Trigger and Bullets

bullet 28 - harrowing touches (part 1)

Buhat nang nakabalik ako mula sa safe-house sa Europa at muling pinagpatuloy ang pagpasok sa unibersidad I've been seeing him with Lyka---every damned time. I didn't know how Lyka became his shadow. The weirder part of this was he wasn't talking to me as much as before. Weird and almost annoying. Further, this married woman seemed to be enjoying the situation. Tss.

And then... speaking of the beetch and the jerk, nahagip ng mata ko habang naghahanap ako ng libreng espasyo sa parking ground ng Brent University ang dalawa na magkasamang muli. Lyka was sitting on a car's hood and Cole was standing in front of her. Too close it was illegal.

Nanggagalaiti kong ipinarada ang Ferrari sa una kong nasilip na bakanteng pwesto. I almost bumped into an innocent car parked before the space I took because I was watching on my side mirror how Cole tucked a stray hair behind Lyka's ear. What the bloody shit. Naiinis na talaga ako. Padabog akong umibis at nagsarado ng pinto.

Palalampasin ko na sana ang pinapakita nila at didiretso na lang sa silid ngunit napako na ang mga paa ko sa daan nang bawasan pa ni Lyka ang distansya ng mukha niya mula kay Cole. She freakin pulled Cole by his neck.

Oh, shit. I am watching, people.

Lyka giggled na nagpapanting sa mga tainga ko.Dahan-dahang tinanggal ni Cole ang pagkakakapit ni Lyka sa kanya at umupo sa tabi niya. Pagka-upo niya ay napatingin siya sa saktong tinatayuan ko. Hindi napansin ni Lyka ang presensya ko dahil nakatuon siya sa kanyang kasama. Agad-agad rumehistro ang gulat sa mukha Cole, tinaasan ko lang siya ng kilay bago nagumpisang maglakad palayo. I could feel his stare on my back as I fished my phone and began composing a message.

I miss you so much. Lunch. Brent's Cafeteria.

I sent the message before I could enter the building's lobby. Hindi pa ako nakakarating sa ikalawang palapag ng gusali ay nakatanggap na ako ng sagot.

From: Isagani Alabanza

Be there.

I was silently drumming my fingers on the desk as I waited for my morning classes to end. I was excited for lunch, Brent's Clubhouse Sandwich and Ponta. Time  seemed to be dragging slow but I waited... it's something worth waiting for, I'm gonna be an antagonist. Hell yeah? I suppressed an evil smile. Kailangang din matutunan ni Lyka ang kahulugan ng 'back off' and I was kind enough to give her a free lesson. This was going to be a very cliche and childish distraction from thoughts of assassinations and the Chemo Second Phase.

The school bell rung. It's time.

But all my plans vanished into smoke the moment I stepped my foot out the room. I frowned. Mukhang hindi payag ang kapalaran sa binalak ko, gusto ko sanang personal na ipakita kay Isagani ang ginagawa ni Lyka but they were already on the corridor having a not so couple-like stare off, wala pa akong ginagawa. Jeez.

"You can't fool me, you came here to see her!" halos pabalang na sabi ni Lyka, her pointing finger now directly pointing at me---she wasn't aware though. The couples haven't yet perceived I was just a meter away. Nangamba akong makakuha ng pansin ang dalawa---or tatlo. Ngunit parang wala namang paki-alam ang mga estudyanteng nagsisidaan sa pasilyo. Marahil ay nasanay na sa presensiya ni Lyka.