Guarded Soul (The Brats #2)

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Art and You

Pagdating namin sa cafe ni Celine, abot tainga ang ngiti niya. Nakausap ko siya nang matagal bago kami dumiretso ni Rejo sa itaas. She was so nice to me. She looks fun and kind.

Sa second floor ulit kami nag-stay. Pagdating namin, may ilang mga tao pero buti na lang wala kaming kakilala sa kanila. Hindi pa rin matanggal-tanggal ang pagiging paranoid ko tuwing kasama si Rejo. I feel like anytime people will know about my intentions and feelings.

I looked at Rejo who is now busy stroking his brush pens on his new sketchpad. I smiled slightly while biting my lower lip.

Same table. Same person. Hope this will last for a long time. Alam ko naman kung saan hahantong 'tong ginagawa namin, eh.

Whatever. I'll enjoy what the present time is holding for me.

"Like this?" he asked gently and raised his sketchpad for a while so I could see it. "I know it's not yet perfect like yours, but I have improvements, right? What do you think?" sunod-sunod niyang sabi.

Natawa ako nang mahina. I'm still not used to his talkative side. When will I ever be used to him doing things with me, anyway?

"That's actually nice for a beginner," nakangiti kong sabi dahil sino ba ang hindi mapapangiti sa gwapong 'to?

He smirked, like he was proud of what he did. Binaba n'ya ang sketchpad n'ya at uminom sa kaniyang matcha drink. I sighed while thinking if we really have the same favorite or did he like matcha because... of me. Kasi hindi naman siya umiinom ng gan'yan noon. He always orders chocolate or anything with caramel.

Nagkatinginan kami, napansin niya yatang nakatitig ako sa kan'ya. My heart started pounding a bit faster than usual. Humihigop siya habang nakatingin sa akin. Nahiya ako sa sarili ko nang maisip na kailan kaya ang turn kong mahigop.

This is Ashanti's fault. Dahil sa mga unfiltered and vulgar words niya tuwing kasama ako, nagagaya ko!

"Your sketch last time was really nice. Magaling ka pa lang mag sketch?" I asked him when he didn't tear his eyes off me.

His eyes are captivating. Ang daya, 'no? Boys usually have darker eyebrows, thicker eyelashes, and narrow noses.

He nibbled his lip for a second before nodding. "I love sketching people's faces. I don't have the right materials so that sketch was not my best piece."

Tumango ako, namamangha sa nalaman. He's artistic, too. Hindi ko 'yon alam dahil hindi naman siya nagpo-post ng mga arts niya. Hindi ko pa rin siya nakitang nag-art.

"I can make you a portrait. Gusto mo ba?"

Bakit naman hindi?

I nodded. "Of course... Baka ipa-frame ko pa 'yan kung sakali," I said out loud when it was only supposed to be between myself and I.

Humalakhak siya at napabuntong-hininga naman ako. I feel like my eyes are dilating right now. Pakiramdam ko halata sa ekspresyon ko kung gaano ko siya kagusto. I just can't help being natural around him now. Patagal nang patagal nagiging kumportable na talaga ako sa kan'ya.

"Okay, send me a pic of yours," he said. Parang may paghahamon sa tono n'ya.

I was happy when he said that, but then I don't want to have a conversation with him on any platform. Saka na lang muna 'yon kahit curious ako kung anong pakiramdam na makausap siya palagi sa chat.

"Take a picture of me na lang ngayon," nasabi ko dahil wala nang maisip na ibang way.

Hindi naman pwedeng ipabigay ko kay Kuya ang printed copy ng picture ko. Baka masapak niya pa si Rejo sa oras na malaman 'tong mga ginagawa namin.