Chapter 26
Human
"Tapos na kami."
Natigilan sa pagkain sina Palmer at litong tinanaw ang plato namin ni Apollo.
Ganoon din sina Seka sa kabilang table dahil sinadya ko talaga iyong iparinig sa kanila.
Samantala, nag-angat ng kilay si Apollo. "No way, girl. I'm pretty famished. I think I would even ask for seconds."
"You lost appetite? Hindi mo pa nakakalahati ang pagkain mo, Riz," si Palmer sabay inom sa kanyang iced tea.
Oh! Naibaba ko ang tingin sa sariling pagkain nang natanto ang ibig nilang sabihin.
Napanguso ako. They got it all wrong.
"Ang ibig kong sabihin, kami ni Yves... tapos na kami." Humigpit ang hawak ko sa kubyertos at bumuga ng hangin. "We broke up yesterday."
Kung ako ay hangin ang binuga. Si Palmer naman ay iced tea ang nabuga pagkatapos ng pag-amin ko.
"Say what? Do tell!" si Kenna, gulat na gulat.
Pero wala na atang mas gulat pa kay Diego dahil siya ang kawawang nabiktima ng girlfriend.
"Hold your tongue! I-I'm gonna clean up first!" Pulang-pula si Palmer nang bumaling sa akin nang masama. "Next time, Riz, i-check mo muna kung may nainom o nakain bago ka gumawa ng revelations. I almost choke on the ice!"
"Hindi ko na napansin. Sorry!"
Hindi ko alam kung maaawa o matatawa ako. Nabugahan niya rin kasi ang kanin nila ng iced tea.
Tumayo na si Diego habang pinupunasan ang sariling mukha ng tissue. May halong biro ang pagsimangot nito kay Palmer.
"I'll get a mop. And probably order another set, too."
Napalipat na si Seka sa table namin. Hindi ko alam kung dahil sa pandidiri sa ginawang milagro ni Palmer o dahil talagang intriga sa kwento ko. Pinagtitinginan na tuloy kami ng ibang estudyante.
"Paano nangyari? Sinasabi ko sayo. Don't spare us any details!"
Pagka-settle nila Palmer at Diego, saka lang ako nagkaron ng lakas na ikwento sa mga kaibigan kung ano ba talaga ang nangyari.
Ang totoo nyan, may kaonting takot na namumuo sa puso ko tuwing iniisip na darating ang pagkakataong... sasabihin ko sa kanila ang mga nangyari sa amin ni Yves.
I would hear people say "look what I told you." I would feel like an idiot for letting myself be trapped in this kind of relationship.
Marahil ay dahil sa loob ng ilang taon, napaniwala ko ang sarili na matalino ako. Na kahit anong sitwasyon ang pasukin ko, hindi ako magkakamali kailanman. Hindi ako magpapakatanga tulad ng iba. Na lagi akong makakagawa ng paraan.
Maybe I was just too complacent and arrogant because look where it led me. Palalim nang palalim ang kwento, pahina nang pahina ang boses ko dahil sa kahihiyan.
"May nakapagsabi na matagal na akong niloloko ni Yves. Kaya... naghanap ako ng solusyon para malaman ang totoo. He admitted it yesterday. There were small arguments, but I finally brought myself to... finish everything between us."
"I knew it. That's why we warned you about guys like him. We felt something off about that asshole from the very beginning," Kenna commented with a sigh.
Napakurap-kurap ako. Just like what I expected, they would think-
I was caught off guard when Palmer slammed their table.
"Yves got us for real. Imagine? Hindi ko akalaing malilinlang niya tayong lahat!"
Sumang-ayon doon sina Kenna at Seka. Samantalang tahimik naman si Apollo at Diego. Pero halatang nagngingitngit na sa galit ang katabi.
Wait. I thought...
Naputol ang iniisip ko nang naramdaman ko ang palad ni Apollo sa aking kamay na nasa ilalim ng lamesa. Pagkasilip sa kanya, halos mamula na ang mga mata at nakaigting na ang panga nito sa galit.
