CHAPTER 43
BLAKE'S POV
Pagkabukas ko ng mga mata ko, napamura ako sa pagkasilaw at sa sakit ng katawan ko. Anak ng. Nakapuro ata yung tropa ni Marco. Dahan dahan akong umupo habang napapasigaw. Tumingin ako sa paligid at lalo akong napasimangot nang makita si Krungy na nakaupo sa isang bench at kumakain ng ice cream. And then I realized... shit, nasa ospital ako.
Nang mapansin na ni Krungy na nakaupo na ako sa kama, tumayo siya at lumapit sa akin.
"How do I look?" tanong ko paglapit niya.
Inubos niya ang ice cream at sumagot, "You look fine."
Hinawakan ko ang mukha ko. Shit, namamaga ang mukha ko, saka meron din akong pilay sa kamay. Magereklamo na ako nang bigla kong maalala...
"SHit, Krungy. Si Nicolle? Asan siya?"
Tumalon si Krungy at humiga sa tabi ko. Napasigaw ako nang matamaan niya ang hita ko. "Chill, brother," sabi niya. "Nasa babaung apat. Kasama yung apat."
Napasimangot ako. "Sinong apat?"
"Zelle, Andrew, Luke, Junichi," sagot niya. "Wag ka ng mag-ingay, matutulog na ako. Saka tumawag ka na sa nurse. Sabihin mo gising ka na."
Ayt. Kung hindi lang ako nanghihina, sinipa ko na tong babaeng to sa mukha eh! Ako na nga ang nabugbog, ako pa ang uutusan. Tch.
Bumaba ako sa kutson at kinuha yung--shit! naka-hospital dress ako?! Umiika ika akong naglakad papunta sa bench kung saan nakaupo si Krungy kanina at nakita yung pants at shirt ko na my dugo. Nakita ko din doon yung phone ko. Nakita k ona merong message kaya binuksan ko agad.
"Asan ka? —T."
Hindi na muna ako nag-reply. Pinindot ko yung nurse call intercom at meron namang agad sumagot.
"Yes, Ma'am Samantha?"
"Si Blake 'to. Kelangan ko ng—"
Naputol ang sasabihin ko ng biglang may umasok na babae.
"Ah, sige, wala," sabi ko sabay patay sa intercom.
"Hey bunny," bati ko kay Nicolle nang sinarado niya ang pinto. Napatingin ako sa hawak niyang bag. "Anong gagawin mo dyan?" tanong ko.
Hinagis niya sa akin at natamaan ang kamay ko. "Shit! Fuck!" sigaw ko. "Hindi mo ba nakikita na masakit ang katawan ko?!"
"Those are yours!"
"Ang ingay niyo!" biglang sigaw ni Krungy.
Tinignan lang namin siyang dalawa ni Nicolle habang nagdadabog palabas. NI-lock niya ang door knob sabay bagsak sa pinto. Nagtinginan kami ni Nicolle. Nag-shrug kaming pareho at tumawa.
Pinulot ko yung bag at inabot kay Nicolle. "Buksan ko. Damit ko yan diba?"
Tumango siya at binuksan agad yung bag. Good. Agad naman pala siyang susunod eh. Nilapag niya yung bag sa bench at dumiretso sa kama. Hmiga siya.
Kumuha ako ng shirt at walking shorts sa bag. "Anong oras na?" tanong ko habang sinusubukang tanggalin tong bwisit na hospital dress na to.
"Around four. You were out for five hours."
TUmango ako at sinubukan ko ulit tanggalin yung hospital dress. Shit. Ang hirap naman. Isang kamay lang nagagamit ko! "Tanggalin mo to!" sigaw ko kay Nicolle.
"You can do it, Blake. I'm here to support you," sagot niya.
Sumimangot ako at lumapit sa kanya dala dala yung walking shorts at shirt. Nakataas ang isa niyang kilay habang tinitignan ako. I smirked. "Bihisan mo 'ko," sabi ko habang inaabot yung mga damit.
