FIRE AND DESIRE

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 3

What a first day to start her years on that school. She just wants to study and be normal. But what happened that day was beyond normal!

She's so relieved when days past, and she didn't see Nilo. They said, he's in California to represent the launching of their new business.

It was her 20th day on that school. She's happy being with Alfred and Sophie. They get along so well.

But still, she can't help but to think about Nilo, of how he was, is he okay being there in wherever he was. Because Kianna remembered, every time her parents forced her to go in some business events or parties, she's at ease. But she couldn’t do anything about it. Is he the same? Or does he like it?

"Cr muna ako, Kianna. Sama ka?" tanong ni Sophie.

"Naku, hindi muna. Kailangan ko pa tapusin itong assignment natin."

"Bakit kasi hindi mo ginawa 'yan sa bahay niyo?" she asked again.

"Nakalimutan ko." Mahinang hagikgik ni Kianna. Tumawa rin naman si Sophie at lumakad na palabas. Dala nito ang kanyang bag, dahil lagi itong nag re-retouch kapag pumupunta ng palikuran.

Pinagpatuloy niya ang kanyang pagsusulat ng maramdamang gumalaw ang katabing upuan.

"Himala, ang bilis mo a--" nilingon niya ang katabi at hindi naituloy ang sasabihin.

NOPE!

It's not Sophie. Ito ang lalaki na kanina lang ay kanyang iniisip.

Hindi siya nito tiningnan man lang. Agad itong naglapat ng ulo sa silya na para bang pagod na pagod.

Kianna is just staring at Nilo. Nakatungo lang ito at mukhang ito'y matutulog na naman.

Dumating si Sophie at itinaas ang dalawang kamay na para bang gusto imwestra na bakit nandito si Nilo nakaupo? Nagkibit balikat lamang si Kianna dahil kahit siya ay hindi rin alam.

Nilo noticed Sophie na nakatayo sa kanyang paanan.

Umayos ito ng upo at nilingon si Sophie.

"Can I just seat here? Ayoko kasing katabi ang nerd na 'yan."

Tinuro lang nito ang lalaking nasa likod at muling tumungo sa upuan na hindi man lang hinintay ang sagot ni Sophie.

Napa buntong hininga na lang si Sophie sa tinuran ni Nilo. Umupo na lang ito sa bandang likod ni Kianna.

Kinulbit ni Sophie si Kianna.

"Mukhang may tama sayo 'yan. Never naman naging ganyan sa ibang babae 'yan," Sophie said.

Dumating na ang kanilang guro ngunit hindi pa rin umaayos ng upo ang katabi. His hair looks soft. Hindi ito naglalagay ng gel o kahit ano mang pamahid sa buhok. Hinayaan niya lang ang sariling buhok. She couldn't help but to admire him kahit likod lang nito ang kita niya.

"Ms. Valenzuela, can you answer me please." Mabilis napalingon si Kianna sa teacher. 'Di niya namalayan na nakakatitig lang siya sa katabi. Ni, hindi niya narinig ang tanong ng guro.

Oh! She's f*cked up. Nakakahiya!

Tumayo siya at nagkunwaring nag-iisip ng sagot. "Ahm," she don't know the answer because she don't even know the question.

"Aham!"

Narinig ni Kianna na tumikhim ang katabi. She looked at Nilo and she saw his hand tapping her table. Kianna saw something is written there. He repeatedly tapping it.

'Is he trying to tell me the answer?' she asked herself.

"Do you know the answer or no?" teacher asked her again.

Lumunok siya nang malalim at pasimpling binasa ang nasa papel sa kanyang table na sinulat ni Nilo.

"She died at 1623 at the age of 67," she answered.

"Good!" Then the teacher continued.

She sat down, and looked at Nilo. Nakatungo ulit ito, but this time ay nakatingin sa kanya.

"Makinig ka sa tinuturo, 'wag 'yung nakatitig ka lang sa'kin." He smiled, then closed his eyes like he is going to sleep. But he is not sleeping 'cause he was touching the end of Kianna's hair again.