"That nasty animal. You should've told me earlier so I could knock the life out of its empty skull when I had the chance."
My eyes widened. Bihira ko lang masaksihan ang side na ito ni Apollo kaya labis ang kabang bumalot sa kaibuturan ko. The last time he was like this... I didn't like it one bit. I regretted it a lot.
Pinatong ko ang kaliwang palad sa kamay niyang nakapatong sa kanang kamay ko at pinisil iyon. Mukha namang tagumpay kong nakuha ang atensiyan niya kaya umiling ako bago ngumiti sa kanya.
"Everything's settled now. No need for violence."
"You're just too kind," he scoffed before he pulled out his hand to massage his forehead.
"Apple is correct, Riz. Masyado ka lang mabait... Kaya naman, hindi mo kasalanan ang nangyari. At lalong hindi kasalanan ang maging mabait," ani Seka, wala na ang tipikal na palabirong postura nito.
Kenna nodded. "It's not your fault that you gave in to his words and actions. It was his fault that he used innocent-looking flowers to poison you. You were poisoned, Riz. Hindi mo 'yon ginusto."
Napayuko ako, ninanamnam ang bawat salita na humahaplos sa puso ko.
I hope they're right. I hope it wasn't my fault that I was fooled like this. But how would I know that? How would I free myself from this internal guilt?
Tuwing binabalikan ang nangyari, bumabalik sa alaala ko ang panghihina at pagmamakaawa sa hitsura at tinig ni Yves. Pati ba iyon, ayos lang? Hindi ko iyon kasalanan kaya hindi na dapat intindihin? Would simply being kind make me absolved from any responsibility?
Bago tuluyang matapos ang break time, nauna na akong magpaalam sa mga kaibigan. May kailangan akong puntahan bago magklase.
Inutusan akong dumaan sa faculty room para kunin ang handouts na ipapa-photocopy at idi-distribute sa klase mamaya.
I checked my phone to review the professor's instructions. Pero napansin ko agad ang bagong message doon. It was sent an hour ago.
Upperclassman - Mr. Smith:
I haven't heard from you since yesterday. Let's meet during your break. Where are you?
I pursed my lips and swallowed hard. Truth be told, it wasn't his first message since the plan ended yesterday.
Tinanong niya kung kamusta ang naging takbo ng plano kahapon pero tulad ng sabi niya sa huling text, wala pa rin siyang nababalitaan mula sa akin.
I shook my head lightly as I put the phone in my pocket, ignoring the message.
Knowing Giovanni Smith, he surely knew what happened by now. He'd also probably learned what happened next or anything beyond my knowledge.
Iniisip ko, wala nang rason para magkunwaring may pakialam siya sa akin ngayong nagawa na namin ang gusto niya.
Napatunayan niya na sa aking tama siya. At mali ako. He had no reason to act as if he really intend to interact with me even after the plan... kahit may nilatag pa siyang kondisyon noon.
He should drop the act, I thought.
But maybe... it was just my way to keep myself from hurting and being disappointed again. It would do me no good for believing someone's empty promises. If anything, for sure it would be another lesson learned the hard way.
Nang tanaw ko na ang faculty office, hindi ko pa nakakalahati ang hallway nang biglang bumukas ang pinto ng room na nasa tapat ko.
It was too late when I realized it was the new team of CBI participants this year. Natanto ko iyon nang nagsalubong ang mga mata namin ni Edison Pascual. Lumiwanag ang hitsura niya nang nakilala ako.
"Ophelia! It's been ages! What brought you here?"
Hindi agad ako nakasagot dahil lumabas na rin ang iba nilang kasama. May ilang pamilyar na mukha dahil nakakasalubong sa daan, mayroon ding hindi dahil nakatago lang siguro sa classroom tuwing regular na araw.
"Who are you talking to?"
Isang malamyos na tinig ang nagpalingon kay Edison sa pintuan.
Kung meron mang pinakapamilyar na mukha sa bagong team members ng Mackenzie Representatives, iyon ay ang bagong labas na Grade 11.
