Chapter theme above:
If only they knew - A rocket to the moon
"Good morning!" Bati ko nang makitang gising na si Piper habang nakaupo sa ibabaw ng kama niya. Mukha siyang gulat nang makitang mas nauna akong magising kesa sa kanya, karaniwan kasing mas nauuna siyang magising kesa sa akin.
Kasalanan 'to ni Denver eh, ang aga-agang tumawag at nagyaya ng videocall. Panay ang reklamo niya kasi nginatngat daw ni Moo ang charger niya tapos ayaw daw magpahiram ni Apollo. Buti nalang at may tablet at laptop pa siya kaya nakikipag-usap padin kami.
"What's with the smile?" Piper asked and I found myself smiling, lost in thoughts of Denver Glenn Hawthorn.
"Nothing," I couldn't help but giggle as I sat in front of our vanity mirror at began blow-drying my wet hair.
Piper stood up from her bed and sat right next to me. She grabbed the hair dryer from my hand and began to do it herself. Always the thoughtful Piper.
"Talk," Piper said in an authoritative tone but there was a sly smirk on her face.
"Talk to me i'm torn! I can get lost in that voice of yours!" I couldn't help but sing when the lyrics of A rocket to the moon's song suddenly crossed my mind. I feel so light today, I feel like smiling and laughing over just about anything.
"Who's Denver?" Piper asked again, this time the smile on my face instantly faded. I gulped at the realization that I, Braylee Emanuel, am doomed.
"Ano?" I tried to shrug it off with a laugh even if deep down my heart felt like it was about to sink in the abyss.
Piper snickered. "Come on, B. I heard you talking to someone over the one last night. You don't have to deny. And you know what? Since we got back to school, something about you changed."
"Is it a good change?" I asked, trying to hide ignore my heart that's beating so loud. If it wasn't for the hair-dryer's noise, maybe she could hear my loud heartbeat.
"You look happier and livelier than before," Piper smiled and nodded as she continued to comb and blow-dry my hair. "I like the changes I see in you. But I'm not Piper if i'm not going to be worried about you, so tell me B, what's the real score between you? How did you met? Is he treating you right?"
My heart calmed down because of what Piper said. She seemed genuinely happy and worried for me, and at the same time, her questions triggered memories of Denver; how sweet and kind he is to me, and how he confessed yesterday.
Maybe it's time that I finally come clean to Piper....
"We sat next to each other on a bus. He was complaining that he couldn't get some sleep so I tried to help him--" I stopped talking when Piper suddenly turned off the hair dryer and placed it on the vanity mirror's table.
"Braylee, just how did you help him?" Piper's eyebrows furrowed.
"I did what i'm always good at, told him some dumb stuff I read online." I smiled with pride. "And then he did, he fell asleep, maybe he got to bored listening to me, I don't know?" I couldn't help but laugh. "And after that, we saw each other again. He asked me to help him sleep again. Next thing I know, I went home to find his phone in my jacket."
"Yung new phone mo? That was his?! Ba't niya binigay sa'yo?" Piper gaped at her realization.
I smiled, remembering how sweet Denver was being. "He said I was too pure for this world and that I should be careful all the time, especially from f-boys. He warned me not to give my number to strangers, so maybe that's why instead of asking for my number, he left me his phone instead."
"That is the most thoughtful thing I've ever heard," Piper giggled as she shook his head. "I guess this earns him a positive cookie. Okay, continue." She gestured me to continue by flickering her fingers.
"We started to talk at night, just before I go to bed. I kept telling him some dumb stuff and eventually some stories about you guys, but don't worry wala naman akong sinabing secrets niyo. The stuff I told him were mostly about our happy memories with each other, our experiences, our quirks, our crazy dares over the years," I couldn't help but giggle too. "He's really nice to me, Piper. Minsan nagpapadala siya ng Chinese food dito--"
"Siya pala ang nagpadala nun?!" Piper interjected. "Okay, another cookie point for him."
"I feel so comfortable around him, P. I don't know why but something about him makes me feel so..." I couldn't find the words so I just smiled and snickered.
