TIMELESS - The Unfulfilled Promise

Chapter 8 • Elevator

"OPEN your eyes now."

Pola's eyes flashed wide open upon hearing Phillip's voice. She felt his chest vibrate nervously against hers as he spoke. Tila natauhang napasinghap siya't inipon lahat ng lakas para itulak ang binata. Kumalas ang mga bisig nitong nakapalibot sa kaniyang baywang. Pola absentmindedly touched her slightly parted mouth. Ni hindi niya maalalang ipinikit niya ang mga mata.

Phillip Dev Grecco kissed me! He took my first kiss—and I allowed it! She bent her head low in embarrassment and focused her eyes on the ground. Daig pa'ng sinisilaban ang magkabila niyang pisngi. Lupa, kainin mo ako!

Narinig niya ang pagbuntonghininga ni Phillip. "I'm . . . I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that . . ."

Pola slowly lifted her gaze as she listened to him. Her eyes met his, asking questions her lips could not.

" . . . but I don't regret it," he finished.

Pinakiramdaman ni Pola ang sarili. Kalabisan ba kung sasabihin niyang . . . hindi rin niya pinagsisisihan ang halik na iyon? Ngunit napakaraming 'bakit' ang naglilipana sa kaniyang isip.

Dahil hindi pa rin umiimik ang dalaga, ginagap ni Phillip ang kaniyang mga kamay. "Pola, sorry na. If you want to slap me, go ahead. Kahit dalawa o tatlong sampal pa, tatanggapin ko."

Nasa ganoon silang tagpo nang maabutan ni Cheska.

"Ate Pola! Ayaw ni—Kuya Phillip?" Kunot ang noong bumaba ang mga mata nito sa kamay nila. Tila naman napasong binawi iyon ni Pola at saka umatras nang ilang hakbang palayo kay Phillip. "What's happening? Bakit . . . bakit kayo magkasama? Why are you two holding hands?"

"Pola and I are just talking. Nakita ko siyang nakatambay rito kaya nilapitan ko," maagap na sagot ni Phillip.

Cheska propped her hands on her hips and arched one brow. "Habang magka-holding hands?"

"We weren't. I was the one holding her hand, she wasn't. Magkaiba 'yon," Phillip defended coolly as he thrust his hands into his pockets.

Cheska eyed her cousin, tila ba tinitimbang ang ekspreyon ng mukha nito. "Hindi ko alam na ganiyan pala kayo ka-close ni Ate Pola?" Napatutop ito sa bibig kapagkuwan na tila ba may napagtantong kung ano. "Oh, my gosh!" Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin nito sa kanilang dalawa. "Are you two . . ." Cheska's eyes settled on Pola, "secretly dating?!"

"Lower your voice, Cheska," mariing sita ni Phillip sa nakababatang pinsan. Hissing, he scanned their surroundings. "Mapapahamak silang magkapatid sa ka-oa-yan mo."

Cheska pursed her lips, then in a hushed voice, spoke, "You two are not denying it, so nagde-date nga kayo."

Doon lang tila nahanap ni Pola ang kaniyang boses. "Phillip and I are not dating," she uttered. "We're just . . ." mabilis niyang tinapunan ng tingin si Phillip na tila inaabangan din ang kaniyang sasabihin, "acquaintances, that's all." Not sure if she really heard him scoff or her ears were just deceiving her. Pola decided to settle on the latter and chose to ignore whatever she thought she heard. "But you can't tell this to anyone, Cheska."

Kinagat ni Cheska ang ibabang labi at saka pinaglaruan ang mga daliri. Hindi naman lingid sa kaalam nito kung gaano kahigpit at ka-terror ang kanilang mga magulang. She's Pomee's one and only confidante. "K-kahit kay Pomee?"

"Kahit kay Pomee."

"But—"

"You heard her, Dia. 'Wag ka nang makulit," interrupted Phillip. There was a hint of disappointment in his voice, but he was able to conceal it quickly it with authority. Just like how Pola had known him for years from afar—full of authority. Then, as if nothing had happened, Phillip walked past Pola and started up the stairs. "I heard about what happened. I actually came here to check up on Pomee. How is she?"