Woven on Time (Student Series #3)

Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Kuya El helped with my phone's search operation. He had turned the room upside down but we could still not find it. Sa huli, sinabi kong hayaan na lang namin.

He was sitting on the red bean bag chair across the room while I was on the bed. His long leg was stretched while his other knee was sticking out to the side. Nakakrus ang mga braso sa tapat ng dibdib niya at pailalim ako kung titigan kanina pa.

"K-Kuya..." I bit my lip. "P-puwede po bang sa iba kayo tumingin?"

"Malapit na sila," imbes ay sagot niya. "At bakit sa iba ako titingin kung ikaw lang ang natatanging tanawin dito na kaya kong pagtiisan?"

Uminit ang mukha ko kasabay ng pagbagsak ng balikat. Ako na lang ang nag-iwas ng tingin.  

When I told him I wanted to run away from here, he didn't ask for a reason. However, the contemplation in his eyes was so apparent I thought he would disagree. 

"Sige... pero hindi ka sa balcony o sa bintana daraan," iyon ang kondisyon niya. "Pupunta ka nang parang normal sa baba. Dumaan ka sa likod ng pinto sa may kusina ninyo. Doon kita hihintayin."

"Why can't I go down with you from there?" Sabay turo sa labas ng bintana.

Mahina niyang pinitik ang noo ko. "Kung wala ka lang sugat, mauna pa kitang ihahagis diyan sa bintana."

"That's so cruel!"

"I was born cruel, chipmunk. Kaya kung gusto mong masubukang umakyat at tumalon-talon sa bintana, magpagaling ka nang maayos."

"Nagpapagaling naman po ako, ah?"

"Pakigalingan ang pagpapagaling, kung ganoon. Baka may isa diyang hindi gumaling."

He called someone to help us escape. Hindi ko lang alam kung sino, pero sana ay wala kina Kuya Wilder o Kuya Rain. Kuya Wai could literally go wild when he sees my condition. And Kuya Rain would always be his backup when it comes to anything. Lalo pa kapag dating sa away. 

"Bilog," Kuya El called in his deep voice. "Hoy."

"Po?" I looked back at him with hesitance. "Ako po ba si Bilog?"

My breathing went from normal to fast like I was in sort of a drag race and almost winning. Iyong pakiramdam na malapit na ako sa finish line, ngunit nangangamba na bigla akong maungusan ng pumapangalawa. That kind of feeling was neurotic. 

Tinanggal niya ang kamay sa bulsa ng pantalon bago umupo sa tabi ko. The thin fabric of my night dress kissed the roughness of his pants. His legs were wide open so I put my knees together.

Halos tumalon ang puso ko nang itukod niya ang kamay sa aking likuran at yumuko upang magpantay ang mukha namin. In Science, It was taught to us that true black eyes don't exist. Only very dark brown that's so close to black.

Ganoon ang kaniya. Ganoon din siya tumingin. Madilim at nakakatakot. Only a nyctophile would enjoy being hypnotized by his orbs. Pero nakakagulat na kaya kong tagalan ang pagtitig sa pares ng mga mata niya. Every time I'd be drawn into it, I felt like I could enter his soul and read his mind. Like someone who was sucked into the black hole because of curiosity in singularity. 

May mabigat na pumatong sa ulo ko. Ngumisi siya at naningkit ang mga mata. Bahagya niyang ginulo ang buhok ko bago tinapik ang pisngi ko.

"Sorry," sambit niya at tumingala sa kisama. Napawi ang mapanuksong ngiti sa labi niya. "Sana pinilit ko na lang pala pumasok kasama ninyo noong araw na 'yon."

"Kuya El..." The corner of my eyes warmed. "It's okay po..."

I held his hand on top of his thigh. Pinisil ko iyon. He was frozen, but his throat bobbled.