Rico slowly reached for my right foot. He puts it on his left knee when he's done squatting. His eyes are just focused on the swollen ankle. A mere scant brush of skins yet it manages to cause havoc in my sanity. Not that I was still sane earlier. The moment Rico lifted me up, extreme madness already invaded my being. Confusion is becoming present in me. I snorted.
"You seem out of breath. Masakit pa?" he gently asked.
Tumigil siya sa ginagawa. Because his eyes are on me, I am suddenly conscious to breath. Umiling ako agad.
He shifts his head near me. Now, we are staring at each other. "Are you sure?" he whispers.
"Oo nga!" I said, irritated. I looked away. Naaasiwa ako sa pagmumukha niya. Hindi ko maatim titigan nang matagal. Hindi ko kaya.
Glancing at him when he stands up, I see how he easily shakes off the dirt from my shoe. He did not complain. Naghintay ako ng reklamo ngunit hanggang ngayon, ni isang salita tungkol sa pants niyang marumi, wala akong narinig.
Naupo siya ulit sa gilid ko. From this moment, I just realize that I regret not talking much with others. We're suddenly stuck in an awkward silence. I don't like the feeling. It's like, I don't want him to get bored with me.
Maybe I should just search some conversation starter pack? I coughed at the thought.
Kumunot ang noo ko.
Why would I even exert an effort to keep him entertained? Sino ba siya? If he can't deal with my silence, then so be it. Wala akong pakialam!
"Hmm, 'di ba naglalakad ka lang papunta rito? How are you gonna go home with that...swollen ankle?" after how many minutes of silence, Rico manages to ask me.
The circumference of his cognac irises dilutes with worry. Parang totoo. Malapit na akong maniwala. Now that I think about it, the only choice is to walk...unless, he's gonna carry me-
My face unconsciously crumples when I try to imagine the sight as I move my right foot.
"Walk again, I guess?" I said.
Tumayo siya, tila hindi mapakali. The light caress he does to his hair as the twilight's rays pass through make the little action more noteworthy. After that, the dusky hues of scattered rays in the atmosphere follow suit.
The cold whisper of the afternoon breeze brushes my skin, causing me to shiver. The soft and curly curtains of my wavy hair fly, following it's direction like a ghost in the night.
Rico's silhouette overshadows me, casting more shadows to where I'm sitting at. Nilabas niya ang phone niya galing sa bulsa ng pantalong uniform at may kung anong pinindot doon.
After what he did, he glances at me. Naupo muna kami roon. Ako, tensyonado habang siya'y parang wala lang. Parang wala lang na may nasabi siya sa akin noon...parang wala lang na nasaktan ako noon. Sabagay, it's been almost three years since it happened. Baka nga hindi na niya maalala. Samantalang ako'y may paghihinayang pang naramdaman nang pinili kong huwag na lang tapusin iyong sweater para sa kaniya.
A sting of pain pricks my chest. Maybe it's not just him who has moved on. Maybe, all of them while I remain stuck. Paulit-ulit. Rustling footsteps against the pebbles occur out of nowhere.
"Uy p're, ito na. Basta, ibalik mo 'to bukas."
Both of us turn where the voice came from. Pamilyar ang mukha. I notice the bicycle he's holding beside him.
My eyebrows meet as I try to remember his name.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Seat We Sit On (HFS #1)
Teen FictionFreesia Mandeville has a habit of writing and doodling anywhere in Collins High School. May it be on the walls, chairs, and even on the comfort room's newly painted doors; even on the seat she's sitting on in their classroom as a silent rebellion ag...
