III
Too late. Nakapagbitaw na ng salita si Leighton bago pa niya marealize na gusto niyang makasama si Kay kaysa ang paalisin ito.
Gusto niya itong sisihin sa inis na nararamdaman niya pero natatalo ang lahat ng iyon ng presence ni Kay. He just needed to see Kay and then he'll be okay. That, he couldn't really explain.
Kay was startled but not shaken. Ibinaba nito sa isang sulok ng balcony ang hawak nitong sprinkler bago pumasok sa loob ng silid ni Leighton.
"Diniligan ko lang ang mga bulaklak, iyon lang. Goodnight, Mr. Hater."
"Stop calling me names, damnit." That's it. He was a brat again in Kay's eyes.
"Okay," tipid na sagot ni Kay. Tumungo siya ng pinto ngunit pinigil naman siya ni Leighton. Yumakap ito sa kanya mula sa likuran.
"Pinapaalis mo na ako, why delay?"
"I didn't mean it. I didn't really want to shout at you."
Kay tried to pull away from him. "I'm not a subject for your every mood swings. If you really want to impress an adult like me, you could atleast try to shut up when you're mad."
"Kasalanan mo ito kung bakit ako nagkakaganito," ani Leighton. "Lahat, kasalanan mo."
Kay sighed in disbelief. Pinilit niyang harapan si Leighton. "Ako pa talaga? Oh, sige. Ako na. Kaya ano'ng gusto mo'ng gawin ko?"
Leighton looked down. Now that he got Kay's attention, what to say next? "Uhh... how do I look?"
Nagkunot-noo si Kay. "What?"
"Ngayon mo lang ako nakitang nakasuot ng formal suit. How do I look?" Ulit na tanong ni Leighton.
Kay casted him with a suspicious look. "Hindi ko alam kung ano ang koneksyon nito pero... you look good in that suit. Umalis ka nang naka-P.E. uniform sa pagkakaalala ko. Your parents ask you to attend a party? Perhaps... a blind date?"
"I'll go if it's you."
Tinapik ni Kay ang noo ni Leighton. "Tinawag iyong blind date kasi hindi mo alam kung sino ang makakasama mo. And no one ever really care to arrange me a date so—"
Hindi na niya naituloy pa ang iba niyang sasabihin. Leighton conquered his lips. His young lover seemed troubled and wanting any proof that he still belonged to him. He could hardly blame him. He had his share of faults.
Isinandal niya ang ulo sa dibdib ni Leighton nang maghiwalay ang kanilang mga labi.
"I met Yael at my brother's party. Small world, isn't it?" Leighton said.
Kay raised his head. "Nag-usap kayo?"
"Oo. Ang sabi niya..." Naramdaman ni Kay na humigpit ang pagkakayakap sa kanya ni Leighton. "Nandito siya para sunduin ka."
Sumandal ulit si Kay sa dibdib ni Leighton. "Do you believe I'll go with him?"
"Yes. Based on what you did yesterday."
"I see." Iyon lang ang isinagot ni Kay.
"Even so, I will still do what you wanted me to do after you leave the country. Hindi kita susundan. Mag-aaral akong mabuti. I will wait for you."
"Really..."
Leighton slightly lowered his head and whispered at Kay's ear. "See? I'm better than that idiot that's why you chose me. Now that you have me... please don't try to lose me."
