#ATC04 Chapter Four
"EH? Uuwi na ng Pilipinas si Apollo?"
"Bakit parang gulat na gulat ka?"
"Bakit ang bilis?"
"Kasi dinalaw lang naman niya si Art dito at hindi sinabing dito na maninirahan."
Snow pouted her lips like a duck. Lumungkot din ang kanyang mga mata habang nakatingin kay Sunshine na nakataas ang isang kilay sa kanya.
"Ang bilis naman," malungkot na sabi niya.
"Bakit parang paiyak ka na?" Mas umangat pa ang kilay ng kapatid. "Hindi naman kayo close para iyakan mo siya."
Snow sighed, adding more drama. Iyon nga ang kinalulungkot niya. Hindi pa siya naging close sa binata, aalis na ito agad. Wala pa siyang nakokolektang magandang memories kasama ang binata. Paano na lang kung hindi na ito bumalik? O kung matatagalan ito bago muling bumalik? Baka makalimutan niya ang pagmumukha ni Apollo. Magkalayo pa naman ang mukha nito at ni Artemis kahit kambal ang dalawa.
"Dadalaw ba siya ulit?" she asked hopefully.
"Sabi ni Art, baka raw dito mag-pasko ang mga magulang niya. Malamang kasama rin si Apollo," Sunshine replied, sounding uninterested.
Lumiwanag ang mukha ni Snow sa nabalitaan. Ilang buwan lang niyang hindi makikita si Apollo at babalik din pala ito sa pasko. Siguro naman ay hindi niya makakalimutan ang itsura nito sa ilang buwang hindi niya ito makikita.
Napansin ni Sunshine ang malaki niyang ngisi. Itinigil ng dalaga ang pagsusulat at ibinaba ang hawak na ballpen sa mesa. It created a loud thud, making Snow jolted in her seat.
"Bakit?" She held her hand above her chest while looking at Sunshine.
"May gusto ka ba sa lalaking 'yon?" kunot-noong tanong nito na ikinagulat niya.
Snow felt her face turning into the color of tomatoes. That was her weakness. Mabilis siyang mamula sa tuwing nakararamdam siya ng hiya, takot, pagod, o kilig. Her skin was white as snow, kaya kaunting reaction lang talaga ng katawan niya ay mapapansin na ang pagbabago roon.
"B-bakit mo tinatanong 'yan?" nauutal na tanong niya, takot na sagutin ang tanong ng kapatid. "Bakit? Crush mo ba si Apollo?"
Sunshine gave her a flat face. "Are you fucking serious right now, Snow?"
"Bakit? Crush mo nga?"
"You're stupid."
"Nagtatanong lang ako! Crush mo?" she pressed.
"Ako ang unang nagtanong—"
"Ako ang nagtatanong ngayon kaya dapat ngayon ka na sumagot."
Her sister rolled her eyes. Sumuko na ito at hindi na siya muling tinanong. Snow pouted. Gusto lang naman niyang hulihin si Sunshine kung may gusto rin ba ito kay Apollo, knowing that he was so vocal about his feelings toward her. Wala namang sinasagot si Sunshine sa binata kundi irap lang o 'di kaya'y masamang titig.
Maybe some other people will take those reactions as a form of rejection, but Snow knew her sister too well. Kahit nga ang pagsabi nito ng 'mahal kita' ay dinadaan din sa pag irap.
"Crush mo ba si Apollo, Sunshine?" tanong niyang muli.
Mukha talagang nakulitan na ang kapatid dahil dinampot na nito ang mga papel at ballpen na ginagamit, tumayo, at tuluyan na siyang iniwan mag-isa sa sala ng maliit nilang condo.
Snow chuckled while shaking her head. Napakasungit talaga. Hindi niya lubos maisip kung bakit si Sunshine ang natipuhan ni Apollo kung kahit siya na kapatid nito ay hindi makausap nang maayos ang dalaga dahil sa labis na katarayan.
But unlike Apollo, Snow knew the reason why her sister became like... that. Like a sun that was trying to hide behind the clouds.
Snow decided to go to Artemis' unit to check up on Apollo. Gulat na gulat talaga siya kanina nang ibalita ni Sunshine na aalis na ito mamayang hapon.