"Hell no!" sigaw niya. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya.
Gamit yung okay kong kamay, hinila ko siya paupo. "Ayoko dito sa hospital dress. Bihisan mo ko. Dali na! Gusto ko na umuwi!"
TInignan niya lang ako habang nakasimangot. "Piss off," sigaw niya.
Huminga ako ng malalim at biglang, "Ow! Ow! Ow!" sigaw ko habang hawak hawak ang ulo ko. "Ow! Nicolle, ang sakit ng ulo ko." Pumikit ako at binuksan ang isa kong mata para tignan ang reaction niya. She's gonna buy it. She's gonna buy it.
"Nicolle. Ang sakit. Hindi ko na..." huminga ako ng malalim, for more effect. "Hindi ko na talaga kaya."
Narinig ko siyang tumawa. "You're a bad actor, Blake."
She didn't buy it, but I'm not really a quitter. I'm Blake Pierre Perez and I get what I want.
Sumimangot ako ng konti at kunwari ay hinahabol ko ang paghinga ko. "Nicolle, I'm— I'— I'm not a-acting," sagot ko ng mahina.
Naramdaman ko ang paghawak niya sa braso ko. "Seriously, Blake. Are you okay?" Naramdaman ko ang pagkatayo niya sa tapat ko.
"Nicolle," tawag ko. Binuksan ko ang mga mata ko at nakita ang pag-aalala sa mukha niya. She bought it. I won. I smirked. "Bihisan mo 'ko, please?"
She rolled her eyes and pushed my arm away. "Alright. Alright, freak." Tinulak niya ako ng mahina.
Tumalikod ako. "Tanggalin mo na yung tali." Tinanggal niya yung tali.
"Oo nga pala... who undressed me?" tanong ko.
Nangilabot ako nang isagot niyang, "A nurse. And he's guy."
Napaharap ako sa kanya nang nanlalaki ang mga mata. "Di nga?!" sigaw ko. Sana nagj-joke lang siya. Damn. Na-tsansingan yata ako.
Tumango siya. "It's true, Blake."
"At hindi mo pingilan?!"
Umiling siya.
"Seryoso ka ba?!"
Tumango siya.
"Anong klaseng girlfriend ka?!"
"The kind that would bury her shoe in your face if you don't shut up and turn around."
Sinimangutan ko siya bago tumalikod. Nang natanggal na ang hospital dress, humarap ako sa kanya. Nakita ko na nakapikit siya at narinig ko siyang bumulong, "Can't take it."
Tumawa ako. "You realy love my body, don't you?" pagmamayabang ko.
"Yeah, if you could just look at it first." Tumalikod siya.
Tinignan ko ang katawan ko at nakita kong— oh my God! Punung puno ako ng pasa at sugat at bandage. "Anong nangyari sa maganda kong katawan?!" sigaw ko.
"That's why I don't wanna look at it, moron!"
I ruffled my hair and grunted. "Dali. Bihisan mo na ako."
Narinig ko siyang mag sigh pero humarap na din siya sa akin. Kinuha niya yung shirt at ipinasok na sa ulo o. Napatigil siya. Hawak hawak niya yung shirt habang nakatingin sa akin. Nakatitig lang din ako sa mga mata niya. Nicolle. Nicolle Lopez Lee. Nicolle Lee Perez. Hindi ko alam kung gaano na kami katagal nagkakatitigan but I don;t want to stop. I just want to drown in her eyes; in her soul. Slowly, I wrapped my good arm around her waist and bent my head closer to hers, not breaking the eye contact.
"How do you manage to do that to me?" she asked when our noses touched.
I pulled her closer. "Do what?" I asked.
"Trap me in your eyes."
I smiled at her, staring deeper in her innocent eyes. "You do it better, Perez," I countered. And I love the sound of her new surname. Perez. Nicolle Lee Perez. It suited her perfectly.
I brushed my nose against her soft cheek. "Can I kiss you?" I asked.
"Wear your shirt first," sabi niya habang tinutulak ako ng mahina.
