Chapter 7
1617 Words
Separated Loveby larajeszz
Chapter 7
"Are you through?"
"I'm just writing the last sentence of my essay," sagot ko habang patuloy sa pagsusulat. "And... done!"
Iniabot ko sa kaniya ang gawa ko at agad niya namang binasa ‘yon. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang makita ko ang reaksyon at pagtango niya sa ginawa ko.
"I'll leave these to you. Hindi ako makakapasok bukas."
Tumango ako. "Don't worry, I'll pass it on time."
Siguro kung may lakas lang talaga ako ng loob ay napakadami ko nang naitanong para hindi kami ganito ka-awkward. The atmosphere was better when Aizan was here!
“You know Tyler?” tanong niya habang nags-stapler ng mga ginawa namin.
For a second, I just caught myself staring at the protruding veins of his hands. I've seen a lot of guys' hands, but I've never seen one this attractive! Even without force, it was still visible. As if it was there to gain attention— My god, Jayceelyn! Focus!
“A-Ano ulit ‘yon?” pagpapaulit ko. Kanina pa akong nawawala sa sarili!
Tumingin siya sa akin at nakita ko ang pag-angat ng isang sulok ng labi niya. At masaya pa siyang lumilipad ang isip ng kausap niya!
“Tyler. You know him?”
Isang beses akong lumunok bago tumango at umiwas ng tingin. “Yeah, but we’re not close.”
“Do you have any boyfriends—”
“Boyfriend?!”
Nagulat siya sa pagtaas ng boses ko. “What I mean is… guy friends. To look after you.”
Agad kong nakagat ang pang-ibabang labi dahil sa kahihiyan. “W-Wala. At bakit kailangan pa akong bantayan?” May ideya na ako pero ayaw ko ‘yong pansinin dahil binubuhay no’n ang kaba sa dibdib ko.
He looked in the opposite direction. "I just didn't like the way Tyler grinned at you." His jaw clenched. "I just hope he's not too childish to play dirty." Then, he looked back at me. "If ever he threatens you, please don't hesitate to tell me."
For the first time, I was able to stare at his deep brown eyes without feeling the urge to look elsewhere. A part of my chest felt happy for not avoiding his gaze, but I was also starting to get nervous that my heart was pounding so loudly.
“I will…” I said without taking my eyes off him.
We just took our eyes off each other's gazes when we heard someone knocking at their door. It must be his order.
Asher rose from his seat to open the door for whoever was knocking. And I was right; it's food.
Niyaya niya ako patungo sa dining nila at pinaupo ro’n. Tahimik ko lamang siyang pinanuod na mag-ayos ng mga pagkain sa lamesa. Napansin kong para sa dalawang tao lamang ang mga pagkain na ‘yon.
Asher seemed to notice my questioning face and said, "Aizan already ate."
Tumango na lamang ako at maya-maya pa’y nakahanda na ang lahat.
“Let’s eat.”
And that’s what we did. I was conscious of myself, so I made sure my chews wouldn't be too loud for their quiet dining place.
“Kayo lamang ba ni Aizan ang nakatira rito?” Hindi ko na napigilan ang pagtatanong dahil sa tagal ng katahimikan. And knowing him, he doesn't seem like the type to start a conversation.
Umiling siya. “Our mom lives here, too. But she’s currently in Cebu.”
I raised my brows as I asked more. "What for? Vacation? Or perhaps, work?"
“Work.”
After that short conversation with him, the room went silent once again. It's so hard to approach him! My mind couldn't even function well to think of a topic!
He's not the type to approach me first if it's not about something important. Like acads, or some people associated with him, like Tyler. I'm not intimidating. He's intimidating!
Hindi ko alam kung saan nanggaling ang namumuong inis sa dibdib ko. Dahil ba ‘yon sa hindi niya ako masiyadong kinakausap o sa posibilidad na wala lang talaga siyang pakielam sa akin. Or so I thought…
“Lalamig na ang pagkain mo.”
Naiangat ko ang tingin sa kaniya nang sabihin niya ‘yon.
“Are you planning to murder that burger?” He smirked.
Noon ko lamang namalayan na mahigpit na pala ang hawak ko sa burger na kinakain ko. At halos hindi ko pa rin nagagalaw ang spaghetti at fried chicken ko!
“Is there something wrong?” he asked. “Ayaw mo ba n’yan? Sorry. I forgot to ask you what you want to have for dinner.”
I gestured my hands. “Hindi! Kumakain ako nito,” mabilis kong sagot. Sinunod-sunod ko ang pagkagat sa burger ko para lang maipakita sa kaniya na gusto ko ‘yong mga pagkain na binili niya para sa ‘kin.
Ginanahan na akong bigla kumain dahil kinausap na niya ako. Siya ang nauna na kausapin ako! And it’s not something about acads! Or Tyler!