It had been like... what? A week when she first met Apollo? And the only encounter she had with the guy was when they were making their reports inside Art's condo unit. Pagkatapos no'n ay naging busy na siya sa school at halos doon na rin natutulog.
Snow couldn't afford to fail, kahit na sabihing culinary school lang naman ang pinasok niya at ng kapatid. Maraming nagsasabi sa kanila na bakit daw sila nag-abroad at nag-apply ng scholarship kung ang gagawin lang naman pala nila ay magluto? Natututunan naman daw iyon sa bahay.
Sunshine usually just rolled her eyes on those people, pero siya ay halos mag-conduct na ng speech para lang ipaintindi sa mga ito na iyon ang pangarap nilang magkapatid.
Growing up with only the two of them together, Snow and Sunshine had already connected their goals with each other's dreams and future. Kung ano ang plano ng isa, sisiguraduhin nitong kasama roon ang isa. They didn't see their selves moving forward with one of them being left behind.
Simula noong naghiwalay ang kanilang mga magulang noong siya'y nasa high school pa lang, wala na siyang ibang sinasamahan kundi ang kanyang ate Sunshine. Sunshine was in her senior year in high school when their parents parted ways. Naiwan sila sa puder ng kanilang ina. Mayroong maliit na karinderya noon ang kanilang pamilya na siyang pilit na ipinatakbo ng kanilang ina para sa kanilang pag-aaral.
But the worst thing happened; their mother died. Napilitan silang ibenta ang karinderya at nakitira muna sa kanilang malayong kamag-anak habang nag-iisip kung paano silang dalawa mabubuhay.
They didn't have any contact to their father. Hindi rin alam ng dalawa kung may ibang pamilya na ba ito. Mabuti na lang at dumalo sa libing ng kanilang ina ang nagpakilalang pinsan nito na siyang sinamahan nila pansamantala.
Sunshine was graduating that time. Nangutang ito sa pinsan ng ina nila para sa graduation fee at nangakong babayaran kapag nakahanap ng trabaho. After graduating, hindi muna ito tumuloy sa kolehiyo para maghanap ng mapapasukang trabaho. Snow also wanted to stop attending school to help her sister, but Sunshine said that she was doing it to support her education. And she loved her sister so much na handa rin siyang magsakripisyo para rito.
Dalawang taon ang itinigil ni Sunshine sa pag-aaral. Mabuti na lang at nakapagtapos ito ng highschool kaya kahit papa'no ay may kumukuha pa rin dito para magtrabaho.
Snow's college years came and she tried applying for scholarships. That was when she met Mr. Eros Cordova, the owner of the Kupid's Arrow. He was looking for college students who wanted to pursue culinary. She applied for it and dragged Sunshine's name to it. Magkahalong gulat, pagkalito, galit, at tuwa ang naramdaman ni Sunshine noong ibinalita niyang natanggap silang dalawa sa full scholarship program ng Kupid's Arrow. After days and days of convincing her sister, she finally agreed and met Mr. Cordova. Nalaman niyang apat lang pala silang napiling scholars nito at umatras ang dalawa. Silang magkapatid na lang ang nagpapatuloy hanggang sa makatapos.
Snow took a deep breath before knocking. Nakatatlong katok pa lang siya nang bumukas ang pinto. Her face instantly turned red when she went face to face with Apollo's broad chest.
"Good evening, Snowy," malalim ang boses na bati nito.
Napalunok si Snow at pilit na sinalubong ang mga mata ng binata. "G-Good evening."
Bahagya nitong niluwagan ang pagkakabukas ng pinto. Apollo took a step back to make a space on the doorway, implying her to enter. Mabilis na umiling si Snow at saka ngumiti.
"Hindi na. Napadaan lang naman ako," tanggi niya.
"Checking up on Art? Wala siya, e. May binili sa labas."
"Ah... Gano'n ba? Sige. Alis na ako." Akma siyang tatalikod nang magsalita ang binata.
"That's not like you, Snowy. I know you want to ask something from me," may bahid ng ngiti na sabi nito. "Tell me. What is it? Hmm?"
Napakurap si Snow at saka nagtatakang tinignan si Apollo. That wasn't like her? What did he meant? At paano nito nalamang may itatanong siya rito?
