"Saan ba tayo pupunta?" Tanong ko kay Vinze na tahimik lang na nagd'drive sa tabi ko. After umalis ni Kriesha kanina ay umalis na rin kami ni Vinze at iniwan si Vile. Tama lang sa kanya yon!
"Home."
"Ha? Iuuwi mo 'ko sa inyo? Hala, hindi ako nagpaalam."
"Crazy. I'm taking you to your house. Tsaka paano kita madadala sa'min kung ipinakilala kang girlfriend ni Vile? They'll freak out, sabihin pang mang-aagaw ako." Natawa ako dahil sa sinabi niya. Takte daming sinabi.
"Dami mo namang sinabi, nagbibiro lang naman ako."
"Nilinaw ko lang kasi GIRLFRIEND ka ni Vile." Diniinan niya pa yung pagkakasabi ng girlfriend na word. Kung hindi lang madalas na cold 'to sakin, iisipin ko nang nagseselos siya.
"Sinabi ko na nga kanina, 'di ba? Hindi nga totoong mag-jowa kami."
"How did he take you there, by the way?" Tanong niya sakin bago saglit na sumulyap sa gawi ko.
"Uy, bakit ka interesado?"
Umirap siya bago muling sumagot, "I'm just curious."
I chuckled before answering, "Okay, sabi mo eh. But to answer your question, hinila lang talaga niya ako kanina from school, then dinala sa salon without knowing where we're going."
"The fuck?" Iritang tugon niya sakin. "I'll talk to him later."
"Alam mo kung hindi ka parating malamig pag kinakausap ako, iisipin ko talagang crush mo 'ko. Crush mo ba 'ko, ha?" Tinanong ko talaga sa kanya yan kasi matigas ang mukha ko.
Idinantay niya ang kaliwang braso sa hamba ng side window niya at pinaglaruan ng mga daliri ang kanyang mga labi. Seryoso lang siyang nakatingin sa daan habang naghihintay ako sa isasagot niya. Nang tumigil kami sa stop light ay matiim at seryoso siyang humarap sakin at umiling, "No."
Wow. Medyo masakit, a. Pero ito rin naman ang inaasahan ko at sanay na ako kaya sige lang, tignan natin sa susunod na taon kung ganyan pa rin sagot mo sakin.
"Sabi ko nga," sagot ko na lamang sa kanya upang itago ang maliit na sakit na bumalot sa akin. Humarap na lamang ako sa bintana sa gilid ko nang mag-berde na ang ilaw.
Bakit, ako rin naman hindi ko siya crush, a. Hindi ganun kababaw ang nararamdaman ko sa kanya para lang matawag iyon na "crush". Dahil ang crush, pagkatapilok, at ang nararamdaman ko para sa kanya, para akong nahulog sa bangin na walang hanggan, sa bawat araw na lumilipas lalo lang akong nahuhulog sa kanya.
Matapos ang sandaling katahimikan ay naisip kong magtanong sa kanya tungkol sa kapatid niya.
"Are you close to your brother?" saglit siyang tumingin sa gawi ko nang nakakunot ang noo dahil siguro sa pagkabigla sa aking pagtatanong.
"We were." simpleng sagot niya lamang.
"I see." pagsagot ko. "Hmm... you said he was in Greece? Since when? Bakit nandoon siya habang nasa Pilipinas kayo ng parents mo?"
Humarap ulit siya sa gawi ko at mas kumunot ang noo, "Why are you so interested in him?"
"What? Curious lang din ako," sagot ko sabay kibit balikat.
"We used to live in Greece with our grandparents while our parents are doing business in different parts of the world." pagsisimula niya. "My mom wanted to settle in the Philippines and Vile doesn't want to leave our grandparents so he stayed."
"Ah... maka-grandparents pala yon, 'di halata."
"What do you mean?" tanong niya sakin nang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa kalsada.
"Parang gago, e. Parang kulang sa aruga."
He chuckled. Oh, the things I would do to hear his laugh again.
"By the way, I didn't know you once lived in Greece..."
Totoong hindi ko alam iyon. We've met years ago, he's a family friend, but I didn't know that much about him. We barely even talked in gatherings, sadyang nagustuhan ko lang siya nang patago.
