Capturing Hue

Episode 11

"If you need a friend to talk to, about your secrets and other stuff, I am just your classmate and you can quickly approach me. Hindi ko ipagkakalat ang. . . uhm. . . sikreto mo." He smiled at me after I've said those.

"And I hope that you won't hide in the darkness forever. I have a firsthand experience of being choked by keep on hiding myself. My true colors. My true hues. Alam na alam ko kung ga'no kahirap 'yan at sana malagpasan mo rin 'yang takot na 'yan balang araw. I know you can do it," I softly said. 

That was like talking to myself. That was like talking to my soul. To let myself be free for the least. To let me enjoy my teenage days and continue to pursue my dreams. To not hide my true colors because I can shine the brightest, like a colorful rainbow, when I am myself.

"Thank you for that. Hindi ko alam na may problema ka rin pala. I always thought na tahimik ka lang talaga at iwas sa mga tao. But I guess everyone has their own demon to battle with. We can hide those problems with a smile, but we will bear them in our heavy heart unless we've decided to release them." Napatitig lang ako sa sa kanya dahil sa sinabi niya. 

Ngumiti ako at nagsalita na ulit pagkatapos. I can't believe that with even just a small talk, I felt relieved. Parang ang gaan sa pakiramdam makipag-usap sa mga taong halos kaparehas ng sitwasyon ko.

"Can we be friends?" I asked him and he gladly accepted my hand. "Friends." After that we've talked a lot more about life.

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Pagkatapos ng first Jail Booth session, umayaw na 'ko sa next batch. Yes, it was relieving to talk to someone but also difficult at the same time. 

Paano kung hindi pala kayo same ng opinion? Pa'no kung nasaktan mo siya with your usage of words unintentionally? You can't really say.

Nagpaalam muna ako kanila Leanna at Clea na pupuntahan ko na lang si North sa clinic. Inasar pa nila ako na inuna ko pa ang bebe time kaysa tumulong sa lipunan. I just rolled my eyes at them.

I knocked at the clinic's door before entering because it would look rude if I'll trespass. "Good morning po," I greeted the nurse-in-charge. "Bibisitahin ko lang po si North Theodore Lacuesta. Gising na po ba siya?" 

She said that he's still sleeping soundly kaya napangiti na lang ako bago pumunta sa kama niya. Hinawi ko ang nakaharang na kurtina at nakita ko si North na natutulog nang mahimbing.

I smiled while looking at him. Umupo ako sa gilid ng kama niya. I remembered the same scenario that Clea and I shared when she was in the hospital. Umalon pa bahagya ang kama nang umupo ako sa gilid.

I looked at his features. He had those chinito eyes that always form crescent whenever he smiles. His perfect eyebrows and tall nose, partnered with his reddish soft lips. Hindi talaga ako nagtataka kung bakit pati si Selena ay sinabi na crush niya si North dati.

I mean, he's the dream guy. Easy to approach and always cheerful. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ko 'to nasasabi at itanggi ko man, naging magaan na rin ang loob ko kay North sa nakalipas na mga buwan na magkakilala kami.

"Hays. . ." buntong-hininga at luminga-linga muna pero nagulat ako nang bigla niyang hawakan ang kamay ko nang marahan. "North?" tanong ko dahil nakapikit pa rin siya. Baka nananaginip lang.

I held his hand too and caressed it softly. Kitang-kita ang ugat sa mga kamay niya at matigas din ang braso niya. I smirked but got too shocked when he suddenly spoke.

"Aba, nang-hi-hipo."

Bigla akong napabitaw sa hawak dahil sa sinabi niya. "Gising ka na pala! Hindi mo sinasabi!" naiirita kong tugon pero ramdam ko na ang pag-akyat ng lahat ng dugo sa pisngi ko dahil sa pamumula. Oh my goodness!