Zephyr Strings

Kabanata 8

Like an eagle on the hunt, my eyes darted around, searching for its prey. Casimir is fucking rude! Hindi ko alam na ganoon pala ang ugali niya? Napakasahol! If he thinks I'm a flirt, then fine! But talking about Tatay Noli like that is beyond my understanding. That old man didn't do anything wrong. I felt so bad that he was insulted because of me.

My hands turned into fists when I saw him walking comfortably. As if he didn't do something horrible just a while ago. Diretso ang lakad niya at walang tinitingnan. Girls are looking at him like he's a damn walking god. But for me right now, he looks so much worse than Satan.

I walked toward him furiously. Hindi ko pinansin ang mga matang nakasunod sa akin. Lalo akong nairita nang tumaas pa ang kilay niya nang mamataan ako at unti-unting huminto sa paglalakad.

My hand stung as I felt his skin against my palm. Kita ko ang pamumula ng kaniyang mukha sa sampal ko. Some students gasped and stopped walking because of that. Casimir looked at me languidly.

"Ganiyan ka ba talaga kabastos? Do you really think highly of yourself?" nanginginig kong tanong sa sobrang iritasyon.

My eyes heated as he tilted his head while watching me with nothing but indifference in his eyes. He looks so ruthless right now, and I don't think he'd even say sorry!

"Yes, I'm a flirt. But I won't just flirt with anyone who has balls, moron! I don't mind about your insult earlier, but the words you said to that innocent old man? Fuck you! Napaka-matapobre mo. Akala mo kung sino ka!" Sigaw ko at huminga nang malalim. "Bago ka sana magsalita sa susunod tingnan mo muna ang sarili mo. Masiyado kang mayabang!" Dugtong ko at agad siyang tinalikuran.

Gumilid ang mga estudiyante nang dumaan ako. Mabilis ang lakad ko at hindi namalayan ang mga luha na mabilis na naglandas sa aking mga pisngi. Tumahimik ang paligid nang makarating ako sa building ng tourism students.

Akma ko pa lang na pupunasan ang mga luha ko ay mayroon nang humaklit sa braso ko. I bit my lip, and my eyes heated more when Casimir's solemn eyes met mine. Sinubukan kong bawiin ang braso ko ngunit hinila niya ako papalapit sa kaniya. I pushed his chest.

"Bitiwan mo ako gago—"

"I'm sorry..." he seriously said.

Natigilan ako at napatitig sa kaniya. He's seriously looking at me. My heart started beating harshly again. His hair with lazy waves danced a bit because of the wind. Nilipad din ang aking buhok at saglit na pinutol ang titigan namin. He was already looking at my cheeks when my hair fell to its right place.

Ang galit na nararamdaman kanina ay biglang naglaho. Halos mapaatras ako nang bahagya siyang lumapit sa akin. He looked at me in the eyes for a bit before wiping the tears from my face. His fingers against my skin touched something in me. I looked at his chest to avoid his eyes.

Why the hell am I crying? As far as I know, I was just mad.

"I'm sorry... I was just..." he trailed off.

I looked at him again. He looked baffled now. Binitiwan niya ang braso ko. He pursed his lips; he seemed to not know what to say.

"You were what?" I probed.

His jaw clenched and the dimple on his right cheek showed. I sighed and nodded.

"You can just simply admit that you're rude," I said seriously.

"I already said sorry," he said, sounding so annoyed.

"Should I be thankful then?" I mocked.

Muling nag-igting ang panga niya at nagsalubong ang mga kilay. Nginiwian ko siya at tinalikuran na upang pumunta sa klase namin nang bigla niyang hulihin ulit ang braso ko. My eyes widened.

"Ludovica..." he muttered my name slowly.

Kabado ko siyang nilingon. He licked his lips. Bago pa siya makapagsalita ay itinaas ko na ang kamay ko upang pigilan siya. Napakurap siya roon. Binawi ko ang aking braso sa kaniya at tumikhim.

"Mauuna na ako." Sabi ko at tumango sa kaniya bago siya iwan doon.

