Demrene's Point of View
Zachary don't seem to loose his grip on my hands.
He's just smirking and looking straight with Eris. They are staring in each others eyes like no one urges to lose.
“You become used to constrain a woman, are you?” Eris finally spoke a word after a short period of time.
He have balls to slap those words on Zachary in front of me. Parang hindi man lang ito nagdalawang-isip nang sabihin n'ya 'yon.
“You're not the one I want to talk to.” Sagot ni Zach, showing his annoyed reaction but still manage to smile.
Inis pa rin ako habang binabawi ang sariling kamay sa pagkakahawak n'ya pero ayaw n'ya talaga itong bitiwan.
Hanggang kelan n'ya ba 'ko hahawakan?
Matagal naman bago ako makarining ng boses mula kay Eris.
“I want to talk to you,” Eris resounded.
I took a glimpse and he's looking at Zach's hand in mine. Afterwards, he turn his gaze on him. It was emotionless, but you can read his mind that he's controlling his rage.
Bahagya namang lumuwag ang pagkakahawak sa'kin ni Zach nang ngisian n'ya si Eris. Hindi pa rin matapos ang mainit na titigan ng mga ito.
But when I felt he's softening his grip, I took the opportunity to pull my hand back. He's expecting me to do that, kaya naman nilingunan n'ya ko, he sneered.
Masama lang ang tinging iginanti ko sa kan'ya habang hawak ko ang pala-pulsuhang namula dahil sa pagkakahawak n'ya kanina.
After awhile, he put his hand in both sides of his jeans pocket and turn his stare on Eris. Palitan lang ang tinginan namin.
“Sounds interesting...” Zach's uttered, eyes still on Eris.
“Leave.”
Napatingin ako kay Eris nang magsalita ito, hindi s'ya sa'kin nakatingin. So I was not sure if he's referring it to me.
Nang mapansin n'yang walang gumagalaw sa'min, sinulyapan n'ya ako mula sa kinatatayuan ko.
I blinked my eyes twice in response.
“You... leave.” He annunciated.
I scanned his fresh and full-face glancing at me. Hinihintay n'yang gumalaw ako sa kinatatayuan bago n'ya siguro alisin ang tingin sa'kin.
Wala akong ibang nagawa kundi ang maglakad palayo at tumalikod.
They still standing there and contemplating.
Gusto ko sanang makinig ngunit alam kong mapapansin ni Eris ang presensya ko sa likod n'ya.
Malalim na buntong hininga ang pinakawalan ko nang makapasok sa room.
Nadatnan ko namang nakaupo si Maddy and she has the air of somebody who's pissed off with the person she's talking on her phone.
Nang mapansing n'yang malapit na ko, she cut the call immediately.
Taka ko s'yang tinignan, “Sino 'yon?” I asked out of curiosity.
Umirap lang ito at muling nagsulat, “Nothing. Just unknown number!” She paused, “Sa'n ka ba nanggaling? Kala ko sa rest room ka lang, ba't ang tagal mo?”
She tried to turn the conversation around. Hindi naman na ako nangulit para itanong 'yon dahil hindi naman siguro mahalaga.
“Sa rest room nga. Sa'n pa ba 'ko pupunta?”
Pagkasabi ko n'on, umupo na ako sa upuan ko. I didn't tell her what happened outside the rest room. Hindi naman ako nasaktan, it's okay not to tell her.
Matapos ang ilang minuto, napatingin kaming lahat nang pumasok si Eris.
Pinagmasdan ko itong mabuti, his foot up to his sculpted face that is very firm in an attractive way.
I heaved a sigh when I couldn't find a trace of wounds in his body.
Mukhang nag-usap nga lang sila.
MABILIS natapos ang klase. It's already 5:18 in the afternoon at medyo overtime ang discussion sa Marketing kaya gan'ong oras na kami nakalabas.
