Dumaan ang malakas na hangin dahilan para magulo ang nakalugay kong buhok. Binaba ko saglit ang librong hawak at tinanaw si Jackson sa soccer field kung saan kausap ang mga nakaupong mga first year student sa field. Sila raw ang nakapasa sa try outs na pasok sa soccer team, bilang isang captain ball hawak sila ni Jackson.
He is speaking with so much intimidation with passion. Seeing him like this always surprised me, that I saw the new side of him. I asked him once what his plans were after graduation. He told me that he likes to be a coach in a soccer team one day.
Simple yet peaceful dream.
He continued his talking while he suddenly glanced at my direction, agad kong binalik ang mata sa librong binabasa. Mabilis nagkalat ang init sa batok ko.
Damn him.
Kanina pa tapos ang klase ko at ihahatid niya raw ako sa shift kahit sinabi kong huwag na but knowing his stubbornness I agreed to him just for this day. Inangat ko ulit ang tingin sa kaniya, hindi ko marinig ang sinasabi pero malalaking ngiting naka bahid sa mga nakapasa sa try out at nagsisi palakpakan. Isa isa na silang tumayo at niligpit ang mga gamit bago nagpaalam kay Jackson.
Jackson walked toward me with his knowing smile.
Binuksan ko ang kaniyang bag pack at inilabas ang kaniyang water bottle, itinabi ko roon at binalik ang atensyon sa libro ko. Agad siyang tumabi sa akin sa pagkakaupo sa gilid, pinagdikit ko lalo ang dalawang binti at nanatili ang mga mata sa isang verse na binabasa, pilit iniitindi ang nakapaloob pero yung utak ko ayaw makisama.
"I told you to take a nap in the library." Sinabi niya kanina sa library na niya ako sunduin pero mas pinili kong puntahan siya rito.
"Library is the place where students are reading and making school activities, hindi para matulog doon." He softly chuckled at my statement. Dumaan ang pahapong hangin, hindi mainit at hindi rin ganoon kalamig.
"Fair enough. So do I need to book a room in the hotel so you can take a nap then?" nilipat ko ang pahina ng libro at sinalubong ang nag aabang niyang tingin sa akin.
"Mukha na ba akong zombie sa paningin mo at pinipilit mo akong matulog?" he smiled that it gave a warmth in my chest. Alam niyang pagod ako lagi sa magkasunod sunod na schedule sa school at trabaho. Pagkatapos ng tatlong araw noong umamin niya, ngayon lang ulit kami nagkita.
"Ikaw ang pinaka magandang zombie na nakilala ko." He winked and drank water from his bottle without taking his eyes off me.
"So you agreed that I looked a zombie?" mabilis siyang nabulunan at ubo siya nang ubo dahil sa tubig o sa sinabi ko? Kahit nakakatawa siyang tignan pinilit kong pakalmahin ang expresyon ko.
Suddenly, in his pitiful state right now a thought lingered in my mind. His rough cough, the ways his eyes got teary, his palm slapping his chest part—I will remember him this way. I will remember how the sun setting above slowly fading and us sitting here in a comfortable and peaceful surrounding, away from the judging eyes and loud gossiping.
I will always remember this scene, this memory and him.
"Alam na alam mo kung paano ako kuhanin, huh?" he held my both cheeks and pull me closer to him.
A serenity pulse ran in my chest.
"Kunin saan?" he shut his eyes and rubbed his forehead in mine that cause my breathing hitched.
"Damn it, I like you so much, Roseanne." Bulong niya na tila ba gusto lang iparinig sa akin ang mga katagang iyon.
Oo, rinig na rinig ko.
Pabiro kong tinulak ang mukha niya papalayo.
"Drink your water." He only laughed and still obeyed what I said. Binalik ko ang atensyon sa librong binabasa at paunti unting binabalik ang hangin sa baga na kanina pa nawawala.
BINABASA MO ANG
Thorns
RomanceThorns tells the story of a woman who had given up on the idea of love. She had seen too much heartache and disappointment in her life to believe that it was real. But one day, unexpectedly, she met someone who changes everything. He challenges her...
