He Who Never Liked A Girl Before

CHAPTER 21

"Are you sure that is all you wanted to bring with you?"

Friday morning, we're already inside the school premises. Kasama namin ang ilang kalahok din sa MMC, mula sa lower grade levels. Hinihintay pa namin ang van na magdadala sa amin sa Vicio, tatlong bayan pa mula dito.

Hinawakan ko ang suot na jacket na nakapatong sa uniporme at tumango sa kaniya.

"Do you already have your lunch there?" Eiji languidly lifted the bag on my back to check if that's heavy. Bahagya naman akong napabaling sa kamay niyang humawak sa bag ko at sinundan ang kilos niya. I slightly twisted my neck, more likely waiting for the confirmation that will be coming from him.

Hindi rin ako sigurado kung may lunch na ako doon. Wala sa sarili akong pumasok kanina kaya hindi sigurado kung may baon bang dala. And now that he mentioned it, I suddenly wonder if I already have the lunch inside my bag. Inalala ko ang nangyari kaninang umaga ngunit ang natatandaan ko lamang ay ang wala sa sarili kong pagligo, pagkain, at pagbiyahe patungo sa kasalukuyang kinaroroonan.

I looked up and think hard. Iniisip kung naalala ba ng Lola na pabaunan ako ng tanghalian. When I realized that she's not that forgetful to not even remember putting my lunch inside my bag, I lowered my head and twisted my neck again only to see Eiji who's still holding my bag.

"Meron naman yata. Maagang nagluto si Lola," ani ko, inalis na ang tingin sa lalaki. Tumikhim ako at nagpalinga-linga sa paligid, hindi na maitanggi sa sarili ang paghahanap sa maingay na lalaking malimit na makita o kahit na makausap. Only few students were inside the campus at this hour. Masiyado pa kasing maaga. Masiyadong maaga para mamataan agad ang lalaking inaasahang makita.

He's maybe readying himself to school by now. Or still asleep? Wala akong clue sa kung anong oras siyang pumapasok. But I've seen him once in school this early the day when he apologized to me. O baka no'ng araw lang na iyon siya maaga? I don't know.

"Uh-huh...I can share my lunch to you, Caledonia. Mommy prepared a lot and just told me to give you some." Binitawan niya ang kaninang ineksaming bag at nanatili sa likod ko. I adjusted my eyeglasses and faced him, reason why I saw his forever serious eyes fixed on me.

Nanatili ang mga mata ko sa lalaking dating hinahangaan. I remained silent, a bit busy finding the reason why I couldn't feel the nervousness I'm used to feel whenever he's around or looking at me like this. Nanatili akong nakatingin sa kaniya, hindi na mahanap ang dating madalas na nararamdamang pagkailang kahit pa ngayong mukhang delikado ang ipinupukol na tingin sa akin.

I'm used to admiring him before. He is a man of few words. He rarely speaks, and when he does, he makes a lot of sense. He always gets things done and always do what he says, almost taking after his father. The traces of great stature is evident on how he move, speak, and think. Pero ang makita siyang nakatayo sa harap ko ngayon ay hindi nakapagpasaya sa mga paru-parong naninirahan sa tiyan. I am not even bothered. Not for a minute.

"Salamat sa Mama mo." Bahagya akong tumango, may gusto pang sabihin kaya hinayaan ang sarili. "Though I think that's somewhat unnecessary, I'm still grateful." Totoo iyon. Nagpapasalamat man ay nakararamdam ako ng hiya. But I guess, his mother is just thoughtful. Very thoughtful to even give me some food through his son.

"She likes you." Nag-abang siya ng reaksiyon sa akin. Ako naman ay naghintay din ng mga salitang lalabas sa bibig at dahil wala ay tumingin na lamang sa kaniya. "We'll eat our lunch together later, Caledonia," pinal niyang saad, hindi nabakasan ng kagustuhang makarinig ng protestang manggagaling sa akin.

"Waiver ninyo, guys!" Iyon ang nakapagpaputol ng tinginan. I busied myself rummaging into my bag to find the waiver. I finally found it in between the pages of my notebook and was ready to give it to Marcia, who was then collecting it. Just when I was about to call her, Eiji suddenly stole it from my hold and gave the little paper to Mancia instead. Wala nang nagawa at masiyado nang huli para umapila, hinayaan kong siya na lamang ang magbigay niyon.