"B, listen to me." Piper held my hand. "Hindi naman sa nila-lahat ko pero may mga boys kasi na sobrang galing magpakilig, pero sa huli, may iba palang gustong makuha mula sa'yo o kung di kaya, paasahin ka lang sa wala. Don't fall so hard for a boy you just met. Take it easy okay lalo na kung wala naman talaga siyang sinasabi--"
"He told me he loves me." This time it was I who interjected, cutting piper off from talking.
"Wow," Piper's lips pursed round. "Okay, that's a game changer but still... those are just words. The question is, pareho ba ang pinapakita niya sa sinasabi niya?"
I hesitated but in the end I found myself nodding. "He cares for me the way you guys care for me. He's protective of me even if sometimes he asks me to cuss or be mean. He even taught me the art of sarcasm." I purposely left out the part where Denver taught me the meaning of those perverted words, baka iba ang isipin ni Piper eh.
Piper laughed. "Why would he do that?"
"He says i'm too pure for this world and that I could be taken advantage if i'm not careful," pag-amin ko.
"Another cookie point for him," Piper snickered. "Okay, but the important question is... what do you think about him?"
"I think he's a really nice and thoughtful guy. He says he doesn't care what others will say but his actions with me says otherwise. He pretends like he's mean but I know he's not, he's really not. I think something bad happened so he built up walls around him but slowly, I think he's breaking his own wall. I don't know him that much but i'd like to know him more." I found myself smiling while talking about him.
"Do you like him as a guy?" Piper asked and I couldn't help but nod. I already made peace with the fact that I like Denver Hawthorn.
"Are you in love with him?" Piper asked again, this time her words seemed stern.
Piper's question resonated in my mind.
"A-am I in love with him?" I couldn't help but ask back.
Piper chuckled. "Braylee, the way you talked about him speaks so much of how you feel for him.... but i'm not in the position to interpret your feelings because it's only you who can tell if you're in love with him or not."
"W-what am I going to do?" I couldn't help but worry.
"Just go with the flow," Piper chuckled again as she continued to blow-dry my hair again. "But please be careful with your decisions, B. I don't want to see you hurt and crying over a boy. I've had my fair share of heartaches and I don't want you to go through that."
"Thanks, P." My heart fluttered for Piper's words. Thank you Lord for giving me a friend like Piper.
"But you gotta let me meet him though or tell me his facebook account so that at least I could stalk him," tumawa si Piper. "Hmmm... sino ba yang Denver na 'yan? Taga dito rin ba or hindi? Denver is a common name but isang Denver lang ang kilala ko, and that Denver is an asshole. Sa itim ng kaluluwa ng lalaking 'yon, tanga nalang talaga ng magkakagusto sa kanya. so its impossible to be him."
Patay. Ako si tangang may gusto sa kanya.
Napalunok ulit ako at pinilit na lamang ang sarili kong ngumiti kahit deep inside ay parang nalunod na naman ang puso ko.
****
9:43 AM
Denver:
What u up to?
You:
Class
u?
Denver:
class
why forestry?
You:
Must protect mother nature haha
why geology?
Denver:
impulse
dad wanted me to pursue business, took geology to piss him off
You:
wow you're mean
Denver:
Used to
You:
how can u stand it? studying what u don't want?
Denbear:
I like it now
I think its fun
You:
I read somewhere that Philippines are in need of geologists.
Good call, denbear
"Tago mo na 'yan, nakatingin na si Prof," bulong ni Reika kaya naman agad kong itinago ang cellphone sa bulsa ko. Reika is my seatmate in this class, we don't have the same course but we the same minor subjects.
Tumayo si Prof mula sa kinauupuan niya at nagsimulang magsulat sa blackboard. "I'll be giving you a project. Choose your partner--" bago pa man matapos ni prof ang sinasabi niya, agad na kaming napahawak ni Reika sa isa't-isa at nagtawanan ng malakas, pinagtinginan tuloy kami ng lahat.
"Research paper? Are you kidding me?" reklamo ni Reika habang naglalakad kami papunta sa susunod naming subject, classmate na naman kasi kami.
"And that scrapbook for Rizal is due by tomorrow, and may long quiz din ako bukas sa major subject ko at may special exams ka pa sa major mo," natatawa kong paalala.
"Damn it! Bukas ba deadline ng lahat?" Napakamot si Reika sa ulo niya sabay pa-lobo ng chewing gum niya.
