Heartbeat of the Sunrise

69

How heartwarming it is when you finally realize, you are slowly crawling of the dark place you've used to hide. Everyday when I wake up, I am finally seeing the world out of the gray glasses. I never thought love could also make me feel this way.

"Uy Ali!"

"Wow! Parang may nabago sa'yo ngayon, ah?"

I turned around and saw him walking past our classmates. Isang oras lang ang itatagal namin dito sa Theatre studio para sa Music classes.

Indeed, there was something in him that I saw for the first time.

Ang mga mata niya!

Pasimple akong lumapit, tama lang para sa isang ordinaryong kaklaseng nagtatanong.

"You're finally wearing contacts..." I smiled and looked into his almond, now brown-colored eyes.

Biglang natahimik ang lahat nang ako na ang kumausap sa kanya.

"Sinunod ko ang tinuro mo sa'kin kagabi."

"My, my." Lumapit ako sa tenga niya at bumulong. "What an obedient boyfriend. But it's out of place, so let me fix it."

Lumakad kami papunta sa katabing comfort room at doon niya kinuha ang removal tool. Maingat kong inilapit at idinikit ito sa kanyang mata para ayusin ang lens. It was an opportunity to see his mixed dark grayish-gold eyes up close as I was so curious about it.

Matamis na ang kanyang ngiti nang maglayo kaming muli. Ang sabi niya'y pinadala raw ni Mang Antonio ang contacts bilang regalo at nagustuhan naman niya iyon. He should've told me so I can buy him more!

I want to stare at his eyes as long as I can. I was about to stick the kit on his iris when a flick of a memory flashed on my mind.

I resented every thought of her when it comes abruptly, like a whirlwind. Ngayon, nangyayari na naman.

It was seeing a dead person's eyes blink before mine. Damn, I really need to consult a pyschologist. Parang lumalala na naman ang mga intrusive thoughts na pumapasok sa utak ko.

"Ayos ka lang?"

My shoulders jerked at his voice. Him asking me made me go back to my senses, turned out to be similar as a magician putting me out of hypnosis.

"Y-Yeah," pinilit kong ngumiti at ipinagpatuloy ang pag-aayos ng pwesto ng contacts niya. This time, I focused on the object itself and not on his eyes.

Pagkatapos ng ilang segundo, matagumpay kong naisaayos ang contacts. I pat his back and kissed him on the cheek to ensure everything is alright.

"I just saw the specks of gold in your eyes. Hindi siya visible sa dilim, pero mahahalata lang kapag natatamaan ng araw ang mata mo." I pointed out at the spot on the sunlit part of the partially opened window. "At hindi pangkaraniwan ang hugis ng mata mo."

"Ano'ng hugis? Square? Oblong?"

"Almond, tanga!"

He looked away and laughed. Namumula pa ang tenga at ilong!

"Nagagandahan ka ba sa mata ko?"

"Oo na, oo na." Nag-iwas ako ng tingin.

"Huwag kang mag-alala..." Marahan niyang hinawakan ang panga ko kaya humarap ulit ako sa kanya. "Sa'yo lang titingin ang mga 'to."

I pursed my lips to restrain myself from smiling. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at baka mahalata niyang flattered ako!

"Ali... tama na nga 'yan! Umalis na tayo rito! Ang corny mo–"

"Siguro, para sa'yo... ang baduy pakinggan. Pero totoo naman 'yon. Kung ayaw mong maniwala, tumingin ka ulit sa mga mata ko. Mababasa mo dito kung gaano ako kasaya na minahal mo rin ako pabalik."