lilies.

34

Kabanata 34

The first few weeks together, we either went to the movies or just walked around High Street. I sometimes think that he finds me boring. Hindi naman niya sinasabi iyon. Ako lang ang nakaisip. What I find fun, may not look fun for him. Nahihiya naman akong sabihin sa kanya ang naiisip ko kasi baka totoo.

During these times, he always held my hand and I am starting to get used to it.

Tuwing Tuesday at Thursday ay hanggang alas singko ang pasok niya. Ako naman hanggang alas kwatro. Napagkasunduan namin na hihintayin ko na lang siya. He doesn't want me to but I'm used to waiting for Gab so it's not a big deal. Ako naman ang may gusto non.

Madalas akong sumabay kay Wendy at nagpapababa na lang sa High Street. Doon ako bababa at maghahanap ng coffee shop kung saan ako pwedeng mag-aral at maghintay.

Ganoon din ngayong araw. Kakatapos lang ng acquaintance ball nitong nakaraang linggo kaya iyon pa rin ang topic namin ni Wendy.

No one talked about me when Wendy and Steve announced their relationship. As I planned. Happy for them. Siguro si William lang ang talagang nagreklamo sa akin non. They believed that I didn't know that Steve asked me to be his date so that people won't suspect their relationship.

I usually find a place where no one's inside. Mas gusto ko ang ganoon. Less crowd and quiet place. Mas nakakapag-concentrate rin ako kapag ganon.

Kakatapos ko pa lang mag-order ay nakatanggap na agad ako ng message mula kay Rai.

Rai:

Our prof's absent. Where are you?

Tinext ko ang pangalan ng coffee shop. Pinagpatuloy ko ang paggawa ng assignment. Hindi naman ako matalino. Madalas kapag hindi ko na alam nangongopya na lang ako kay Steve. Siya ang pinakamatalino sa batch namin.

May mga subject naman kami na mas magaling ako kay Steve. It's a fair trade.

I'm so focused with what I'm doing that I only noticed Rai when he sits beside me. Tahimik lang siyang naupo. Hinihintay marahil na ako ang bumati.

"I'll just finish this," I said then returned to what I'm solving.

He didn't answer. He waited till I'm done. However I notice and can feel him staring at me. Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya nang matapos ang isang problem.

"Hi," I smiled.

Ang bango niya.

"Done?"

"That's just one problem. 4 left."

"Continue what you're doing, I'm gonna order coffee. Anything you like?"

"No, I'm good."

Sinundan ko ng tingin si Rai. The cashier looked at him like she's starstruck. Binalik ko ang tingin sa ginagawa.

Nang mahirapan ay minessage ko ang groupchat namin nina Steve at Wendy. Tumawag sa akin si Steve, saktong nakabalik na si Rai sa tabi ko.

Sinilip niya ang cellphone ko na nakapatong sa lamesa sa banda niya. I slide my finger on it to answer the call.

"Hello, Lily?"

Rai snake his right arm on my waist. He leaned down to put his head on my shoulder. I can feel his breath on my neck. Hindi ako nakapagsalita agad para sagutin si Steve. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang unang iisipin. Ang kamay niya sa baywang ko o ang labi niya sa leeg ko o ang isasagot kay Steve.

"Why?" I answered while trying to scribble on my paper. Wala na talagang pumapasok sa isip ko.

"I finished answering that. Kumopya ka na lang sa akin. Iyong isang assignment natin tapos mo na?"

"Oo, I finished it kaninang lunch."

"Then you're done. Good! Pakopya ako non. Send ko mamaya, send mo rin ang sayo."

"Yeah, I'll try to answer this still. Bye."

"Bahala ka, bye."

Hinayaan kong si Steve ang magbababa ng tawag.

"Who's Steve?" Rai asked after call. Ganoon pa rin ang posisyon namin.

"A friend."

"I'm your friend, too, Lily. What friend?" He asked, teasing.

"A friend," I answered, frustrated. How can I explain what a friend means? I mean it's pretty self explanatory, "Who has a girlfriend who is my friend as well?"

"Hmm, okay," He continued burying his face on my neck. "Continue what you're doing. We'll go home once you're finished."

He's not doing anything aside from watching me. Wala nang pumapasok sa isip ko dahil sa iniisip ko na nakatingin siya sa akin at sa ginawa ko, at kung gaano kami ka-intimate ngayon.

Nang hindi ko na matagalan ay nagsalita na ako. "I can't focus," I whispered, "Your hands, and you're too close."

"You're used to holding hands now, so I'm trying something new so you'll get used to it too."

Inangat niya ang ulo niya. Idinikit niya pa ako sa kanya. Pinagsalikop niya ang kamay niya na nasa baywang ko at isa pa niyang kamay kaya yakap yakap niya na ako.

"Too much PDA," I whispered. He only chuckled.

"There's no one here."

Pakiramdam ko ay namumula na ako. Inayos ko na ang gamit ko. Pinagpatong patong ko na ang mga papel na ginamit.

"I'm done, let's go home."

"You said, you'll try to solve the problem," He smirked, "Let's stay like this. Do your thing."

"No, I'm done. Let's go."

He just chuckled. He tightened the hug even more. Our faces are so near!

"You are having so much fun teasing me," I pouted.

"Hmm, uh-huh," He answered lazily.

"So mean."

Inilapit niya ang labi sa tainga ko at bumulong, "I want to kiss you."