"How did you..."
Apollo smirked. "Sunshine went here awhile ago. Nasabi na siguro niya sa 'yo na aalis na ako."
Snow blinked again. Was he expecting her to come to their unit and confront him about leaving?
"So, why are you here? Umiyak ba si Sunshine pagkauwi niya?"
"Ha? H-hindi."
"But she's upset, right?"
"She... doesn't give a fuck."
Apollo let out a soft chuckle. Pinagmasdan niya ito. She would surely going to miss his playful smiles and laughter.
"Ah, Snow." Apollo leaned his back on the wall. "Sinabi niya talaga 'yan?"
Snow felt like running away. Maling desisyon na nagpunta pa siya roon para lang kausapin si Apollo. She just wanted to see him for the last time, to talk to him about something... Something that wasn't related to her sister.
But he loved talking about Sunshine whenever he was with her. Na para bang kapag nakikita siya ng binata ay palaging si Sunshine ang naaalala nito. His eyes would always glisten when talking about her sister. His smiles were sweet and genuine. Ibang-iba kapag puro kalokohan ang pinag-uusapan nilang dalawa.
And Snow loved to see that kind of smile. The naughty and playful one. She felt like that was the purest smile Apollo had. So damn carefree and natural. It was the kind of smile that reflected his soul.
It was sad to think that she might never going to see that smile again.
"I'm gonna miss you..." wala sa sariling bulong niya.
Apollo cocked his head on the side. His brows shot up. Snow realized that she blurted her thoughts out loud. Unti-unting nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata habang napupuno ng kulay ang mukha. What the fuck, Snow?
Apollo flashed a playful smile while staring at her cute reaction. He chuckled fruitfully, enjoying the scene in front of him. Umalis ito bigla sa pagkakasandal sa pader at humakbang palapit sa kanya. Snow's heart was beating loud. Dinig na dinig niya ang kanyang malalim na paghinga at pagngitngit ng mga ngipin.
"I'll be back on Christmas." He placed his palm on top of her head. "Guard your sister for me, okay?"
Snow was just staring at Apollo, his hand was still on top of her head. She was rooted in place. Hanggang sa dumating si Art at niyaya siya sa loob na muli niyang tinanggihan ay naroon pa rin siya.
"Sigurado ka bang ayaw mong pumasok?" muling tanong ni Art habang nakahawak sa door knob. "Malamig, Snow."
Umiling siya ulit. "Babalik na rin naman na ako sa unit."
"Okay, then. Papasok na ako. Tutulungan ko pang mag-empake si Apollo."
She felt her heart took a pang. Malungkot siyang ngumiti saka marahang tumango.
"Sige. Alis na ako," paalam niya.
"Snow," Art called her before completely leaving. "You're a brave and opinionated girl. You always say what your heart speaks. But I understand that sometimes, you also feel afraid and you chicken out. That's normal. Not because your heart says it, you'll do it. Assessing the situation is necessary; your feelings are important."
There was a small smile plastered on Artemis' face. Nahawa siya sa ngiti ng dalaga. Snow sighed before nodding.
"I'll take note of that," she said softly. "Thanks, Art."
"Love you," Artemis replied before closing the door.
Snow went back to their unit after. She went straight to her room and change in her pajamas. Humiga siya sa kama at saka pumikit.
Tama naman ang sinabi ni Artemis sa kanya. Hindi naman dahil may gusto na siya kay Apollo ay aamin na siya agad dito. She needed to acknowledge the things around them that might get affected by her confession. Isa na roon ang kanyang kapatid. She knew that Sunshine's not that vocal when it comes to her feelings, but there was a possibility na kaya hindi ito deretsong sumasagot sa kanya ay dahil may nararamdaman din ito para sa binata.
Posible naman 'yon, 'di ba? Tao rin naman si Sunshine. Kahit na sabihin niyang mala-bloke ng yelo ang lamig ng pakikitungo nito sa mga tao, may nararamdaman pa rin naman ito.
And who knew? Apollo might be the one who could melt that ice. Sino ba naman siya para humadlang?
Snow grunted and rolled on her bed. Ang daming nangyayari sa loob ng kanyang isipan. Mas marami pa nga yatang espasyo ang inookupahan ni Apollo roon kaysa sa mga napag-aralan niya sa culinary school.
