Sparks Fly (ONGOING)

Chapter 7

“WHAT?!?”

We’re in a Japanese restaurant near the academy, celebrating Sol and her team’s win. I was telling them what happened between me and Lukas starting from the very top, the club.

Mali ko lang na nagkwento ako habang umiinom ng tea si Julia. Grabe ‘yon ha, ba’t naman binuga sa’kin!

Ang sabi ko say something hindi spray something!

“You’re telling me… si Lukas??!? The one and only Lukas Santos??!? Si Santos na best swimmer and team captain even if he’s just a third year student like us??!? Siyang Lukas??!?”

“Paulit-ulit, sis?” Kanina pa ‘tong si Julia. Ba’t ba gulat na gulat ‘to? Ba’t ba amaze na amaze siya na si Lukas ‘yong nakasayaw ko?

“Everybody has a crush on Lukas.” Bigkas naman ni Sol habang patuloy lang nakumakain ng ramen.

Himala nag-salita! Akala ko kasi pipi ‘to. Kaso napahinto rin ako sa sinabi niya.

“Oo! Totoo yan! Pati nga ako nagkacrush sa kanya eh!” Sabi naman ni Julia habang tumatawa, ‘to namang si Sol mukhang naghahamon ng away sa ramen niya. Ang sama makatitig, selos ata.

“Infairness, Di. Heartthrob yan si Lukas. Not only is he good-looking, he’s also smart and part of the swim team! Ang bait niya din! Pero ikaw ha!”

“Ano nanaman??!?”

“Ever since first year namin, ang daming gustong makipagjowa kay Lukas. Ilang beses na nagtry mga babae including the upper batches. Pati nga lalaki may nagtry eh! Pero never siyang nagentertain niisa.”

Nagets ko sinasabi ni Julia pero syempre pakunwareng mahinhin tayo. “What are you trying to say?” I tried to sound uninterested para ‘di niya mapansin na mamamatay na 'ko sa kilig.

“What I’m trying to say is…” Naputol ang sasabihin ni Julia nang biglang napatili ito ng mahina sabay pinanlakihan ako ng mata. Tumatango pa siya sa kabilang side ng restaurant at pasimpleng sumusulyap ‘don.

Mukha siyang tanga.

Before I could reply to her, I felt my phone vibrate. Wala namang nagtetext sa’kin kaya nakakapagtaka kung sino ‘yon.

From Lukas Santos

Didn’t I tell you to text me once you arrive?

Nanlaki mata ko kasi nakalimutan ko nga siya i-text! Aw, did I make my baby worry? Joke! Practice lang. Pero kinilig ako ‘don ah, worried kaya siya? Before I could text sorry for forgetting, another text came.

Look at your left.

Naguluhan ako pero sinunod ko naman.

My eyes grew saucers when I found a pair of bright brown eyes staring at me! Bigla akong lumingon pabalik sa pagkain ko para hindi niya makita kung gaano namula pisnge ko! Sa dami-dami ba naman na pwedeng kainan, nagkaparehas pa!

'Di na ako lumingon muli at pinagpatuloy nalang pagkain ko. Eto naman si bruha kinalimutan na pagkain niya at inasar-asar pa ko! ‘Pag tuluyang naubos pasensya ko, sorry siya sa’kin.

Nakishare lang ako ng ramen kila Julia at sobrang onti lang ng kinuha ko kaya mabilis akong natapos. “Cr lang ako ha,” paalam ko sa kanila at tumayo na papuntang restroom. Nang matapos ako mag-cr ay lumabas na ‘ko.

Imagine my surprise once I found a guy obviously waiting for me. “A-anong ginagawa mo dito?”

Tinaasan lang ako ng kilay at patuloy na tinitigan. Ang suplado naman masyado! Pero okay lang ‘yan, mahal pa rin kita… charot!

‘Di ko alam kung anong gagawin ko. It was obvious that he wasn’t planning to talk soon. As I stepped forward to go back to our table, his body blocked me.

“Why didn’t you message me you arrived already?”

Galit ba siya kasi nakalimutan ko?

“A-ah, sorry nakalimutan ko kasi.” Sabay kamot ko pa sa batok at iniwasan tingin niya.

“Next time… make sure you text me.” May next time??!?

“I don’t know what I would do if something happened to you.”

Halata namang ‘di niya sadyang iparinig sa’kin since binulong niya lang, kaso sis! Nadinig ko! I couldn’t help but blush!

Dianna, pakalmahin mo tibok ng puso mo! ‘Wag marupok, concerned lang siya!

“Uhmm… sige, aalis na ko ha,” sabi ko sabay iwas ng tingin.

“Just…” tumikhim pa siya. “Just make sure to text me when you arrived safely, okay?” He said that strictly but at the same time softly. I just nodded and smiled a bit while he nodded back and gave me one of those smile where he only lifts one side of his lip.

Once I arrived back at our table, I asked my friends to go already since we’re all finished eating. I had to get out of there as fast as possible. I just couldn’t control what I’m feeling and all the thoughts roaming in my head. I had to get as far as possible from Lukas; he’s making me feel things I’m unfamiliar with.