Against the Decalogue (Velez Series #2)

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Vague Intentions and Unexpected Appearances

“It's nice to see you again, Miss Suzette Matrix Cañesarez."

Umawang kaagad ang labi ko nang banggitin niya ang mga salitang 'yon. My heartbeats doubled as soon as everything processed inside of me. Dahil sa pagkabigla ay agad akong napa-atras mula sa kaniya at napahawak sa dibdib.

Nakatingin ako deretso sa kaniyang mukha. He is smiling at me in a friendly way while he's waiting for my reply. Ako naman ay natataranta na dahil sa biglaang pagsulpot niya sa harapan ko. Questions immediately filled my mind as I slowly acknowledged his overwhelming presence in front of me.

Bakit siya nandito sa harapan ko? Bakit kailangan naming magkita ulit? Bakit kilala niya pa rin ako?

“Wait, are you okay?” pukaw niya sa atensyon ko.

I flinched when he tried to get closer to me. Nang napansin niya iyon ay agad niyang itinaas ang dalawang kamay na parang dinedepensahan niya ang sarili sa kung anuman ang iniisip ko ngayon. Talagang natakot ako nang akma siyang lalapit sa'kin. I am always scared when it comes to people who's unfamiliar to me tries to get closer so this is a natural reaction.

I saw his worried face when I realized he is examining me. I gulped as my breathing hitched when both of us fell silent.

“I'm sorry...” bulong niya habang nakataas pa rin ang dalawang kamay niya sa ere, “I didn't mean to scare you. Okay ka lang ba?”

Umiling-iling ako para itago ang kaba. I don't get why he's worried but all I really want is to get out from here. Mahigpit ang hawak ko sa strap ng aking tote bag habang humihinga ng malalim. I tried to calm my insides as I gathered all my will and determination to walk out from him for the second time again.

"S-Sorry, hindi po kita k-kilala ..." my last attempt to get out from this inescapable situation.

Mabilis akong yumuko pagkatapos kong sabihin 'yon sa kaniya. I am well aware of how stupid I look in front of him kahit pareho naming alam na kilala naming ang isa't isa. Pero as of now, all I can think about is to run away from him. He's presence alone is enough to send my thoughts into haywire just by standing in front of me, dahilan ng pagkabalisa ko ngayon.

“Oh,” aniya bago natahimik.

I tilted my head to the side to see any possible way to get out from his sight. Hindi ko na talaga kayang makaharap siya. Nasa gilid kami ngayon ng drive way dito sa parking lot at nakaharang siya sa harapan ko. The only way I can walk pass through him is to slant rightwards and continue walking straight ahead. Huminga muna ako ng malalim para ihanda ang sarili sa gagawin.

“Excuse me...” ani ko sa maliit na boses.

Akmang iiwas na ako para makalakad na palayo sa kaniya nang hinarangan niya ang daan kung saan ako aalis. I saw his foot covered with a black sneakers blocking the pathway I am about to take. Napasinghap ako dahil muntik ko na 'yong matapakan. Hindi ko na mapakalma ang dibdib ko na kanina pa malakas ang mga tibok.

I slowly lifted my vision as my widened doe eyes travelled from his foot, his grey v-neck polo shirt tucked in his faded denim jeans, his wide chest and up to his face who's...smiling at me apologetically. Bahagyang nakabukas ang bibig ko dahil sa ngiti niya sa'kin, hindi makapaniwala sa nasaksihan. He's scratching the side of his neck while giving me that look.

"Sorry!" bulalas niya kaagad, "Hindi mo pa kasi ako sinasagot. Okay ka lang ba? Bakit...bakit parang takot ka sa'kin?" natatawa siya nang idinagdag ang huling sentence.

I gulped. He's literally blocking me and stopping me from escaping while doing all those actions. Mas lalo lang nalaglag ang bibig ko. How can he act so...casual? From the kind of past that we shared, it's weird for him to act this friendly and concerned towards me. He's so strange! Baka nakalimutan niya kung paano ako nagsinungaling sa harap niya at ginamit pa ang pinsan ko para pagtakpan ako?