Lawful Obsession - [On-Going]

Chapter 6 Acquaintance

Chapter 6

"How's your day?" Malumanay na tanong niya sa gitna ng madilim na daan at mga kumukutitap na ilaw ng mga gusaling na dadaanan namin. Hindi ako sanay sa presensya niya dahil ngayon lang naman kami nag kasama. But I manage to answer his question with all my might.

"A-Ayos lang naman"

"Where do you want to eat?"

I quickly glance at him, eat? Niyayaya niya ba akong kumain? Date? When he seems I am puzzled he smiled and look back to the road.

"Manang is on vacation with Esper"

That explains everything. Nahiya ako sa sarili ko kaya hindi nalang ako kumibo pa. Assumera ka Lei? We ate in Italian Cuisine. We're silent until someone approaches us.

"Aris? Oh my, you're back!" A sophisticated woman standing in front of Bryle. She widely smiles at him as she speaks, para bang may gusto ito kay Bryle. I felt uneasy as I see her hands rubbing on his shoulder. I might not talkative but I know things.

"Yes, If you'll excuse we are eating our dinner"

I was taken aback when she looked at me and saw her disappointment. Hindi ko naman intensyon na istorbohin sila. If they want to talk it's fine for me. Hindi din naman ako makaka relate sa usapan nila. I'm sure of it.

"Oh, may kasama ka pala. Who's she?"

"It's none of your business, Kaye."

Pag uwi ay wala akong gana. Tahimik ang bahay and it is a good time to read peacefully, but my thoughts screaming wildly. Sinara ko ang binabasa kong libro at kinuha ang ballpen at notes at ginawa ang bagay na kung saan, natatahimik ang isip ko --ang mag sketch. I've been doing this since I first saw him.

Funny isn't it? When my mind is clouded and music couldn't divert it, I just draw him in a portrait and I feel satisfied. And how could I master his face, kaya nga gulat na gulat ako noong nakita ko siya entering Art's restaurant. I shaded darker to his eyes because that's the way it is done, his perfect jaw angle when he's driving earlier.

-

"Girl, speak up"

It's Crista. Naka harap siya saakin and I can see her wondering eyes. Like, parang may malaking utang ako sakanya.

"Why did Aris pick you? How do you know him? Where? When? Come on! Lei speak up!"

Bakit gusto niyang malaman? May gusto ba ito kay Bryle? Ibubuka ko na ang labi ko nang may nag salita sa likuran ko.

"Leizel Ardenesse?" A lady appears out of nowhere.

"Bakit po?"

"The dean wants you to his office"

I could say that save me from her, but looking through Crista, alam kong hindi niya nagustuhan ang pag kaka tahimik ko. The dean –Crista's father –wants me to check if I was okay. Nothing special because every week routine na niya ito. Hindi ko din alam kung bakit.

Pag dating ko sa designated room ko ay napansin kong nag bubulungan ang mga blockmates ko. Yung iba ay nginingitian ako at yung iba naman ay nakatingin lang. They kinda seem weird today. Pero mas weird yung nakita ko sa desk ko.

"To miss Leizel Ardenesse" Basa nang nasa likuran ko at sa boses palang alam ko nang si Crista iyon.

"Wow, girl! Secret Admirer?" I just sigh and looked with a bunch of roses.

"Leizel penge! Para kunwari may nanliligaw din saakin!"

"Huy! Ako din ha, isa lang e! Damot!"

"Leizel balak ka atang patayuan ng flower shop sa dami nyan ha"

Hindi ako nakaiwas sa mga tukso at asar ng ilang blockmates ko dahil dito. Yes, they're a bunch of flowers. Sino naman kaya ang nag bigay neto? At anong trip niya sa buhay?

Time flew so fast at napag isipan kong ipamigay sa mga may gusto ang mga bulaklak –but at least I have five roses with me –napag disisyunan kong ilagay ito sa kwarto.

Mabilis ang mga lakad ko papuntang exit dahil alam kong susundan ako ni Crista. She even attended some classes kahit wala itong schedule. But my effort suddenly disappears when I see him leaning to his glamorous car. With Crista.

Balak ko sana silang iwasan pero hearing Crista's loud voice calling me shatter my plan.

"Aris, tell me I am not mistaken right? You picked her yesterday or I'm imagining things?"

"I pick her"

I stun as I hear them having a conversation, she's questioning him like I am not supposed to be with him.
I feel like she calls me to personally hear answer all her queries. Oo nga naman, if I were in her shoes ganito din siguro ang reaction ko.

He's well known, and I am just me. Parang langit at lupa.

"But why? I thought you came to see me huh" Even though there's humor in her sentence, I could sense a disagreement to it.

So, they used to meet? As a friend? Or what? Wala na siguro akong karapatan malaman iyon.

"Tell me, how you know----"

Crista's persistent shut her off by me saying...

"We're just simple acquaintance"

Simple? I know we're not. We are wife and husband –by papers –but all I know by looking at him there's a glint of hatred. Probably, alam kong ayaw niyang may maka alam na tali na siya sa isang katulad ko.