Tinulungan niya akong isuot ang shirt ko. "Aray! Aray!" sigaw ko nang matamaan niya yung kamay kong may pilay. "Dahan dahan!"
Pinipilit naming ipasok yung kamay ko pero sa sobrang sakit, hindi ko maigalaw. Dapat cast and sling na to eh! "Aray Nicolle! Masakit. Sobra. Ayoko na!"
"Manahimik ka!" sigaw niya.
Tinignan ko siya at biglang tumawa. Tumawa ako ng tumawa kahit na medyo nasasaktan ang katawan ko. Inirapan niya lang ako. "Ang pangit mo!" sigaw ko. "Ang pangit talaga ng pag-ta-Tagalog mo."
Pagkatawa ko ulit, hinampas niya yung kamay kong may pilay na naktaas pa din. "Nicolle, masakit!"
Finally, after ng ilang minuto kong paghihirap sa kamay ng brutal kong girlfriend, naisuot ko din ang shirt. KInuha niya ang walking shorts sa kama at tinignan ako. Nagtaas siya ng dalawang kilay. I smiled. "Ah. Siguro... ako na lang dyan."
"Yeah. Yeah," Tumango siya at inabot sa akin yung shorts. "Whoo. Yeah."
Mas matagal kong sinuot yung shorts dahil may kasama pang paa. Nang nakabihis na ako, pumasok ang lima—Luke, Andrew, Junichi, Krungy at Zelle— at pumalakpak.
"It only took one hour to dress you," sabi ni Junichi, Nagtawanan ang lahat maliban sa aming dalawa ni Nicolle na sobrang nahihiya.
"Ang pangit mo, Paps!" sigaw ni Luke.
"Agreed," sabi ng lahat.
Pumwesto na ang lahat kung saan saan habang knu-kwento ni Luke kung gaano lalong pumangit ang mukha ni Marco saka yung dalawang unggoy. Si Junichi at si Andrew, nag-uusap ng seryoso. Siguro tungkol kay Reika. Habang maingay na nagsasalita si Luke, naalala ko yung text ni Tracy sa akin.
Kinuha ko ang phone ko at nag-reply.
"Sa LGH. Malapit sa school. Bakit?"
Tinago ko ang phone ko at lumingon kay Nicolle at tinanong siya, "Nicolle, bakit ka nga pala sumama kay Matthew? Saka anong pinag usapan niyo?"
Nagkasalubong ang mga kilay niya. "What are you talking about? I haven't even met Tracy's brother yet," takang sagot niya.
Napakagat ako sa dila ko para pigilan ang sarili ko sa pagsasalita. Wala pa mang isang araw, nakalimot na siya. There's no cure for this disease. She's not even going to reach twenty five.Naikuyom ko ang mga kamao ko at tiniis ang sakit.
"You okay?" tanong niya bigla.
I relaxed a bit. "Ah, oo naman." Ngumiti ako at naramdaman kong mag-vibrate ang phone ko. Binasa ko ang message ni Tracy.
"Blake, we need to talk. Punta ako dyan."
"Sige, Tray. Dun tayo sa park magkita."
Tumayo na ako mula sa pagkakaupo ko sa kama. "Krungy, pwede mo ba ako samahan?"
Tumango siya. "Luke, ayusin mo wheelchair," utos niya kay Luke.
"Yes, Ma'am!" sagot ni Luke.
Tumingin ako kay Nicolle at huminga ng malalim. Maiintindihan naman niya eh. "Nicolle, kakausapin ko lang si Tracy," paalam ko. For a second, nakita ko ang pagtataka sa mga mata niya but it faded away at napalitan ng pag-iintindi.
"Right now? Right here?"
Tumango ako.
She sighed. "Yeah. Okay, sure. Just—"
"Hey, Nicolle. 'Wag kang mag-alala. Mag-uusap lang naman kami."
Huminga siya ng malalim.
"I'll wait for you hee, alright?"