"You said you liked me for how many years, tapos hindi mo alam?"
Umirap ako bago sumagot sa argumento niya, "Lagi mo na lang binabato sakin yan, hmp."
"Binabalik ko lang sayo yung statements mo."
Muli akong umirap sa kanya, "Liking you doesn't make me a stalker, kaya."
He chuckled a bit. Oh my Lord, thank you for this man and this day and his chuckles.
"For someone who claims that likes me, masyado kang malakas magtaray."
I knew that even before he mentioned it to me, but coming it directly from makes me rethink my actions. Well anyway, "Magtaray or not, hindi mo pa rin naman ako magugustuhan, so better just show my true self than be plastic to you, 'di ba?"
Naiiling siyang tumingin sa side window niya which is the opposite side from me. Patuloy niya nilalaro ang mga labi gamit ang daliri na para bang pinipigilan ang sariling ngumiti. I saw a ghost of smile from his lips but I just shrug it off.
I didn't notice that we're finally in front of my house until he pulls the brake. Napalingon ako sa side window ko and yes, we've arrived na pala. He knows my house because he had been here before when we will have dinners or lunch with his and my family.
Bago bumaba ay humarap muna ako sa kanya, "Uh... salamat pala sa paghatid. As much as I want to invite you inside... it's getting late already, and we've already had our dinner. So... it's better for you to go and rest na lang."
Nakatingin siya sakin habang sinasabi ko iyon kaya tumango na lamang siya matapos ang aking sinasabi. I guess his nod is a sign for me to go down now so I faced the car door side to open it and go out.
Ngunit bago ko pa mahawakan ang handle ay hinila niya ang aking wrist nang malumanay upang mapaharap sa kanya.
Napataas ang kilay ko sa kanyang ginawa, "Hmm?"
"Don't let Vile introduce you as his girlfriend... or anyone. If you aren't their girlfriend."
I know I should not make such a big deal over it but he made me think he's concerned. Or is he really is?
I gave him a small smile before nodding. And with that, he let go of my wrist. "Uh.. Thanks again, Vinze, but if you wouldn't mind, text me when you get home... Uhm. To make sure."
He slightly nodded and answered, "I will."
Lumabas na ako ng sasakyan at tumayo lamang sa labas ng bahay namin para hintaying makaalis siya, but to my surprise, he opened the passenger seat window and told me, "Go inside, I'll go if you're finally inside."
He makes me damn confused today.
"Oh... okay. I'll go now. Take care."
Tumango siya kaya nagsimula na akong pumasok sa gate namin. Mula doon ay tinanaw ko ang sasakyan niyang humarurot lamang nang nakapasok na ako.
I'm doomed. I love him.
The next day came and I started it with my usual routine. Ang hindi lang kasama na typical routine ko ngayon ay ang pagdating ng isang unexpected na "bisita" na susunduin daw ako.
Quarter to eight, thirty minutes before my first class, kumatok sa kwarto ko si ni Cherry, ang aming kasambahay dahil daw may naghahanap sa akin.
"Ma'am Kysler, may naghahanap ho sa inyo sa baba. Kinakausap na nga ho ng parents niyo lalo na't sinabi na naparito raw para ihatid ka sa eskwela."
Nangunot ang noo ko dahil sa kanyang sinabi. Tinapos ko ang pag-b'blowdry ng aking buhok habang iniisip kung sino ang posibleng bisita. Could it be Sandra? Pero hindi naman yun pumupunta rito nang hindi nagsasabi sakin.
I turned off the hairdryer and combed my hair a little to fix it before finally going down. Could it be Vinzeler? Well, never mind.
"Finally, she's here." rinig kong sabi ni Mama iyon habang pababa ako ng hagdan. I'm wearing a white halter top under my beige windbreaker, partnered with a plaid skirt and a pair of white air force 1's to match everything.
I immediately went to the dining to get my quick breakfast, and sabi rin ni cherry nandito sila at kumakain na.
"Vile? Why are you here?" they're enjoying their meal while talking but stopped when I went in. Tumingin silang lahat sakin.
"Are you done? Kanina ka pa hinihintay ni Vile dito at marami-rami na rin kaming napag-usapan." si Mama na sinamahan pa niya ng nang-aasar na ngiti.
