Special Chapter 01
The First Meet
"Lim, samahan mo ako sa main lib."
Nakakunot ang noo nitong nilagay ang dalawang kamay sa gilid ng kaniyang baywang, "Anak ng— ang layo! Katamad, ang init pati."
"Okay, I'll go ahead," I shrugged and tapped the back of his shoulder as my sign of dismissal.
Walking under the blueberry-filled hues of a sunchild's birth rays, the trailblazing autumn-like season compressed the university into a pile of castleton greenery leaves falling from copses as the wind danced with them to the ground. How fancy.
Nang makarating na ako sa loob, hindi na ako nagulat pa nang makitang maraming estusyante ang nag-aaral, kadalasan kasi sa mga libro na kailangan ng mga estudyante ay naririto.
I looked around to see myself a seat. Luckily, I saw an available table in the corner of the third section after I searched some books for the geography of modern art works of literature.
I was in the middle of sketching a few drafts for my class later when someone ran onto my table and accidentally tugged the edge of my platform desk, I pursed my lips in annoyance and gave a side glance to the boy whose backpack was placed wrongly on his shoulders.
"Riri!" He called.
I sighed an impatient breath, the tip of my pencil broke and the sketch of an old building was ruined. Napadiin ang pagsadsad nito sa papel kung kaya't ang gitnang parte nito ay bahagya nang napunit.
Feeling a bit angry, I scanned the whole area for his possible shadows, and there, at just a table away from mine, I saw him taking over a sit in front of an epitome.
My lips parted. Napakurap ako sa nakita.
I stared at the woman, longer enough to have my heart skipped a bit after seeing a glimpse of myself doing every romantic clichès with her. If I were to weave each thread only to knot us a connection, I'd rather do it. For a moment, I see myself looking and still looking back at their direction, her direction.
Mukhang mataray dahil madalas lamang nakapoker face pero nang ngumiti at tumawa ay parang naglaho ang lahat ng kung anong isipin tungkol sa kaniya. Ang maamong mukha ay isa sa nagpadepina ng maliliit na mga mata na mas lalong sumisingkit dahil sa ginagawa nitong pagngiti.
Okay lang, bagay naman sa kan'ya. Ang ganda niya tuloy tingnan lalo kapag nakangiti.
Imbes na ituloy ang inis na nararamdaman mula sa nasirang iginuhit, I flipped a new page from my sketch pad.
I stared at her. . . the found muse of my musings— to paint her in pieces of the great masters.
I looked over my watch and see if I still have some time left from my vacant. Nang makitang may 40 minutos ay sinimulan ko ang pagguhit kasabay ng mabibilis kong sulyap sa babae.
Riri ba talaga ang pangalan niya? Kung iyon nga, it suits her so well.
Cute and daring and. . . pretty.
Inorasan ko ang sarili sa kagustuhang matapos ito kaagad bago matapos ang mga segundong tumatakbo sa orasan. I want to finish my sketch for her, even if a simple infatuation could last a day or so, I'd still like to paint this moment.
Hindi ko na namalayan ang mga minutong lumipas sa sobrang tutok ko sa pagguhit, bumalik lang ako sa wisyo nang tumunog ang alarm ko na nagpagimbala sa lahat. I looked in her direction and I immediately regretted doing so.
Nakakahiya.
Nakatingin siya!
"What the hell. . . does being stupid doesn't exempt me in times like this, too?" I murmured to myself and started cleaning my things due to embarrassment.
I left the library with a quiet environment as they proceed to their own business but as it continued, the blossoming shame spirit in me would compress rancor. I almost cursed myself on my first time meeting a muse.
Bahagya na akong nakalayo-layo mula samain library nang may napagtanto ako. I searched the sides of my pockets and even the insides of my bag but my phone wasn't there.
I frustratedly ran my fingers through my hair and then decided to go back to the library. I was walking at a fast pace before I'd be late for my next class and hopefully, no one would steal my phone.
Bubuksan ko na sana ang pinto nang may lumabas ding estudyante roon. A small gasp left from the latter's lips when she almost bumped into me.
"Oh no, I'm so sorry," she lift her head, and there, I met the most beautiful siren eyes that will cause me a lure into the depth of her enigma.
For the love of God, it's her!
She's in front of me right now! I think I'm gonna pass out anytime.
I cleared my throat before answering, ''U-uh, it's okay...¨
She gave me a short nod before she excused herself and walk past me. I was left there, standing for a frozen second, as soon as I came back to my senses, I immediately chase her, now a few meters away.