"Okay, lover boy, let's go!" sabat ni Krungy. Pnwerasa ako ni Luke na umupo sa wheelchair at tinulak ako palabas. Sa ramp kami, syempre, dumaan kaya tinulak lang ako ni Luke at binitawan kaya ako sumubsob. Fucking shit. Ang sakit! Nagtawanan ang dalawa bago ako tinulungang tumayo. Anak ng! Lalong sumakit ang katawan ko!
"You bitches!" sigaw ko habang hinahaplos ang ulo ko. Gago tong mga to ah! Hintayin niyo lang pagka okay na ako. Hintayin niyo lang Krungy at Luke. Mananagot talaga kayo sa akin. Noong nasa park na kami, tinulak na lang ako ni Luke sa direksyon ni Tracy at umalis na sila. Humanda kayong dalawa sa akin, isip isip ko.
I cleared my throat. Napalingon siya nang tawagin ko ang pangalan niya. Pumunta ako sa kanya ng nakawheel chair. "Tracy," tawag ko ulit. Tumayo ako at umpo sa may bench sa tabi niya.
"Look at you," sabi niya habang nakatingin sa mukha ko. "Hindi ka umabot sa ganyang pagkakabugbog dahil sa akin."
Ngumiti ako sa kanya at napayuko. Narinig ko siyang mag sigh. "Did you even love me?" tanong niya habang pinipilit ang sarili niya na tumawa.
"Oo naman," mabilis kong sagot at tumingin sa kanya. Wala siyang expression sa mukha niya pero kita sa mata niya ang sakit at basag na pag-asa.
"How about this... did you even fall in love with me?" tanong niya.
I settled with a poker face and gulped. Kung hindi ko pa nakilala si Nicolle, madali ko lang sagutin yon. Pero hindi. Ngayong kilala ko na si Nicolle, ngayong sobrang minamahal ko na si Nicolle, masasaktan si Tracy pagka sinabi ko ang totoong sagot. "Ano, Blake?! Did you—"
"I loved you, yes. But... but I don't think I've ever—"
Naputol ang pagsasalita ko ng bigla siyang tumawa. "Ang pathetic ko talaga!" sigaw niya habang tumatawa.
"Tray—"
"Blake, shut up. You already hurt me more than enough. Pumunta lang ako dito para magpaalam."
Kumunot ang noo ko. "Magpaalam?" tanong ko.
"Yes." Pinunasan niya ang luha na tumulo kaninang tumatawa siya. "Pupunta ako sa L.A. Dun na ako titira. I'm leaving on Tuesday."
Naiintindihan ko kung bakit siya aalis. At dahil sa akin yon. I feel so guilty. "But we're still going to be friends, right?"
She scoffed then smirked. "Are you stupid?! Friends?! We're not going to be friends, anymore, Blake!"
Kinagat ko na lang ang labi ko dahil hindi ko na alam kung anong sasabihin ko. Sa totoo lang, hindi ko alam ung dapat pa akong magsalita o pakinggan ko na lang ang mga sasabihin niya.
Tumayo siya. "I'm leaving,okay? Wag mo na akong kakausapin kahit kailan. I wanna move on. I wanna forget all about you. I wanna forget about half of my life."
Hindi ko talaga alam kung anong sasabihin ko kaya tinignan ko na lang siya. Nang naglalakad ko siya palayo, tinawag ko ang pangalan niya. Napatigil siya. "I still love you," sigaw ko.
Napalingon siya nang nakakunot ang noo niya.
"And I still care for you but... but not just the way I used to."
Napailing na lang siya, tumalikod at tuluyan ng umalis.
***
Madilim na ang paligid pero nandito pa din ako sa park, mag isa. Iniisp ko si Tracy. Naiinis ako sa sarili ko dahil sobra ko siyang sinaktan. Biglang tumunog ang phone ko at nakita ko na tumatawag si Nicolle. "Ui, hey..." bati niya.
"Nicolle, bakit ka tumawag?" tanong ko.
"You're sad. Why are you sad?" tanong niya.