"What?" kinunutan ko siya ng noo at bahagyang umiling na lamang siya na nangingiti pa rin kaya't binalingan ko na lang si Vile, "Why are you here?"
Nanloloko siyang ngumiti sa akin, "I'm dropping you off to school."
Lalong kumunot ang noo ko at humalukipkip, "And why would you do that?" tinaasan ko pa siya ng kilay para mas dama.
"Kysler! Stop being rude." si Papa naman na inilingan ko na lang din at saka pumunta ng kitchen para magrefill ng water bottle na dadalhin.
"Okay lang po, Tito, sanay na ako." rinig ko pang sagot ni Vile sa Papa ko. Ha! Feeling close!
"Naku, hijo, 'wag mo namang masyadong i-spoil ang anak namin," pabirong komento ni Mama at talagang nagtawanan pa sila.
Pagtapos kong mag-refill ng water bottle ko ay inayos ko na ang mga dadalhin at lalakad na palabas ng tinawag ako ni Mama.
"Kysler! Bring your breakfast then just eat it in the car."
Naisip kong mahuhuli na nga ako sa klase kung kakain pa ako rito kaya paalis na sana ako. Pero ngayong binanggit niya na dalhin na lang iyon, then fine.
Hawak ang tote bag at water bottle na dinadala sa school ay bumalik ako sa dining para kunin at baunin na lang ang nakabalot ko na palang breakfast.
"We're going, Tita, thank you for the breakfast." paalam ni Vile sa mga magulang ko at sinundan ako palabas.
Bago pa kami makarating sa sasakyan niya ay hinarap ko na siya para usisain. We're outside the house already so it's safe.
"Seriously, why are you here?" nakataas ang kilay na tanong ko sa kanya. Anak ng, pangatlong beses na tanong ko na sa kanya yan ngayong araw, ah.
"To drop you off to your school?" he stated noting the sarcasm as if I'm too dumb to register it.
Pinang-ikutan ko siya ng mata bago sumagot, "Don't give me that, Vile. You're not the likes to do that."
"Fine." and shrugged his shoulders. "Mom told me to do so."
"And? Bakit pumayag ka? You know, you don't have to do that."
"I don't have anything else to do, anyway, so I obliged."
"Whatever." At naglakad na lamang patungo sa sasakyan niya. Wala namang masama kung sasabay ako sa kanya, 'di ba? Besides, I'm running late.
He clicked his car remote to unlock his car even before I went to the passenger side. Mabilis akong sumakay roon at nakasakay rin naman agad siya para tahakin na namin ang daan.
Ang baon kong sandwich na breakfast ko sana ay binuksan ko na upang kumain pero napatingin siya sa gawi ko. Inangat ko iyon para itanong kung pwede ko bang kainin iyon sa sasakyan niya, and he just nodded.
Mabilis kong naubos ang sandwich and I have nothing else to do so I started asking him about things.
Tumikhim muna ako para kunin ang atensyo niya bago nagsalita, "Well, sabi mo kanina, you have nothing else to do?" he nodded. "What about school?"
"I'm on my two-month break in Greece. Babalik din ako roon when the school resumes." Napatango na lang din ako sa sinagot niya.
"What about the next school year? Doon ka pa rin?"
A smirk is now plastered on his lips, amused that I am actually curious about his things. I rolled my eyes because of that and he just chuckled.
"My grandparents are planning to live in our ancestral house here for good, so I guess I have to leave Greece too." and shrugged his shoulders.
Huminto ang kotse niya na ngayon ay nakapark na sa school namin. Before getting off his car, I faced him to say my regards, "Thanks for dropping me off." Bahagya lang siyang ngumiti kaya ako'y bumaba na.
People are looking at my way when they saw me get off from his Porsche. But what concerned me most is how Vinze looked at me. Confusion is all over his face as he changes his glances from me then to the car. I was about to go to his way when my phone ringed a bit saying that it's already 2 minutes left before my first class. Kaya napagdesisyunan kong mamaya na lang siya kausapin.
Papunta na ako sa building namin nang tawagin ako ni Vile. Hindi pa pala siya nakakaalis.
"Natalie! Your water bottle!" Oh, right. I left it in his car.
