HOPE DE GUZMAN
Napaangat ako ng ulo, I scratched my eyes and yawned. "Nakatulog ako,"
I looked at what I'm doing, nakatapos ako ng isa bago pa ako makatulog. I sighed, somehow, I felt relaxed after taking a nap.
Isang factor na rin siguro ang pag-uwi ko sa bahay, pati na rin ang pagtawag ko kay Woozi kahapon. I am so glad that I called him, mabuti nalang at nagawa ko 'yon.
"Tulog lang pala ang magpapangiti sa asawa ko," I gasped after hearing a voice from my bed.
Nang lumingon ako'y namataan ko si Seungcheol, balot ng kumot ang katawan niya, nakangiti siya sa akin, mukhang nandito lang siya para manggulo.
"Iniisip ko kung ililipat kita sa kama kanina, pero sa tingin ko maiistorbo ko lang ang tulog mo. You're sensitive when it comes to sleeping, kaunting kibot lang nagigising ka na," Nagising ang diwa ko nang dahil sa sinabi niya.
He's indeed stalking me. I am totally sure that he observed me for a long time now, paano naman niya malalaman na sensitibo ako?
"Oh by the way nakita ko si Faith kanina," he informed.
"Nasaan na siya?" Tanong ko sa kaniya. Hindi ko man siya gustong kausapin, kailangan kong malaman kung nasaan ang kapatid ko.
"May kinuha lang siyang textbook sa kwarto niya. Hindi niya ako nakita rito sa loob, like, nagkasalubong lang kami habang paounta rito," he explained, he doesn't even answer my question. Halatang ayaw niyang pag-usapan namin siya, he want my attention only for him.
"Nandito pa rin ba siya?" tanong kong muli.
He shook his head, "No, sinabi niya sa aking nagsestay siya sa bahay ng kaibigan niya. She also saw you here, sabi niya," he shrugged.
"Nasaan na si Faith ngayon?" tanong ko.
"I drove her to school para safe," he answered.
"Wala kabg ginawang kakaiba?" hindi ko magawang magtanong nang marami, nag-aalala ako para sa kaniya.
"Why would I? You'd been a good girl since nagstay ka lang talaga rito. I would be mad and might harm her kung sinuway mo ako," he shrugged, I sighed in relief.
"Salamat,"
"Babe," He sat up, nang tignan ko siya ay parang gulat na gulat siya. "It's your first time to thank me,"
"Kampante na akong ligtas si Faith," I said.
"Choi Seungcheol, hindi ka naman nag-iimbento ng kuwento 'di ba? Totoo talagang hinatid mo siya?" I interrogated.
"Heck yeah! I might stay silent but I never lie. Especially this time that I want to gain your trust and affection," he iled while leaving my bed to come near me.
"I love you," He tried to grab my hand but I avoided him.
"U-umalis ka muna, kailangan kong magligpit. Malapit na ang klase ko," pagdadahilan ko.
He pouted, but then nodded, "Let's have our lunch together,"
Nang makaalis siya ay natataranta akong nagligpit ng mga gamit. Thank goodness at may password ang phone ko, hindi niya nakitang may kausap ako.
It seems like he's telling the truth, siguro nga talaga'y nakarating na si Faith sa bahay. Sayang lang dahil ang sarap ng tulog ko. I should've greet her at least.
Nang matapos akong maligo at magbihis ay lumabas din ako kaagad. Muntikan na akong sumigaw nang makita ko ang nakangiting mukha ni Seungcheol.
"G-ginulat mo ako," napahawak ako sa dibdib dahil sa kaba.
He giggled before grabbing my hand. "Mas ginulat mo ako, ang ganda mo kasi,"
Tipikal na linyahan ng mga malalanding lalaki, iniisip ko pa rin kung saang banda ng katagang 'yon ang nakakakilig.
It's normal to give praises to someone. And it's not just for the privileged, we're obligated to encourage every people to live beautifully. Hindi special ang pagiging maganda dahil lahat tayo, maganda. What's special is on how we use this beauty in daily and meaningful basis.