I exhaled. "Aalis na si Tracy," sagot ko.
"Oh," narinig kong sabi niya.
Shit. Bakit ko ba yon sinabi?
"I'm-- I'm sorry. Hindi ko dapat yon sinabi."
"It's okay, Blake. It's okay, really. You can tell me."
"Pupunta na si Tracy sa Los Angeles. Dun na siya titira and she told me never to speak to her again."
For a long moment, walang nagsalita sa amin. Nakatingin lang ako sa langit habang hawak hawak ang phone ko. "Blake," tawag bigla ni Nicolle. "I don't know what to say."
Tumango ako. "I'm sorry," sabi niya. Tumango ulit ako kahit na hindi niya nakikita.
"Will you turn around," tanong niya. Napalingon ako at ngumiti nang makita na nakatyo siya sa malayo. She hung up and walked towards me. Umupo siya sa may tabi ko. "Why don't you go talk to her more?" tanong niya.
"It's okay," sabi ko.
She rolled her eyes. "I can see it, Blake. You're not okay. You can—"
"Masama ba akong tao?" tanong ko bigla.
Nag-sigh siya. "Well, you're bossy. You're immature. You push people around. You reject people... a lot. And the list goes on. But... you're not really a bad person. You're just trying to stick to your bad side. You just want people to think you're the badass Perez. But you're not a bad person Blake. I saw that firsthand."
"Bakit pagka masaya ako may kailangang masaktan?"
Hindi siya sumagot. Gusto kong sampalin ang sarili ko. "Shit, did I sound gay?" tanong ko.
"No, Blake. You don't. You actually sound sensitive. Like... like you don't know what's going on but you do. And you feel it."
I smirked. "Saan mo na naman napulot yang line na yan?" tanong ko. Inirapan niya ako at hinampas sa balikat. "Hey! Nakalimutan mo ba na injured ako?" reklamo ko.
"That line was from me, stupid!" sigaw niya. She just shook her head and looked straight.
"I hate seeing you like that," sabi niya.
"See me like what?"
"I don't want to see you hurt. I don't want you to get hurt," sagot niya. "Ever."
Tinuro ko ang mukha ko. "Eto? Eto ba ang sinasabi mong sakit?" tanong ko. I smirked. "Tss. Wala lang 'to Nicolle. Alam mo ba kung ano ang masakit?" I held her hand at lumapit sa kanya. "Pagka kinalimutan mo ako."
Hinawakan ko ang pisngi niya. "Nicolle, ikaw lang ang makakasakit sa akin. Kahit na saksakin pa ako ng sampung beses, matitiis ko pa. Okay ako don. Pero pagka kinalimutan at iniwan mo ako, yun ang ikakamatay ko."
Namumula ang pisngi niya. Ngumiti ako at sobrang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko. Sobrang mahal ko si Nicolle, I don't think words can even explain what I feel.
"Really?" yun na lang ang sinabi niya dahil sa sobrang pagkagulat niya.
"Nicolle, wag na tayong maghihiwalay ulit ha? Wag na nating sasaktan ang isa't isa."
Tumango siya.
"Saka, kanina. Bakit mo 'yon ginawa? Bakit hindi ka umalis non?! Alam mo bang gustong gusto ko ng patayin si Marco kanina?! I'll do that Nicolle. I'll do that for you."
"I know. But I don't want you to."
Tinanggal ko ang pagkakahawak ko sa pisngi niya at yumuko siya. Tapos tumingin siya ulit sa akin. "Blake, promise me one thing. Promise me that—"
"Promise. Hindi na ako makikipag away ulit. Hindi na ako gaganti sa ibang tao maliban na lang kung sinabi mo. Promise. Promise. Promise."
Ngumiti siya and I smiled back.
"Can I hug you?" tanong niya.
A second later, she was wrapped protectively around my arms.