Hinihintay kong lumabas si Eris sa loob ng lecture room ngunit napawi ang ngiti ko nang makitang parating sina Jace at Ivann.
Sakto namang labas ni Eris ay na'ndon na sa tapat ang mga kaibigan.
Jace and Ivann, tapped his shoulder bago akbayan. Inalis naman 'yon ni Eris at naglakad na sila paalis.
“Sa'n nanaman kaya sila pupunta?” I mouthed.
Inakbayan naman ako ni Maddy at hinila paalis.
“Boys are boys, no need to question. Umalis na tayo.” She acknowledge.
Nang makarating kami sa kotse ni Matt, nadatnan namin itong naglalaro at panay ang pindot sa iPhone.
“Hey, tara na. Mobile Leagues ka r'yan nang mobile leagues—”
“Mobile Legends!”
Nagulat si Maddy nang sabay kaming sumigaw ni Matt para itama yung sinabi n'ya.
She exaggeratedly hold her chest and slightly open her mouth like she's actually surprised.
Mobile Leagues amp!
“Oh kalma mga pare! Edi mobile legends, malay ko ba r'yan sa larong 'yan! Let's go na kasi!” Iritang pumasok si Maddy sa back seat ng sasakyan.
Tumawa naman kami ni Matt at sunod na ring pumasok.
Nakasanayan ko nang dito sumakay sa unahan, katabi n'ya. Hindi naman nagrereklamo si Maddy, pabor pa nga rito na solo n'ya ang back seat dahil nakakatulog siya ng ayos lalo na kapag naabutan kami ng traffic sa highway.
Lampas isang oras nang maihatid ako ni Matt sa bahay.
Naibaba na namin si Maddy sa condo nila kanina. Lagi namang gan'on ang set up.
“Salamat, manong driver. Sa uulitin!” Biro ko kay Matt at akmang pipihitin na ang pinto ngunit pinigilan n'ya ko.
I felt his touched on my arm.
Inalis naman n'ya agad 'yon.
“Oh, bakit? Anong problema mo?” Medyo natatawang tanong ko sa kan'ya nang makita kong seryoso ang mukha nito.
It takes few minutes before he could speak.
“Do you still want him?” I slightly surprised with his question pero mabilis din naman akong sumagot.
“Wala namang nagbago,”
“Why? Di ka pa rin natatauhan?”
“Malapit na sana kaso wala, e. Ako na yata yung babaeng marupok na, tanga pa.” Tumawa ako nang bahagya.
He didn't seem happy on my fake-laugh reaction.
“Just want to remind you, Dem. Know the difference between what you're getting and what you deserve,” he paused. I took a gulped. “Ayoko lang na nakikitang sinasaktan ka n'ya.”
I see how was Matt worrying about me. Hindi ko naman s'ya pinakinggan, like I didn't concern myself with me.
But I really appreciate him—from the very start.
I smiled a bit to cover the awkwardness. Masyadong seryoso itong usapan namin. Medyo hindi pa rin ako sanay sa kan'ya, especially when he's telling his affection towards me.
“Ayos lang naman sa'kin 'yon.” Huminga ako nang malalim, “I don't mind how complicated this gets, basta gusto ko s'ya.”
“Never change your mind?”
Umiling ako, “Yes.”
Wala naman ng nagawa si Matt.
“Basta kapag ayaw n'ya pa rin sa'yo, I'm still here,”
Hindi ako nakapagsalita kaagad. Ngumiti lang ako at mahigpit na napahawak sa bag na hawak ko.
He really mean in.
I heard his deep sigh and then he smiled back. “Bilang kaibigan mo.”
“Alam ko naman 'yon.” I teased.
Hindi pa ako tapos tumawa ay bahagya akong nagulat nang bigla s'yang lumapit sa'kin.
“Hoy, teka!” Itinulak ko 'to dahil parang hahalikan n'ya ko sa pamamaraan ng paglapit n'ya.