Pumikit ako at hinawakan ang braso kong hinawakan niya. I can feel my whole body shaking. It feels like there's turbulence inside me. Or it's just my nerves?

That bastard... he scared me for a moment there.

And why did I cry? Ganoon na lang ba ako kagalit kanina? I need to stop being emotional over things like that. It's not good.

I couldn't look at him when our first class started. Diretso ang tingin ko sa prof namin at halos hindi ko na galawin ang leeg ko sa sobrang takot na dumapo ang tingin ko sa kaniya. I don't know if my mind is just tricking me, but it feels like he's glancing at me.

Gusto ko sanang mag-iba ng puwesto ngunit ayoko namang isipin niya na hindi ko tinanggap ang sorry niya. I was stiff in the whole class with him. Kaya naman nang mauna siyang lumabas ay para akong nabunutan ng tinik.

"Cohen's outside," Ysabelle whispered.

Kunot-noo akong napatingin sa labas. Cohen was standing there proudly while smiling at the girls. Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mga mata nang dumapo sa akin ang kaniyang tingin.

"Bilisan mo," he mouthed.

Sinilid ko ang mga gamit sa aking bag at nagmamadaling lumabas.

"Bakit?" taka kong tanong.

"Magbihis ka. Susunduin kita around six. Pupunta tayong Valkyrie," aniya.

My eyes widened a fraction. "Talaga?!"

"Oo. Today is Sahri's birthday."

Naudlot ang excitement ko at umirap. "Lul, 'wag na. Hindi naman ako invited—"

"Arte. She said I should invite my friends. Dali na, pupunta rin si Grecia.Tsaka mabait naman iyon si Sahri, hilig mo lang yata talagang asarin." Putol niya sa akin at tumawa.

"Whatever." Irap ko at nilagpasan na siya.

Mabilis siyang sumunod sa akin. Muntik na akong mapapitik sa ere nang maalala ko si Indra. Shit.

"Lumayo ka nga sa akin!" asik ko.

"Huh? Ba't naman?" Dinungaw niya pa ako, nagtataka ang mukha.

His emerald eyes looked confused. Napasigaw siya nang sikuhin ko ang kaniyang baba at halos takbuhan siya.

"Hoy! Ang sama ng ugali mo... ouch!" Parang tangang sigaw niya at muling sumunod sa akin.

I shut my eyes when my phone vibrated. Yes, of course. I knew who it was. Frustrated ko iyong kinuha.

"Why did you elbow me? Baliw ka ba?" Si Cohen na panay ang sabay sa akin.

Psycho:

I'll let you be with him tonight. Once you cross the line, I will kick your ass.

I rolled my eyes. "Mas baliw ang girlfriend mo," bulong ko.

"Ha?" Halos idikit ni Cohen ang mukha niya sa akin.

"Ano ba!" Sigaw ko sabay tulak sa panga niya. "Sasama na ako. Huwag ka nang makulit!"

Pinatunog ko ang aking McLaren.

"Hoy, susunduin kita ah?" Sambit ni Cohen nang makalapit sa Ducati motorbike niya.

"Oo na. Kapag ako tinapon ni Sahri pag-uuntugin ko kayo."

Humalakhak siya. "Grabe ka naman. Ganiyan ba talaga tingin mo kay Sahri? Kilalanin mo kasi. Big time iyon." Ngisi niya habang sinusuot ang kaniyang helmet.

Hindi ko siya pinansin. Pumasok ako sa aking sasakyan at inusisa ang loob. Umayos ako sa pagkakaupo at nilingon si Cohen na nagtitipa sa kaniyang telepono.

"See you tonight. Hatid mo ako." I said and left him in the parking lot.

Of course, iinom ako. Hindi ko puwedeng dalhin ang sasakyan ko dahil baka mapahamak pa ako kapag nagmaneho ako ng lasing.

I didn't know it was Sahri's birthday today. Ano naman kayang regalo ni Casimir sa kaniya? Ilang taon na siya? Twenty? Or nineteen? And what if she kicks me out of her party? I guess it's fine; if she kicks me, I just have to kick Cohen, too, and have my own party after.

That's it.