Pulang Panyo

Chapter 3

Paint

Pagpasok ko kinabukasan ay hindi ako sumabay kila Belle mag-lunch. Dinahilan ko na lamang sa kanila na sasabay ako kay Mommy kumain. But the truth is, kanina pa ako naglilibot sa Carpio Hall cause I'm looking for that pervert.

Bumaba ako sa ground floor para roon naman maghanap sa manyak na iyon. Habang naglalakad sa tunnel ng Roxas Building ay nahagip ng mga mata ko ang skateboard niya, nakasandal iyon sa maruming pader.

I looked around and saw him standing far away from me. Nakatalikod siya at may kausap sa cellphone. Kaya naman dahan-dahan akong lumapit sa kung nasaan ang skateboard niya.

Maingat kong hinawakan ang itim niyang skateboard. "Gotcha!" I whispered.

Good thing, the janitor left the stock room door ajar. Kaya kaagad akong pumasok roon and I think it's a lucky day cause I saw paint and brushes on the broken table.

I dipped the rusty paint brush into the open can of paint. "Poor little skateboard." I mumbled at myself then I started painting the deck of his skateboard.

Gumuhit ako roon ng mga bulaklak, puso at paru-paro. Sinunod ko ang gulong at nilagyan ko iyon ng mga linya.

Nang makuntento na ako ay maingat kong hinawakan ang magkabilang gilid noon para ibalik na kung saan ko iyon nakita. Ngunit laking gulat ko nang biglang bumukas ang pinto at niluwa noon ang manyak na ito.

"Oh, shit!" I muttered under my breath. He caught me red-handed.

My heart then thumped rapidly as he locked the door and slowly walked towards my direction. Kaya naman umatras ako palayo sa kanya habang hawak ang kinakalawang na paint brush.

"Don't come near me." I shrilled while fiercely looking at him.

Ngayon ko lang napansin ang itsura niya.

Ang kanyang makapal at magkasalubong na kilay ay may eyebrow cut. Ang kanyang matangos na ilong at mapulang labi ay may septum and hoop piercings. Ang kanyang maalong buhok ay abot hanggang sa ibabaw ng kanyang malapad na balikat. He's wearing a dog tag, adding a hint of menace to his dark good looks. 

"This is my skateboard." He drawled, the inflection on his last word made a mockery then he gave me one heated look.

Lumakad siyang muli palapit sa akin at gaya ng inaasahan, malamig na pader na ang aking naatrasan. I saw him smirked then he continued walking much closer to me. He is now towering my tiny body while I am panting heavily.

Suddenly, he pinned his left hand on the wall right above my ear and the other one on the side of my waist. His large arms trapped me. He bowed a bit while I looked up at him and squinted my eyes. I won't let him see me weak even I'm real nervous right now.

He moved closer, closing the distance between us. Our nose are almost touching. I can now smell his minty breath.

"What did you do, huh little girl?" He asked lazily while looking at my slightly trembling lips.

"That's what you get, since you messed up with me. Pervert!" I snorted while glaring at him. He sniggered.

"Yeah. Pervert." He uttered hoarsely then he held my chin and tilted my head.

I stiffened when he gently pressed his soft lips against mine. My heart then literally skipped a damn beat and something inside me started churning.

I immediately pushed his hard chest away from me. Pinahid ko sa kanyang mukha ang paint brush na hawak ko saka ako nagtatakbo palabas ng stock room. My heart beats erratically as I ran as fast as I could.

Manyak sya! Didn't he know that I'm a minor? Besides, who the hell is he to steal kisses from me?

"Ang tagal mo naman kumain." Puna ni Belle sa akin.

Narito na ako ngayon sa classroom. Pagkatapos kong magtatakbo kanina ay dumiretso ako sa lunchroom ng College of Nursing at kumain na lamang ako ng tinapay at juice. I lost my appetite. I felt different.

"Nagkwentuhan pa kasi kami ni Mommy." I lied then I sat on my arm chair. Tinanguan lamang nila akong dalawa.

Ilang minuto lamang ay dumating na ang aming teacher. Nagsimula na siyang magturo pero ni katiting na impormasyon mula sa kanya ay wala akong nakuha.

"Huy." Kate whispered then nudged my elbow. Her voice took me out of my reverie.

"What are you thinking?" She whispered.

So I mouthed nothing cause our teacher might caught us chatting during the discussion. Muli akong tumingin kay Ma'am Jacinto na nagsasalita ng kung ano-ano ngayon. I blinked my eyes thrice, trying to absorb what she's talking about. Yet, that kiss is still on my mind.

Nang matapos ang klase ay dumiretso kami sa mini forest sa capitol para gawin ang aming group activity. Groupmates ko sina Belle and Kate at ang dalawa pa naming kaklaseng lalaki.

"Kuya Travis!" Sigaw ni Belle at Kate.

Huminto ang lalaki sa pag-skateboard at lumakad palapit sa aming direksyon. That Travis drifted his eyes on me then awkwardly said, "Hi!" So I just smiled at him.

"Kuya sabihin mo kay Mommy may group project kami. Baka late na kami makauwi ni Kate." Belle said softly.

"Susunduin ko kayo, text me." Pinapanood ko lamang silang tatlo habang nag-uusap nang napansin ni Kate ang pagsulyap ko sa kanila.

"Sorry. Sorry. Nadia, si Kuya Travis. Kapatid ko." Then that Travis held out his hand.

Kinuha ko iyon at nagpakilala, "Nadia." Then I smiled a bit.

Pagkaraan ay umupo kami sa pekeng bermuda grass at inilapag namin ang mga cartolina at markers doon. Kasama rin namin si Travis ngayon dahil may hinihintay daw siyang kaibigan.

"Leo! Dito!" Sigaw niya at saka sumenyas sa aking likuran. As I looked over my shoulder, my lips slightly parted in surprise.

That Leo leisurely walked towards our direction. Naka-half bun na ngayon ang kanyang buhok. Kaya naman kita ko na ang earcuffs at piercings sa magkabilang tenga niya. Inilapag niya ang skateboard niya at saka hinubad ang itim niyang backpack. Sumunod ay humiga siya sa pekeng bermuda grass.

"Anong nangyari sa skateboard mo?" Tanong ni Travis na syang nagpakaba sa akin.

"I messed up with a kid." Sagot ni Leo na nagpainit ng tenga ko.

Talagang kid ha?!

"Bata? Sino? Mga pulubi na namamalimos ba?" Travis concluded so Leo immediately shook his head then his eyes darted to mine.

"With a little brat." He drawled then grinned.

My head burned hot real bad by what he said. Gusto kong sumagot sa mga pinagsasabi niya pero nanahimik na lang ako.

"Brat? Babae ba? Anong itsura?" Tanong naman ni Belle. Pinagpatuloy ko na lamang ang pagsusulat sa cartolina.

"Maganda." I saw in my peripheral vision how he uttered that word while glancing at my direction.

Nag-init ang aking magkabilang pisngi sa kanyang sinabi. My cheeks tinted pink at the compliment kasabay ng mahina niyang pagtawa.