Hennessy Hughes. New student at Half-American ito. Aside from her looks, she became the top-notcher of their batch, just like me last year. Hindi na nakakapagtaka kung bakit maraming humahanga sa babaeng kaharap.
My lips twitched as my eyes followed where she linked her arms with greed. Bago ko pa makasalubong ang tingin ng lalaking katabi nito, umatras na ako para magbigay-daan sa grupo nila.
"Right, guys. This is Ophelia. She's one of the former CBI participants last year. Some of you may know that already. But for you, Hennessy, she was also the Top 1 of our batch last year," Edison informed proudly.
Ngumiti ako kay Edison. Pagkatapos, nagkatingin kami ng babae.
To my surprise, she only gave me a once-over before giving me a fake-looking smile.
Oh. Kinuyom ko na lang ang kamay na muntik ko nang ilahad para makipagkamay.
Her type of people—I knew that likes of her very well. Sa loob ng ilang taon ko sa Rouxton Academy, kung hindi mga ka-batch ay mga tagahanga naman ni Kuya Orpheus.
So, I knew that kind of expression. That forced reaction telling me she disliked my presence but she had to get along for the sake of getting through it.
I pursed my lips and just smiled at the rest of them faintly.
"Hello. Uh. Nice to meet you," I greeted shyly.
Tumango ang babaeng 3rd year student, mukhang mahiyain at tahimik lang.
Samantalang naglahad naman ng kamay ang lalaking 4th year at graduating student na ngayong taon. Pamilyar din ang hitsura nito kaya nang napansing namumukhaan ko siya, ngumisi ito sa akin at naglakad na patungo sa harap ko.
"Hey. I've heard a lot of good things about you, Ophelia. It's nice to finally talk to you. By the way, I'm To-"
"Edwards."
Huh?
Lahat kami ay napatingin kay Gio nang bigla na lang itong nagsalita. For some reason, he was looking at my direction with unspoken words in his eyes.
Taka man sa bigla nitong pagsingit, kunot-noong humalakhak na lang ang kaharap bago muling lumingon sa akin.
Nagtagal naman ang kuryosong mata ko nang nakipagtitigan pa talaga iyong isa. Ilang sandali pa bago ko nabawi ang tingin.
"That's right. Edwards," sabi ng kaharap sabay muwestra muli ng kamay.
This one's playful but there's something about him that says he's harmless. Sinuklian ko ang ngisi niya.
"Ophelia. I appreciate it." I took his hand for a handshake.
He chuckled again as we part our hands, shaking his head lightly in amusement.
"You're friendlier than I expected. I should've introduced myself earlier but your boyfriend might get the wrong idea, so..."
Natigilan ako. Imbes na tapusin ang pangungusap, pabiro siyang umatras nang nakataas ang kamay.
Boyfriend... He must've known that Yves was my boyfriend.
Magsasalita pa lang sana ako para itama iyon nang bigla kong naramdaman ang pag-vibrate ng phone sa bulsa ko.
Napatikhim ako dahil bigla kong naalala kung bakit ako nandito. Sa pag-aakalang ang professor na ang nag-text, napaangat agad ako ng ulo pagkabasa roon para hanapin ang nagmamay-ari ng mensaheng natanggap.
Upperclassman - Mr. Smith:
It's rather crowded here. Should we head somewhere else?
Giovanni craned his neck to the other side as if he was waiting for my answer. However, I sensed Hennessy's presence beside him, so before she could even notice our eye contact, I evaded his gaze before looking at my phone again.
Me:
Next time. I have to run an errand.
"Is something the matter?" tanong ni Edwards.
Mabilis kong pinasok ang phone sa bulsa at umiling sa kanya.
"Do you still have time? Sama ka sa amin! We're having our lunch just now," paanyaya naman ni Edison habang abala sa pagpipisit ng alcohol mula sa spray noong 3rd year.
"Ah, hindi na. It's my professor. May aasikasuhin pa ako. Maybe next time," tukoy ko sa text.
"What a bummer. Okay, next time!"
