That Summer Night of August

Kabanata 15

"Kuya Gabriel! I'm glad you made it."

Nang dahan-dahan kong nilingon ang dalawang lalaki sa aking likuran ay agad namang nagtama ang aming paningin ni Gabriel na agad ko ring iniwasan. What the hell is he doing here? It's been almost 3 weeks since I decided to cut our communications. Hindi ako nagrereply sa mga message niya dahil iyon ang desisyon ko.

I could feel my heart wanting to go out from my ribcage. This was unexpected. Timothy didn't tell me about this one. I froze on my spot while busying myself looking everywhere but Gabriel.

"Hey, you okay?" Asked Servelius.

"Y-yes. Ayos lang naman. Ang init pala rito 'no?" Sabi ko habang sinusubukang ikalma ang sarili.

Ilang linggo na ang nakalipas, dapat wala na ito. Dapat ayos na sa akin ito. I was sure of it. What I felt towards him was just because he was the only person who can get close to me. It was because he was the only person who can get pass through the walls I built all those years.

I stiffened on my seat when I smelled his familiar manly scent. Sandalwood. The monoblock chair on my left side moved and I immediately moved a little bit closer to Servelius, trying to get away from Gabriel's seat. I should calm down. Yes, I should better get a grip. I felt Servelius' hand on my back, caressing it. Did he noticed how bothered I am?

Tumingin ako sa kanya saka ngumiti naman ito sa akin. Inayos ko ang eyeglasses ko bago iniyuko ang aking ulo. Mabuti nalang at narito si Servelius. I don't know if I can call him a friend, but at least he was not intimidating.

"You look so bothered, Dee. Tell me, are you really okay?"

Mabilis naman akong tumango. "Y-yes. It's just," I sighed heavily before returning my eyes to my brother who's busy preparing his cameras. "I-I can't tell you."

"It's alright." He patted my back before standing up. "I'll just help Tim over there. Call us when you need something."

Agad naman akong nagpanic dahil ayaw kong maiwan katabi si Gabriel. I quickly grabbed Servelius' wrist which made him stop. Kunot-noong napatingin sa akin si Servelius saka muling umupo sa kanyang upuan. Nagpabalik-balik lamang ang kanyang tingin sa akin at kay Gabriel bago nito inilapit mukha sa aking tainga.

I wasn't acting like this because of my weird feelings towards Gabriel, it's just that I felt guilty because I shut him out after he showed his  kindness to me. He didn't deserve that.

"Do you guys know each other?" Bulong sa akin ni Servelius.

I nodded at him before taking a glance at Gabriel. He was busy using his phone. He was wearing a black leather jacket and white shirt. It has an edgy and masculine touch. He partnered it with a denim jeans and a dark brown boots. Gabriel looked like those bad boys in some movies that I saw. He just looked so dangerous and handsome at the same time.

I sighed in annoyance because I could see everyone's eyes looking at Gabriel and I hated the fact that it annoys me. Simula noong dumating siya sa lugar, lahat ng napapadaan ay napapatingin sa kanya. Ang ibang kasamahan naman ni Timothy ay lumipat ng upuan malapit kay Gabriel. Nakakainis. Bakit pa kasi kailangan pa magpagwapo nang sobra? Damn you, Gabriel.

"Kanina ka pa sigh nang sigh." Biglang komento ni Servelius. "Do you wanna grab something to eat muna? Baka uncomfortable ka na rito."

Agad naman akong napatingin sa kanya. "I'm actually good. Hintayin nalang natin si Tim." Ngumiti ako kay Servelius.

I watched my brother play with his cameras and softboxes while I was just sitting beside Serv and Gabriel. The reason Tim had my admiration was that he knew exactly what he wanted to do in life. He was well aware of the nature of his drive. He was well-versed in his own tastes. In the meantime, I... I was engrossed in my self-loathing since I couldn't seem to do anything well. I wasn't the brightest or the funniest, I was just... mediocre.