But maybe, having people who see you differently to others is heart fluttering. It means that you're iconic to them, you're special.
Nag-order ng pagkain si Seungcheol. I was not comfortable to share table with him. Usually, magkatabi kami ni Faith sa dinning table na 'to, it's weird to see a man eating on my father's place in the table. Nakaya ko naman, as of now, hindi pa agresibo si Seungcheol. Medyo kampante pa ako.
We went to go school together. Sikat si Seungcheol sa school, even his friends are famous. Laman ba naman ng mga school tarpaulin ang mukha niya, bukod yata sa medals na dinadala niya sa swimming competitions ay naging face of the campus na rin siya.
"Ngayon, makakanuod ka ba sa training ko?" He asked me.
"Hindi ako magsasayang ng panahon sa'yo, marami pa akong gagawin," I ninchalantly spoke.
"Damot," He sulked again!
"Magfocus ka sa training mo, magfofocus ako sa pag-aaral ko," I negotiated. Magpasalamat nga siya't hindi ko pa rin siya nirereport, natatakot lang akong kumilos dahil sa baka madamay ang kapatid ko!
"But I'm also training myself to be a good husband to you," he told me.
I laughed sarcastically, "No progress,"
He just scoffed, stopping himself to feel pissed. I'm about to leave him but his voice called me.
"Hope De Guzman, I forgot to tell you something about what your sister told me," napalingon ako sa gawi niya dahil sa pagpapapansin niya.
"Anong sabi niya?" Lumapit akong muli sa kaniya nang naka-crossed arms.
He crossed his arms too, "Akala ko nga po patay na siya eh,"
"Simula noong nawala sila mama masyado na siyang nagmamagaling,"
"Kuya, wala namang kwenta 'yon si ate,"
"Ang sweet mo naman kuya, sana ako nalang ang jowa mo," as he's counting his fingers, he took a glance on me with a smirk.
I panted, "Hindi ka nagsasabi ng totoo,"
"Really?" he slightly lifted his head sideways, just for me to notice some faded trace of a lipstick.
"She kissed me before going inside her campus," he smirked, nag-init ang ulo ko! Paano kung nag-iimbento lang talaga siya para siraan ang kapatid ko sa'kin?
"She liked me so much, she liked me more than she did to you," that hit me hard.
"But I love you,"
"I hate to see people hating my babe," his voice turned cold and husky, I felt scared again.
"I'm just being nice because that's what you like. I'm nice to her pero inaakala niyang may iba akong motibo sa kaniya," he shrugged his shoulders.
"But for fuck's sake, she's a brat. She doesn't see your efforts, I hate to say this but she deserves to die,"
Out of anger, I grabbed his collar and slapped him hard. I don't care kung may makakita, he deserves to be beaten! "Bawiin mo ang sinabi mo!"
"No, I love you. You don't need a sister,"
"I can see your pain, I can be your comfort, you needed me more than her," he combed my hair with his fingers, naiirita kong inalis ang kamay niya sa buhok ko at dumistansya sa kaniya.
"It's funny but this jealousy is fucking real. It's hard for me to do harm to her, because you loved her so much! I don't want you to hate me more,"
I pushed him so that we'll have a little distance away from each other, "Kapag may ginawa kang masama sa kaniya, ako ang papatay sa'yo!" I pointed him.
"Sure," He bit his lowerlip, he's provoking me!
I frustratedly scratched my hair as I walk away, his chuckles irritate me! Pumasok ako sa loob ng room nang may kinikimkim na sama ng loob. Some are engaging conversations to me pero hindi ako makapagfocus.
Pero, paano kung totoo ang mga sinasabi niya?
Paano kung ayaw talaga sa akin ng kapatid ko?
Ano bang ginagawa kong mali para pahirapan ako ng mga taong pinagkakatiwalaan ko? First my parents, then si Cherry, now it's Faith!
Ano bang kasalanan ko? Binibigyan niyo lang ba ako ng hint na kailangan ko na talagang mawala?