My legs were stretched out as I folded my jogging pants upto my knees. Mainit kaya kahit na alam kong bawal na itiklop ito ay ginawa ko pa rin. Since when did I care about following the rules?
Nasa covered court kami ngayon para sa aming PE class. Pinagpapahinga kami ng PE teacher namin na si Mr. Pelaez. Kanina pa kasi nag-aaral ng ballroom routine sa handouts na binigay niya.
"L." napaangat ang mga mata ko nang lumapit sa akin dalawa sa mga kaibigan ko. Pia and Desiree. Umupo sila sa magkabilang tabi ko kaya ngayon ay ako ang nasa gitna.
"What's up?" I asked and brought my eyes to my other knee and started folding it.
"Diba close kayo nung si Gallego?" maingat na tanong ni Desiree. Napatigil ako sa pag-aayos ng jogging pants sa pagkakabanggit sa apelido ni Silas.
Umayos ako ng upo at pinaningkitan ng mga mata ang kaibigan ko na lumapit sa akin dahil may kailangan. D'yan tayo magaling, e.
"Yes. Why?" nag-angat ako ng kilay sa kanila. They better tread damn lightly.
"Are you two... together?" Pia asked.
Bumaba ang nakaangat kong kilay at napatawa sa naging tanong niya sa akin.
"No!" I shook my head and snickered. "We're friends."
"Do you uhm... like him-like him?" Pia asked again.
Natigilan ako doon. Naglaho ang ngiti sa labi ko. Hindi ako nakasagot agad. Nagpabalik-balik ang tingin ko sa kanilang dalawa na parehong nag-aabang ng sagot ko.
I scowled. "He's... not my type."
And that's true. He doesn't belong to the type of guy that I usually go for. Iyong malandi, either playboy or bad boy, hindi seryoso, mukhang maraming kasalanan sa buhay, at magaling humalik. Silas can't be described with those words.
He's not a flirt. He's too closed off. He's not a play boy or bad boy. He's too gentle and caring. Madalas ay seryoso siya. He looks like the type who goes to church every Sunday.
And... I've never kissed him, so I can't say for sure kung magaling siyang humalik.
"Really?" she asked with her eyes opened wide and innocent. Unti-unting namula ang mukha niya.
Kumunot ang noo ko sa kanya. "Bakit?"
"Crush kasi ni Pia si Silas! Pwede raw bang manghingi ng phone number?" nakatawang sabi ni Desiree.
"Des!" angal ni Pia na pulang-pula ang mukha. Ramdam ko pa rin ang pagkakakunot ng noo ko habang nakatingin sa isa kong kaibigan.
Sumimangot ako. "Wala akong number niya."
Naglaho ang tuwa sa mukha ni Desiree. Si Pia naman ay hindi maipaliwanag ang mukha.
"Di nga?" duda ni Desiree sa akin. Her eyes were filled with disbelief, too.
"Yes. We only talk at school. We never had a reason to exchange numbers." I casually shrugged.
"Sus, L! Ayaw mo lang ata ibigay." sumimangot siya.
"Bakit hindi ko ibibigay? At kung meron man talaga, akin ba iyon para ibigay? Ask the owner of the number, he's the owner after all." I laughed, shaking my head at them.
"L naman. Ang damot." ngumuso si Pia sa akin.
"I really don't have it. Kung ayaw niyo maniwala, that's really not my problem anymore." I answered, my tone light and amused.
"Position, everyone!" biglang sigaw ni Mr. Pelaez. Umangat ang tingin ko sa pinanggalingan ng boses niya. He's already in front.
Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa dalawang kaibigan. Nakangising kumindat ako sa kanila at tumayo para pumunta sa pwesto ko.
I wasn't lying when I said I didn't have Silas' number. I really don't have it. Kagaya ng sinabi ko ay wala naman kasi kaming dahilan para magpalitan ng number. It never occurred to me to ask for his number. How can I when he never asked for mine?
The thought bothered me the rest of my morning class though. Nang sumapit ang recess ay naghintay ako sa tapat ng room nila. It's a good thing they weren't dismissed yet.
Ilang minuto lang ang lumipas sa paghihintay ko ay lumabas na ang adviser nila. Students were starting to go out of the room, too.
Nakasandal lang ako sa railing habang hinihintay na makalabas siya. Si Hadeon ang una kong nakita na lumabas. Sa likod niya ay ang bestfriend na si Orion. Kasama ay ang isa pa sa mga barkada. Si Takumi. Sa huli ay si Silas.
Napangiti ako nang makita siya na kasama nila. He's been hanging out with them for weeks now. Sinabihan ko rin kasi siya na sumama sa barkada ng kambal ko. He hesitated at first, pero sa uli ay pumayag din.
