The Temptress' Karma | Completed

Chapter 3

I can't believe this!

Hindi pa rin nakakabawi, nanatili akong manghang nakapanood kay Keogh na abala sa iniihaw nitong karne kasama si Kuya Navier.

I should've recognized him from the beach last time. Kaninang malapitan kong nakita ang mukha niya, natanto kong wala masyadong nagbago sa kaniyang mukha kundi nag mature lang lang. I could definitely recognize the Jahdiel I've known. And we used to call him Jahdiel; that's why the name Keogh doesn't even ring a bell to me.

The sides of my lips suddenly lifted.

"Hmm..."

Someone took a seat beside me as Eury joined me in watching Keogh from afar.

"What a coincidence, hindi ko inakalang siya pala iyong sa beach noong nakaraan. He looks so different now."

My head tilted to the sides. "What do you mean... he looks the same."

My cousin pointed Keogh from our place. "Are you kidding me? The Keogh we've known was the kid who got a big eyeglasses hanging on his nose. Iyong palaging may yakap na mga libro at isang kulay asul na handkerchief. Laging nay suot na headphones at palaging parang may sariling mundo."

A vivid memory of the young Keogh flashed on my eyes .

Eury's right, the young Keogh wears a big eyeglasses, he always have his books on his chest, a blue handkerchief on his hand. Madalaw rin siyang mayroong suot na headphone.

I suddenly remember that one time I saw him outside our house. Riegar and their friends were inside. Kaya nang makita ko ito sa labas na may hawak na libro't nagbabasa habang may suot na headphones sa tenga, hindi ko napigilang kuryusong lapitan siya.

"Hi! Anong ginagawa mo dito?" I politely asked and watched him continued reading. "hello?"

He flipped a page from his books, doon ko natantong hindi niya siguro ako rinig. I hit my forehead with my palm when I remembered his headphones.

Without forethought, I took his headphones off that startled him. Napalayo ako at agad binitawan ang headphones na naiwan sa kaniyang leeg.

His eyes went to mine, then his eyebrows snapped, and a hint of annoyance flashed through his eyes. It immediately vanished and was replaced by recognition.

Yumuko akong bahagya at muli siyang inangatan ng tingin. "I'm sorry. Hello! I'm Sky, Riegar's sister. I... was talking to you, hindi ka sumasagot."

Matagal itong hindi nagsalita at nanatili lang nakatitig sa akin, ni hindi man lang kumurap ang mata nia sa likudan ng kaniyang suot na salamin.

I waved my hands in front of his face and that's when he flinched. He clears his throat and fixed his eyeglasses on his nose.

"Anong kailangan mo sa akin?" mahinang tanong niya.

Itinuro ko ang loob ng bahay namin, his gaze followed my hand.

"You're Jahdiel right? They're inside ah, anong ginagawa mo dito? Don't you wanna joined them?" I asked and took the vacant seat beside him.

Agad naman itong napalayo hanggang nasa kabilang dulo na siya ng bangko, nagulat ko ata. Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa and I saw how he was taken aback by that.

Napakurap ako roon at marahang tumayo. "Sorry." saad ko.

His lips parted. Bumuka ang labi nito na tila may sasabihin ngunit isinara niya lang ulit ito.

"Sorry, I'm just curious." saad ko.

"I'm studying." sagot niya na agad kong ikinatango.

Pero bakit dito? Napatingala ako sa labas at napansin na mataas ang sikat ng araw sa labas. Kahit nasa silong naman kami, ramdam ko pa rin ang init. Hindi ba siya naiinitan?