THIRTIETH
“Catch!” Inihagis ng bata ang bola papunta kay Eze.
Eze knows he’s supposed to catch it with his hands but his reflexes acted faster. Being a soccer player, he’s used to kicking the ball instead of catching it with his hands so he kicked the ball back to his sister.
It’s the same nightmare that gives him comfort and terror every time he dreams about it. Comfort because this is the only time he gets to see his sister again and terror because he knows that at any moment, he will lose her once more.
Every time he dreams about this exact dream, he wants to change how he receives the ball, hoping it would change everything, but he fails every time. He keeps on kicking it no matter how hard he tries to change how this scene happens.
“Era, no...” sambit ni Eze habang pinapanood ang kapatid niyang habulin ang bola papunta sa kalye.
When a car hit Era, Eze woke up.
“I-I’m sorry,” sambit ni Eze nang pagkamulat niya nang mga mata niya ay nakita niya si Via, napasandal pala siya rito. Umupo na siya nang maayos at inayos ang gamit niya.
Via on the other hand can’t feel her left arm and neck. When Eze fell asleep on her shoulder, it felt like everything stopped except her heart. Kinabahan pa siya na baka magising si Eze dahil sa lakas ng kabog ng dibdib niya ngunit mukhang napahimbing ang tulog nito. Eze looked like an angel while sleeping—well, even when he’s awake. Via enjoyed staring at his face; from his forehead to his eyes, down to his long eyelashes, to his small pointed nose, and finally... his lips that look so soft. Of course, Via didn’t do anything. She just stayed perfectly still for almost 20 minutes after telling her driver to keep quiet when they arrived at Eze’s house.
Eze didn’t bring his car to the university today because he carpooled with Hayden earlier. Balak niya sana ay mag-commute na lang pauwi ngunit sakto naman at nakasalubong siya ng kotse ni Via. Via offered to give him a ride home which he politely rejected but Via insisted so here they are now.
“Thank you for the ride, Via.” nakangiting pagpapasalamat ni Eze sa dalaga bago niya buksan ang pinto.
“Anytime, Eze!” sagot naman ni Via na pinipigilang ngumiti nang sobra. Sapat na ang pagbigkas ni Eze sa pangalan niya upang pakiligin siya nang todo. God, if only he knows how much I like him...
There’s a hint of sadness in Via’s eyes when Eze got out of her car but Eze wasn’t paying attention. Hinintay ng driver na tuluyang makapasok si Eze sa loob ng bahay nito bago muling paandarin ang kotse.
“Ma’am, kailan ba kayo aamin? Tagal na niyang feelings niyo, ah.” mapang-asar na wika ni Manong Rudolph na pasulyap-sulyap pa kay Via mula sa rearview mirror habang nagmamaneho.
“Nako, Manong Dolphy, mag-focus na lang po kayo riyan sa daan, huwag niyo nang pakialaman love life ko.” sagot ni Via dahil mukhang ‘ine-echos’ na naman siya ni Manong Rudolph.
“Echos lang, Ma’am.” tatawa-tawa namang saad ni Manong Rudolph at tinutok na ang tingin sa daan.
Pagkapasok ni Eze sa BR ay nakita niyang nakatayo si Kai at nakapamewang, nakaharap kanila Seamus at Pete na magkatabing nakaupo sa lamesa sa tapat nito. Nang makitang umiiyak si Seamus ay natatarantang lumapit sa kanila si Eze. Bago pa man matanong ni Eze kung anong nangyari ay nagsalita si Kai kaya napatitig siya rito.
“Ano bang tinuro ko sa inyo? Kapag binato ka ng bato, batuhin mo ng bakal.” nakapamewang na wika ni Kai na kumumpas pa sa ere upang ipakita ang pagbato niya ng kung ano sa kung saan.
BINABASA MO ANG
Lost Stars
Teen Fiction[SMUG Series #1] XZ Martinez is a smart young woman. She was born to a rich and famous family but she doesn't seem to like it. Unlike her older brother, Valentine, XZ is and will never be used to the attention people are giving her but she guesses t...
