Memory in the Clouds [ ON GOING ]

Chapter 10

Iris Elizabeth's POV

"Girl! Ano bang nangyari sa'yo? Ayos ka na ba? Bakit ka pumasok? Kaya mo na ba?" Clio bombarded me with questions as soon as I arrived at school.  

"Clio, one at a time. First and foremost, I'm feeling a little worse. Yes, secondly. Third, I don't want to get too caught up in the classes, and I'm fine. Finally, sure."  

"Sure ka ha? Tara na." We were ready to leave and go to the room when we heard a man's voice.

"Hello, girls!" Si Zane lang pala. No. It's not just Zane. He is accompanied by someone. Is that Cassius? Like the Cassius Jace André? What on earth is going on? Is this a dream? 

"Zane! Bakit nandito ka na naman? Nakakasawa ka na ha!" Clio walked out, and Zane followed him. Cassius was the only one left. I really don't want to see him first.  Nagsimula na akong maglakad pero nararamdaman ko ang pagsunod niya sa'kin. What do you want from me, Cassius? 

"Are you ok now?" I wasn't surprised when he matched my pace. I simply nod. It was as if an angel had passed by habang papunta ako sa 1st class namin. 

Habang papunta ay may nakasalubong ko. 'Yung lalaki sa rooftop!

"Hey, Miss." I gave him a sidelong glance. Siya na naman? Is there nothing that can ruin my day?

"Damon." Cassius spoke in a deep voice. I looked at him, and if the look was lethal, perhaps the man in front of me, Damon, had rushed. Damon looked at him, and he smiled at Cassius and hugged him, but the man simply shoved him.

Sinasayang ko lang oras ko rito. Umalis na ako at hinayaan silang mag-rambulan doon.
Ngunit hindi pa ako nakakalayo ay sabay nilang hinablot ang braso ko. Ano 'to? Tug of war? 

"Bitiw, Damon. You don't want me to be angry." Cassius' deep voice was frightening, but when he spoke to me earlier, his voice was so soft that he sounded like he was speaking to a baby. 

Damon gave him a defiant look. "Mm, really? Let's see then." He teased Cassius. Cassius was about to punch him when I intervened.

"Stop it! Both of you. Mal-late na ako dahil sa inyong dalawa! You are no longer a child, so act according to your age!" I said and I simply walked away.

"Yeah. Mal-late na tayo. Come on." Hinila ako ni Cassius pero hindi sa paraang marahas. Napaka-ingat niya nung hawakan niya ako sa may braso na para ba akong mamahaling vase na kailangan ingatan.
 
Ano ba'yan, kung kailan natauhan na ako ngayon pa siya umakto ng ganito. I'm not going to be his option. I'm Dad's only child. The first granddaughter of my grandfather. The first niece of my uncle. I won't be an option. 

Hindi ko rin hinayaang hawakan ako ng ganoon ni Cassius. Oo, meron pa akong nararamdaman sa kanya pero kailangan ko ng mag-set ng boundaries sa pagitan namin. Hindi tama na may girlfriend siya at pinipilit ko pa rin ang sarili ko sa kanya. 

Naramdaman kong natigilan siya sa ginawa ko, pero hindi ko nalang pinansin dahil mal-late na talaga ako. 

Pagkarating ko sa classroom ay nakita ko si Clio na nakabusangot. What else should I be expecting? Hindi na bago 'yan. 

Kumaway siya ng makita niya ako. Kumaway rin ako pabalik. Nakita ko rin si Zane sa may pinto na nakatingin sa kinauupuan namin. Hindi rin nagtagal ay dumating na ang professor at nagsimula na ang klase.

"Mr. André bakit ka nandirito? This is not your class, and it is certainly not your department."

Pfft. Nahihiyang tumingin siya kay Prof. at tumayo na siya. 

"Sorry, Sir." He said and turned to me with a smile. 

"Mga kabataan talaga. Anyway, let's start."

Nakinig ako sa klase habang si Clio ay tulala. Anong nangyari rito sa babaeng ito?

"Class dismissed." 

"Clio! Lunch tayo!" Zane appeared unexpectedly next to Clio, who was busy fixing her bag.

"Ano ba! Kailan mo ba ako titigilan?!" Clio's patience has been severely tested. I was even surprised when she yelled at Zane. Zane remained silent but smiled sweetly afterwards.

