Oblique Flames Of Beauty ( Universidad de Cebu Series 1)

KABANATA III

Urge

Habang hinihintay namin si Rookie sa waiting shed ng school ay tinapunan ko ng tingin si Clara.
She is wearing a white, short sleeve knit top with a lace V-neck. It looks fresh in her especially because her skin is fair.

Malapad siyang nakagiti habang dinudungaw ang kanyang telepono. Her eyes were expressive and bright too. She looks in love. Just  how they really call that? She just  looks  genuinely happy especially when Rookie's involved. Probably that's the supposed passion of being in love and loved.

Tiningala ko ang mapayapang paglubog ng araw. The usual blue sky's color were slowly fading as a new  golden pigment arises and reflected its tint  to the clouds.

Silas and I may have that title of being in a relationship. We kiss, we laugh, and throws casual jokes towards each. Ngunit 'di kagaya sa relasyon nina Clara ang amin. I'll be lying if I'll say that I love him cause it just don't felt that way.

Hindi rin nagtagal ay dumating si Rookie.
It was exactly 6:00 pm nang marating namin ang Ayala. Pinili nila iyong basement parking dahil mukhang iyon lang naman din ang available sa oras na 'yon.

"Calli, sure ka bang di ka sasama sa amin?"

Tiningnan ako ni Clara nang nasa tapat na kami ng entrance.

I shooked my head at nginitian sila.

"I'm fine sandali lang din naman ako may dadaanan lang. Malapit lang naman din yung bahay."

Sabay silang tumango sa akin at  pumanhik na sa loob.

Anong gagawin ko rito? Hindi ko nga rin alam kung may bibilhin ba ko. I'd just tagged along just because I felt an indescribable urge that I need to go with them. Weird. Pero pinagbigyan ko iyon kahit na padablis yung naging desisyon.

Well, probably sometimes we just need to loosen up too and go with the flow. Pero para saan to ngayon? I licked my lip to stop myself from overthinking.

Naisipan kung bumili na lamang ng Dairy Milk sa isang store sa loob. I just thought I need something to eat along the way. May mga barya pa naman din ako kahit papano. Ngunit rumehistro rin sa akin agad na kailangan ko na lamang lakarin ang papuntang bahay dahil hindi na sapat yung baryang natira sa akin para makasakay ng traysikel.

Hindi ko alam kung anong aabutan ko sa bahay pero anuman iyon ay kailangan ko paring umuwi. May mga bagay lang talaga sa mundo na kahit ayaw mong gawin ay kailangan.

Simply because it's the only option left. If your choices are limited then it wouldn't matter anymore if you want it or not. You must just adopt unto the need of a certain situation.

Tinahak ko ang shortcut patungo sa daan na malapit lang sa kalye ng bahay. Lumiko ako sa madilim na eskinita, palagi naman akong dumadaan dito kaya't bahagya na akong kampante.

Habang binabaybay ang dilim ay biglang pumasok sa utak ko ang imahe nung lalaki. He was surely older than me, probably same age as Silas or older. Unlike my light brown skin, his complexion is fair  like of those European extraction. He looks too foreign yet his vibe is locally cozy.

Napatigil ako sa paghakbang nang makarinig ako na isang kaluskos mula sa aking likuran.
I abruptly turned around but only the nothingness welcomed me. I shrugged my shoulders. Probably just some stray cat.

Nahugot ko ang akong hininga nang may kamay na humawak sa akin. It was huge yet narrow, calloused and bone-chilling cold.

Halos marinig ko na ang pintig ng aking puso sa kaba, nanlamig ako ngunit hindi ako sumigaw. I tightly closed my eyes when that certain person pinned me unto the rough, unfinished cemented alley. I've  felt his head on my shoulder.