"Miss!" I called but of course, it wasn't enough so I jogged myself back in their direction.
"Hey, miss. . ." I halted back my hand for almost touching her arm. Any girl wouldn't like it if a guy suddenly touches her without her permission especially if the girl doesn't know that a guy like me existed in her world.
"Oh, do you need something?" She eyed me wearily.
Naghihina 'yung tuhod ko. I met a lot of girls my age, but nothing— no one has ever made my knees weak like an ice cream melting when the sun rays at them. As a mortal, I would worship her if she want me to— as the Goddess who possessed such beauty like Aphrodite.
"Ano. . ." I scratch the back of my nape, "the thing is, you were seated near my table so if ever you came across mine, did you perhaps see a phone left on the table?"
"Table 16, you mean?"
"Ah, oo," tango ko kahit hindi ako sigurado. Nasa kaniya na natuon ang buong atensyon ko mula kanina imbes ang nasasabing pagsasaliksik para sa aralin.
"Ah! I left it with the assigned librarian, just in case the owner— which is you will come back for it."
Damn you, Sky. Don't expect her to give it directly to you.
"Okay, Thank you. . ." Riri. I badly wanna say her name aloud but I don't wanna freak her out by simply knowing her name so suddenly. With a simple nod, she turned her back on me before she started to walk away.
Staring at her back means one thing. . . I wanna see her again.
"Tangina, Skyrues. Sinasabi ko sa'yo, ang init-init dito. Tingnan mo 'yung aircon dito sa banda natin, ang hina! Tapos dun sa isa—" mahinang reklamo ni Limuel matapos ko siyang mapapayag na samahan ulit ako sa library.
"Tumahimik ka muna, please. Thank you."
"Aba't— hoy pare, gusto mo bang ibalik kita sa sinapupunan ni tita?"
"Ikaw ang ibabalik ko kapag hindi ka pa tumahimik." He immediately shut his mouth, I lifted a smirk to myself, "Hmm, thanks for cooperating, Lim."
Irap at singhal lang ang isinagot nito sa akin bago itinuon ang sarili palapit sa lamesa at saka humalumbaba doon, "Sino 'yan?"
I ignored him and continue what I was doing, sketching her features I kept alive to remember in my head.
"Bawal," nguso ko at agad na iniwas ang papel mula rito nang subukan nitong silipin ang ginuguhit ko.
"Hindi na talaga kita sasamahan dito, bahala ka d'yan."
It's been a few days since I first met her, since then, It became part of my routine to include seeing her secretly in my schedules.
Nang namataan ko siyang dumating ay agad akong napaayos nang upo kahit na malabo ang tiyansang makita ako nito gayong nasa padulo ako nakapwesto.
I looked away when she kissed the same boy from the other day on the cheeks.
"Olats ka, pre, may jowa pala," mahina nitong tinapik ang balikat ko, di malaman kung paano niya nalaman na sa babae ako nakatingin.
Ilang minuto lang din kaming nanatili roon bago namin mapagpasyahang umalis na. While walking over the greenery grass of Crestview's field as the crimsoned-orangery autumnal leaves left the tree, I kept my silence.
"Ang tahimik mo, gusto mo bang lagyan ko ng backround music para makapag-senti ka?" Limuel broke the silence.
Napailing ako, ngayo'y bahagya nang natatawa, "Sira ka talaga."
"Gusto mo ireto kita? May kilala ako. . ." I gave him a side glance and saw him wiggling his eyebrows, clearly teasing me.
"No, thanks," natatawa kong inilingan ang kaibigan.
"Bakit? Kaysa naman doon sa may jowa!"
"Ano naman?"
"Huh?" napatulala ito sa sagot ko.
I stopped myself from taking another step and squinted my eyes when the afternoon sun kissed my eyes, "Lim, sometimes, liking someone doesn't mean you also want to be in a relationship with them. Liking someone can be genuine at times, seeing them happy; makes you happy, and even from afar, you'd root for their success in life."
I began taking a step again, "I can still like her in my ways and I will keep liking— admiring her from afar to keep my distance. Even when my heart unfamiliarized the remnants she buried deep in me."
"Okay, chill. Sabi ko nga walang reto-retong magaganap," he tittered a laugh as he scratched the back of his nape.
If I'd be able to meet her again, I'll gift her a lover kiss of a lifetime.
I can't wait to prove and fulfill that to her.
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happy 20k reads ! sorry medyo natagalan sa special chapter but thank you always for waiting ! im so grateful to have you here <3