An Embroidered Lifetime ✓

Kabanata 10

Kabanata Sampu
Sealed

~*~

After that night, I've been ignoring Alesso. All his messages and calls. Kasi kung hindi, para saan pa, di'ba? At minsan ay nakikita ko siya sa labas ng gate. Waiting for someone. Why would I assumed na ako ang hinihintay niya, di'ba?

"Hey, Sench." Nilingon ko si Stephen. "Pansinin mo naman iyong tao. Pabalik-balik na din kase. Kawawa naman," he said while looking outside in the campus. Sinundan ko ang tingin niya and he was looking at Al.

"What? Why?" I asked innocently at ibinalik ang tingin sa kaniya. He looked at me like I did something wrong. Kung alam mo lang, Stev! "Maybe he's waiting for someone, so don't assume too much, Stephen."

Ano pa nga ba ang inaasahan konsa kanila? Maglalakad na sana ako pabalik sa loob ng campus ng hinawakan niya ang braso ko. Hinarap ko ulit si Stephen. Kunot-noong hinarap ko ang binata. What's wrong with him?

"What?"

"Don't play like you didn't see his efforts, Sench. Don't play manhid-manhiran." He look at me in the eye. He's freaking serious! "Kung ayaw mo, sabihin mo sa kaniya. Hindi iyong ganito. Kung ayaw mo, edi hindi natin pipilitin. Hindi iyong pinapaasa mo."

"First, ayaw ko, Stev. Okay na?" Sabi ko sa kaniya na tila nagpapainit sa kaniyang ulo. Paano niyan? Siya ang nagsimula. "Pangalawa, wala akong sinabi sa kaniya para umasa siy-"

"Then, ano ang ginagawa ng singsing nasa kamay mo?" Putol niya sa sasabihin ko. My heart beats so fast as I look at the ring that he gave me. Hindi ko namalayan na nasa daliri ko pa ang singsing na ibinigay niya. It's like nasanay na ako. "Go. Talk to him. Just talk to him." At iniwan niya ako roon at bumalik loob. Sometimes, Stephen's words hit differently.

May naramdaman akong guilt habang tinitignan ang singsing. My friends didn't know a thing. Even after what I've heard that night. And I don't want them to know. This is between me and Al. Our family.

And it was not just a guilt I feel right now. There's something that I can't name it. Maybe he's right. Just maybe. If ayaw ko, sasabihin ko. We need to clear things out, nang sa ganoon ay walang maiiwang nasasakta , umaasa. Umaasa sa wala.

Lumakad ako papunta kay Al. Nakayuko siyang nakasandal sa kaniya sasakyan. He's wearing white polo shirt paired with a faded blue jeans and white pair of Adidas shoes.

Nang inangat niya ang kaniyang tingin at nakitang papalapit ako sa kaniya ay tumayo siya ng maayos. So.l, he's really waiting for me?

"Hey," panimula ko. Paano ko ba sisimulan ang usapang ito. "Uhm... naparito ka?" Acting normal.

"Are you avoiding me?" He asked na nakakunot ang noo.  I didn't see that coming! And heck, suplado! Damn! Bakit ramdam kong kasalanan ko lahat-lahat?

"Why should I?" I asked. God! He lower his gaze at ibinaling ang paningin sa iba. My heart beats so fast! Damn! "Bakit mo naman nasabi iyan, Mr. Curpo-" He cut me off.

"I said, drop the formality. Please, baby," he said as he look at me in the eye. He look like he's begging. Really! My heart beats so fast. And I wonder, nahuhulog ka na ba nang ganoon kadali, Sencha?

Whenever he calls me baby, I feel like I'm one of his collection! Siguro noon, napakaganda pakinggan, inaamin ko. Pero ngayon, damn! I hate it more than ever!

"Okay, Al. Diretsyahin mo nga ako." Pinantayan ko ang tingin na iginawad niya sa akin. "Am I one of your 'Baby Collection'?" I asked.

Kumunot ang noo niya. Okay, here comes the denying stage. Sorry, I know that this is not the plane I've been planing for. Ang gusto ko ay magkalinawan kami. Na itigil ito, but it turns out that we're having a lovers quarrel.