Captured in His Eyes (The Art of Life #1: Art Version) [COMPLETED]

10.25.19 - The Lucky One

The Lucky One
10.25.19

Vacant namin ngayon dahil absent ang subject teacher at walang substitute. Lumabas ako, gustong magbasa pero hindi magawa sa room dahil sa gulo.

Naglakad ako sa corridor papunta sa hagdan paakyat sa library. My steps lightened when I saw Ailene standing in front of the bulletin board beside the staircase.

Nilagpasan ko ang hagdan at chineck kung anong binabasa niya.

Marami ang nakapaskil pero ang mga mata niya ay nasa comic strip tungkol sa Mental Health Awareness na pinagtulong-tulungan naming buohin. Sinulat ko, iginuhit ni Harvin, at dinigitalized nila ni Kiel.

"Ang ganda ng pagkakasulat," Ailene broke the silence.

Napalingon ako sa kaniya. Ganoon din siya sa akin.

"Bagay ka sa journalism," she added.

Otomatiko akong napangiti. My heart would always flutter whenever someone compliments my writing.

"Writer . . . Tapos photographer. Bagay."

"Hindi ako mahilig kumuha ng photo."

"Hindi naman ikaw yung photographer."

". . ."

I blinked.

"H-Ha? Ah. . . Ikaw din, ang galing mo sa digital arts," pagbabago ko ng topic.

"Saan ka?" she asked.

"Library sana."

She nodded and returned her eyes to the paper.

"Ikaw?" I asked.

She shrugged. "Baba siguro."

"Gusto mo bang. . . samahan kita?"

Napalingon siya sa akin, nagulat pa sa pag-a-alok ko. I looked away, felt cringey and awkward for myself.

"Sige lang," she replied.

Nauna siyang maglakad. Napalingon pa siya sa akin nang humabol ako para masabayan siya. I straightened my back and loosely tangled my fingers from both hands behind as I mirrored her pace.

Walang nagsasalita sa amin habang pababa kami.

Bakit ba sumama pa ako at ginugulo siya rito! Baka gusto niyang mag-isa!

"Si Kiel."

Natigil ang pakikipagtalo ko sa sarili nang magsalita si Ailene. I followed her line of vision. Doon ko nakita si Kiel sa lounge, kasama sina Rain at Rovin, pati si Jamila na taga kabilang section at kausap ni Kiel ngayon. She cracked up---humored, her body leaning towards Kiel.

My eyes got drawn back to Ailene as I felt her gaze. She looked expectant, waiting for something from me.

"Hayaan mo siya," I said nonchalantly and continued walking.

Napahinto ako nang makarinig nang pagtawag maya-maya. "Avien!" It was Rain's voice.

Lumingon ako sa direksyon nila. I felt Kiel's eyes on me but I couldn't return his gaze.

These past few days. . . I didn't know if I was the only one. . . but I'd been feeling like something changed in our relationship. I couldn't pinpoint what exactly. Pero pakiramdam ko hindi na kami tulad ng dati.

Hindi ko masabing nanlalamig siya sa akin dahil hindi. He never failed to make me feel loved even at times like this.

Ako lang. Hindi ako makuntento roon. It wasn't enough to make me feel secured in our relationship as I was before.