The White in her Black

Chapter 6

I never really imagined ever since that I'll be so interested over someone who doesn't even give a single shit on me. Bata pa raw ako, sabi nila. But I actually never saw mysef as a child.

Maybe this reflects the way I experienced things while growing up. Mahina ako, alam ko yon. I am physically weak. I can't run for hours. I can't do such physical activities. Ang alam ko lang, mag inom, makipag usap, at iwan ang mga taong sa tingin ko, wala namang maiaambag sa buhay ko.

I grew up having everything. I am loved and appreciated by my parents. Ni minsan, hindi ko naisip na nagkukulang ang mga magulang ko sa akin.

Bahagyang gumalaw si Catherine at unti-unting dumilat ang mga mata. She looked shocked upon seeing me... directly looking at her eyes. Para bang hinihintay ko ang pagdilat niya sa paraan ng pagsalubong ng mga mata naming dalawa.

For a fleeting moment, she looked at me. Stared, actually. It was a kind of look that made me question something. How do I look like from her point of view?

"Uh," she looked away with her sad eyes. "I'm thirsty..." she whispered.

I think I would never understand this thing. Palagi siyang mukhang malungkot. She's cold and ruthless. I've seen how she treats her family. She must have a valid reason why she's so mad but I don't think I'll ever understand.

"Do you want some beer?" I asked.

Hindi naman kasi palaging inom ang sagot sa mga problema. Pero minsan, alak lamang ang daan patungo sa antok na gusto nating madama.

"Sure," she smiled.

Halos sabay kaming tumayo at bumangon. Ako ang kumuha ng alak at binuksan ko 'yon para sa kanya. I took some tissue to wipe the holes before giving her a bottle.

She gestured her bottle, asking for a toast. Our bottles made a little sound. Iyon lamang ang ingay na nagawa namin.

Half of our beers were finished when she suddenly spoke.

"You should go home to your family." She said with her deep, cold voice.

"Nope, I like living alone." I smiled.

"Oh," she smiled. "You're still young. Isa pa, you're a student and you rely on them." She shrugged both of her shoulders.

"You keep on addressing me as a kid..." mahina kong sabi. May tunog ng kaunting pagtatampo doon. I really don't like it when people address me as a kid.

"Because you're a kid." Mahina niyang sabi bago muling sumimsim sa kanyang inumin.

"How old are you?" I curiously asked. "22? 23?" I guessed and she started laughing.

"Oh, kid," she laughed even louder. It was the first time I heard her laugh this way. "You're making me faint," she laughed.

Sumimangot ako dahil wala namang nakakatawa sa tanong ko pero kalaunan, naghari ang paghanga. How could someone look so pretty upon laughing over something that's not even funny?

"Wala namang nakakatawa sa tanong ko..." mahina kong sambit na naging dahilan ng pagpunas niya sa kanyang mga luha.

"That was funny. I'm 27."

Mukha siyang hindi marunong magsinungaling kaya agad akong namangha doon. She looks so young! Sing puti ng mga papel ang kanyang balat. Sing pula naman ng rosas ang kanyang natural na labi.

"You have a strong Korean blood." I said. Ang mga Koreano kasi, likas na maganda ang balat.

"Isn't it obvious?" She asked.