Napatigil siya sa kagugulong sa kama na parang isang bulate nang tumunog ang notification tone ng kanyang cellphone. Umayos siya ng upo saka inabot ang kanyang cellphone para tignan.
"Holy hell," she mumbled under her breath when she saw the name on her notification panel.
ApolloNCrdv started following you.
Mabilis niyang binuksan ang notification at agad na pumunta sa account ng binata. His account was private kaya kailangan muna niyang mag send ng request dito.
Hindi pa dumaan ng ilang segundo nang makatanggap siyang muli ng notification.
ApolloNCrdv accepted your request. You are now following each other.
Impit siyang tumili habang nakatingin sa screen ng kanyang cellphone. She felt like a fucking teenager... though she was barely nineteen. Acceptable pa naman ang kilig na nararamdaman niya dahil fi-no-follow na nilang dalawa ng crush niya ang isa't isa.
Ngayon lang din nag-sink in sa kanya na hindi nga pala niya sinubukang hanapin ang social media accounts ni Apollo. Maybe because she was more invested on seeing him daily than to stalk him online. Pero ngayong aware na siyang may accounts nga ito sa social media ay puwede na niyang malaman ang mga ganap nito sa buhay kahit na nasa kabilang dako ito ng mundo.
Snow was grinning while scrolling on his feed. Puro sites at sceneries ang kadalasang nakikita niyang post ng binata. May ilan ding mukha nito at ng iba nitong mga kaklase. Some were even videos of them doing their plates.
"Hala! Ang hot talaga," gigil na sabi niya nang madaanan ang isang picture ng binata na nakalabas ang dila at bahagyang nakaangat ang ulo. Apollo was not looking at the camera. The picture was in back and white at hanggang sa bandang dibdib lang ang cut nito. He was wearing a chain necklace, exposing his sexy neck and that Adam's apple. Dahil sa black and white na filter ay mas na-emphasized ang maliit at itim na hikaw nito sa tenga maging ang piercing nito sa dila. Magulo rin ang buhok nito na animo'y kagigising lang.
Hot. He's so fucking hot.
Snow hurriedly saved the picture in her phone. Pumunta siya sa Twitter at binuksan ang kanyang private account. She bit on her lip and clicked the edit button of her profile. Pinalitan niya ang kanyang icon gamit ang saved photo ni Apollo. Kilig na kilig siya habang tinititigan ito.
"Ay, pota!" Muntik na niyang maihagis ang cellphone nang biglang bumukas ang pinto ng kanyang kuwarto at pumasok doon ang kapatid.
"Nakauwi ka na pala?" sabi nito.
"Hindi. Picture lang ako. Picture," she replied sarcastically. Todo tambol pa rin ang kanyang puso dahil sa kaba at gulat.
"Ang tahimik mo kasi. Nakakapanibago. Akala ko nasa labas ka pa."
Bumaba ang tingin ni Sunshine sa hawak niyang phone. The screen were turned on and Apollo's face was flashed there. Mabilis niya itong inilapit sa dibdib saka pinatay. Fuck!
"Ano 'yan?"
"Cellphone," parang tangang sagot niya.
Kumunot ang noo nito. "Are you watching porn?"
Snow's eyes widened. Her cheeks turned red. Mas kumunot ang noo ng kapatid nang makita ang itsura niya.
"I should have knocked," sabi nito at nagkibit-balikat.
"H-hey! It's not what you're thinking!"
Itinaas ni Sunshine ang kamay. "It's fine. You're nineteen. Your hormones might be raging—"
"Sunshine!" she shouted. Pulang-pula pa rin ang kanyang mukha.
She heard Sunshine chuckle before leaving her room and closing the door. Napahilamos siya sa kanyang mukha. Nakakahiya! Bakit ba kasi ganoon ang reaksyon niya? It wasn't like she was actually watching porn and she'd been guilty about it!
"This is all your fault! You fucking hot playboy!" inis na sabi niya habang nakatingin sa picture ni Apollo. "Goodness! You're not even a pornstar but..."
Agad niyang hinablot ang unan saka iyon itinakip sa mukha. She screamed like a kid before dropping herself on the bed.
***
JEYL_Purple