Before Anything Else (Absinthe Series 2)

Kabanata 13

Kabanata 13

There's no way I could really hide from him. Sa unang pagsinghap ko ay nakita ko kaagad kung paano huminto ang kaniyang sasakyan malapit sa amin. I could hear him on the other line while I was holding my breath.

" Y-you're here…" tulala kong sambit habang ang tingin ay nasa kaniyang sasakyan.

He chuckled on the other line. Suminghap ako at agad na pinatay ang tawag upang hindi na makita kung gaano ako kagulat sa kaniyang bilis. Within a few seconds, I saw effortlessly him climbing down his car with that usual white polo uniform and black slacks.

Agad na nahanap ng kaniyang mga mata ang akin habanh siya'y humahakbang. The smirk resurfaced on his face as if he was mocking me. Tumaas lamang ang aking kilay bago napabuga ng hangin. I rocked back and forth on my heels while I was anxiously waiting for him to come nearer.

" Hi Nixon!" I heard Everly says cheerfully. Umirap ako habang pasimpleng pinapasadahan siya ng tingin.

Indeed he was really good in their school's uniform. Wala akong makitang gusot sa kaniyang puting polo o di kaya'y maliit na mantsa. The three first buttons were undone showing a bit of his skin and his white shirt underneath. For a rock band member, he sure is neat and tidy on the way he dress.

I heard Eion greeted back pagkatapos ay ibinaling na agad ang tingin sa akin. His playful stares were back at me again. Ang kaniyang labi ay bahagyang nakanguso at nagpipigil ng ngiti. Sinubukan kong ikunot ang aking noo upang ipakitang naiirita ako.

Indeed, I was slightly irritated. But not for him.

" You have to go somewhere, sabi ni Everly?" aniya at bahagyang kinuha ang aking kamay.

Sa simpleng paghawak na iyon ay napasinghap ako at napalingon sa kaibigan. Everly didn't seem to mind. Ang kaniyang atensyon ay nasa kaniyang cellphone pero alam ko namang nakikinig pa rin siya sa pag-uusapan namin ni Eion.

I felt my cheeks heat up. Kasabay nun ay ang pag-iwas ng ko ng kamay mula sa kaniyang hawak. I gave him a ruthless glare. Hindi man lang natibag! This asstard is just as stubborn as my friend! Ang sarap nilang pagbanggain!

Tumikhim ako. Bahagyang kinunot ang noo. " Oo, we'll go for ingredient hunting."

Hindi ko alam kung bakit naiilang pa rin ako sa kaniya. Even though we really had a great time last night, alam kong may restrictions pa rin ako. Eion didn't seem to mind though. Mukha pa ngang he will really took advantage of me being so shy and nervous around him. Pinagtatawanan pa nga ako dahil sa pagkailang ko sa kaniya.

We did not really talk about anything else. Sumingit agad si Everly sa usapan namin at sila ang nag-usap. Inalalayan lang ako ni Eion papasok sa kaniyang sasakyan habang nasa likod si Everly.

" May kukuha na sa inyo as an artist?" tanong ni Everly habang nagdadrive na si Eion papuntang market.

" Yeah. We've been performing week by week for this. And sometimes we got to skip classes for a casual meeting."

" Ah…" Everly says and then shutting her mouth. Bahagya akong lumingon upang makita ang kaibigan. She sat there, her back was laid on the leather couch while she was browsing on her phone.

Nilingon ko kaagad si Eion na kalmadong nagda-drive. " Don't you have class?"

Bahagya siyang lumingon. " I have..."

" Then…why are you here?"

His lips quirked up. " Because you're here…"

I shrugged while biting my lower lip. Iniwas ko ang tingin sa kaniya dahil hindi ko alam kung bakit ganito siya. Sure, Eion could be very playful and provocative. Yung tipong mawawala ka talaga sa isip mo kapag ngumisi siya at tumitig sa iyo.