Nahuli kong nagkibit-balikat iyong Hennessy at hinigpitan ang kapit sa braso ni Gio. Nagkatinginan kami ng huli. Pero hindi tulad kanina, mukhang may ibang binabalak siya ngayon.
Ugh. Why does it matter to me anyway? Stop analyzing everything, Riz.
"We should get going then. Are we having the same meal as yesterday, Gio?"
Naputol ang tinginan namin ni Giovanni nang binawi niya ang mga mata para humarap sa katabi.
"Yes, please. Could you order it for me? I have to make a call first."
"Well, I can wait for you. Let's go together."
Naningkit ang mga mata ko nang yumuko ito para ipantay ang tingin sa babae. Giovanni smiled at Hennessy as he gently removed her hands around his arm.
"I'll be quick. You can tell the server that I will pick up the tab for our meals today, so be sure to get whatever you fancy."
From here, I could see Hennessy blushing profusely. Oh... well...
"You're the best!"
Nagdiwang si Edison nang narinig ang sinabi ni Gio kaya nagpaalam na siya sa akin para maunang umalis.
"Next time, aight? I'll keep that in mind," si Edwards bago tuluyang magpaalam.
Kumaway ako sa kanila. Hindi ko na sila hinintay isa-isa pero sigurado akong tumalikod na ang lahat para bumaba.
Ilang minuto na lang ang meron ako kaya patakbo na akong dumiretso sa faculty office.
Pagkarating sa hamba ng opisina, pansin ko ang paglingon ng ulo ng mga faculty members patungo sa direksiyon ko. It was kind of unusual, so I had no choice but to awkwardly stand there and bow.
Pagkayuko bilang paggalang sa mga naroroon, namilog ang mga mata ko nang may naramdaman ako sa likod.
What was that? I don't remember if something was there a moment ago.
It felt as if I bumped my bottom on something so I immediately rose from my position, only to see Giovanni behind, stepping backward awkwardly with a furtive grin playing on his lips.
What the hell?!
"W-What are you doing..."
Inalala ko ang nangyari kani-kanina lang. I could imagine him standing so close from behind and when I bent...
Mariin akong napapikit. Sa tindi ng kahihiyan, hindi ko na siya hinarap pa at pumasok na lang sa loob ng office. Pinuntahan ko ang table ng professor namin at natagpuan doon ang handouts.
Naglakad ako patungo sa photocopier para magsimula na. I still have 25 minutes before the next class.
Medyo mahaba ang lunch break namin ngayon dahil isang subject lang kami kanina bago mag-break. Mas maagang bakante kumpara sa ibang araw.
Sumunod sa akin si Gio. I tried hard to focus on my task. My eyebrows almost snapped together as I fought the urge to face him.
"Are you ignoring me?" he asked behind me as if it was an unbelievable sight to see.
Hindi ko siya pinansin at inabala lang ang sarili sa ginagawa. Lumipat siya sa tabi ko, akala ata'y mababago noon ang trato ko sa kanya.
"What are you doing?"
I was amazed at how his voice still got patience after my few attempts at ignoring him. He just wouldn't waiver.
I sighed in defeat. I'll give him that.
"Running an errand. How about you? Ano nang nangyari sa tawag mo?" tukoy ko sa palusot niya sa mga kasamahan kanina.
Hindi ko pa rin siya tinitignan hanggang sa palitan ko na ulit ang page na nakasalang sa photocopier.
I could hear his scoff beside me. "I doubt she will pick up my call."
I shrugged. "She has some nerve."
"No cap. Looks like getting on my nerves became her habit... but I'm not mad."
When I realized how the conversation was taking off, a hot flush crept out from my collar to cover my face.
Dahil bahagya akong natigilan, hindi ko napansing tapos na pala ang kasalukuyang pahina na kinokopya ng photocopier.
Kung hindi pa aagawin ni Giovanni sa akin ang sunod na papel na ipapasok doon, baka pa hindi agad ako naka-recover sa nangyari. Hindi pa man ako nakakapag-react ay kinuha niya na rin sa akin ang natitirang handouts.
"How long are you gonna keep me waiting? We have conditions, Ophelia. I thought we already established that."
