Eren Pierce Salazar

Kabanata 25

We're like the air and the sun, we always meet anywhere and anytime

''Are you going to study again?'' Eren asked me while following me to our garden.

I don't know why my Papa let him come inside our house.

''Hindi naman, nag pahinga lang ako. Nasaan si Sky?'' I asked as I turned to him to look his back if Sky was there.

''I don't know. I'm here naman. I can play with you'' he said, sliding a little bit at his side to block my sight kaya napatingin ako sa mga mata niya. He was looking at me so gently but may tampo ng kaunti. Why would he feel that? Hindi naman kami masyadong close.

I sighed and he pouted.

''Maka buntong hininga naman, parang ayaw mo sa akin. Last week binigyan kita ng cupcake and you told me your name. I thought we're friends already...'' may tampo ulit.

Nakatingin lang ako sa mukha niya. Hula ko pag laki niya kasing gwapo siya ni Kuya. He's handsome... His skin brightened as the sun hit it and the color of his eyes... I can see myself on his eyes clearly...

''I want Sky'' I said nonchalantly.

He became silent and his eyes dropped and it felt like I was wrong for telling him that. I don't want them to get offended. Masakit ang palo...

''I'm sorry...'' mahina kong sabi but he was just looking at me, his face lightened a little bit but he didn't talk anymore...

''Wag mo akong isusumbong...'' mahina kong sabi ulit. I don't want another slap... Mahapdi pa pisngi ko kasi nasampal ako ni Papa, kinain ko kasi iyong bigay niyang cupcake tapos saktong umuwi sina Papa. Pinatawag ako sa office niya tapos nasampal ako sa pisngi. Masakit...

Nakita ko ang pagbuntong hininga niya. ''Hindi kita isusumbong kapag sinagot mo tanong ko'' sabi niya pa. Agad akong tumango na parang gustong-gusto ang sasabihin niya pero ang totoo lang ay ayaw ko lang talagang masampal o mapalo kapag nagsumbog siya kay Papa na naging salbahe ako.

''Ano?''

''Bakit gusto mo si Sky ang kasama mo?'' tanong niya. I can see from his eyes that he was curious and planning something. It scares me but I don't want him to tell my father that I was bad to him...

''Kasi gusto ko siya...'' sagot ko. Totoo naman kasi, gusto ko palaging kasama si Sky kasi magka vibes kami pareho kami ng age tapos mabait si Sky sa akin tapos binibili niya ako madaming chocolates!

''Do you know why I want to be with you?'' biglang tanong niya. Napakarahan ng boses niya. Hindi ka makakahindi sa pagsagot.

''Ha?'' Ang tanging naisagot ko

''Parang sagot mo lang kung bakit gusto mo si Sky...'' Kumunot ng bahagya ang aking noo lalo na't hindi ko batid ang gusto niyang sabihin.

Bigla siyang ngumiti. Napaka gandang... Lahat ng ala-alang masasakit ay parang unti-unting nawawala sa ganda ng ngiti niya. Kitang kita ang kumikinang niyang mga mata dahil nadin nakatutok ang liwanag ng araw sa kanya na parang inaabangan din ang mga ngiting taglay niya at sa ngiting iyon nalaman ko na ang gusto niyang ipabatid sa akin.

Gusto niya ako...

''Maria, tara na!'' Napangiti ako ng higitin ako ni Eren. Ngayon ay tumatakbo na kami sa ulan. Graduation ko na.

Tumatawa pa kaming dalawa habang nasa ilalim ng ulan. Tumatakbo papauwi dahil na traffic ang driver naming dalawa. Puno rin ang mga taxi dito sa kalsada, pati mga jeep kaya tumatakbo na lang kami.

He's the one who walked on the stage for me, nagsabit ng medal ko. Mama said she'd be late and she was right. My graduation was already done and she's still not here with me...