A Collision of Hearts and Heroes

Chapter 6

Clarissa's POV

Arie

Humigpit ang hawak ko sa paperbag na tinatago ko ngayon sa ilalim ng lamesa. I was keeping this inside my handbag earlier and I guess no one saw me take it from inside. Ngunit nang dumapo ang tingin ni Gasper sa akin ay lumakas ang tibok ng puso ko. Parang may hinihintay siya galing sa akin.

"How about you, Clarieth?" Aniya, titig na titig sa akin.

Fuck! Does he noticed me holding a paper bag? But no, he wasn't here when I took the gift. Hindi ko rin naman ibinalandra-ni si Lyle nga na kasama ko palagi ay hindi napansin. Pero paano kung nakita nga ni Gasper?

Dapat hindi niya nakita!

"Uh..." I swallowed the lump in my throat. "A-ano kasi, wala akong gift na na-prepare kasi hindi ko napaghandaan, oo. I just found out now that it's your birthday," I licked my lips. "I'm sorry."

Nanatili ang titig niya nang ilang segundo bago tumaas ang sulok ng kaniyang labi. Was he not buying my answer or was he somehow noticing me lying to him?

"Next birthday nalang," Alchie spoke.

"Kung may next birthday pa 'yan," biro ni Lyle na agad pinalagan ni Gasper. "Joke lang, syempre dapat sabay tayong lalamayan. Hanggang sa hukay magkasama dapat tayo para 'til death do us part."

"Nandamay pa. Kung mamamatay ka, mauna ka na h'wag mo ako isama," rebut ni Gasper.

They laughed at it. I wasn't feeling up on vibing with them but because I couldn't ignore how intensely Gasper was staring at me, I forced myself to laugh. They resume what they are doing. Si Gasper naman ay busy na ngayon sa cellphone na malamang ay tiningnan ang mga regalo na natanggap.

Hay, salamat naman at tinatantanan niya na rin ako ng titig. Iba pa naman ako mataranta-nanghahalik.

"May kukunin lang ako saglit sa kotse," paalam ko kay Zedi.

I covered the paper bag using my cardigan to hide it from them. Tumalikod na ako bago pa may makapansin sa akin.

"Nasa'n ba si Gaviel at Vince? Bakit hindi dumating?" I heard one of their friends ask while I was walking away.

"Busy sa internship nila," si Gasper ang sumagot.

I didn't hear what they said next because I'm already far. I was already standing in front of my car's door when I caught sight of a trash bag. I cast a quick look at the paper bag in my hold and then shifted my gaze toward the trash bag once more. An exhaled sigh escaped me as I pondered my next course of action. Naglakad ako patungo roon at noong akmang itatapon ko na ay biglaang dumating si Zedi.

"What are you doing?" She asked me as she looked at the paper bag.

"I have decided to throw it."

"Ris, try to give it to him. Malay mo magustuhan niya 'di ba? Kasi, if I were Gasper, I would have greatly appreciated it since it was the most one-of-a-kind present I have ever gotten. You know... Naiiba sa lahat."

I bit my lower lip. I was so excited to give this to him because I feel like this is cute, and extraordinary. Proud na proud ako noon dahil tingin ko ay magugustuhan niya ito pero ngayong napagtanto kong ibang bagay ang makapagpasaya sakaniya ay nahihiya ako.

"But you are not Gasper," I looked down.

Hindi siya nakasagot agad.

"This is the first time I saw you acting like this," she gently spoke. "Gustong gusto mo talaga si Gasper."

He is just my crush. Nothing more than that, pero ayokong i-deny na iba ang pag-trato ko kay Gasper. I have experienced liking someone before, but I didn't take any action like the way I treated Gasper. I have never dealt anyone with such exceptional care and affection until him.