I jogged my way back to him to get my water bottle. "Thanks." At mabilisan ko na itong kinuha sa kanya para makapunta na ng aking klase.
Naglalakad na akong muli patungo sa building namin nang humarang sa daraanan ko si VInze. Umangat ang noo ko at bahagya itong kumunot. Madilim at seryoso ang kanyang mukha habang matiim ang tingin sakin.
As much as I want to talk to him right now, I can't. I'm gonna late!
I look at my wristwatch to check the time and it's already a minute left before my first period!
"You came with Vile?" madiin ang pagkakasabi niya doon habang seryoso pa rin ang tingin sakin.
"Yes." I answered simply.
"Why? How?" he asked more but I couldn't entertain him.
"Vinze, can I talk to you later? I'm running late..." mahinahong pagkakasabi ko sa kanya. Hindi ako basta makaalis lang dahil hinaharangan niya ang daan ko.
Bumuntong hininga siya habang sumusukong pinadaan ako, "Fine. We'll talk later in your break time." Nagtaas ako ng thumbs up sa kanya kahit na nakatalikod na ako at mabilis na naglalakad patungo sa first class ko.
Natapos ang klase ko at break time na. Bago lumabas ay inayos ko muna ang mga gamit ko at habang inaayos naman iyon ay lumapit sakin ang bestfriend kong si Sandra para bumulong.
"Sis, your Vinzeler is outside."
Inangat ko ang ulo ko para tignan siya, "Huh?"
"Nasa labas ng room si Vinze." sinilip ko naman ang labas at tama nga ang tinutukoy niya. Nakasandal ito sa pader sa harap ng classroom namin at ang kaliwang kamay ay nasa bulsa. Ang kanan naman ay may hawak na phone, probably texting or something.
He attracts so much attention, maybe because of the fact that a college student is here in our hallway or most probably because he's looking so attractive as ever. I sighed.
"Anglalim nun, ah." Sandra, referring to my sigh. "Siguro may hinihintay siyang chicks niya rito sa batch natin." Saad niya habang nakatingin pa rin sa labas at tumingin naman sakin, wiggling her brows.
Sasagot na sana ako sa kanya nang mag-vibrate ang phone ko, indicating a new message.
Vinzeler <3:
I'm outside your classroom. Let's go.
I smiled as if I just won then let Sandra see the message. "Bitch, you're wrong."
She looks shocked a bit then hugs me to congratulate. O! A! Nagpaalam na rin siya na uuwi muna siya at sinabi pa saking, "Have fun!"
Nangingiti akong lumabas ng silid. A proud smile on my lips.
I immediately went to Vinze. Inangat niya ang ulo niya at nang makitang ako iyon ay hinila na ang palapulsuhan para pumunta sa hindi ko alam.
Umalma ako sa paghila niya sakin, which caused him to stop walking. He looks at me with the same expression he was giving me earlier this morning. What's his problem?
"Ano bang problema mo?" tanong ko sa kanya.
He looked around to see that people are looking our way so he pulled me again to go somewhere that is not too crowded.
"Why are you with him?" he asked, may diin sa bawat salita.
"Is it the same issue earlier?" hindi siya sumagot at nanatili ang tingin sa akin. "Sinundo niya ako sa bahay kanina para ihatid." I answered boringly making a point that it's not even something we should be fighting with.
"And why would he do that?" nanghahamon ang tono niya, as if challenging me with his questions.
"He said you mom wants him to do so, he just obliged." I shrug my shoulders proving a point that it's not big deal.
Inihilamos niya ang kanyang palad sa kanyang mukha. I can't believe he'd look very frustrated over petty things like this.
"I told you, he's a heartbreaker. He'll cause you pain!"
"Like how you've caused me?" mahinahon ang pagkakabanggit ko pero hindi ko pa rin magawang maitago ang sakit, "Every time you dismiss my feelings for you? Huh?"
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[A/N: Hello sorry kung ngayon lang ulit ksksk,, anw, expect for more updates this quarantine totoo na :> also, check out my other stories: Beyond Ideal, Let's See (epistolary/text talk), and Background (epistolary/text talk). Yun lang,, stay healthy, wash your hands, check your privilege :> thank you for reading ❣]