What the hell is wrong with me?
“Here.” Inabot niya sa akin ang isang baso ng softdrinks. “Okay, I get it. Kumakain ka nga n’yan.” There was a hint of a smile on his lips when he said that. As if he sensed that I rushed my eating just to prove him something!
“H-Hindi ko naman sinabi na ayaw ko nito…” I said, pouting.
He shrugged. “It doesn't look like it when you almost mistook your food as a stress ball. I hope you weren't thinking that it was me. Did I do something wrong?” he asked, and his voice was playful.
Oh, god. He’s enjoying this!
Siguro nga ay ina-assume niya ngayon na siya ‘yon dahil siya lamang naman ang kasama ko sa mga nagdaang oras.
Sasagutin ko na dapat siya nang marinig ko ang pag-ring ng cellphone ko sa bulsa ko. It was my brother. I glanced at the wall clock and almost cursed when I saw that it was already 7:30!
Pilit kong pinakalma ang sarili ko bago sagutin ang tawag. Asher didn't ask me who it was and just resumed with his food.
“Baba na.”
Halos mapigil ko ang paghinga nang marinig ang seryosong boses ng kapatid ko mula sa kabilang linya. He's already outside!
“M-Magpapaalam lang ako...”
“Don’t drop the call.”
Inilayo ko mula sa tainga ko ang telepono at pilit na ngumiti kay Asher.
“Nasa labas na ang sundo ko,” halos pabulong na saad ko para hindi marinig ni Kuya mula sa kabilang linya.
“Ihahatid na kita.”
Gusto ko sana siyang pigilan dahil naririnig siya ngayon ng kapatid ko! My brother sounded like he isn't in a good mood.
I faked a laugh. “Hindi na. Kaya ko naman…”
"You know why I need to go with you," he uttered. I know he's pertaining to the incident earlier.
Bumuntong-hininga na lamang ako at tumango. Tumayo na kami at inayos ko na ang mga gamit ko na nasa living room. Hindi ko pa rin ibinababa ang tawag. Binilisan ko ang pagkilos ko dahil natatakot akong baka mainip na si Kuya Jaywen sa baba.
Muli kong inilagay ang telepono sa tainga ko.
“What’s taking so long?”
“Bababa na kami…”
Nilingon ako ni Asher na ngayon ay nasa may pintuan, handa nang lumabas.
“Can I talk to your brother?” Of course, alam niya kung sino ang sundo ko.
Ilang beses akong napalunok. Nag-aalinlangan akong iniabot sa kaniya ang cellphone ko.
“Good evening, sir.” Magalang niyang bati sa kuya ko. "I'm Jaycee's classmate, Asher. Sorry for making you wait, but I promise we'll be there in three minutes. Sadly, we can't use the elevator now; due to some malfunctions." Asher suddenly stopped and eyed me. "We're... just classmates, sir."
Napanganga ako sa narinig. Ano naman kaya ang sinabi ng kuya ko rito?!
“We’ll be there… Thank you.”
Pagkababa ng tawag ay ibinalik na niya sa akin ang telepono ko.
"I'm sorry. My brother's just really ill-tempered."
He shook his head. "I understand him. He's just protective."
At gaya nga ng sinabi niya kanina ay sa fire exit kami dumaan. It wasn't a long walk down, even though we came from the fifth floor, so I'm not sure why I started having trouble breathing.
Asher noticed it. “Are you okay?”
Ngumiti ako at sunod-sunod na tumango. “Mabilis lang talaga akong mapagod.” I saw a hint of guilt in his eyes. "Don't blame yourself. Nawala na rin sa isipan ko.”
Nang makalabas kami ay natagpuan namin si Kuya na nakasandal sa kotse niya.
Isang beses lang siyang tumango kay Asher at kinuha na sa akin ang mga gamit ko at nilagpasan na niya kami.
I gave Asher an apologetic smile before heading towards the passenger seat.
"Thank you."
He gave me a half smile. "Take care."
Habang nasa biyahe kami ay tanging stereo at aircon lamang mula sa sasakyan ang naririnig. Until…
“What did he mean by he needed to go with you?”
I sighed. “Sinamahan niya lang ako dahil gabi na. There were other tenants roaming.” And I know one of them is their creepy landlord.
“Isn’t he your old friend?”
So, he realized it too…
Napatungo ako at nilaro ang mga kamay ko na nakapatong sa mga binti ko.
“Yeah…”
Ramdam ko ang pagbaling niya sa akin. Huminga siya ng malalim bago sabihi’ng, “Kamusta naman kayo ngayon?”
I bit my lower lip. Nagkibit-balikat ako habang may pilit na ngiti. “Like he said, we’re… just classmates.”
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-larajeszz
- Writer
