Nagsalubong ang kilay ko sa mga binigkas niyang salita. Biglang uminit ang ulo ko sa narinig. He really knows how to push my buttons.
I closed the distance between us. Tumingala ako sa kanya at tiningnan siya ng masama.
"Stop spewing bullshít. Hindi ako nandito para makipaglokohan sayo." Galit na asik ko sa kanya.
"So, what did you come here for?"
"Hindi mo talaga alam? Muntik mo na akong masagasaan. Ganoon ka ba talaga kagalit sa'kin?"
"What are you talking about?" Nakakunot ang nuo nito na para bang nalilito. Pagak akong napatawa sa harapan niya.
"Did you hit your head so hard that you forgot what happened?" Nakangising saad ko pero may bahid ng inis ang mukha. Hindi niya talaga naalala dahil ngayon ay salubong na ang kilay nito na nakatingin sa'kin. Halos hindi na niya maalala ang nangyari pero sariwa pa rin sa isip ko ang nangyari.
"I will help you remember then. Sabado iyon ng umaga, sa harap ng malaking gate ng Crestwood University—"
"Hold on." Biglang sambit niya kaya napatigil ako."I.... I didn't know it was you... I was in a hurry that day."
"Sa sobrang pagmamadali mo sasagasaan mo ako? Ganoon ba kahirap tapakan ang brake? Muntik mo na akong masagasaan dahil sa pagmamadali mo at kung hindi ako naka-iwas agad ay baka nasa loob na ako ng kabaong ngayon." Bahagya pa akong hiningal pagkatapos kong magsalita.
I noticed a brief flicker of worry in his eyes, but it only lasted a second. Bahagya akong umiling dahil baka guni-guni ko lang 'yon.
"Something happened that day, so I was in a hurry and I didn't know it was you, I'm sorry." He says in a soft tone.
I was taken aback by his last word. Tama ba ang narinig ko? Nag-sorry siya? Sa akin?
The notion of Eros Sylvestre, a man of immense power and wealth, apologizing to me seemed almost surreal, like a dream. For a man so proud and confident, it was unexpected to see him humble and vulnerable before me. It was almost like the walls of his castle, his fortress of strength and pride, had crumbled down, leaving him bare and exposed.
I looked at him in the eyes. My surprised expression was evident on my face. Nang nakita niya ang mukha ko ay umiwas siya ng tingin.
"You're also at fault too. Paharang-harang ka kasi sa gitna ng gate." Sabi niya habang nakatingin sa gilid niya na para bang nandoon ang kausap niya.
Ramdam ko ang pag-akyat ng dugo ko sa aking mukha. Syempre! Nandoon ako kasi doon ako dadaan. Ano bang akala niya? Siya lang pweding dumaan do'n? Sigurado akong pulang-pula na ang mukha ko sa galit ngayon. Okay na sana e, I was going to let it go because he apologized but he just had to ruin it!
Kinuyom ko ang kamao ko at bumwelo para sa isang malakas na suntok. I was hoping to caught him off guard pero agad siyang napalingon sa akin at walang kahirap hirap na umilag.
Dahil sa pag-ilag niya ay nawalan ako ng balanse at natapon ko ang katawan ko sa kanya. Nawalan rin siya ng balanse kaya pareho kaming natumba.
Nakapatong ako sa katawan niya at sa halip na kamao ay ang labi ko ang tumama sa labi niya.
I felt like my whole world stopped, as if for a moment, time and space itself had frozen. Everything around me became muted as I felt the softness of his lips on mine. The warmth of his breath on my face was like a caress that sent shivers down my spine. As my mind struggled to process what was happening, my heart was beating so fast. My heart was racing in my chest, pounding wildly with each passing second. What is happening to me?
Chapter 6
Start from the beginning