NICOLLE’S POV
It’s a little after noon when I noticed that Blake wasn’t with us. He didn’t take lunch with us, either. In the morning, yes, he attended classes but why wasn’t he with us now? And besides, he didn’t tell me anything about him going to the Royal Building. Or did he? And I just forgot? Oh, I hate it when I feel like I’m forgetting something!
Everyone’s heads turned when someone knocked at the door. Our Filipino teacher opened it and in came… Blake… holding… some… books…in… his… hands. What.the.hell?!
My eyes widened just a tad. I removed my glasses and wiped them just to see it clearer. What the hell is Blake doing with all those text books?! Has he gotten mad? Was it because of his cuts and bruises? Or was he hit on the head bad?
I noticed our Filipino teacher take one step back, gulp and find the courage to say, “Ginoong Perez, dahil ikaw ay nahuli sa aking klase—“
“Yes, Ma’am. SIge po. Kukuha po ako ng permission letter sa Prefect of Discipline.”
And without waiting for any other word, Blake exited the room then I realized everyone were staring at me. I shook my head and hoped that they would understand it as: “No, I didn’t do anything.”
Krungy’s, Luke’s and Zelle’s eyebrows waggled while Andrew only smirked. I rolled my eyes. The teacher cleared her throat and everyone returned to listening to her. I returned to drawing dogs and thinking reasons why Blake was doing such things.
He’s kidding us. Blake was playing with us. Minutes of doodling later, someone knocked again. Blake entered with a letter in his hand and textbooks in the other. “Sorry, medyo natagalan. Hinintay ko pa kasi yung—“
“Sige Mr. Perez, maupo ka na.”
Instead of walking towards me, he sat on the chair of shame in the front where all the punished students sit. He looked at me and I grabbed the chance to mouth, “What the hell?”
He just shook his head and listened attentively to the Filipino teacher. I repeat, listened attentively. Listented attentively. What kind of Blake were we facing?
Out of the blue, Krungy clapped her hands dramatically. She theatrically shook her head and stood up. “Katarungan!” she shouted. “Katarungang para sa pagbabago ni Ka Perez!”
Luke shouted and pumped his fist in the air and soon enough, everyone else started cheering for Blake, too. Internally, I slapped my forehead.
“Woohoo!”
Everyone cheered.
“Silencio! Silencio!” our teacher shouted above the revolution.
If I had lost my mind, I would have cheered too.
“Hey! Manahimik nga kayong lahat!”
And everyone shut up with Blake’s order. Blake and his superhuman abilities. Duhh. Just when everybody sat down, the clock read 3, signalling the end of the period. The teacher frowned but said her goodbyes, nonetheless. Once she was out, everyone scattered then exited the room.
Right, our next subject would be at four. That means we still have a one hour vacant. Great. i stood up and was about to call Blake but he already to disappear. So weird, it’s starting to confuse me.
“Nicolle,” Zelle called.
I turned my head to her.
“Tulungan mo naman ako sa Junior Building.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Why would you go there?”
“Ibabalik ko lang kay Mark tong sulat na to,” she answered and waved the card in front of me.
I grabbed and read what was written on it. “Minamahal kong Zelle…”
She snatched it from me when I laughed. That’s the corniest thing, gosh!
“Who the hell’s Mark, anyway?” I asked, recovering from my laughing fits.
“Yung epal na teammate ni Blake sa volleyball. Nakakinis kaya. Pa-cute ng pa-cute. Hindi naman—“ She stopped and frowned at me. “Bakit ka nakangiti?”
I pursed my lips and shrugged. “Nothing. Let’s go.”
Between the Junior and the Senior Building is the Main Library. When we stopped in front of our destination, I told Zelle I would wait for her. I noticed that a lot of students were entering the Main Library. Not everyone is interested in library. Not a lot of students. And not the cheerleaders, anyway. Well, this is weird.
But why? Oh shit. Is what I’m thinking right?
I texted Zelle to go without me. Gosh, girls were all swooning over that guy who has got his bangs ponytailed upwards. That guy who was wearing glasses. That guy who was reading a book. That guy is… my boyfriend.