Hadeon might be playful but he's not a bad influence. He's a loyal friend, too. Kung ikukumpara nga siya sa akin ay baka mas bad influence pa ako sa kambal ko.
"Oh, L. Hinihintay mo ba ako?" Orion teased.
"Gusto mo ma-twist and dunk, Oreo?"
"Sure, as long as you'll lick me in between." he chuckled.
Hadeon made a face and elbowed his bestfriend. Umaray si Orion dahil sa pananakit sa kanya ng kambal ko. Napangiti ako roon.
"What?" the cookie asked.
"Dude, that's my twin sister." my brother said in disgust.
"Wag kang mag-alala, bro. You can lick me, too." malokong sabi nito.
Hadeon suspended his fist on the air. Sasapakin na sana si Orion pero agad itong umiwas. Malokong humalakhak ang gago bago nagmamadaling tumakbo.
"Tangina mo!" tumakbo rin ang kambal ko para habulin ng sapak si Orion.
Takumi chuckled as he watched his idiot friends chase each other. He shook his head and looked at me. "Bye, L."
Nauna na itong maglakad kaya ngayon ay naiwan ang totoong pakay ko rito. Inilipat ko ang mga mata ko kay Silas. Walang bakas ng tuwa sa mukha niya. He looked too serious.
"Akyat tayo?" I grinned at him.
He let out a breath. His entire face softened, reflecting his gentle voice. "Aren't you hungry?"
"Just a little." I shrugged.
"Bumili muna tayo ng pagkain." sabi nito. Tumango naman ako agad para sumang-ayon.
Fried potato chips at juice lang ang binili namin. He's the one who paid. Silas is loaded. I know this because he once asked me to get some bills from his wallet. Puro credit cards at five hundred bills ang laman 'non.
I've learned that he's the legitimate and direct heir of the Gallego's. The Gallego dabbles in different lines of te industry, but they're more renowned for manufucturing cars and other kinds of transportation.
And legitimate... dahil may ibang kinakasama na ang father niya. Ang sabi niya, bata pa lang ay naghiwalay na talaga ang parents niya. That's why he was raised in New York. He's got three half-siblings who are younger than him.
We were quiet for a few minutes when we got settled at the gym. Tahimik dahil hindi ako nagsasalita. Ako naman palagi ang nag-uumpisa ng topic sa aming dalawa. Palagi ako ang may maraming tanong.
"A friend of mine asked me for your number. Si Pia, you know her..." I casually exclaimed. Tamad na sumubo ako ng potato chip at nagpanggap na hindi ako interesado sa topic.
"And?" he calmly asked.
"Hindi ko nabigay. Wala naman kasi akong number mo." umirap ako at padarag na uminom ng lemon-orange juice.
"Do you want my number?" he innocently asked.
"Huh?" I threw him a bizarre look. "Hindi no! Ano naman ang gagawin ko sa number mo? Sinabi ko lang sa'yo na may nanghihingi."
He nodded. "Then I'll give it to you para mabigay mo."
May namuong pagkainis sa dibdib ko. Naramdaman ko ang pag-init ng mukha ko sa pagkairita. "Baliw ka ba? Why would you give your number to a stranger?"
"Hinihingi, e."
Is he for real?
I gaped at him. "Are you like that to every girl who asks your number?"
"I find it rude to say no."
"Pasimpleng fuck boy ka rin, ano?" hindi makapaniwalang umiling-iling ako.
Guys like him are scarier. Iyong sa sobrang gentleman, aasa ka sa kanya. Akala mo may something, pero ang totoo gentleman lang talaga. At least sa fuck boy, you know right away that he's not seriously into you.
"Ayaw mo bang ibigay ko?"
"Bakit naman ako aayaw? It's your number. It's your life. Kung gusto mo ibigay sa lahat ng babae sa campus yung number mo, edi ibigay mo. Gusto mo magpagawa pa ako ng posters na may wanted textmate at ipaskil sa bawat sulok ng campus? Kasi ang rude naman diba kung di mo ite-text ang buong populasyon ng school, diba?" dere-deretsong sabi ko rito.
I don't even know why I'm annoyed, but I am. I'm pissed at him. Wala naman siyang ginagawang masama pero hindi ko mapigilan ang mairita sa kanya.
Silas continued staring at me, eyes lit up with amusement. His lips curled into a smile.
"Nakangiti ka pa d'yan?" masungit na angil ko rito.
He shook his head and softly chuckled. "I was just kidding."
"What?" halos malukot ang buong mukha ko habang naguguluhan na nakatingin sa kanya.
