started to boil again. "You almost killed me, you jerk! I almost died and you almost became a murderer. And you're asking me kung para saan?! Do you want me to hit you again?! Estas loco!"

He stood up in an instant and I couldn't help myself from getting surprised so I took a step back. Kapansin-pansin ang katangkaran niya dahil sa height kong 5'9 ay kinailangan ko pa siyang tingalain. He was literally towering over me. I guess he was 6'1 or something.

This is not about his height, Prim. Are you f*cking kidding me right now?! Pull yourself together!

I planted my hands on my hips habang pinapanood siyang pagpagan ang dumi sa pantalon at pagkatapos ay ipinasok ang dalawang kamay sa magkabilaang bulsa atsaka sinalubong ang paningin ko.

"Sorry." I was taken aback by the sincerity in his voice. "Sorry dahil muntikan ka ng mapahamak. Pero kung mangyayari man 'yon ulit ay ganon pa rin ang gagawin ko."

Tinalikuran niya ako at nanggagalaiti'ng sinundan ko siya ng tingin. He walked towards a bicycle that was lying on the road na ngayon ko lang napansin. Nang itayo niya yun ay bigla nalang natanggal ang kadena, ang cassette at bahagya pang nasira ang pedal.

I watched how he frustratingly ran his fingers through his hair, took a deep breath and then turn his head towards me with his glare.

"Kasalanan mo 'to eh!" He suddenly shouted. I was rooted in place because of shock, but I wasn't able to immediately snap back from my reverie because of a distant memory.