Be With You

Chapter 6

Today's practice was cancelled, thanks to Kuya Dren's professor dahil nagbigay daw ng surprise exam. I bet he's annoyed, or maybe not. Palagi namang nagrereview yun kahit gabi na kami galing practice. For me, I'm thankful dahil makakapagpahinga naman muna ako sa kaka- arte.

It's 9 in the morning and I've got nothing to do dahil may three hours akong free cut at mamaya pang ala una uli ang klase ko. The practice was scheduled in 5 in the afternoon, pero dahil sa may exam si Kuya Dren ng oras na yun ay free na ulit kami.

As I've thought of it, hindi nga pala kasama si Philippe sa group chat ng club, so I'm assuming that he doesn't know that the practice was cancelled. That guy, did he know the use of his phone? Or does he have one?

I went to the school carpark and drove to his unit.

Thinking about Philippe, he's thd kind of guy who looks independent, yung parang kaya ng mabuhay ng mag-isa. Pero, ng makita ko siyang walang kalaban- laban sa mga seniors na nambugbog sakanya, ay nagbago ang isip ko. He's a damsel in distress in a guy's clothing. Masyado siyang fragile. Hindi nga ata yun marunong sumuntok pabalik dahil hinayaan niya lang ang mga nang agrabyado sakanya.

Minsan talaga ay hindi nagtutugma ang first impression natin sa isang tao hanggang sa hindi natin sila nakaka-usap man lang. It will ruin your expectation.

Ng makarating ako sa building na tinitirahan niya ay madali akong sumakay sa elevator dahil baka magkasalisi pa kami. Good thing is that palabas pa lang siya ng unit niya ng makalabas na rin ako ng elevator.

"Hey, Philippe." I greeted him with a wave, and he just raised an eyebrow. Napakataray talaga ng lakaking 'to. Hindi ba pwedeng kahit tango lang din ay iganti niya sa akin??

"What are y-"

I hushed him by putting my index finger on his lips na agad niya namang tinabig, at parang diring-diri pa siya. Pero, kalaunan ay nakita ko ang pamumula ng puno ng tainga niya. Cute!

Wait! What? Did I just called him cute? A guy?

Iwinaksi ko agad ang nasa isip ko at parang walang nangyari na kina-usap na ulit siya.

"I know you're wondering why I'm here. So, no nedd to ask, halata naman sa mukha mo."

He just stand there, arms crossed over his chest and waiting, maybe, for me to go away?

"Do you have a phone?" I started to ask. He simply slid his hand on his pocket and showed me his phone. Akmang kukunin ko yun ng ilayo niya kaya't medyo napalapit ang katawan ko sakanya.

How can a guy be this fair and beautiful? Like, parang wala atang tumutubong pimples sa mukha niya. Para siyang glassware na pagnabitawan, saka lang masisira.

Nakarinig ako ng pagtikhim at agad naman niya akong tinulak, napapalunok pa.

Damn! Anong nangyari sayo, Leon? Are you drooling over this guy? Seriously?!

I tried to act as if its nothing, at nakita kong ganun din siya. I'm the one to speak up. Making the atmosphere lively again dahil alam kong hindi naman siya magsasalita.

" I just want to see your phone, and check on something." I tried.

"Why should I let you?"

" Umm, because it's me?" I said confidently. I saw how his eyes roll and just simply gave me his phone. I smirked internally of the thought I have in mind.

"You can't find anything interesting in there. Kung maghahanap ka ng scandal, hindi ako ang dapat mong lapitan."

I acted as if feeling hurt in my chest because of what he said. Do I look like searching for those kind of videos? If I am looking for those, I'll do it privately.

" Mukha bang yun ang hanap ko?" I asked back. He just shrugged.

" By the way, wala bang practice sa club at nandito ka? You're such an irresponsible main actor, eh?"

I took a side glance at him, napansin kong nakahawak siya sa tagiliran niya. I look at his face, and there, pansin ang mga ilang pasa dahil sa bugbog. Binulsa ko ang phone niya at inakay siya papasok ulit sa unit niya na hindi niya pa nasasara, so far.

"Wait, I'm about to go to school. Why the-"

I let him sit again on his sofa and he's giving me that puzzled look.

"Just stay there-"

"Anong akala mo sa akin, aso?" He spat.

I smirked, my cute puppy!

Hindi ko siya sinagot at makalipas ng ilang minuto ay binalik ko na ang phone niya sakanya.

"What did yo-"

"I added you to our club's chat room. And that's one of the reasons why I'm here." I said as i let myself slumped on his couch.

"Reason's', with s, so there's more?" His eyebrows are knitted, but I don't think he's mad.

"Hmm, another is..." I acted as if thinking and, I saw him waiting for an answer.

" I just want to check on you. Alam kong walang umasikaso sayo kahapon, dahil syempre, tinanggihan mo ako. So, I'm here to check on you." Nakita kong umiwas siya ng tinggin at binalingan na lang ang cellphone niya.

" Another thing is, gusto kong sabihing wala tayong practice sa club. Maybe, you've read it already sa chatroom." I added.

A minute of silence, until he decided to break it.

"Is that it? If it is, you can now go. I don't have class today, at ang practice lang sana ang sadya ko." I looked at him as he stand and started taking off his shoes, slowly, dahil siguro sa masakit pa ang katawan niya.

"You can now leave, nasabi mo na rin naman ang sadya mo. Thank you for the effort. Please, lock the door as you leave. Magpapahinga na ulit ako."

Palagi na lang ba akong ma- "You can now leave- zone" ng lalaking yun? Matapos ko siyang tulungan? Kahit, tubig hindi niya man lang ako pinagbigyan.

Mental checklist: Hindi siya hospitable.

I decided to leave ng hindi na talaga siya lumabas ng kwarto niya. Buti na rin at makapagpahinga na nga siya.