Zephyr Strings

Kabanata 4

Naupo ako sa aking upuan at nakapangalumbaba siyang binalingan. I watched him drink his coffee. Diretso ang tingin niya sa harapan at mukhang unti-unti nang nagigising.

He wanted coffee. Hindi ba siya nakapag kape sa bahay nila? Wait... did he even eat his breakfast?

My eyes scrutinized his body. He's wearing a white t-shirt and a black turtleneck jacket. Maong na itim na pangbaba at puting sapatos ang suot niya.

He has a healthy body. Lean, but with muscles in their right places. His skin is fair, but he looks pale. Maybe because he's sleep-deprived. Kitang-kita iyon unang tingin pa lang sa ilalim ng kaniyang mga mata.

Is Sahri even aware of this? Surely. They are in a relationship, so for sure they are always together.

"Hoy..." agaw ko sa atensyon niya.

Malamig akong binalingan ni Casimir at nagdikit ang mga kilay na para bang napakalaking kasalanan ng ginawa kong pagtawag sa kaniya.

"What?"

"You're eating, aren't you?" hindi ko na napigilan.

Lalong kumunot ang kaniyang noo. "What do you mean?" iritang tanong niya.

Why is he always annoyed at me? Did I hurt him or something? Bwisit na lalaking ito.

"Hindi ka dapat uminom ng kape kung wala kang kain. Do you even sleep?" Pang-iintriga ko at lalo siyang tinitigan.

Umawang ang mapupula niyang mga labi ngunit agad niya rin iyong tinikom. His jaw moved, indicating that he was gritting his teeth.

This guy... don't tell me na-offend siya sa tanong ko? Bawal bang ma-curious?

"Kumain ako." Aniya at nag-iwas ng tingin.

"Kailan?" tanong ko.

"Last nigh—kanina." Aniya at muling uminom.

I knew it. Pinanood kong gumalaw ang kaniyang Adam's apple bawat lagok niya. Ngumuso ako. Why do I even care? As if kumakain ako nang maayos.

Lumipad ang isipan ko. Hindi ba man lang siya pinaglulutuan ni Sahri? Sa tuwing magkasama sila, hindi ba sila kumakain o natutulog man lang? Kahit sino mapapansing kulang sa tulog ang lalaking ito. People who are sleep-deprived are usually the same people who don't eat and barely drink water.

With one look at Casimir, anyone can tell that he's too busy to even eat or blink. I am his classmate, which is why I can tell that he spends his time studying. Pero kailangan bang dumating sa point na hindi na siya natutulog? Unless may iba pa siyang ginagawa.

Hindi ba iyon napansin ni Sahri? Or maybe she did at pinagsasabihan naman siya kahit papaano. Of course, she'll notice it because she's his girlfriend. If she doesn't notice it, that only means her mind is somewhere else. But I'm sure she's doing something about this. Though she's mean to me, I know she loves Casimir.

Or maybe, not. Humigpit ang hawak ko sa yellow pad na binili habang nakatingin kina Sahri at Comet na magkasamang naglalakad sa ground. At first, they looked normal. Just like colleagues walking together.

But the way they look at each other is different. Especially Comet. Nagtatawanan sila at pumasok sa loob ng cafeteria. Biglang pumasok sa isipan ko ang sinabi ni Grecia sa akin.

Lagi ko silang nakikita noong mga nakaraan pa man. But I didn't mind it since Comet is Casimir's friend and Sahri is his girlfriend. But is it still normal? Sa tuwing bakante ang oras nila, lagi silang magkasama. And Comet always mentions her when he's with Grecia.

Kumalabog ang aking puso sa naisip. Thinking about it was interesting for me at first. But seeing them and slowly realizing things gives me horror. I am not close to any of them. But I met and talked to them. I consider them my casual friends.