“Aalisin ko lang yung seat belt. You're carried away, 'di naman kita hahalikan!” He shouted while at the same time, laughing.
Sinamaan ko s'ya ng tingin. “Kaya ko naman.”
Ako na ang nag-alis ng seat belt at mabilis na lumabas. Nagawa ko pang hampasin ng bag si Matt bago tumakbo papasok ng building.
PAGKAAKYAT ko ng kwarto, nakapagbihis na rin agad ako at humiga sa kama.
Hindi na ako bumaba para kumain, iba kasi ang pakiramdam ko ngayon. Kanina pa rin akong walang panlasa sa mga kinakain ko.
Medyo nalasahan ko yung Waffer pero 'di tulad ng dati. Gonna buy that tomorrow para magkalaman yung tiyan ko.
Nagpaantok muna ako ng kaunti habang hawak ang phone ko.
I tried to visit Eris timeline at napabangon ako nang lumabas yung real account n'ya.
'Di na s'ya nakadeactivate!
Kaagad ko s'yang minessage sa messenger.
“Hi, Eris!”
Ilang sandali pa, napangiti ako nang ma-seen n'ya 'yon.
Naghintay lang ako ng message n'ya pero parang wala itong balak magreply.
“Kumain ka na ba? Eat more to be happy, ha!” Muli kong chat.
Can't control myself not to smile.
Habang hinihintay ang chat nito, brinowse ko muna ang timeline n'ya at napasimangot ako nang makitang nandon pa sa photos n'ya ang pictures nila ni Xzyhie together.
Binitawan ko naman ang phone at nagtaklob ng kumot.
Nabadtrip ako bigla.
HINDI ko alam kung anong oras ako nakatulog kagabi. Basta natatandaan ko n'on na pagtaklob ko ng kumot, nakatulog na agad ako.
I'm really not feeling well.
Siguro'y sisipunin ako dahil nagpaulan ako nung pumunta kina Eris last week.
Chineck ko rin kaninang umaga kung nagreply si Eris pero seen zoner ang lolo mo. Di man lang nagsend ng like, accepted ko pa 'yon, pero yung seen, ibang usapan na.
Nasa hallway kami ni Maddy at hinihintay si Eris. Inagahan ko talaga ang pasok para makita ko s'ya agad.
“Next week na 'yung quarterly exam. Anong plano? Sa condo n'yo o sa condo namin?” Maddy asked but doesn't waste her time to look at me.
Lagi kasing dutdot nang dutdot sa phone screen.
“Condo na lang namin. Baka abalahin lang tayo ni Matt. E-epal na naman 'yang ampon mong kapatid.” I joked while leaning at the handrails.
“Okay! I'll take care of the drinks, ikaw na sa snacks!”
Inirapan ko naman ito, she'll bring alcohol again kaya lagi n'yang sinasagot ang drinks.
“May pupuntahan lang ako.” Tinapik ko ang braso nito.
“Where? Don't tell me, susunduin mo pa si Eris sa main gate?” She raised her brow at ngayon lang n'ya ko tinignan.
“Gaga, hindi! Wait lang.”
Pagkasabi ko noon ay umalis na ako.
I'm heading now on Infirmary. Magpapacheck ako ng health status ko, hihingi na rin ako ng gamot.
I squeezed my head while walking because it feels like damn heavy.
Nang makapasok sa Infirmary, pinapirma nila ako sa log book at chineck ang vital signs ko.
After checking me, they give me medicine and I found out I had a mild sickness.
Mawawala rin naman daw 'to basta magpahinga lang ako.
Pagkalabas ko ng Infirmary, pumunta muna ako sa Cafeteria at hinanap ang Waffer.
Maaga pa naman.
Bumili lang ako ng dalawang piraso at nakain ko na yung isa habang nasa loob ng Cafe. 'Di ko mapigilang kainin agad.
