Under The City Lights Of Chicago

Chapter 11

Mabilis akong nagbihis sa may banyo. Dahil hindi lumabas si Zaiden. Ang kapal dahil ako pa ang nag adjust.

When I went out from the bathroom. Napadapo agad ang mata ko sa kama. Zaiden was laying down while resting his head on his palm. Parang chill na chill.

Napairap ako. At ikinangisi niya naman.

"Bakit hindi ka lumabas nahihiya ka no?" Panunuyo ko sa kaniya.

He leaned on sidewards para balingan ako.

"I don't. It makes me even happy and excited to went out. To see their reactions."

Binalingan ko siya at inirapan muli. Tinuyo ko na ang buhok ko. Para makalabas na. If I won't going out baka mas malala pa ang iisipin ni Auntie Mela.

"So why are you still here?"

He laughed. "I waited for you. You know to look like a gentleman. They thought that we really did something. And if I head out first. They might think something off about me."

Plastic naman neto. Hindi ko na siya pinansin at mabilis na lumakad pa labas. Rinig ko pang sigaw niya tinatawag ako. Pero hindi ako tumigil. Deritso lang akong lumabas papuntang kusina.

I looked at my Aunties. They were so noisy. Napara bang may sinasabi sa isa't isa through with their low voices, pero no'ong dumating ako ay napatigil. Hindi naman ako nahiya. Dahil hindi naman totoo ang kung ano man ang iniisip nila.

Napayuko si Auntie Mela nang napatingin ako sa kaniya gano'on na rin si Auntie Lolen! Kaya napakunot naman ang noo ko. They were silent the whole time. And sometimes looking at eachother. Talking through their eyes.

I heard someone from outside. Kaya tinalikuran ko muna sila para buksan sana ang pinto.

"It's on me!" I halted. He smugly smiled. At kunot noo ko namang tiningnan si Zaiden that were running, rushing towards the door.

"What's that?"

A man from the outside. Give some paperbags to Zaiden. Ano ang mga yan? Bakit may ganyan? I was curious. Kaya pumunta ako sa kaniya. The door were slowly ajar.

"Who's that?" Bumaling siya sakin. Pero hindi niya ako pinansin. He was talking on the guy. Hindi naman siya mukhang dilivery guy. I scanned my sight at the paperbags.

"Hi." Napabaling ako sa lalaking naka cap. Sa may pinto nang nagsalita siya. He smiled at me. Pero hindi ko makita ang kabuoang mukha dahil sa kaniyang cap. But his dimples showed up.

Ryle? Or not?

I was about to utter my response. And smile at the guy. When Zaiden blocked me. He was tall for God's sake. Kaya hindi ko makita ang lalaking naka cap even I jump. I take a peak on his side. But his right arm covered it instead. Isinandal iyon sa hamba ng pinto habang kinakausap ang lalaki.

So I decided to stop. Napairap ako at napa halukipkip. He closed the door as it slowly creaked. Unti unti siyang bumaling sakin. At sumandal.

"What?!" He laughed. Inismiran ko lang siya. "If looks can kill. I already died. What's with the look?"

"Sino yon?" I asked.

Pero ang kapal! Dahil hindi niya man lang ako pinansin! What's wrong him? Tinalikuran niya na ako pagkatapos. Hindi manlang sinagot ang tanong ko. Akala niya sasagutin ko rin siya. Ang tanong niya!

"What are those?" Napanguso ako. Rushing to be on his side.

He stopped on his hills. "These are my clothes."

Ano?!

"Akala ko ba. May exams ka?! "

Tuluyan niya akong liningon.