Brown Eyes — Destiny's Child
Kabanata 17
"Happy Valentine's!" Melay presented a rose in front of me.
"Thank you! Happy Valentine's din," I said and proceeded to get my gift for her.
Kinuha ko sa bag ko ang isang balot ng chocolate. I bought this with my remaining savings.
"Bless ka muna kay Tita," I offered the back of my hand.
Melanie laughed at my gesture. "Gaga ka, galing ba 'yang abroad?"
Napalingon kami sa mga tumitiling babae sa may pintuan. Gio was smiling awkwardly while his hand was on his nape.
I rolled my eyes. Akala mo naman talaga shy type ang isang ito.
Gio was being surrounded by girls from other strands with chocolates and letters on their hands. Siguro mga hindi nakakaalam ng tunay na kulay ni Gio. Hindi sila aware na baka masiraan sila ng bait kapag si Gio naging boyfriend nila.
Gio was the boy next door type so I guess he is goodlooking. He's easy to approach and he always has a boyish grin on his face. Pero hindi pa ako nakakakilala ng babaing kinahumalingan niya. Palagi lang niyang sinasabi na hindi siya kina-crush back ng crush niya.
"Adren's missing?" I asked Melanie, noticing that Adren's desk was filled with chocolates, letters and — what the hell Gucci paperbags?!
"Siguro nga, elites only likes elites." komento ni Melanie.
I nodded. He was indeed rich but he was too mysterious for me. Madalas ay may sariling mundo ang isang 'yon kaya medyo malayo rin siya sa'min. Supplier nga lang namin siya ng papel kapag nauubusan kami. May National Bookstore 'yata 'yon sa loob ng bag niya e.
"Anong ibibigay mo kay Sath?" hindi pinalagpas ni Melanie ang pagtatanong saakin.
My cheeks flushed in embarassment upon the mention of his mere name.
Ever since that night, Sath has constantly acted like he's courting me. Di ko naman alam kung mangliligaw ba siya o nililigaw niya lang ako ng landas. I want to ask him but I'm afraid that I won't like his answer.
"Nagpatulong ako sa ano..."
Before this day, I went to Adren and asked for his help to get Ms. Intramurals to help me bake a blueberry cheesecake. He gave me her number and I texted her if she could help. Surprisingly, she extended her help without hesitation. Tinulungan naman ako ni Ms. Intramurals tapos sa kitchen mismo ng strand nila namin ginawa.
"Sa?" Melanie was anticipating my answer.
I laughed and scrunched my nose. Hindi ko nga sasabihin sa kanya! Baka asarin niya pa ako na buti hindi nasunog ang buong kitchen. I wasn't really a cook in the first place so I knew she'll tease me.
"May kukunin lang ako sa TVL."
Medyo tumulis ang kanyang nguso at pabiro akong hinampas.
"Pabitin naman 'to e. "
I laughed at her. Tumayo na ako at nagpaalam kay Gio na pupunta lang ako saglit sa TVL building.
『••✎••』
"Hi, kinuha ko na sa refrigerator 'yung blueberry cheesecake." Ms. Intramurals showed me a box with a ribbon.
"Binawasan ko ng kaunti para matikman mo 'yung ginawa mo," sabi niya sa akin sabay bigay ng isang platito na may lamang blueberry cheesecake at kutsara.
I tasted it and immediately beamed. This is good! Hindi ko inakala na bukod sa sunog na itlog ay kaya ko naman palang mag-luto!
"It's good!" I smiled at her. Ngumiti siya pabalik.
"Thank you, Ms. Intramurals!" I thanked her.
"Gandang-ganda ka naman sa akin hanggang ngayon gan'yan tawag mo," halakhak niya. She's really pretty though.
Mabuti na lamang na hindi ako naniniwala sa mga sabi-sabi tungkol sa kanya. She was really nice. Hindi naman masama ang ugali niya tulad ng sinasabi nila. Marami raw kasi ang hindi masyadong qualified sa strand nila, ayon sa mga sabi-sabi. It's seriously annoying to listen to them degrade another one's track.
"You never told me your name," I stated with realization.
She winked at me. "Mrs. Reverio na lang."
My lips pressed in a thin line.
She's really bold to like Adren. Hindi ba siya natatakot na makatapat 'yung mga nagbibigay kay Adren ng mga luxurious goods?
I looked at the clock and realized that it's almost break time. Agad akong nagbigay ulit ng pasasalamat sa kanya bago mag-paalam.
"Sige una na ako, thank you ulit!" I told her as I grab the box of blueberry cheesecake.
"Gora lang sis, goodluck sa inyo ni Kuya Will!"