"Research Paper's on friday," natatawa kong sambit.
"I'm in hell!" Inis na wika ni Reika pero natigil siya nang lingunin ako. "Ay hindi, andito ka. Wala pa ako sa hell."
***
4:32 PM
Reikamehamewave:
Where r u?
You:
Dorm, just getting my things :)
papunta na ako sa house mo
Reikamehamewave:
brayyy we have a problem
You:
What?
Reikamehamewave:
My cousin got injured and his dad just asked me to babyshit him. Sabi ko gagawa tayo ng project kaso uncle insisted na doon nalang tayo gumawa sa kanila. Is it okay na doon tayo?
You:
Yuppp no probss
***
"Feel at home, Bray!" Patalon na naupo si Reika sa sofa habang pinapalakasan ang volume ng tv nang makitang rock song ang kasalukuyang nagp-play sa MTV.
Naupo na lamang ako sa sahig at inilapag dito ang art materials at pati narin ang laptop ko. Mabilis na gumulong si Reika pababa ng sofa at tinabihan ako sa sahig, binuksan niya agad ang grocery bag na puno ng snacks.
"I thought we're going to babysit your cousin? Ba't parang walang tao?" tanong ko.
Reika giggled and raised her hand as if gesturing me to wait. "MAGNO! ADVENTURE TIME NA!" buong lakas na sigaw ni Reika at sa isang iglap ay nakita namin ang isang lalakeng iika-ika at nagmamadaling makarating sa sala.
"Oh come on!" Inis na sambit ng cute guy na hirap na hirap sa paggamit ng saklay. Akala ko bata ang ib-babysit ni Reika pero mukhang ka-edad lang namin siya, or baka nga mas matanda ng konti. He looks familiar.
"Tonight pa ang adventure time! Go sit here, prick! I got you some cold coffee," natatawang giit ni Reika at kaagad na hinagis dito ang nabili niyang can ng cold coffee. "Magno, this is Braylee, my babe from school." Tinuro agad ako ni Reika.
Dumako ang tingin sa akin ni Magno. His mouthed opened in a fit of laughter and surprise, "Hala ikaw! Hohoho! What a small world!" mangha niyang sambit habang nakaturo sa akin.
"You know her?" natatawang tanong ni Reika.
"You know me?" kunot-noo akong natawa. I'm curious.
Magno paused but then he began shaking his head. "Ay hindi, kamukha lang pala. What are you guys doing here?" tanong niya at bumaling kay Reika.
"We're going to make some projects but your dad asked me to babyshit you, so here we are. Don't be a menace though, one flirty move towards my babe at tatamaan ka sa akin!" Reika playfully threatened as she put her arm around me.
"Nope, don't worry. I don't want to face the wrath of a thorn," Magno chuckled as he winked at me. I was taken aback with his words. Did he just say thorn on purpose???!!
Magno joined us in making our project, it turns out may Diorama rin pala siyang kailangang gawin kaya naman naging busy kaming tatlo at nagtulu-tulungan nalang kasi after all, Magno is injured. It turns out, medyo nice naman pala siya kaya mabilis kaming nagkasundo. He even asked for a selfie so we had fun making wacky faces.
It wasn't long until we heard the gate open. Kahit iika-ika, tumayo si Magno at binuksan ang pinto. "Anong ginagawa niyo rito?" Magno sounded surprised but his face says otherwise. Magno had this mischievous grin on his face.
"Shut up."
My heart skipped a beat the moment I heard his voice again. Before I could even react, Denver pushed Magno aside and came right through the door. His hair is disheveled but his face had this blank expression again. Without saying a word, he suddenly sat right beside me and grabbed a pack of chips. Denver wasn't alone though, a tall skinny guy was with him. I don't recognize him but I could tell Reika knows him because she suddenly fell silent and blank the moment they arrived... it's as if Reika didn't like the guy's presence especially since he sat right next to her.
"Bray, you thirsty?" tanong ni Reika bigla kaya naman kaya napatango-tango ako.
Akmang tatayo si Denver pero mas mabilis na napatayo si Reika at nagtungo sa kusina. Mabilis ding sumunod ang lalake kay Reika. Since enveloped us until Magno burst into laughter. "Oh crap! This day just got better. I wish Apollo's here to see this shit!" natatawa nitong sambit at pabagsak na naupo sa sofa. Kilala niya rin si Apollo???