Bumaba ang tingin ko sa mga kamay kong bakante na at kinumpara sa mga kamay niyang puno na ng mga papel. He was holding both the original and the photocopied papers.
Tinaas niya iyon nang akmang babawiin ko ang mga papel sa kanya. Ugh. What's the deal of this brute!
Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. In return, he only looked satisfied for no reason at all, grinning like an idiot.
"I bet you already know everything so why bother asking me?" singhal ko sa kanya.
Sinalang niya ang huling pahina ng handout sa machine at kinuha ang mga bagong photocopies bago muling humarap sa akin.
"I'd rather hear it from you, you know," he retorted hoarsely so he cleared his throat. "I want to hear something from you..."
His jaw hardened as if he was containing something. Nagtaas ako ng kilay at napahilig nang kaonti sa machine. Mukhang alam ko na 'to...
I gritted my teeth behind my sarcastic smile.
"You were right after all. I was wrong for doubting you, Mr. Smith. You won... Happy?"
A faint tremor of amusement was on his lips. But when I looked at his eyes up close, I figured he was far from amused.
"I don't think you understand, Ophelia," he emphasized the last word as he retrieved the last page from the photocopier.
Napausog ako nang yumuko ito upang abutin ang huling batch ng photocopies. Pagkaangat ng katawan, huminto ito kalagitnaan para harapin ako.
"I wanted to speak with you to check how you've been... after breaking up with Lozano," aniya sabay ayos ng tindig at iwas ng tingin.
"What? That's it?"
His smile was linked with a sigh before he gently hit my head with the pile of papers.
"That's it. Perhaps I have to study how that cute little brain of yours works."
"Teka! Saan mo dadalhin 'yan!" Hinabol ko siya sa labas nang unahan niya na ako sa mga handouts.
Sinubukan ko iyong hablutin sa kanya pero tulad kanina, tinaas niya lang iyon sa ere. Sa tangkad niya, kailangan ko pang tumalon para muling subukan pero hindi pa rin ako nagtagumpay.
I glared at him but it didn't seem to faze him. Nagpatuloy lang siya sa paglalakad kaya naman bago tuluyang makababa, nilakihan ko na ang bwelo ko.
"Sabing ako na dyan!"
One last jump and I almost fell on my feet. Oh, my god!
Napatili ako sa gulat. Handa na sana akong indahin ang sakit ng paparating na kapalaran ngunit naunahan iyon ng isang brasong pumulupot sa baywang ko.
Pagkadilat, tumambad sa harap ko si Gio. Hindi nakatakas sa akin ang pagtakip niya ng mga handout sa likuran ko nang bahagyang umangat ang skirt na suot.
Nang rumehistro sa akin ang nangyari, awtomatiko ko siyang tinulak sa dibdib para makatakas sa nakakahiyang posisyon.
"Sorry. Ikaw kasi!"
He looked stunned, quiet, and comprehending. But when he diverted his gaze to see me, his face shadowed with rage.
"Jesus, Ophelia. How many times do I have to tell you to be careful? Rein in it and mind your behavior at once! For Pete's sake, we're only a step away from the stairs!"
I flinched when he started raising his imposing voice. I fiddled with my ring as I processed what happened.
He's right. Delikado ang ginawa kong 'yon. Muntik na akong mapahamak at malapit pa kami sa hagdan. Paano kung natapilok ako at dumiretso na roon? Pinisil ko ang kamay para parusahan ang sarili.
Puno ng hiya kong binalik ang tingin sa kanya. Nabitin ang bibigkasin kong paghingi ng tawad dahil sa nadatnan kong hitsura nito, taliwas sa malupit na ekspresyon kanina.
Ilang sandali itong natulala bago balisang nilibot ang tingin sa paligid. Nang tila nakumpirmang walang ibang tao sa palapag maliban sa amin, inangat nito ang braso sa bibig na tila maraming tumatakbo sa isip.
Parang pinupunit ang puso ko sa nasaksihan. Inabot ko ang kanyang brasong nakatakip sa bibig at marahang hinaplos iyon.
