Uncontrollable Obsession

Kapitulo 17

Vocal

The next day I woke up early because of the chirping of birds. My eyes are still closed cuz I'm still very sleepy. I spent a minute on the bed before getting up and exiting to the balcony because that's where the noise came from.

Nilinga-linga ko ang paningin at naipikit ko ang mata nang nasilawan ako ng araw. The beam hits me. I only opened one but when my eyes hit the birdhouse that was hanging and it was currently dancing because of the morning wind.

I ran towards it. Dalawang ibon ang nakakulong. And the other one is played by a partner. This is a lovebird. Sinong naglagay. I dodged as the cage swayed as they both flew away.

Napakataas naman ng pinagsabitan. I have to look up to see them playing.

I roamed my eyes again and looked for a seat to step on. Nakita ko ang rattan kaya nilapitan ko ito at dinala roon. I stepped on it carefully and then looked up. I slowly raised both of my hands to reach the object attached to the hook but I was not high enough. Kailangan ko pang tumingkayad. I took a deep breath. When things go wrong, I will definitely fall to the ground.

Inalis ko ang paningin sa ibaba. Hindi naman ako mahuhulog kung mag-iingat lang. Napaawang ako nang makuha ko. Dali-dali akong bumaba saka nagtungo sa lamesita. Nilapag ko ito roon at naupo rin sa hinilang upuan.

Who could have hung it there? I smiled when I heard their chirping again. It's good to hear. I stood up when I noticed that there was a flower again.

I went inside and took the empty flower vase with me when I went out to the balcony again. Kakapitas lang siguro nito kasi sobrang presko pa. I was stunned after I put it on when realize something. My eyes move from flower to lovebirds. Couldn't there be only one person behind it?

I glanced over when I heard the door open. Zekeil came out of his balcony. I looked at his pajamas. It was tangled. I moved my eyes to his face. I pout when I realized he caught me staring at his body. Wala namang masamang tumingin kasi kapansin-pansin ang gusot niyang pantulog.

He raised an eyebrow at me and I saw him looking at my flower and bird. When he returned to me he spoke.

"Someone put flowers again? And..." he paused to hissed. "...there's actually a bird too. Who gave that to you?"

Kumibit ako ng balikat at umiling.

"I don't know! I just woke up with a bird here."

He nodded and glanced again at the flower and bird. I turned around and I don't know why I smiled when I stared at the red chrysanthemum for a long time.

Nakarinig ako ng tikhim galing sa kaniya pero binalewala ko lamang. Kung nakita ko lang ang palaging nag-iiwan nito sa akin, baka naging kaibigan ko na siya. Wala akong pakialam kung lalaki siya.

"By the way, what happened to your clothes?" I asked as I looked back at him.

Napasulyap siya sa suot niya at natanto niya sigurong gusot na gusot ito. Nag-angat siya ng mukha at dumiretso sa akin ang kaniyang paningin. Kumibit balikat lang din siya.

"I also don't know "

Napatitig pa ako sa damit niya sandali bago siya tinalikuran. Nahulog lang siguro siya n'ong natulog. Naglilikot siguro kaya ganoon.

I suddenly remembered the scene at the resort. When can I get out of that situation? It chases me even in my sleep, I can't escape. Sometimes I distract myself with other things just so it won't enter my mind again. That's why I'm so happy now for the person who left these to me. This way I might forget.

I sighed and stopped stroking the flower with my index finger. I could not avoid problems. It's like everything he said that night was really true.

Tinitigan ko ang dalawang ibon na naglalambingan sa harapan ko. If I had just become a bird, there would be no problem with my heart.