He sat up staight and leaned forward, his hand reached for his back pocket. Nang muli siyang umayos sa pagkakaupo ay inilabas niya ang phone. He hovered his thumb over the home button to unlock it using the touch ID.
Inabot niya sa akin ang phone niya mang mabuksan na iyon. "There put your number and give me your phone. I'll give you mine."
Ngumuso ako. Wala na ang ngiti sa labi niya, pero kita pa rin ang tuwa sa mga mata niya. Sometimes, I can't help but doubt his kindness. Para kasing nang-aasar lang siya sa kabaitan niya. Or maybe being nice just really seemed like a complete joke to me.
I got my phone from the pocket of my skirt. I unlocked it before handing it to him, too. Tinanggap niya iyon kaya kinuha ko na ang kanya.
I typed my number and my complete number. Nag-add pa ako ng heart at kiss emoji sa dulo. Napangiti na lang ako sa sariling kalokohan.
Palihim na inangat ko ang mga mata para tingnan kung tapos na si Silas sa paglagay ng number niya sa phone ko. I smirked when I saw that he's still busy with my phobe, his forehead was slightly creased as he stared at the screen.
Binuksan ko ang contacts niya. He's only got a few numbers in his phone. Siguro ay hindi pa lalampas ng 50. Karamihan ay mga may Gallego sa pangalan. Ang ilan ay office ang nakalagay. He even has Hadeon's number! And Orion's! Lahat ng malapit na kaibigan ng kambal ko.
A familiar name caught my attention in his contacts. Francheska Ramirez. Siya iyong maganda na palaging isinasali ng batch namin kapag may beauty pageants. She's from the top section. A good student with clean records. Matalino rin.
I was never considered for pageants. Iyong mga para sa intramurals? Madalas ako napapadala sa student's discipline office, kaya malabo talaga.
Why does Silas have her number?
I frowned and glanced at Silas. Abala pa rin siya phone ko. Seryoso ang buong mukha niya. Wala na ang tuwa na nasa mga mata niya kanina. He actually looked annoyed. Ngayon ko lang nakita ang ekspresyon na iyon sa mukha niya. Why?
"Why do you have Francheska Ramirez's number?" I asked.
His head snapped at me. His eyes were dark and a little angry. "We're groupmates."
I nodded and refrained myself from talking. It's best to just shut my mouth. Baka kung ano pang masabi ko. Minabuti ko na lang na ibalik ang phone niya. "Here."
His jaw visibly clenched. A rare sight that I can't help but stare. Silas breathed in deep and handed me my phone as he used his other hand to take his.
Tiningnan ko ang phone ko at binuksan ang contacts para hanapin ang pangalan niya. There. Silas Raphael Gallego.
I averted my eyes from the phone and looked at Silas. He was watching me with the same broody expression.
"Ibibigay ko ba ang number mo sa friend ko?" paalam ko sa kanya. It felt blades were slicing my tongue as I uttered the words.
His stone cold facade slowly melted. His shoulders relaxed. His whole face softened. The tension in his eyes disappeared. Namumungay pa ang mga mata niya habang nakatingin sa akin. This is the Silas that I know.
"Do you want to?" his voice was gentle.
The answer immediately popped in my head but I didn't say it. My chest felt tighter. Shit. Shit. Shit... Bakit ganito?
I licked my lower lip. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin dahil hindi ko na makayanang tingnan siya ng deretso. "Do you want to text with her?"
"No." agad niyang sagot. Malambing ang boses niya kaya nakakapanghina. Mas lalong hindi ko siya kayang tingnan. "I'll only text you."
My eyes slightly widened. I turned my head to him. His mellow expression was unwavering.
"And you'll only text me." Silas' voice was soft and yet it shouted so much authority. He brought his eyes to the phone in my hand. The darkness in his face from earlier returned. He looked at me again.
The gentleness in his eyes was gone. It was replaced with a grave and serious look. Iyong tipo ng pagtitig na wala akong magagawa kundi ang sundin siya.
Wait... Is this why he's pissed just a moment ago? He read my inbox? Kaya siya nagtagal sa pagkalikot ng phone ko ay dahil tiningnan niya ang inbox? And my inbox is almost filled with conversations with different boys.
The center of my chest swelled. Shit. My heart hurts... and yet it feels so good.
Is this...
Natatakot akong kumpirmahin. I was scared to assume and end up being wrong. I was scared that he'd say what I don't want to hear. I want to savor this moment.
"No other boys, Laurene." muling pagsalita ni Silas.
Parang sasabog ang dibdib ko sa sobrang sikip ng puso. Gusto nang kumawala ng puso ko mula sa akin at pumunta kung saan. Pinipigilan ko lang.
I can't breathe. And I want to keep it this way. I closed my eyes and slowly nodded. "Okay."