Complacent
I wasn't busy that weekend. Nasa cafeteria kami ni Akio. I was feeling sleepy that afternoon when I saw Altaro walking alone. Napaayos ako nang pagkaka-upo. Malayo ang agwat ng department namin sa kanila. Kaya nakakapagtaka na nandito siya. Sa pagkakaalam ko ay may mini-canteen naman doon. I saw Akio looked behind. Napansin siguro ang kilos ko. He then shook his head and looked back on his food.
Hindi na ulit ako nakapunta sa bahay niya. My mom scolded me after what happened to my dog. Akala ko ay malalagpasan ko na iyon. And after one month, nandito si Altaro.
"How much is this?" Inangat ko ang pirasong candy sa gilid. I saw Altaro looked at me on my peripheral view.
I looked at him and acted surprised. "Ikaw pala."
I saw the edge of his mouth twitch before looked away, paying his drinks. He then looked back at me.
"Are you sure with that candy?" Si Altaro.
Gulat pa ako. Akala ko ay hindi niya ako kakausapin. He checked his wrist watch before looked back at me.
"Uhm, yeah." I awkwardly handed my coins, paying the poor candy-only excused to talk to him. "Are you free today? It's my first time seeing you this year here."
He nodded a bit and glanced to the students near us. Sinundan ko ng tingin iyon. I frowned while looking at them. They are obviously freshmen. Bumalik lang ang tingin ko nang magsalita muli si Altaro.
"Kumain kana?" Tanong nito na nagpapigil sa hininga ko.
I slowly nodded. "Kumain na ako. Bakit?"
He looked away and shook his head. Sinulyapan niya si Akio sa malayo bago tumango at pinukol sa akin ang mga mata.
"I'll go now." He was about to walk away when I grabbed his arm.
Nabitawan ko rin agad nang huminto siya at tinignan ako. Nagtatanong ang kan'yang mga mata kaya ngumiti ako.
"If you don't mind, I'll visit you this weekend. I have something to show you." I winked.
His lips suddenly parted. He blinks and looked away. Kalaunan, tumango siya saka nagpatuloy maglakad palabas.
Hindi ko alam kung anong dapat maramdaman. Natapos na ang exam namin at weekend na bukas. I wasn't excited for the rest day, lalo na at sabi ni mama ay pupunta kaming Baguio next week. I was excited for this weekend. I'll visit Altaro again in that lone house. Kaya naman pagka-kinabukasan, maaga akong gumising at sinabing magbibisiklita lang ako sa labas.
I rode my bicycle and stopped when I reached the edge of Glan. Nadaanan ko pa kanina ang mansion. Napansin ko na nakasarado na iyon. I hope down and let my bike rest on Altaro's fence. I knocked on the gate to indicate I was here, but no one answered. Nakabukas naman iyon kaya pumasok na ako.
Walang tao sa labas. Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang patio, wala siya roon. I walked inside and search for him, only to find out that the door of his house was open.
"Altaro?" I called out. I heard a sound of footsteps. I saw Altaro in his sleepy eyes. Kagigising lang ba niya? I grinned.
He raised his eyebrows. Inaantok pa. He open the door widely. Doon ko nakita na wala siyang pang itaas. He was just wearing his pajamas. Magulo pa ang buhok. He used towel to cover his chest. I grinned more.
"Good morning," I greeted.
"Seriously? You're here... at this hour?" He let the door widely open and walked back inside.
Hindi ko alam kung susundan ko ba, pero mas pinili kong manatili sa labas.
"May lakad kami mamayang hapon. We're going to Baguio. So, I made this early." I said loudly, para marinig niya sa loob.
BINABASA MO ANG
Before Sunrise (Scenery Series #2)
Romance"If we had never met, it would have saved us both some grief," she hissed, her voice laced with a bitterness that chilled the air. Chekaia Fluer Mercado, a woman whose wealth had insulated her from true hardship, now found herself drowning in a sea...
