lilies.

37

Kabanata 37

6 months into knowing Rai, we always spent everyday together. It's November now and we're in the Second Semester of the School Year. Our schedules change. Rai's class ends at 3pm and most of my classes end at 4pm. Sakto lang iyon. Considering his travel time from Ateneo to BGC, by the time my class ends, he's already in the Parking.

No one knew about us yet. Syempre maliban kay Gab. Maybe only a few people is familiar with Rai at school. My friends are so used to seeing me riding his car that they thought he was my driver. That's why no one asked question.

6 months in, I feel like I warmed up to him. I kind of loosen up already and am comfortable being around him. It's not that I could open up like I usually do with Gab but still, not being nervous around him is a blessing for me so I won't embarrass myself so often.

"Hiningi ni Jack ang number mo," Steve said to me after class. Pababa na kami sa NE Building.

"Jack who?" Wendy asked, curious.

"Tuason, kaklase natin sa Business, he's an Architecture, senior."

"Tuason of Iloilo, right? My gosh," Tili ni Wendy, "Ang pogi no'n, Lily. Please, don't tell me you'll reject him like Kuya Logan!"

Logan Roxas is a CE student, too, but ahead of us by 1 year. He courted me when I was a freshman. I swear, during that time, I'm not really over with Adriel. That was only a few months after prom. Although, he is nice and respects me as well. We never really went on a date. We just text and end in text as well.

"Lily!" May humawak sa balikat ko kaya napatigil kaming tatlo sa pag-uusap at paglalakad dahil tumigil din ako. It's Rowan Brias, our new blockmate. Ngayon lang siya nalipat sa block namin. Magkatabi rin kami sa isang subject. Ayos naman siya pero medyo madaldal. He's into reading too.

Hinintay ko siyang magsalita. Hinihingal pa siya dahil tumakbo yata siya. "The book? Iyong napag-usapan natin kahapon?"

Napakurap pa ako roon at nang maalala, "Oh! Oo nga pala, hindi ko nadala. Tomorrow na lang, sorry."

"Okay, pauwi na kayo?"

"Yes, nandyan na sundo ko," I answered. Hindi ko naman pwedeng sabihin si Rai iyon at hindi ko rin naman siya driver kaya hindi ko rin pwedeng sabihin iyon. That's the safest word to use.

Nagpaalam na rin si Rowan dahil mukhang may gagawin pa siya sa school at hindi pa uuwi. Hindi ko naman tinatanong kung ano dahil hindi naman ako interesado.

"Rowan likes you," Wendy whispered, "He has a money to buy a book, bakit niya kailangang hiramin sa'yo? Syempre para pumorma. I know that move."

I know when people like me. When guys confess, that's when I start drawing the line and avoid them. Rowan is still not voicing his feelings so I kind of still entertain his advances. It's because I know their intentions but I don't want to be called assuming. I won't believe hearsay or even my hunch unless stated.

It's bearable to communicate with someone with intentions of friendship but when it starts to go beyond that that's when I run away. Gab said I shouldn't so I'm trying not to be like that with Rai. I don't want to do it with literally everyone that will be exhausting.

"Hi!" bati ko nang makasakay ng sasakyan ni Rai.

He smiled. "Hi," tinuro niya ang likuran ng sasakyan niya.

Nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita na may bulaklak doon. I immediately smiled, "For me?"

"Yeah."

"What for?"

Kinuha niya ang bulaklak at inabot sa akin. It's Peonies. Hinawakan ko iyon at inamoy. It smells so good. It is so beautiful too.

"Just because."