I Wish You Knew

Chapter 08

The weekends passed by quickly and it was once again Monday, which meant that there was only a day left before Valentine's. I took in the view of the university's open field—the tents were up and banderitas of different colors could be seen. A small smile appeared on my lips, feeling proud of what we've done.

"Calli!"

I heard someone call out as I automatically gazed my eyes upon the direction of the voice. I came eye to eye with August, who wasn't too far away from where I was. I waved my hand at him and he waved back. I saw him smile before making his way towards me.

"Kamusta?" I asked him as he arrived to where I was. We were both under a tent, hidden from the warm rays of the sun.

"Okay lang. Tapos ko nang i-check 'yung area," he replied, wiping off some of the sweat that he had on the side of his head. "Ikaw?"

"Tapos na rin ako," I replied. Nakita ko siyang tumango-tango bago ako ulit tanungin.

"Samahan mo ako?" He tilted his head while asking.

"Saan?" Tanong ko habang nakakunot ang aking noo.

Tila natuwa naman ito sa mukhang ginagawa ko kaya natawa ito ng mahina. Inilagay niya ang kamay niya sa ulo ko at ginulo ng kaunti ang buhok ko. Inilayo ko na lamang ang sarili ko sa kan'ya. Lumakas ang tawa nito bago iwan ng kamay niya ang buhok ko.

Inayos ko ang buhok ko bago ko siya tignan. Nakatingin din siya sa'kin, isang mapaglarong ngiti ang mayroon sa kan'yang labi. I raised my brow at him, urging him to tell me more. He smiled a bit more before raising his hands in surrender.

"Sa gym. I-check ko lang 'yung mga gamit doon," he said. His hands were now inside the pocket of his slacks. A ghost of a smile crept my lips at what he said.

"Hindi mo ba kaya i-check mag-isa?" I asked, challenging him a bit. Alam ko naman na kayang-kaya niyang gawin 'yun mag-isa. I just wanted to see what he would answer me with, but out of all the potential answers I thought he would say, he chose one that I didn't saw coming.

"Kaya naman pero gusto ko na kasama ka."

Parang nag-malfunction 'yung utak ko sa sinabi niya. I couldn't formulate the right words to say so all I could do was stare at him while he was smiling down at me. I felt my face grow hotter by the second as I forced my eyes to look away.

"Okay. Mag-chat lang ako sa gc so they know kung saan tayo," I said, avoiding eye contact, before quickly taking my phone from my skirt's pocket. From my peripheral view, I saw August smile, making my cheeks burn even more.

After sending the message, and calming myself down, I finally looked at August, who seemed to be waiting for me.

"Tara na?" He asked, a gentle smile on his lips. I took a moment to breathe him in before nodding.

August led the way at sabay naming tinahak ang daan papunta sa gym. Malapit na kami sa aming destinasyon nang makarinig kami ng ingay ng mga nagsisigawang estudyante. Agad akong natigil sa paglalakad. Hinanap ng mga mata ko ang direksyon ng sigawan at duon ko nakita ang isang napakalaking grupo ng mga estudyante na nasa harapan ng gym.

Nagkatinginan kami ni August bago nagsimulang lumapit sa mga estudyante. Nang marinig namin na lumakas ang mga sigawan ay napilitan na kaming tumakbo.

Nakarating kami sa may harap ng gym na hinihingal parehas. Tinignan ko ng mabuti ang mga estudyante na nasa harapan, lahat ng mga ito ay nakatalikod sa amin. Maraming nagsasalita kaya mas maingay na ang sitwasyon ngayon.

I was about to ask one of the students on what was happening when I heard sounds of skin coming in contact with skin, accompanied with groans. And it suddenly made sense to me what was happening.