Cascading from Nirvana

Tres

Azaria's POV

"Alex, my dear, this bella right here is your tutor, Azaria Lynette. I expect your utmost respect toward her, hmm?" Madame slightly paused and stared at him. "And please quit the stern attitude, will you?" She continued in a more serious tone. 

"No problemo, señora." He replied with a slight smile. A dubious smile.

That is the first time I heard his voice but what surprised me is the familiarity that it brought to my ears. He's not even talking to me but his voice feels so soothing, serene...

and nostalgic...

Madame said something but I can't force myself to focus and understand her words. I found myself just blankly staring back at the guy whom I just saw this morning yet made me feel a decade-worth of emotions, confusion, and nostalgia.

I just came back to my senses nang napansin kong umalis na si Madame. As she walked away she faces me and raises both of her hands and I can read her lips mouthing, "Fighting."

Nang bumalik ang tingin ko kay Ivo ay sa bintana na ito nakatanaw. I am reluctant to call him but I need to get his attention. Sana lang ay nakalimutan niya na ang nangyari kaninang umaga. That was embarrassing. Just the thought na binuhat niya ako mula field hanggang clinic is a complete shame, not to mention that we're a total stranger to each other. 

Let's just get this started already para matapos na agad, I can't be with him for a long time, I won't last long.

"Ivo." I was surprised the moment his name fell from my lips, it's like I am so used on saying that name that it sounded so natural.

Agad namang bumalik ang tingin niya sa akin na may halong pagtataka at gulat? Did I became so impolite by calling him by his first name? Or did he realized na ako ang babaeng binuhat niya sa clinic? No! I need to talk and talk para hindi na iyon pumasok sa isip niya. 

"S-sorry, should I call you Alex? I t-think Mr.Gonzaga is more appropriate. Right, I need to be formal. Nasanay lang kasi talaga ako sa pangalang Ivo kasi yun rin ang pangalan ng aso namin na namata-" I paused the moment I realized what I'm blabbering about.

Too late to take back what I said. I was so nervous na hindi ko na napansin ang mga sinasabi ko. Shit! Shit!

Kitang kita ko kung paano unti unting kumunot ang noo niya. "I-I m-mean hindi naman sa kamukha mo yung a-aso namin-" Lalo pang kumunot ang noo niya. "I-In fact c-cute yung aso namin na 'yon kaso nalason kaya nama-"

Agad kong nasampal ang bibig ko habang malalaki ang matang nakatitig sa lalaki sa harap ko, damn you Azaria Lynette!

"Nobody calls me Ivo." Malamig na tugon nito at muli nang inialis ang tingin sa akin. Mukhang napikon na ito sa mga sinabi ko. 

One of the reasons why I hate it when something changes is that I can't cope up with the sudden variation of flow and most of the time ay sa ganto nauuwi. I am not flexible enough to adapt kaya madalas ay napapasama ko ang sitwasyon.

Hindi na lang ako muling nagsalita at umupo na lamang sa tapat niya. Agad naman itong tumayo na ikinagulat ko. Did I really pissed him off? Or baka nakilala niya na ko? Aalis na siya? Magsusumbong ba siya kay Madame?

I saw him follow the sides of the long table at ngayon ay palapit na siya sa akin. He grab the chair next to me at umupo doon. I was watching his every move na hindi ko namalayang nakatulala na pala ako sa mukha niya na ilang dangkal na lamang ang layo. 

"What?" He asked while looking at me like I am some sort of dancing starfish. Agad ko namang iniwas ang mga mata ko. 

I felt a sudden bit of agitation and pain on my chest nang makita ko siyang tumayo at akmang aalis kanina, like I have this abrupt urge to follow him. Odd.