(Kianna’s POV)

Ngumiti siya? He did. Pero paano niya nalaman na nakatingin ako sa kanya? And he taught me the answer. So, hindi totoo ang sinasabi ng iba na wala siyang pakialam sa pag-aaral. He looked like he doesn't care but he does. He knows the answer, he was listening. The answer he gave me is for the question when did Shakespeare’s wife died.

This guy didn't stop playing with my hair. I love when he does it. I don't know but it felt really comfortable.

(End of Kianna's pov)

"I WANT you guys to form a group. Six people each..." their teacher continued telling them what to do next.

"...then next Friday, I expect you to give me some good and unique report." Then she fixed her things and went out.

Kinulbit siya ni Sophie. "You, me and Alfred. We need three more. "

"Pwede ba akong sumali sa inyo?" tanong ng nerd guy na tinukoy ni Nilo. His name is Casper.

"Oo naman," Kianna answered it and Sophie smiled agreeing with her. She looked at Nilo, nakababa na ang kamay nito at mukhang nakatulog na dahil nabitawan na nito ang kanyang buhok.

Lumapit si Alfred sa kanila dahil hindi pa rin sila tumatayo.

"Tatlo na tayo. Sino pa isasali natin?" Hinila ni Alfred ang upuan sa tabi at inalapit sa dalawa at umupo.

"Apat na tayo actually, tayo nila Kianna at si Casper." Hindi pa rin umaalis si Casper na para bang hinihintay na mabuo muna ang kanilang grupo bago umalis.

Naroon pa rin ang iba nilang kaklase at nagfo-form din ng group.

"Count me in!"

Napapitlag pa si Kianna sa lalim ng boses at pagkakasalita ni Nilo. Lumingon silang apat sa pwesto nito.

"You wanna join us? Kailan ka pa naging interesado mag-join sa mga group?" Alfred asked him.

Nilo, laugh with sarcasm. Umupo ito ng deretso at pinaikot ang upuan paharap sakanilang apat, at nagdekwatro. He looked at Kianna.

"Just now!"

Magsasalita pa sana si Alfred ng lumapit ang isa pa nilang kaklase na si Tina.

"Can I join you guys?" Tina asked with seductive voice. For Kianna walang problema, dahil walang masamang tinapay para sa kanya.

Pero para kay Sophie ay meron. Dahil sa konting araw palamang na magkaibigan sila ay wala nang araw na magsabi ito kung gaano kainis kay Tina. Pinagkalalat din daw nito na may lihim silang relasyon ni Nilo. Lihim tapos pinagkakalat? How ironic!

Kianna looked at Sophie. Umirap ito na sensyales ng pagtutol.

"Sure," Nilo replied to Tina. He said it on their behalf na para bang siya ang bumuo ng grupo.

Alfred sigh, Kianna noticed of disagreeing on that sigh.

"Cool!" Tina said at humila ito ng upuan palapit kay Nilo at umupo.

"So, we are a grouped now. We are complete," maarte ulit nitong sabi.

Alam ni Kianna na hindi magsasalita si Sophie or Alfred dahil alam niyang naiinis ang dalawa. Si Alfred kay Nilo, at si Sophie kay Tina.

"Saan tayo gagawa ng report? Para sana maipaalam ko na sa parents ko, kasi strict sila, kaya dapat maibigay ko ang address nang pupuntahan natin," mahabang sabi ni Casper.

"In my place," Nilo suggested. Kianna looked at him while he still looking at her.

"That's cool! Let's go to your place.Kailan natin gagawin?" Tina seems so excited.

"This weekend," maiksing sagot ni Nilo.

"Hindi matatapos 'yon nang isang araw lang." Finally, Alfred tried to participate.

"Then sleep there, so, we can continue the day after," Nilo continue to answer their questions.

"Sounds like a plan to me. I'm fine with it," everyone agreed.

Tumayo si Nilo at lumapit sa upuan ni Kianna. Tinukod ang dalawang kamay sa silya ng dalaga.

Lumalim ang paghinga ni Kianna sa kanilang posisyon. Sobrang lapit ni Nilo sa kanya!

"What kind of spell do you have me under? I can't get you out of my mind," he whispered to her ear.