I took a deep breath, sighed and slowly, very slowly, I made my way through the pool of female and towards Blake who seemed to not notice me.
I pinched the bridge of my nose while amazement bubbled inside of me. I cleared my throat and sat across him. “Hey,” I greeted. He raised one finger to signal me to wait. His eyes were glued on the book he was reading. Physics book. Of course, Physics.
I settled my chin on my hand as I watched him fiddle with his pen, then take down notes, then fiddle, then take down notes over and over again until he finished reading the whole page. “Nag review ka na ba?” he asked, without looking at me.
“Oh.. I…Oh… I…”
“Review day bukas. Wednesday to Friday major exams. Alam mo na ba ang pagte-test naten?” he asked again, serious tone flowing in his voice.
“No I was planning to study tom—“
“Bakit hindi pa ngayon? Para madami kang mapag-aralan?”
“Blake—“
“Alam mo na ba ang pag-aa—“
“Blake, can you please look at me for one second?!” I asked impatiently. “It’s really creepy talking to you right now. Please. Just at least look at me while we’re talking.”
He closed his book and sighed. “Look. I’m sorry. Masyado lang—“ he frowned. “Anong ginagawa ng mga yon dito?” he asked as he nodded towards the girls.
I raised an eyebrow. “You mean you haven’t noticed?”
He shook his head.
“You block everything out when you’re serious,” I told him.
He shrugged.
“Anyway, is this a joke, Blake?” I asked. All these stuffs. Studying. The punishment. The permission letter. The school stuffs. They don’t go along with Blake. It’s not like Blake to actually give a crap about academics.
Did they do something in him in the hospital? Is this the result of being hit? Or is he just—
“Hindi to joke! I just wanna make you proud kaya ako nagpupursige.”
I smiled. I felt myself flush in red. He hates doing this but he did this because he wanted to make me proud. I could not ask for more. Blake was more than enough.
“Okay, meron pa tayong thirty minutes. Mag-aral muna tayo sa Physics,” he told me.
“Okay,” was all I could say.
He stood up and walked away. When he came back, he was bringing another physics book and a marker pen. He opened the book, searching for a particular page then wrote down the table. My eyes got bigger. “Why did you write on the table?” I asked.
“Relax,” he told me. “Whiteboard talaga yan.”
He smiled then proceeded to teaching me on how to balance Nuclear Equations, Identifying Alpha decays and beta decays, solving for the nuclear fusion and the like that caused my brain to bleed so much. But Blake made it sound so easy and he was so damn smart.
When he finished teaching me, he asked for my phone. “Akin na phone mo,” he told me.
I gave it to him lazily. “What do you need it for?” I asked.
“Wag mo muna tong gamitin. After na lang ng exams.”
He put my phone in his bag and stood up. “Tara na!”
My mouth was hanging open. “Hey! Hey! Give me back my phone!” I shouted as I ran after him.
I grabbed his arm which he flinched away effortlessly and slung across my shoulder.
“Damn it, Blake! I’m not taking orders from you! And get your arm off me!”
“Ayoko!” he countered.
He didn’t take his arm off. “Give me my phone back!” I demanded as we exited the library. “And please. Your arm.”
“No,” he said sternly. “Alam mo ba yung mga junior na lalaking yan. Lahat ng yan may gusto sayo.”
I scoffed and stopped walking. “What’s your point?” I asked.
He held my hand then faced me. “Gusto kong malaman nila na madamot ako at akin ka lang.” I bit my lip.
I don’t know. Blake is just so sweet.
***
Two hours later when I got home, I realized that Blake still had my phone. I got up from my bed and went to Luke’s unit, hoping he was there. It only took three knocks for him to open the door. I rolled my eyes when he screamed.
“Not my fault you’re in your boxer shorts when receiving guests,” I reminded him.
He grunted and asked me in. I went in and sat on the couch as I waited for him to cover his body more. When he got out of his room, he was already wearing a shirt and walking shorts.
“Bakit ka andito?” he asked.
“Hey! Don’t be rude,” I complained.
