[3] Under Her Scars

18

Hindi nagparamdam si Rouisa ng ilang mga araw. Tahimik kaming nagtatrabaho ni Arius at gusto ko na lang na manatiling masaya kami. I felt like we're growing dependent with each other. There is him who wasn't even bothered if he got a serious wounds because he knew that I will always heal him. And there's me, who could only sleep in his touch.

It's too perfect that it scared me to hell.

"Scarlet, kasabay mo bang maglunch si Arius ngayon?" tanong ni Saki habang nagliligpit.

"Unfortunately, no, he's busy. Gusto mong sabay tayo?" I asked.

"Kung okay lang," he shrugged.

"Kilala ka naman non," It's not like Arius got jealous of man around me before. Ewan ko, hindi ko pa naman siyang nakikitang nagseselos.

Saki and I eat our favorite noodles in a convenient store. Pagsasabihan nanaman ako ni Arius kapag nakita niyang kumakain ako ng ganito. Kaya sinigurado ko na bumili rin ako ng mga healthy side dish.

Napansin ko na nakatingin siya sa akin kaya tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Bakit?"

"Have you also encountered people like us?"

"I know plenty of people," hindi ko na lang pinansin ang biglang pagkatulala ko.

"Was Arius one of that?"

I just nodded, I refrain myself from talking because he's starting to ask questions like this. Ngayon lang kasi siya nagtanong kaya mas naging maingat ako. Baka may masabi ako na pagsisihan ko.

"Bakit bigla kang nagtatanong?"

"Evony, your client before, was inviting me in some sort of a party." Napatingin ko sa paligid kung may nakatingin ba sa amin.

"What? How did you know her? Did you ask her anything?"

"See? Ganyan ang reaksyon mo."

"Ano nga?"

"I once asked her why you look cautious when you're tattooing." Hindi ko alam na napansin rin pala niya 'yon. "And she unconciously said that she warned you that someone's flirting with your boyfriend." maingat na sabi ni Saki.

I cursed at myself. He knows something that he shouldn't.

"That was a few months ago," I trailed. "I know that you're just concern but I can handle it." huminga ako ng malalim at nawalan na ng ganang kumain.

"I'm sorry," mabilis na sabi niya kaya naman lumambot ang ekspresyon ko at tinapik ang balikat niya. Naalala ko ang sinasabi niyang mga taong nilayuan siya matapos niyang may malaman na hindi dapat.

"I just don't want you to get into trouble, you have a peaceful life, you know."

"Sure," sabi niya nang hindi tumitingin sa akin.

"I think you shouldn't attend that party you're talking about," dahan-dahan kong sabi, ayoko namang sabihan siya na huwag siyang pumunta roon dahil choice niya naman 'yon. Ayoko siyang pilitin kung gusto niyang pumunta.

"Why not? She's a friend."

"Nag-uusap kayo?"

"She's good, Scarlet." He finally said like he sense that I disagree on their private meetings.

Naalala ko ang mga babala ni Evony sa akin, 'yung pagpapadala niya ng mga pera, 'yung pagtulak sa akin na maging curious kung sino ako. She make me feel like she's a friend but I couldn't just bare to think that she's doing something mischievous.

Hindi na lang ako sumagot, napansin ko naman na may dala siyang envelop. Kanina niya pa hawak 'yon pero hindi ko na lang pinansin hanggang sa makabalik kami sa WIT.