Rad and Yelena (chapters 1-10 only)

Chapter 8

"Man, ang dami na namang assignment," angal ni Jason.

Nakita niyang lumabas si Yelena ng classroom nang mag-isa. Hindi niya napigilan ang pagsalubong ng mga kilay. What the hell was wrong with her?

Sumama siya kina Jason sa canteen, pero hindi niya nakita si Yelena. Naroon sa usual spot ng mga ito ang dalawang kaibigan nito. He bought two chicken sandwiches and seafood pasta for take out.

"Uy, s'an ka pupunta?" sita sa kanya ni Paul nang makita ang take-out paper bag niya.

"May hahanapin lang ako, sige." Lumabas siya ng canteen.

He found her in the library. Sa may likurang parte ito nakaupo, natatakpan ng malalaking shelves. Nakapatong ang bag nito sa desk, at nakasubsob ang mukha sa nakatuping mga braso. And she was... snoring.

"What the hell?" he muttered.

Umupo si Rad sa tapat nito at ipinatong ang paper bag sa desk. He stared at her. She didn't look tired. She was just probably sleepy. Hindi rin ito namumutla. He ran his eyes over her smooth pinkish cheeks and upturned nose. Napadako ang mga mata niya sa nakapikit nitong mga mata. She had very long lashes, they were dark, thick, and fanned across her cheek. Her lips were slightly parted, and they looked soft and–

Riiinnnggg!

Pareho silang napapitlag ni Yelena sa gulat. Napaungol ito at kinapa ang ilalim ng bag nito.

"Ugh..." she groaned, and lifted her eyes to meet his. And then, she froze.

He leaned back against the seat and stared back at her. "You're drooling."

Napasinghap ang babae at napahawak sa pisngi. Naningkit ang mga mata nito nang malamang niloloko niya lang ito. He fought back a smile. Inis na umayos ito ng upo at pinatay ang alarm ng phone nito. Ilang hibla ng mahabang buhok ni Yelena ang nakawala sa tali at tumabing sa pisngi at leeg nito.

"What are you doing here?" akusa ng dalaga.

He tapped his fingers on the table. Walang papel o libro sa paligid nito, so he supposed she wasn't doing their assignments. She skipped lunch to sleep.

"Bakit puyat ka?" tanong ng binata.

Sumimangot ito at hinila ang tali nito sa buhok. He watched her thick brown hair fall across her shoulders and back like silky waterfall. She ran her fingers through her hair, and he couldn't stop imagining his own fingers running through her silky locks.

"I'm just sleepy," she muttered.

"Why?"

"None of your business."

Hinila nito muli ang buhok palayo sa mukha para itali.

"Ah," daing nito at pilit hinila ang tali mula sa buhok.

Napakunot si Rad at napatingin kung ano ang problema.

"Shoot," she muttered as she tried to pull the hair band.

Tumayo siya at naglakad patungo sa likuran nito.

"What are you doing?" angal ni Yelena.

"Don't pull your hair." Hinawakan niya ang kamay nito at hinila iyon para bitawan nito ang tali.

Inis na siniko siya nito. "Ano ba!"

"Shut up. Don't move."

Nabuhol ang ilang hibla ng buhok nito sa black nitong tali. Maingat niyang hinila ang mga iyon para lumuwag sa pagkakabuhol. Her hair was as soft as it looked. It felt like strands of silk in his fingers.