I am not surprised when Rico says that we're gonna ride a bicycle yet rather shows curiosity as my eyebrows meet. My mind is puzzled at how my stomach flinches as Rico snorts an awkward smile. Hindi ko alam ang eksaktong dahilan kung bakit naiilang siya ngayon pero may isang alaala ng lumitaw sa isipan ko.
That one balmy afternoon...
Now that I remember it too, my cheeks burn more; my ears turning crimson; my awkwardness oozes in the air between us.
“Hiniram ko kay Clinton,” aniya.
Okay, para mas mabilis kaming makarating sa bayan. Doon kami bibili dahil organic dapat ang itlog na gagamitin. Nagkataong hindi nagbibenta ang mga malalapit na tindahan ng ganoon. Ilang metro lang naman ang layo ng pamilihang bayan sa Collins High kaya pwede naman kaming maglakad na lang.
Due to my curious mind digging up for some possible reason why, I end up assuming a wicked one. Bakit kami riyan sasakay? Siguro gusto niya akong yumakap ulit sa kaniya? Shuta!
He might have seen my hesitation. His hooded eyes pierce through me. The hawkish corners of those don't even help ease the humiliation I feel!
I hear him clicks his tongue. “Para mas mabilis tayong makarating,” sabi niya.
“Ah, okay.”
Lumipat ang tingin sa akin ni Rico at marahang tumango. “Let's go?”
With those circles in cognac brown like they're talking to my most hidden soul, Rico becomes approachable again. And I feel comfortable again.
“Yeah,” I beam as my cheeks continue to blush furiously even when he is bot doing anything to make them to.
The ride is like a bliss of a moment. Ni hindi ko namalayang nasa bayan na pala kami. I just come back to my senses when Rico presses the brake. It causes the bicycle's wheels to screech against the rough road. Dahil doon, mahinang nabangga ang noo ko sa likuran ni Rico.
“Sorry,” I whisper.
Mabilis lang din kaming namili. We just bought five organic eggs. Pabalik na kami sa kinaroroonan ng bike.
Kuryuso akong tumitig sa kaniya. “Paano 'yong aloe vera?”
Wala kasi kaming nahanap kahit naka-ilang ikot na sa loob ng palengke. Hindi nga namin sigurado kung may nagbibenta ba per tangkay dito. He simply shrugs his shoulders as he looks at me with a lopsided grin.
Lumapit siya akin at bumulong. “Baka didekwat na lang ako sa kapitbahay namin.”
Marahan akong ngumisi. “Loko! Papayag ka ro'n para lang sa grades?”
“Uh-huh, pero kapag ako hinabol ng walis ni Auntie, ikaw ang ituturo ko. Ante, ni Freesia iti nangibaga!” aniya at saka humalakhak.
Minsan may mga maluwang din palang turnilyo ang isang ito, ano? However, a chuckle also escapes my lips as our gazes interlock.
“Then I will act like I don't know you at all,” I countered.
“I was just kidding. Bahala ka, wala tayong project sa TLE,” he grunts.
His lower lip slightly protruded while looking at me. Is he - Is he acting cute? I sneer at him because of that.
After that, he glares at me. Hindi naman niya siguro masyadong dinibdib. Na-ooverwhelm lang ako dahil bihira lang ang ganitong usapan namin. Might as well ride along with it.
“A, ako masama, gano'n? Basagin ko kaya 'to?” hamon ko sabay angat sa hawak na plastic bag na naglalaman ng mga itlog. The playful look on his face is now gone.
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...