"I-I understand. Hindi na mauulit 'yon. Kasalanan ko ang-"
My eyes widened when all of a sudden, Gio pulled me for a tight hug. I could feel the aggressive heartbeats kicking down my spine but at that moment, I couldn't figure out whose heart that was.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry," he whispered repeatedly in my hair.
Bawat sorry niya ay bahagyang humihigpit ang nakabalot na yakap sa akin. Sa kung anong rason, nadama ko ang pangangailangang tapikin ito nang marahan sa likod.
"I shouldn't let my emotions get the best of me. I didn't mean to vent my frustration toward you." His voice was raspy and frantic.
Marahan akong umiling. "No, I understand. You're just worried..."
"I'm sorry. It's not your fault. I should've been more vigilant. I'm sorry."
"Really, it's not your–hmpf!"
Halos hindi na ako makahinga nang muling humigpit ang yakap niya sa akin.
Sa puntong iyon, nagsimula na akong kabahan. Hindi dahil baka malagutan ako ng hininga, kundi dahil hindi na normal ang inaakto ni Gio. Malakas ang kutob kong may mali na sa kanya.
"Gio... Gio!"
Palakas na nang palakas ang tapik ko sa balikat nito para lang makalas ang yakap niya at maharap ko na sana. Sinubukan kong umatras palayo sa hagdan. Hindi naman ako nahirapan dahil nakasunod lang siya. Nang nakahanap ng bwelo, buong lakas ko siyang tinulak hanggang sa makalas siya sa akin.
"Anong nangyayari sayo?"
Wala na akong pakialam. Hinablot ko na nang tuluyan ang mga papel sa kanya at nilapag na muna iyon sa bench na malapit sa amin.
Hinila ko rin siya para makaupo at makapirmi kami roon. Mabibigat ang hininga niya. At ang hitsura, malayong-malayo sa imaheng pinapakita sa marami.
This version of Giovanni Smith... I wasn't familiar. What the fuck is going on? What am I supposed to do? Is he okay?
"Anong nangyayari sayo? Gusto mo ba ng tubig? Ano?"
Taliwas sa inaakto niya kanina, wala na itong imik. Pinatong niya ang kanang siko sa hita at yumuko roon nang pansamantala, animo'y pinapakalma ang sarili.
"Bag..."
I thought I heard him say something.
"What?" Lumipat ako sa kanya.
Umayos siya nang upo. His adam's apple moved when he swallowed hard.
"Hold on." Bigla nalang siyang tumayo at nagmartsa pabalik sa pinanggalingan namin.
Nagmamadali kong inabot ang mga handout at sinundan siya dahil baka mapano. Saka ko natantong pabalik siya sa kanilang training room.
I let myself in even without his permission. The next thing I saw, he was chugging water in front of his disheveled bag.
Pabagsak niyang nilapag ang tumbler sa lamesa at kumapit doon gamit ang dalawang kamay para alalayan ang balanse, animo'y sinasagip ang sarili mula sa pagkakalunod.
Kumalabog nang malakas ang dibdib ko.
Tahimik akong lumapit sa puwesto niya. Nang mukhang kumalma na ang paghinga, sa ganoong puwesto, lumingon siya sa akin at nanghihinang tumawa.
"Fuck..."
Nagulantang ako roon. It was so... random and... out of the blue.
Did he just... cuss? The Giovanni Clark Smith... knew how to curse?
"You didn't have to... witness that. I apologize. I'm sorry."
There he goes again, apologizing. But this time, I think it's different. He's more composed compared to his... previous state.
"What's wrong? Sigurado ka bang okay ka na?"
Tumango siya nang marahan bago umayos ng tayo. Lumapit na ako sa kanya nang tuluyan at nilapag ang mga handout sa kaparehong lamesa. Hindi siya makatingin sa akin.
His jaw tightened as he grazed his thumb through his lower lip.
"I would appreciate... if you forget what you saw. If you pretend nothing like that happened. Thank you."
"Yes. Of course." Umiling ako para ipakita sa kanyang maliit na bagay lang ang itago iyon para sa akin.
