Head in the Sand (Erudite Series #3)

Kapitulo 26

A small smile on his lips stopped me from further giving him a sermon.

"What's funny?" I asked. "Nothing, your Batangueña accent came out. It's been a while since I heard that."

Sumimangot ako at lalo siyang ngumiti. Hinaplos niya ang kamay ko. "Ayos lang, sasabay ako sa kakilala ko na may motor pauwi."

Pumalatak ako. "Anong oras ka na nga makauuwi sa bahay mo?" ulit ko.

"Mga 11:30, hindi na traffic, e." He laughed when I remained frowning.

Kumain na siya at nilambing ako. I didn't easily budge, but when I did, he took that chance to move his seat beside mine. Kinuwento niya ang araw niya sa akin habang kumakain. Ako ay nakahawak lang sa kamay niya. Eventually he laid his head on my shoulder, I felt him sniffing my neck while he did.

"How about you? Ano'ng nangyari sa 'yo ngayon?" bulong niya. "Nothing different, nagklase ako."

While tracing the scars on his hand, I remembered William's confession.

"Actually," Graham lifted his head because I paused. He stared at me. Tapos na siyang kumain ngayon.

"Someone... confessed to me today," his facial expression didn't change like how I thought it would. Akala ko kukunot ang noo niya.

"My friend, he confessed when we had dinner. William has been my friend since I studied at UP, and I didn't realize he liked me since last year."

Graham nodded and I continued.

"He was putting his arm around me, and I didn't want him to. So, I told him the reason why. I told him I had a boyfriend. Tapos, nag-react siya na parang galit siya. Then... he told me he liked me."

Inilagay ni Graham ang buhok ko sa likod ng balikat ko.

"You rejected him," he concluded. "Yeah, hindi na nga 'yon kumain ng dinner, e. Umalis na lang. Said he'll be okay, but I sort of doubt that. He was tearing up when he left."

"Grabe, heartbreaker pala ang girlfriend ko," biro ni Graham sa 'kin habang nilalapit niya ang ulo niya muli sa balikat ko upang ilapag do'n 'yon.

"It's not like I want to be," he took my hand and held it. "I know."

"I still wish you gave this to me tomorrow or on Monday. How will you even rest once you get home? E, may mga kailangan ka pa na gawing plates, 'di ba?" reklamo ko.

"Huwag ka ng mag-alala, hindi ko naman inaabuso ng sobra 'yong sarili ko," I scoffed. "Hindi pa sa lagay na 'yan, huh?"

"'Yong pain tolerance ko, mas malaki sa inaakala mo, dayang. Kaya, 'wag ka mag-alala," katuwiran pa niya. "Just because you do have a higher tolerance doesn't mean you should keep on tiring yourself. Pa'no ka makababawi kung punta ka nang punta sa 'kin?"

Inangat niya ang ulo niya at tinitigan na naman ako. "Pa'no 'yan? E, sulit na sulit kasi 'yong pagod kapag nakakasama kita, e."

My lower lip loosened its grip and fell. Astounded by how nonchalantly he said that phrase, I couldn't help but feel a strong palm squeezing my heart. The blood flowed on top of my veins when the palm squeezed my heart enough.

How could Graham tell me I was worth it even if he had bags under his eyes because of me?

Alam ko na sinasamahan niya akong magpuyat para makagawa ako ng school works. No'ng nagkikita kasi kami sa cafe sa España, mag-isa lang naman siyang gumagawa ng plates, so siguro mas sanay siya na mag-isa ring nag-aaral.

The adjustments he made for me were not unnoticed. 

Kasama ang araw-araw niyang pagdalaw ro'n.

"Happy birthday ulit, dayang ko. Hatid na kita, salamat sa pagsama sa 'kin." Huli niyang salita bago kami bumalik sa condo.