Unfinished Tale (✔️)

Kabanata 14

Cleotha

"W-What's that..." I asked in horror even if I already know that it was a birthmark.

Ilang beses akong napakurap. This can't be. Why do we have the same birthmark on the same wrist?

Hindi ko namalayang kinuha ko na ang kaniyang pulso upang maiging tingnan ang balat niya rito. I know it was just nothing, but my heart says that it's a big deal. Hindi ko rin maintindihan ang pagkirot ng dibdib ko habang nakatingin dito na parang may koneksiyon sa balat ko rin sa kaliwang pulso.

I looked at him in the eyes. His lips were just parting while looking at me. Kahit hinawakan ko nang walang paalam ang kaniyang pulso ay wala akong naramdamang pag-apila sa kaniya. Like he wanted me to see it... like he wanted me to hold it.

Hindi ko rin maintindihan ang emosyong nakaukit sa kaniyang mga mata habang nakalapat ang mga iyon sa akin. It seems like we were doing the eye behavior again.

"It's..." Nagpakawala siya ng malalim na buntong hininga na parang napakabigat sumagot sa 'kin. "It's a birthmark, of course." Nagpakawala siya ng nang-aasar na ngisi pero may napansin ko. He was trying to make a joke out of it but his eyes couldn't hide the pain.

Why? Is it because he also considers this as his insecurity just like me?

Pero bakit pakiramdam ko may mas malalim pa'ng rason?

Nang mahimasmasan ay agad kong binitawan ang kaniyang kamay at napalunok na nag-iwas ng tingin. God, what did I do? Napahawak ako sa aking sentido dahil pakiramdam ko bibiyakin na naman ito sa sakit.

"Yeah, I know," sabi ko, hindi nakatingin sa kaniya. "I'm sorry for holding it without your permission."

"It's actually fine."

Lumingon ako sa kaniya. Nakangiti na siya ngayon na parang nang-aasar na naman. Dahil doon ay bumalik na naman ang kunot ng aking noo.

"Your hand feels like comfort, Dorothy."

"Dorothy?" Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. Who the fuck is Dorothy?

Tumawa siya at ginulo ang buhok. "In short for Dorothea. Your second name sounds classic and beautiful. And maybe it's rare for you to be called by your second name so I'd be the one to call you that."

Napailing na lamang ako habang pilit na kinakalma ang sarili.

"My notebook..." I looked at him straight in the eyes. "Give that back to me. Dapat bukas ay masauli mo na sa 'kin." I made my voice stern.

I could feel my veins vanishing because of annoyance when he just smirked! Wala bang ibang alam ang lalaking ito kundi ang mang-asar kahit wala namang dahilan upang mang-asar? I rolled my eyes. I don't freaking understand myself. Kung kanina lang, halo-halong malambot na emosyon ang naramdaman ko habang nakatingin sa kaniya, ngayon naman parang gusto ko na naman siyang gulpihin.

"I don't understand what's funny," malamig kong sabi dahilan para matahimik siya.

He cleared his throat and was trying to suppress his smile or his laugh. He took his bag and opened it. Mas lalong kumunot ang aking noo nang makita ang pagkuha niya sa pamilyar na notebook.

"Are you making fun of me? Akala ko ba hindi mo nadala?" Nakakuyom ang aking mga kamao habang mariing nakatingin sa kaniya. Maikli lang ang pasensiya ko kaya hindi ko alam kung bakit hanggang ngayon ay hindi ako sumusuko sa mga kalokohan niya.

He chuckled. "Akala ko kasi hindi ko talaga nadala."

Bubuklatin niya sana ang notebook pero mabilis ko itong naagaw mula sa kaniya. I quickly embraced it like a treasure that I've been longing to hold. Isang linggo lamang itong nawala sa 'kin pero pakiramdam ko, ilang siglo ang dumaan. I don't know if it's just a coincidence but since this notebook got lost in my possession, my strange dreams stopped visiting me for a week.