"Hmm." That calm smile put a small curve on his lips.
Tumungo ako at pinaglaruan ang mga daliri. Binalot kami ng panandaliang katahimikan. I could still hear his prolonged breathing when I decided to break the silence and voice out what's on my mind.
"Pagkatapos nito... iiwasan mo ba ako ulit... dahil sa... nakita ko?" Puno ng pag-iingat ang bawat salita't galaw ko.
Hindi ko maintindihan ang sarili. Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla ko na lang naitanong ang bagay na iyon. He probably think I'm clingy. But fair enough. Because I thought of him being clingy, too, just a while ago.
Siguro dahil kahit papano, kabisado ko na ang relasyon naming dalawa. This incident is enough to create another rift between us based on our previous quarrels and encounters.
I don't understand. Ako itong umiiwas, hindi ba? Dahil nadala na? Takot nang magtiwala at maniwala sa mga walang katuturang salita? Then what the hell is wrong with me now?
"What made you think of that?" I saw him turn to me from my peripheral vision.
Ngayong nasa akin na ulit ang atensiyon niya, nanigas ako sa kinatatayuan.
"Just because..."
"Hmm."
When I felt his fingertips on my elbow, gently caressing the bareness of my skin, I froze before l lifted my eyes to survey his face.
"Have you forgotten something?" he asked, voice barely above a whisper.
"Forgotten what?" Maging ang sariling boses ay halos hindi ko na makilala.
He chuckled softly, hand tracing the sensitivity of my skin down to my fingertips as if it was asking for attention. Naputol ang paglalaro ko sa sariling mga daliri at hinayaan iyon sa kanya.
Gio crouched to find my ear and whispered...
"Should the plan succeeds... we'll get to know each other better, Ophelia. We will start over."
My eyes widened as I recalled something between those lines. That was his condition if he won the bet. Now that everything went according to his plan...
I curled my finger-toes and yielded.
"I guess... you leave me no choice..."
Marahan siyang humalakhak sa aking tainga. It sounded so manly to me. Sa hindi inaasahang pagkakataon, dinala niya ang mukha sa aking harapan at unti-unting lumapit na animo'y hindi pa sapat ang lapit naming dalawa.
Sa sobrang lapit, rinig ko na ang tibok ng puso at halos mapahilig na ang katawan sa lamesa. Pero bago ko pa maipikit ang mga mata at maging kahihiyan, naramdaman ko ang paghila niya sa mga handout na nasa gilid ko.
Para akong nilubayan ng kaluluwa. That's it. Kinuha niya lang! Ano bang iniisip ko at bakit may papikit-pikit pa sana ako?!
"Though not ideal, witnessing one of my episodes is the first step to knowing me."
Nang lubayan ako, nauna na siyang maglakad patungo sa pinto at tumigil upang hintayin ako roon. I shook away all my filthy thoughts before nearing him with heated cheeks.
"It's my honor, I guess?" I sarcastically made face at him.
Damn. I was annoyed at him again for no good reason! He chuckled playfully as he shut the door behind us.
"Come on. Have mercy on me, Ophelia. I have a feeling we are rather cut from the same cloth so... I await your dear story... and earn your trust."
I pursed my lips and eventually shook my head to cover up my surprise. What made him say that?
"I have a feeling that you are rather chattier than I thought."
Tinutok ko na lang ang atensiyon sa daan, pigil ang ngiti, iniinda ang atensiyong nakukuha ng katabi mula sa paligid.
Gio gave out another low growl of a chuckle and waved at some acquittances who greeted him.
"I'm quite surprised, too."
I thought, maybe because seeing him act like that was enough for me to give him another chance of redeeming himself. And maybe, just maybe, I can see something in him that other people cannot. After all, that's how it used to be right off the bat, isn't?
Also, I saw him in a different light now. Because earlier, I realized that he was also imperfect. He has flaws to hide as well. No matter how perfect he project himself in front of the crowd, he's still human.
I caught myself smiling as my understanding of him was more realized.
Yes. That's right. He looked more human to me now.
January 6, 2023
#GCSeries1