Remember That Midnight

Chapter 03

"Hasty and unneeded..." those words never stopped running through my head.

Buong gabi ko yatang inisip ang lahat ng sinabi ni Leo. It would always cross my mind that I don't think I got enough sleep. Pero kahit gano'ng medyo naguguluhan ako ay nandito pa rin ang kahihiyan. Hindi na talaga ako nilubayan ng kahihiyan dahil sa nangyari kagabi sa party ni Celest.

Lahat ng sinabi niya sa akin ay mahigpit na tumatak sa utak ko. Hindi ko alam kung paano tatakasan iyon. Nakakahiya... By now, he's probably thinking of how creepy I am.

"'Pag dumating si Leandra, papasukin mo na lang." bilin ni Mama sa akin.

Umayos ako sa pagkakaupo, pinoproseso pa rin ang lahat ng nangyari. Kung iisipin, hindi ko nga dapat pina-prioritize si Leo sa isip ko. Todo tanggi pa naman ako na gusto ko siya tapos maya't maya naman siyang nasa isip ko.

I flipped the page of the book I'm currently reading then I paused as my eyes snapped over to our mini gate where Tita Leandra was already standing. Mabilis akong tumayo galing sa pagkakaupo sa duyan at pinagbuksan siya ng gate.

"Your mama, hija?"

"Nasa loob po, naghihintay." ngiti ko.

I guided her to our living room. Naroon si mama, nagtutupi ng mga damit. Nang nakita si Tita Leandra ay mabilis siyang tumayo at dinaluhan ito. And then they proceeded with their conversation which I cannot relate to. Kaya naman tahimik lang ako naupo hindi malayo sa kanila.

Para kung sakaling may iutos si Mama ay marinig ko agad.

"You're interested in novels, Soraya?" bigla akong napaayos ng upo sa tanong ni Tita Leandra.

Tumango ako. Her eyes scanned the book in my hand before smiling sweetly at me. To look nice, I reciprocated the smile.

"Leandra is also an avid fan of romance," ani Mama. Nagtawanan sila habang nanatili akong tipid ang ngiti.

I kind of relate to that. When I was younger, I wasn't really into romance books because I didn't have that much appreciation for other people's love story. I used to be an avid fan of fantasies, thinking I would be part of a magical world and do witchcrafts, but growing up, as I paid more attention to romance, it has occupied a space in my heart. Perhaps, I also wish I was one of those female characters in books who finally found their true love. Iyon nga lang ay sa libro lang iyon nakakakilig. When I started having suitors, I then realized that it's only romantic in books but never in reality.

Hmm... Or maybe it's because I prefer the traditional concept or romance.

Well... that was before I met Leo. He's an exception.

Talaga ba? And I had the guts to deny my 'like' for him? Impressive, Soraya!!

"You know what, Soraya, I used to read a lot way back when I was still not as busy as I am now. Marami akong libro sa bahay na hindi na magkasya sa kwarto namin ni Damien kaya may sarili akong library." Tita Leandra smiled.

I have my own collection of books too, but surely not as many as Tita Leandra's. May bookshelf ako sa aking kwarto pero sapat lang. Nasa gilid lang ng study table at hindi gaanong malaki.

"Dati kapag umuuwi kami galing sa school, laging dumadaan 'yan si Leandra sa mga bookstore. Lagi ring may dalang libro pag-uwi." kwento pa ni Mama.

"Gusto mo bang sumama sa'kin sa bahay, Soraya? I'll tour you around my library." tanong ni Tita Leandra.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa excitement. No, not because of the books. Dahil kay Leo. Iilang beses pa lang akong nakapunta sa kanila at matagal na noong huli kaming bumisita roon. Nandon kaya si Leo ngayon? Hmm...