"Hindi po." Saad nito habang nakangiti. Napa-irap nalang si Clio at nilayasan na ako. Napailing nalang ako habang tumatawa ng mahina.  

I was about to leave the classroom when Cassius' very attractive face appeared in front of me. He had that look that could make him stand out in a crowd. He could mulch as if he was bored. When he saw me, he smiled. I could smell his perfume as he approached. 

"Hey. Let's have a lunch?" With a smile, he said to me, and I nodded. It was extremely quiet as we walked until he broke the silence.

"Uhm, so uh.." 

"What?" 

"Uhm, Meet me in the garden when you've finished eating; I have something to say to you." He left without waiting for me to say anything else. Is it too important and in the garden yet, he'll say? He'll be able to tell here.

Hindi pa man din ako nakakalakad ay tumunog ang cellphone ko. A message from Clio

From: Nysa
Hey, nasaan ka na ba? I'm already annoyed with Zane, so hurry up.

Yep, she is already annoyed.

"Hey, Clio. Hi, Zane."

"Hi, Eli." Zane waved and smiled at me. Why does Clio despise him when he's so cute?

"Hey, Miss." I was sitting when I heard a male voice behind me. When I turned around, I saw Damon. He gave me a smile, but what was he doing here?

"Damon." I looked at Zane, stunned. How is that? His voice was cute but when he saw Damon he seemed to be like Cassius. I saw him wrap his arms around Clio, who was also taken aback by what he did. Damon would be dead if looks could kill.

"Ooh, Zane. Who's that pretty girl beside you?" Nang-aasar na sabi nito. Zane's expression darkened even more.

"Uh, We need to get out of here. Let's go. Eli, Zane." Even though Clio was already holding Zane's arm and forcing him to calm down, his face remained dark.

"Sa garden lang ako. Kita nalang tayo later ha." Tumango si Clio bago hinila ulit si Zane.

I went straight to the garden, curious to hear what Cassius had to say to me. He was already there when I arrived, as if he had been waiting for me for some time. He was sitting on a bench nearby, admiring the flowers.

He immediately stood up at pinagpagan ang upuan para masiguradong walang dumi ang uupuan ko.

"Sit down, Eli." He said and motioned me to sit. I followed him because I didn't want to waste time. 

"What are you going to say?" Napatingin siya sa'kin. He sighed.

Hindi ganito si Cassius. Something's off.

"I'm not sure where to begin, but I want to apologize to you because I didn't treat you like a woman should be treated, I said hurtful things to you, and I'm not sure if you can forgive me." He said, fidgeting his fingers. He seems so nervous. 

So, I take his hands to calm him down. I look into his eyes and said, "I forgive you, but I am only forgiving once."

He nodded. 

"Is that all?" He shook his head. What? Meron pa?

"We hadn't known each other for very long. I admit that this could cause both of us embarrassment, but I'm willing to take the risk. I'm sorry for being a jerk. You stole my heart when I least expected it. My heart skips a beat when I look at you. When I speak with you, I wish I could stop my heart from racing and be myself. Hindi ko alam kung kailan pero you make me both nervous and excited." He said. I'm out of words. May girlfriend siya, hindi ba? Anong dapat sabihin?

"Eli, please say something." 

"I-i don't know what to say. May girlfriend ka, Cassius. " I said, stuttering. He looked at me. I also looked into his eyes. That beautiful graying eyes of his. I saw a shock there but it was also replaced by astonishment. Kinakabahang tumawa siya. 

"Is this about Nyx? We are over, matagal na." He said. He is looking into my eyes. 

"P-pero sabi ni-" He cut me off.

"Zane? Don't believe anything he says; he's insane." He said. I eventually nodded.

"So you like me? Am I right?" I laughed, but the nervousness could be heard in my voice.

"Yes, Iris Elizabeth. Is there anything you want me to do, just to prove that my intentions are pure. Gagawin ko, Eli. Isang sabi mo lang." He said. Why do I get the impression that he recognizes my entire being just by looking into my eyes? His eyes are stunning.

"U-uy, wala ah." Ligawan mo ako, pls. 

"I'll be courting you. I don't need an answer right now, Eli. I can wait."