Chapter 2
Embarrassing
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Siyempre si Eli ang crush ko kaya siya ang lalapit-lapitan ko. Ewan ko ba sa isang kaibigan niya, masyadong friendly. Katabi ko na ulit si Eli at sa basket niya na ako naglalagay ng mga dahon.
"Why do people call you Eli?" I started a conversation.
Medyo malayo ang iba sa amin. Some of them were teasing and documenting each other. Ang sasaya nilang tingnan. How I wish my friends are here too.
"Why do you ask?"
"Uh, kasi gusto kong malaman? Kasi curious ako?" I was being sarcastic.
He sighed and glanced at me. I smiled with my eyebrows up. Tamang pa-cute baka sakaling madaan sa kagandahan. He looked away grumpily, tho.
Mission failed.
Mission abort.
"Because I don't like my first names," he answered. Akala ko hindi sasagot.
Naglagay ulit ako ng mga dahon. Pinipili namin ang mga dahon. Hindi basta-bastang pulot, dapat iyong magandang hugis at hindi butas-butas.
"Kasi?"
Sasabayan ko sana siyang maglakad dahil medyo nauna siya nang napatili ako. Good thing his reflex was fast. Ang sama ng tingin niya sa akin habang hawak ang baywang ko.
Damn. It was my first time to be held that way by a guy... I swallowed hard and he put me back in place with his annoyed look.
Pogi mo.
"Watch your steps instead of being so nosy," he said, irritated.
I fixed my composure. When he held me, my heart pumped extra faster. Para bang may hinahabol na deadline.
"Sorry po," sabi ko, hinabaan ang huli.
Bumuntong-hininga ako at tiningnan siya. I saw him swallow hard and walked faster. Pero hindi niya ako iniwan, sapat lang yung bilis para masundan ko.
Salita ako nang salita sa tabi niya. That's what you do if you want to get someone's attention. Be talkative and show them you're interested about them. Tapos kapag sinapak ka dahil nainis sa kaingayan mo, uncrush mo na lang.
Habang naglalakad kami, may nakita akong bukana. Pumunta ako roon para makita kung gaano kalawak ang property nila. And I was so mesmerized by it.
"Careful," malamig niyang paalala.
Napanguso ako, naapektuhan na naman. Pero agad din 'yong natabunan nang makita ko ang kabuuan at kung gaano kaganda ang property nila.
Today is gloomy, the grasses are dancing smoothly with the rhythm of fhe wind. The horizon shows distant mountains or hills under a partly cloudy sky. I appreciate gloomy days more because of this view.
I know bata pa lang ako, pero kung magkakaroon ako ng pamilya, gusto ko magkaroon ng ganitong property. We'll live in a city and go home to this kind of resting place to recharge after a tiring week.
Tumabi sa akin si Eli. I'm tall, but he's taller than me. My head levels only up to his shoulder. If he grows older, it's possible na maging 6'3 ang height niya.
When I lifted my eyes to him, I saw how he appreciates the view as well. Like it was his first time to witness this perfection when it's their property in the first place. I smiled and breathed heavily too, to inhale the serenity of today.
Sa pagtabi niya sa akin, I realized that his existence in my life was unexpected... like the first snow or the surprise quizzes.
The day didn't end at their hacienda. Pumunta pa kami sa mall para bilhin na ang iba pang mga kailangan. Sa loob ng department, kasama ko na sina ate Alice. Habang bumibili, napansin ko na minsan... hinahanap ako ni Eli.