I got nervous. I don't know if I should speak to him, after all we're not alone. Magno could hear us, Reika could hear us, and that other guy could hear us too.
"Tulog muna ako," paalam ni Magno at bumaling ito ng ngisi kay Denver. "Tapusin mo ang Diorama ko ha? Mukhang mag-eenjoy ka naman," Magno sounded like a mischievous kid.
Moments later, Denver cleared his throat so I turned to look at him. He smiled as he grabbed my laptop. "Anong ginagawa niyo?"
"Reika and I were supposed to make our project but she had to babysit her injured cousin," I said in a low voice, scared that Reika would suddenly come in and see us talking.
"Ikaw? Anong ginagawa mo rito?" tanong ko na lamang pabalik.
"I want to see you," Denver smiled, making my heart flutter again.
"Aren't you going to ask me why I want to see you?" Denver asked as he started reading the document on my laptop.
"Do you want me to ask you why you want to see me?" I retorted, still in a low and soft whispery voice.
"Yup," Denver said as he nodded.
"Why?" tanong ko.
"Because if I answer you honestly, you'll blush again and you look so cute when you blush," Denver chuckled and as if on cue, I felt my face heat up again. Denver was about to turn and face me so I immediately pushed his face away, high-fiving him in the face.
"Whoa! I know hindi magkasundo sina Warren pero wag ka namang manakit bray!" Nagulat ako nang bigla kong marinig ang natatawang boses ni Reika. Nag-abot siya sa akin ng bottled water.
Nagpaalam si Reika na sa kusina siya gagawa ng isa sa mga projects namin. Sasama sana ako kaso bigla niya akong pinigilan. Parang gusto niya ng alone time kasama yunglalake at kung makatingin naman sa akin ang lalake, para siyang nakikiusap na wag akong sumama sa kanila. Wala akong magawa kundi magpaiwan sa sala kasama si Denver.
"Wipe that grin off your face," pataray kong sambit kay Denver nang mapansin ito.
"Come on, Bray. Don't be so mean," Denver chuckled as he continued reading.
"You told me to be mean so say hello to evil braylee," I joked as I grabbed the laptop from him.
"Hello, evil braylee! I love you!" Denver chuckled kaya dali-dali kong tinakpan ang bibig niya sa takot na baka may makarinig sa kanya.
"Come on! You're really torturing me!" I couldn't help but grimace as my hand was still covering his mouth.
As he was looking into my eyes, Denver took my hand off from his face and I saw him laugh again, his nose crinkling cutely. "Ikaw na mismo ang nagsabi noon, kung positive feeling edi sabihin!" pang-iinis niya pa lalo sa akin.
"Nakakainis ka na," I pouted as I pushed him away.
"That's a negative feeling," Denver chuckled again. "I love you, Braylee," he said again kaya agad akong napatakip sa mukha ko.
"Tama na!" sigaw ko dahil sa sobrang inis. Ayoko na, nakakainis na talaga. Tinakpan ko ang mukha ko at humarap sa ibang direksyon.
"Bakit?" tanong ni Denver. He stopped chuckling.
"Kinikilig ako," pag-amin ko at sa isang iglap natahimik si Denver. Tinanggal ko ang mga kamay na nagtatakip sa mukha ko at bumaling ng tingin sa kanya. Ako naman ang natawa nang makitang namumula na siya habang umiiling-iling.
"You're blushing!" pang-aasar ko kay Denver sabay turo sa mukha niya. I couldn't help but giggle and that's when Denver burst into a fit of laughter.
Next thing I know we were both giggling and laughing at each other, our cheeks burning red.
Something changed between Denver and I after he confessed. It's like Denver and I have become free to express anything to each other. Noon natatakot pa akong maging mean sa kanya but ngayon nagiging mean na ako nang walang kahirap-hirap, siya naman lagi akong iniinis. It's funny how three words can change something. And I guess it really is a good kind of change because instead of being awkward, we became more comfortable with each other.
"Teddy," His laughter eventually softened and subsided but there's still a smile on his face.
"Huh?" I asked.
"What if I transfer to your school?" he asked, a smile still on his face.
END OF CHAPTER 42!
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