Unforgotten [Baguio Series #5]

21

21:

"Do you want to go home now?" Tyrone asked after we ate in Starbucks.

"Oo."

He chuckled. "Can we stay a little? I'm just too tired to drive."

I stopped walking as I look at him. Tiningnan ko ang itsura niya ngayon and he, indeed, looked tired. "Then, you should've just gone home straight. Bakit kasi pinuntahan mo pa ako?"

He smiled as he tucked my hair behind my left ear. "I drove you to school. I want to drive you home. I want to see you safe and sound."

I gulped again at his choice of words. At this point, he can be the next Shakespeare, eh. Charot.

"Then, let's just . . . take a rest." I looked away. Tangina, hindi talaga ako sanay sa ganito, eh! Bakit ba binibigyan ko 'to ng pabor?! "Sky Garden?"

He smiled and nodded. "Okay, then."

Sabay kaming naglakad papunta sa elevator. The tension between us was so strong. Marami na nga kami sa loob ng elevator pero pakiramdam ko, parang wala lang ang iba. Lalo pa noong may iba pang sumakay pagkarating ng second floor. Mas lalo kaming magkalapit ngayon.

He's in front of me and I can smell his perfume right now. He smells so good. Ano kayang pabango niya?

Nang makarating sa third floor, lumabas na kami ng elevator. Pinauna niya ako bago siya sumunod. Sabay na kaming naglakad papunta ng Sky Garden, along with the other people.

"Gabi na pala. Hindi ka pa naman pagagalitan, 'di ba?" Tyrone asked as he looked at me.

Pinagbuksan niya ako ng pinto at pinauna akong lumabas.

"Mama knows I'm out with a friend," I answered.

He smiled. "So, am I a friend now?"

Nakarating na kami ng Sky Garden at naghanap ng magandang p'westo na p'wedeng pagpahingahan.

"Nope," I said. "Sinabi ko lang 'yon para hindi siya mag-alala sa akin."

Naupo ako sa artificial grass habang si Tyrone naman ay nahiga sa tabi ko, ang ulo ang malapit sa akin habang ang mga binti niya naman ay nakatupi sa mas malayo sa akin. He closed his eyes immediately as soon as he lie beside me.

He sighed. "Just few minutes of rest and I'll be fine. I just want to lay my back."

"Sige lang. Take your time."

He smiled with his eyes closed.  Tumingin ako sa paligid tsaka ini-stretch ang binti ko sa damuhan. Kinaskas ko ang braso ko ng palad ko dahil sa malamig na hangin na tumatama sa balat ko.

Gabi na pero ang dami pa ring tao. They were still happily talking with their friends or loved ones—mga energetic pa rin. Hindi pa yata kami inabot nang ganitong oras sa mall kasama ang mga kaibigan ko.

I glanced at Tyrone whose eyes are closed. I know he's not sleeping since he said that he wanted to take a rest for few minutes but looking at him now; he looked in peace though the exhaustion is evident in his face. He must be really busy with his course.

Napanguso ako. Ganitong-ganito ang naisip ko noong dahilan kung bakit walang time sa akin si Jeremy, eh. Pero paano nagkakaroon ng time sa akin si Tyrone ngayong fourth year na rin siya, eh pareho lang naman sila ng course?

"Kikiligin na ba ako?"

Nagulat ako nang magsalita siya. Muntik ko nang matampal ang bibig niya nang dahil do'n. Bwisit na 'yan! He laughed before getting up. He sat beside me after.