Pagkalabas ng Cafe, tinungo ko agad ang daan papunta sa building namin.
Sandali naman akong napatigil nang maapakan ko ang shoe lace ng sapatos ko.
Bad trip naman!
Inis kong kinagat ang hawak na Waffer at akmang yuyuko na ako para itali ito ngunit may dalawang kamay na sumulpot sa harapan para s'ya ang gumawa noon.
I can't move when I saw his hands tying down my lace.
Kilala ko kung kaninong kamay at relo ang suot n'ya.
It was a black Rolex.
Eris own it.
After tying my lace. He's still not standing and I caught him looking at my Waffer that I'm biting.
I was surprised at the sudden bite he did on my Waffer even if it was in my mouth.
Hindi ko naman yon masyadong kagat na kagat, there's some spaces na malayo sa labi ko at yoon ang kinagat n'ya!
I feel the slow motion effects again!
What is he doing?
I was hung up in my place and I can't relocate my foot either when he stood up.
My heart stops for a second as I looked at him, munching the Waffers in his mouth.
I still got skin crawl and my eyes we're quite shocked.
“Masarap,” He said and took some time off, “Masarap yung Waffer.”
After saying those remarks, he turned around and walk.
He left me with a blank and uneasy reaction.
Naituro ko ang kamay ko sa kan'ya and I still can't believe he done that and he's talking to me.
“How could he...” I dropped the Waffer on my mouth so it fall down the floor and pay no attention on it.
Napalunok ako at huminga ng ilang beses.
I almost scream because of the trills he gave out of me.
Pakarating ko sa lecture room, hinanap agad ng mata ko kung nas'an si Eris.
I was saddened to see he's not on his chair or even in other chairs.
Where is he?
Alam kong hindi malik mata yung kanina. It's Eris.
PAGKATAPOS ng isang subject, hindi pa rin dumating si Eris.
Kaagad akong lumapit kay Maddy at tinanong ito.
“Dumating ba si Eris dito kanina?” I asked.
“Dumating s'ya but he called by his teammates. May practice raw.” She said after getting her things.
“Ba't di mo sinabi sa'kin?!”
“Akala ko kasi alam mo!” Hinawakan n'ya ang kamay ko at hinila palabas. “Wag ka ng magalit d'yan, puntahan na natin do'n sa Quad!”
Hinayaan ko na lang na hilahin ako ni Maddy papunta sa Quad.
Kaya pala wala s'ya nung first lesson! Kala ko pa naman imagination ko lang yung kanina.
I touched my chest because of unquiet feeling. My heart still beats faster time to time and I couldn't breath normally.
Nang makarating kami sa Quad, hinanap ko agad si Eris. Hindi ako naupo hanggat hindi ko ito nakikita.
“The blacked t-shirt one!” Sigaw ni Maddy at tinuro si Eris sa right side ng field. “Umupo ka na nga rito.”
Finally, I saw him.
Naupo na ako at tumabi kay Maddy.
“Wait? What happened on your face?”
Napalingon ako sa kan'ya nang tanungin n'ya 'yon. I raised my brow and asked.
“Why? What?”
“Magliptint ka nga, you look dull!” She moves her eyes around in a circle and crunched the chips on her mouth.
Kinuha ko naman ang liptint sa bag, pati na ang salamin.
I'm about to put it on when something change the way I feel.
Parang gumaan ang ulo ko and I was hardly chasing my breath.
I dropped the things out of my hand and fell onto the grass.
“Oh my Godness! Kuya, help me! Dem, wake up...”
Narinig ko pa ang pagsigaw ni Maddy ng tulong. I'm still catching my breath why looking at the blue blurry skies.
I would have closed my blurry sight when I felt someone touches and pick my head as well as my whole body out of the cold grass.
Nakita ko na naman ang relong iyon...
I remember someone when I am seeing that wrist watch black rolex.
If I'm not mistaken... it was Eris.