Unforgotten [Baguio Series #5]

09

09:

Ruel:

I knew it. You like me too.

I rolled my eyes the moment I read that message after he accompanied me to my home. Sabi ko naman, hindi ko na kailangan na ihatid niya pa ako, pero mas'yado siyang makulit at masaya ngayon araw.

I almost break his happy mood a while ago; mabuti na lang, napigilan ko ang sarili ko.

The following days and weeks, nawalan na talaga ako ng amour kay Ruel. All those efforts me made to impress me all go down to waste when he kissed me on that dark place inside the cinema. He never even let me answer if I want his kisses or not.

It's been a week when the second semester for our first year started. Hindi ko na rin madalas nirereplyan si Ruel kaya naman hindi na ako nagugulat kapag sinusundo niya ako after class.

"Are you busy?" he asked while we're walking towards their department.

I nodded. "Maraming plates."

Tumango siya. "Then, can I borrow your phone?"

Napaangat ako ng kaliwang kilay nang dahil do'n. "Bakit?"

He shrugged. "Just want to make sure that I am the only one."

I scoffed. This man has started being delusional just because we kissed. Ang kapal ng mukha.

"Later," I looked away. "Bakit ba tayo pupunta sa department niyo?"

He smiled as he held my hand. Nakatingin sa amin ang ibang taong nadaraanan naming at hindi ko alam kung bakit. Hindi naman siguro famous sa department nila itong si Ruel, 'no? He's just first year, like me. At maraming mas g'wapo sa kan'ya kung tutuusin.

"Well, it's 5:30 and there's no one's using the lab anymore. We can use it to spend some quality time."

Napalunok ako sa sinabi niyang 'yon. Quality time, huh? Talaga naman itong mga nasa medical field.

I stopped walking before smiling at him. "Why don't we go to your house, instead?"

I saw how excited he is the moment I mention that. Ngumiti siya nang malawak bago pinagsalikop ang mga daliri naming. I almost took my hand back but I stopped myself.

Hanggang ngayon na lang naman.

Kinuha ni Ruel ang gamit niya sa room nila bago kami umalis ng university. We rode a jeep and went to Mabini Homesite, where he's living at. Kinakabahan ako sa p'wedeng mangyari pero kung ito naman 'yung isa sa paraan para mawala na lahat ng nararamdaman kong takot, kaba, nerbyos, hahayaan ko na.

At isa pa, sabi naman ng mga kaklase ko noon, normal na lang ito ngayon.

"What do you want to eat?" Ruel asked as soon as we entered their house.

I looked around his house and saw that it was a minimalist type house. Hindi malaki pero sakto lang para sa isang pamilya. The color was gray and white; pakiramdam ko tuloy, puro sila lalaki dito kahit na sinabi niyang may ate siya.

"Okay lang ako. Busog ako," I told him before I sat on the grey couch. "Nasaan ang family mo?"

Naupo siya sa tabi ko. "Well, mom's in the hospital for his duty. Dad's a professor."

"Your siblings?"

He smiled as I felt his hand on my thighs. Nahigit ko ang hininga ko nang dahil do'n.

"Mamayang gabi pa ang uwi."

So, that's why he's so happy when I asked him na sa kanila na lang kami.

"Damn, I'm so lucky, I'm the first guy to ever caught your attention," he said as his hands went to my waist. "I feel so honoured."