Once His Clara

I

Radiating heat from the sun picks on my skin as irritating sweats seep shyly on my forehead cascading down to my neck. My feet still continue to stride countless steps ahead around this open ground just to follow the stupid ball that has been rolling for a long time now.

Tirik ang araw pero heto ako at nagtatatakbo. Ang alam ko volleyball to at hindi fetching, but I always end up doing the latter for the sake of not failing my famous Mapeh subject. If only I was born with athletic blood in my veins then I wouldn't have wasted my time ranting about sports over and over again.

Kaya naman sinisisi ko talaga ang bawat muscle ng katawan ko ngayong hindi ko na makita ang bola na ang bilis bilis gumulong. Sa pagod ay padabog akong huminto at napagpasyahan nang bumalik. Meron naman sigurong spare ball sa gym, manghihiram na lang ako at hahayaang ang janitor na ang humanap pag naglinis sya. Mapagalitan man pero bahala na.

I was ready to turn around until I smell a smoke that's absolutely coming from a prohibited stick that should be ban in all school grounds and a weak raspy voice silently hushing short words. Without thinking about it twice, I find myself stepping down from the hallway's edge to face a man I never expected to see.

He is leaning his lower back on the wall with a cigar delicately resting between his fingers while his elbow placed firmly on his thigh and there is a phone on his other hand that is lazily pressing over his ear. He is staring down to his feet that was raised from the ground and as I followed his gaze, that's when I realized that he is stepping on my ball!

What? Paano napunta sa kanya?

I hastily look up again only to find that he is already staring at me using his bored look but why is it contrary to what I see in his hazel eyes? Because as the sun reflects the depth of its orbs, they convey emotions that must not be seen and understood but he will just skillfully mask it with squirting hard look as he anchors his left eyebrow up to surely provoke anyone to accept his unsaid challenge.

Wala akong ibang magawa kundi ang tumayo at tumititig sa kanya.

He can't be this beautiful with a brooding look but tamed eyes where his eyelids hide perfectly and lashes that speak volume below his thick eyebrows that are separated by lines above his high pointed nose which I realize are frowns that starting to visualize in his calm face. I hold myself from taking a step back when I jolted upon waking up from staring at him for too long.

Nakakahiya! Kelangan kong magsalita o kahit gumalaw man lang pero napakamasunurin talaga ng katawan ko at nanatili pa rin akong nakatayo.

"Catch it before it hurts you."

He was fast. Nakuha na agad ng kamay nya ang bola at naitago na rin sa bulsa ang cellphone. Before I could utter anything, he throw the ball effortlessly and I thank all parts of my body as my flexes came right this time that I were able to catch it before it landed straight to my face.

I hurriedly composed my posture and look at him but with one swift move, he is already on my side standing. His dominating aura and distinct scent immediately spreads around me at bago pa ako mabuwal sa kinatatayuan dahil sa pagpigil ng hininga nang di namamalayan, naramdaman ko na ang pagdikit ng braso nya sa akin at bahagya din nyang sinandal ang sarili sa gilid ko. Hindi pa lumipas ang isang segundo ay nailapit na din nya ang labi sa aking tainga. Sa lapit nito ay ramdam ko na ang hangin mula sa paghina nya at pati ang munting dampi ng labi nya nang sya ay muling magsalita.

"You meddle. You stare too long. Don't you think that's bad?"

He slowly hover his face over mine and all I can do is to lost myself in his eyes until I see the edge of his lips lifting up and some kind of amusement dance in his eyes while I keep on staring at him like its the best thing I can do. When he realized that I won't be giving him any come backs, he bit his bottom lip from suppressing a ghostly smile that I pray I'm not just imagining and straighten his back before taking a step to walk pass after me.

Seconds later, I let out all the breathe I've been holding and grab a strong hold of the ball against my chest tighter than before as I turn around to look at his retreating back. My mind is in chaos but a loud thought inside keeps screaming.

Shit! Bakit di ako nakapagsalita?