Strange Voices of the Dead

6: Instant Fear

Wicker invited Annara to go lunch with him after her duty. Gusto nitong makabawi sa pagmamalasakit nito noong nakaraan.

Annara doesn't want at first. Hindi niya alam na magiging ganoon na lang ang alinlangan na mararamdaman niya sa muling pagkikita nilang dalawa. Every seconds passed, she's thinking about him on how she will interact with him properly. Magiging kaswal ba siya o pormal o tulad noong una nilang pagkikita? Hindi niya alam.

She sighed as she's packing her things up. Agad siyang nagpaalam sa mga librarian na naroroon sa information counter nang pumatak ang alas dose ng tanghali.

Napaigtad siya nang makita niya si Wicker na nakatayo mula sa tabi ng pinto pagkalabas niya ng library.

He's patiently waiting there. His hands on his pockets while his back leaned against the wall. He removed his coat and the school uniform really suits him. Bagay na bagay ito sa tindig at postura nito. Kung hindi lang ito bagong estudyante rito, malamang isa na siya sa mga modelo ng paaralan para sa school advertisement na inilulunsad nito t'wing magbubukas ang school year.

Napahawak si Annara sa kanyang dibdib hindi dahil sa nagulat siya mula sa lalaking ito, kung hindi ay iba ang dating nito sa kanya. She got affected so much. How could that be possible?

His half-lidded eyes averted to her. "You're here," he said with a little smile in his face.

Gumanti lang ng ngiti si Annara dito.

Hindi lang naman siya sasabay na kumain dito ngayong tanghali, napapayag din kasi siya nito na ilibot siya sa campus habang nagfi-fill up ng form sa library kanina.

Tahimik lang silang dalawa habang naglalakad patungong cafeteria.

"You're a working student?" tanong ni Wicker na kahit halata naman ay tinanong pa rin niya para mabasag lang ang katahimikang namamagitan sa kanila.

Annara nod. "Ano palang strand mo? I haven't seen you earlier in my class. Nasa business strand ka ba?" She looked at him.

"Yeah. There are so many girls in my class earlier. Mas marami ba talagang estudyanteng babae rito kumpara sa lalaki?"

Muli itong tumango. "Malaki talaga ang population ng estudyanteng babae rito. Bakit, naiilang ka ba?"

Wicker shook his head and throw a glance at her. "Hindi naman sa gano'n. I used to be with dudes when I was in my middle grade. I went to an exclusive all boys school that's why I, sometimes got felt strange whenever they're around," he explained, shrugging a little.

Annara stepped aside and kept enough distance from him. Akala niya, ganoon din ito sa kanya.

"Nito na lang ako nakasalamuha ng maraming babae sa isang klase, lalo na no'ng tumuntong ako sa senior year. I adjusted well enough before, pero mayroong part pa rin sa akin na hindi ako palagay sa kanila. Masasanay rin siguro ako," dagdag niya.

Wicker got so much peculiar feeling when girls are around him. Wala naman siyang phobia o takot sa mga ito. He had his mom and some female friends and his girlfriend. But if it does pertaining to bunch or a crowd of girls? He's just, sometimes can't contain himself. Hindi siya nasanay.

"Paano nangyari 'yon? How about now that you're with me?" she asked randomly.

Wicker inclined his face to her. "Nothing. I felt relaxed. Saka medyo kilala na kita that's why I feel nothing at all."

"Kahit noong una tayong nagkita?"

"When I first met you, there was something strange talking to a complete stranger. But I needed your help badly, kaya naglakas-loob na lang ako lalo na noong bigla mo akong niyakap out of nowhere. I was thinking that time 'ganito pala ka-welcoming ng mga tao sa lugar na 'to at bigla-bigla na lang nangyayakap?'" Then he laughed breathily.