Loving Sandro Gunner Esquivel

Chapter 12

Despite his unending set of questions, he listened well. Nakinig siya sa mga rason ko. It was not a big deal to him, but for me it is. Mabuti nalang at hindi niya pinilit ang mga gusto niyang mangyari.

Akala ko may pupuntahan siyang iba ng bigla siyang tumayo. But I was wrong 'cause he transferred next to me. Sakto lang, but because he's big and he spread his legs widely, halos sumiksik na ako sa gilid. Our arms and knees would touched for sure.

He does not mind the lack of space between us pero halos malagutan na ako ng hininga. Bakit ako nalang ang palaging mukhang apektado?

He started arranging the food from his paper bag. It was from an expensive resto outside the school. He got two set of steak, rice, steamed veggies, water, and slices of different fruits. Halos mahiya ako sa dala kong pagkain. Ginisang itlog sa repolyo at sweet kamote.

"May dala akong lunch." Nahihiyang sambit ko sa kanya.

"Then we both eat it, Sevie." He started cutting the steak and placed it in front of me after. Ramdam ko ang pamumula ng pisngi ko sa galawan niya. Mabuti na lang at hindi siya nakatingin sa akin.

Unti-unti kong linabas ang baon ko. Binuksan ko ito at tumingin sa kanya.

"I do not think you eat this kind of stuff, so it's fine. Baka sumakit pa tiyan mo." Natawa pa ako ng bahagya.

"You are forgetting what I've said to you. I'll eat whatever you cook, Sevie." He handed me my utensils.

He is not aware how his words affect me. I stared at him. He move with finest, halatang galing sa mayamang pamilya. He always looks so clean. Kahit na medyo makapal ang buhok niya at hindi ko naman masasabing clean cut ay sobrang ayos paring tingnan. Even his tone and the way he talk is very attractive. He has the voice that could attract an audience.

"Finish your food. You are too thin. I feel like I'll break you anytime." He said then started eating his share of food.

Hindi naman namin ginugutom ni Gracie ang mga sarili namin pero siguro ganito na talaga pangangatawan namin. Tiningnan ko siya at napangiti ng  una niyang kinain ang dala ko. I started eating as well.

I started with the steak and it was so good. Sobrang lambot ng karne. I started eating more. We ate in silence. A comfortable silence. I did not even realize that we both finished our food. Pati ang baon kong sweet kamote ay naubos namin.

"That was good, but you should not buy anymore for me. Nagbabaon naman ako araw-araw." I looked at him and he just raised his brow. Mukhang tutol na naman sa sinabi ko.

May natitira pa naman kami sa oras bago mag-alauna. Babalik pa siya ng building nila at malayo iyon.

"How was the research congress?" Banggit ko ng maalala iyon. Ngayong lunes ang sinabi niya sa akin.

"I already talked to the faculty. We are leaving tomorrow." Right. Nakalimutan kong Wednesday to Friday yung congress sa Singapore. And he will leave tomorrow. I won't see him for several days.

"Three days right?" He is looking at me so softly now.

Naramdaman ko ang kamay niya sa likod ko ng umatras ako ng kaunti. Kanina pa yun andoon and I realized how intimate we probably looked right now.

"Yes, but I'll see you on Saturday. I'll fetch you at your work." Umiling agad ako sa kanya at ngumiti ng bahagya.

"Magpahinga ka nalang." Suhestiyon ko sa kanya.

"No, I won't be able to properly rest without seeing you for how many days." Namula ako sa sinabi niya.

He lifted his left hand and softly caressed my cheeks. Making me look into his eyes. His emotions are too visible for me. No secrets to keep. He let me see through his eyes and see what he really feels. How can he be so honest?