He rolled his eyes and sat on the other couch. “Ano nga yon?” he pressed.
“Can you drive me to Blake’s? I can’t ask Andrew since—“
“Sure!” he countered cheerfully, beaming. Oh yeah. Luke driving me to Blake’s is hitting two birds with one stone. The one bird is a hummingbird and the other is an eagle.
Happily, he dragged me all the way to the parking lot and drove us to the Perez’s mansion. When we were there, the maids greeted me with a friendly smile and greeted look with a flirtatious one. Oh girls.
Krungy was lying comfortably on the couch, stuck with her headphones, her eyes closed, when Luke pushed her off and sat himself on the couch. Luke and I laughed. These guys really are crazy. Krungy stood up, frowning, her lips pouting. And let the World War 528 begin.
The maid led me to Blake’s room and she knocked. “Sir Blake,” she called but we got nothing for an answer. “Sir Blake.”
Still, nothing.
She looked at me apologetically. I only smiled. “It’s okay. I’ll take it from here,” I told her. She nodded then excused herself.
I knocked hysterically. “Blake, open the fucking door! You bitch!”
A second later, Blake was standing on the other side of the door frame. My lips quivered when I saw him only in his boxer shorts. Part of his torso was still covered in bruises and bandages. Why—every freaking time I see him half naked—do I get this reaction?!
I looked up and willed my eyes to stay looking at his face. His bangs was still ponytailed and he was still wearing glasses. Awwww. He looked so freaking adorable from above and so freaking hot from below. Shit, Nicolle, you’re here to get your phone back and not drool over your perfect boyfriend.
I groaned internally.
“Oh hi,” I said.
He smirked then shook his head. “Nope, hindi mo makukuha ang phone mo after na lang ng—“
“What is that?” I asked, cutting him off.
I pointed to his closet.
“It’s nothing,” he told me.
I pushed him as I entered his bedroom. “There’s a door to another room behind your closet?” I asked.
He scratched the back of his head and smiled at me weirdly. Uncertainty was written all over his mien. I chuckled. “You’re using your money correctly,” I commented.
“Can I go in?” I asked.
He nodded, like saying he had no choice.
I was beaming when I entered the room. Blake followed suit and turned the lights on.
I almost cried when I saw what was inside. One of the walls was painted… that… that… that’s us. Blake and I were dancing. So close. So happy. So in love.
“B-Blake,” my voice was husky.
I looked around and saw hundreds of frames hanging on the walls. Inside of each frame was a sketch of me or me and Blake. Slowly and quite dramatically, I walked towards the walls and looked at the sketches slowly. How could Blake remember all of these? These times? I don’t even remember they even happened. My heart felt guilty and overjoyed and touched all at the same time.
I saw a sketch of me eating pizza hungrily. I saw a sketch of me biting a pencil. I saw a sketch of me making a face. I saw a sketch of me sleeping.
I saw a sketch of us laughing. I saw a sketch of us lying side by side on the soccer field. I saw a sketch of us kissing in the middle of a hallway.
This is just terrific.
It’s so beautiful.
I turned my gaze back to my favorite picture. The one painted on the wall. The one where Blake had his arms around my waist and mine around his shoulders. Our noses were touching. We were smiling and even though this was just a painted, I could see in our eyes that we belong in each other’s worlds. That we are each other’s worlds.
I could not believe it. This guy was the guy I used to hate with my whole life. This guy was the guy who hated me equally. And now he’s the guy I’m deeply in love with. And he’s the guy who did this for me.
“How did you do this? You know how to—“
“Yes, marunong akong mag-sketch,” he said shyly.
I chuckled along with my tears. “Why did you do this?” I asked.
“Because,” he started off as he stepped closer to me. “I’m in love with you.” He paused. “A hundred million times more than anything else.”
I smiled and hugged him for dear life. Like he was the source of my breath. Like he was the source of my life. And he was. Blake was the source of my everything.
We spent the night inside the room, lying next to each other, holding hands, talking until we drifted to sleep.