I laughed at her reference. Palagi kasing naka-jacket si Sath kaya ganun na lang ang tawag niya rito.
Papunta na dapat ako sa may evergreen garden. Meron din kasing Valentine's event ang mga SSG dito kaya naman puro puso at kulay pula ang disenyo ng evergreen garden ngayon.
The whole garden was colored with pink, red and white in almost all areas. May mga pahabang gupit ng japanese paper na ginamit sa entrance at sa bandang dulo ay meron pa akong nakitang marriage booth.
Nahagip ng tingin ko si Iscalade at Cae na naguusap. I went to greet them.
"Alam mo ang benta ng mga jokes ko sa'yo 'no? Sa tingin ko mai-in love ka sa malakas mag-joke o kaya sa sobrang mais na tao." Iscalade said, his forehead creased.
"That's unlikely..." umiling-iling si Cae habang nakangiti.
"Iscalade! Cae!" tawag ko sa kanila. Lumingon sila sa direksyon ko.
They looked good in their uniform. Napansin ko na may nametag sa bulsa ng kanilang polo. May nakalagay dito na 'Hi, I'm' at dudugtungan na lamang nila.
"Hi Zafi! Wala rito si Sarathiel, pero baka pumunta kasi nandito ka na." Iscalade chuckled.
I sheepishly smiled.
"Is that for him?" Cae pointed the box that I was holding.
"Yeah," nahihiya kong tugon.
"Sana all!" Iscalade exclaimed.
Kumunot ang noo ko. Didn't he receive any? Hindi ako makapaniwala.
"Wala pa bang nagbibigay sa'yo, Iscalade? May chocolates ako—"
"Anong wala? Tumatakas nga 'yan sa fangirls niya e. Punong-puno 'yung desk niya sa room." Cae said while laughing.
"Nags-sana all ako pero di ibig sabihin no'n nai-inggit ako." Halakhak ni Iscalade, smirking.
Sakto namang nakita ko si Philomena Gracia. She was looking over us with a sad expression. She was holding a teal hat box. When she saw me looking at her, agad siyang yumuko at umalis.
That's weird because the building of HUMSS is far from the STEM building.
Maybe she wanted to go here too. Sa mismong event na ito. Lalapitan ko sana siya ngunit may umagaw ng atensyon ko.
"Zafirah!" tumatakbo si Gio papunta sa direksyon namin.
"Bakit ka nandito?" tanong ko kay Gio.
He stopped infront of us. Hinihingal pa siya nang tumigil siya sa harap namin.
"Bakit? Ikaw lang pwede mag-celebrate ng Valentine's?" pilosopong sabi ni Gio.
I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Balak mo sumali sa activities ng SSG for Valentine's?" tanong ko kay Gio.
There were various activities available for us to enjoy the day of hearts. The SSG created an event here in evergreen garden to celebrate Valentine's. Of course, the school permitted them to do so.
"Actually..." pilyong ngumiti si Gio at biglang umalis muli.
That was weird. Ano na naman kaya ang ginawa ng lokong 'yon? Kinakabahan ako tuwing may pumapasok sa isip ni Gio e.
"Hey," sakto namang dumating si Sath na nakapamulsa.
My heart pounded rapidly as he strolled his way to us. His eyes immediately find mine and he gave a small smile. I can't help but smile back.
"Iba talaga radar mo kay Zafirah 'no? Gusto ko na lang isipin na nilagyan mo ng GPS si Zafi kasi kung nasaan siya— nandoon ka rin e." Iscalade pointed out.
Sath just shrugged his shoulders and went beside me.
"Zafi —" he was cutted off because of the booming voice from the speakers.
"Okay! For the next request is... We have Zafirah Sanchez of ABM to request a song!"
I furrowed my eyebrows causing my forehead to be creased. My teeth snapped in spite.
Kailan pa ako nag-request ng kanta? Kararating ko lang dito!
"She dedicated this to her future boyfriend — Sarathiel Aracosa of STEM."
What the?
Agad nanglaki ang mga mata ko. "Wait lang! Sandali! Wala akong nir-request!"
My frantic attempt of clearing things out were futile. Lalo na at mukhang tuwang-tuwa pa ang katabi ko ngayon. He was playing with his lips while looking over me, his eyes with a glint of tease.
He put his hand on his chest and acted like he was beyond touch. Halos hindi naman ako makagalaw sa sobrang hiya.
"Di mo naman ako sinabihan, Zafi. I didn't know you were...very futuristic," he was snifling a smirk.
Namumula ako sa sobrang kahihiyan. I could feel myself wanting to pee in embarrassment. I really just want to go somewhere but here!
"Brown Eyes by Destiny Child's!" rinig na rinig sa speaker ang boses nung SSG na naga-announce.
I closed my eyes shut, naririnig ko ang mahihinang tawa ng mga kaibigan ni Sath. Ayokong makita ang reaksyon n'ya dahil alam kong baka masaktan ko si Gio kapag nakita ko ang mukha ni Sath habang naririnig ang kanta na ito!
Tangina mo talaga, Giorgion San Pedro! Ikaw lang kilala kong malakas ang loob na kinakaya-kaya lang ako!
"Kaya pala pumunta ka rito, Zafi. Di kami aware." Even Iscalade was surprised.
I shook my head.
Ako rin naman hindi aware! Gagio talaga 'yon kahit kailan! Di ko alam kung pabaliktad ba siyang pinanganak bakit ganun siya kakulit?!
The music started playing and I swear I was trying so hard to contain my embarrassment. Napayuko na lang talaga ako habang kagat ang ibabang bahagi ng labi ko.
"May OST sila, dude. Di mo kinaya." Hagalpak ang tawa ni Iscalade. Cae was trying to contain his laughter based from his face.
Tiningnan ko talaga kung nasaan si Giorgi at nakitang todo tawa si Gagio sa gilid nung mismong naga-announce. He was even giving me a thumbs up. Gusto ko talaga siyang ibitin patiwarik!
I wanted to save face so I decided to give him what I made for me.
"Oh!" Abot ko kay Sarathiel nung box ng blueberry cheesecake.
He gently reached for the box. Naramdaman ko ang kamay niya na hindi sadyang dumapo sa daliri ko. It sent volts to my entire system.
"Thanks?" hindi mawala ang ngiti ni Sath sa labi.
I cleared my throat and flipped my hair. I decided to turn the tables, ayoko talaga isipin niya na sobrang patay na patay ako sa kanya. My pride won't let me.
"Alam ko naman kasing crush mo ako kaya ginawan kita ng cake. Mamatay ka sa kilig, please." I sarcastically said.
"Mas matindi ka nga e. Naghanap ka pa talaga ng kanta para saakin. How thoughtful of you," Sath was smirking.
I rolled my eyes at him. I like you raw pero kung tratuhin ako parang di niya ako crush ha?
"I have something for you too..."
Nagulat ako nang hawakan ako ni Sath sa kamay. May kinuha siya sa bulsa niya— it was a small box. He opened it and it revealed a bracelet with a stethoscope pendant.
"Hibang ka ba? Mukha ba akong magd-doctor?" I asked him, my forehead creased.
I know I sounded ungrateful but it didn't make any sense to me. He laughed as he slowly put the bracelet on my wrist. Ngayon ko lamang nakita ang kagandahan nito nang suot ko na.
I looked at me and he was staring at me with a glimmer of hope in his eyes. My heart softened because of his gaze. Ghad, I must have done something good in my past life to have Sath right here infront of me.
"This signifies that in the future you'll live your life with a doctor." He raised my hand and kiss my knuckles which caught me off guard.
"I'll be waiting for you, my future CPA."
I bit the insides of my cheek as I feel my face becoming heated. I was sure I was blushing as red as a tomato right now.
Humugot ako nang malalim na hininga at tiningnan siya sa kanyang mga mata.
"I don't do mutual understandings— magulong usapan lang 'yon. So are you serious about me?" I straight forwardly ask him.
I know relationships are hard. I saw how some of my friends or even my classmates are troubled because of their romantic links. Kaya naman ayoko sana pumasok sa relasyon habang nag-aaral pa ako. The mere idea that I have to go through it while studying is already scaring me. Pero iba kay Sarathiel, he makes me want to try. I just want it to be serious. I don't want to invest when I know in the end that it's not worth it.
I thought that it just happens in the movies— everything stops in motion and the only thing that you can hear and see is the one who makes you have butterflies in your stomach. The one who makes you awake at the middle of the night. The one that you can see your future with. Sarathiel was that one for me.
It was crazy because I never felt like this before. I was always cautious when it comes to love — it was a mere distraction when it comes to my studies...but he made me feel like I could balance them both.
I wished I really could.
Sarathiel licked his lower lip and stared at me with a gentle gaze.
"I have never been more serious in my life. The only time I was ever serious was when it comes to you."
My heart is being consumed by extreme bliss.
His ears went red. He blew off some air before finally saying the words that also made me feel the way he was feeling.
"Zafirah, can I court you?"
All I could do was nod. Words cannot come out from my mouth.
❛ ━━━━━━･❪✎❫ ･━━━━━━ ❜