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

10.18.19 - Changes

Changes
10.18.19

"Mi."

Nagulat ako nang marinig bigla ang boses. Sabay kaming napabaling ni Tita sa doorway. Nagtama ang tingin namin ni Kiel na biglang natigilan. Bakas ang pagkabigla sa mukha niya tapos halata pang bagong gising.

His gaze slid from me to his mom, then back at me. Lumapit siya sa akin. "Uy. . ."

Magulo pa ang buhok niya at may guhit-guhit sa gilid ng mukha, bakas ng hinigaan.

"Kanina ka pa?" He was about to hug me but stopped midway and just held up his hand.

He gave me a firm low five like how he would greet his boy friends.

"Sakto lang," tugon ko.

"Maaga uwian? Pupunta ka pala, 'di mo 'ko sinabihan."

"Absent last subject."

He glanced at his mom before sitting beside me. Tsaka ko lang napansin na bitbit niya pala ang bouquet na binili ko.

Nag-init ang pisngi ko.

Kiel checked the bouquet and lifted his eyes at me, shifted his gaze at his mom then back at me.

"Dala mo ba 'to?" he realized.

I nodded. His face lit up. "Akala ko galing kay mommy."

"May kasamang fruits."

He smiled sweetly. "Thank you. . ."

"Okay ka na?"

"Oo. Wala na 'ko lagnat." Naglakbay ang mga mata ko sa balat niyang namumula.

Nagtama ang mga tingin namin. We held gaze. He made a small smile before looking away.

My eyes lingered at him for a while.

Something's off.

Naging tahimik saglit ang paligid habang nakatitig lang ako sa countertop. Kiel broke the silence by asking his mom about something. Tita Kylie just nodded at him. Dumaldal pa si Kiel pero hindi na nagsalita ang ina. Maya-maya ay lumabas ng kusina si Tita.

I felt the tension.

Obvious na hindi sila okay. My heart clenched thinking that it was because of me. Pakiramdam ko dahil sa akin.

I suddenly felt like I shouldn't be here . . . For the first time, I felt like I wasn't welcome at their home.

It was enough to make me emotional. I really am becoming more and more sensitive.

"Upo ka." Kiel made me sit at the sofa. Nasa sala kami. He didn't invite me in his room this time. That alone says something.

"Ano ginawa niyo sa school?" pangangamusta niya, malambing ang boses. Hindi niya pa ako niyayakap. Hindi ako sanay.

Napabuntong-hininga ako. Gusto ko nang magtanong kung ano ang problema pero gusto ko siya ang magsabi sa akin.

"Wala naman," I replied.

Sumandal siya sa sofa paharap sa akin. He rested his cheek on his folded arms on the backrest. Nilingon ko lang siya nang tumagal ang pagtitig niya. My gaze slid down his arms. Kita ko ang pamumula ng balat niya mula sa rashes.

Isa pa 'yan. Bakit wala siyang sinasabi sa akin na naggaganyan siya kapag may lagnat?

"Rashes ba 'to?" I tried asking.

"Ah. . . Oo." Umayos siya ng upo para icheck ang mga braso. "Sa lagnat lang. Mawawala rin."

"Ganyan talaga siya? Madami? Kaya matagal kang absent pag may lagnat?"

He nodded. "Makati kasi, love."

"Naghuhoodie ka pa para hindi ko makita."

"Hala hindi ah. Alangan kasi iexpose ko pa, love, eh ang dami."

Tumango na lang ako.

"Nung. . . pag-uwi mo kahapon na nilalagnat ka. . . Anong sabi ni tita?" I asked.

"Ahh. . . Pinainom lang akong gamot tapos magpahinga raw. . ."

I waited for him to add more.

"Bakit mo 'ko dinalhan ng bulaklak?" he changed the topic.

"Wala. Gusto ko lang." Umiwas ako ng tingin.

"Yung. . ." I shifted from my seat to face him. "Di ba may pag-u-usapan pa tayo?"

"Hmm?"

"Remember before? Nag-iyakan tayo sa room mo. Kailan mo sasabihin sa akin kung ano talaga 'yung problema?"

"Ahh! Okay na 'yun! Okay na 'ko roon eh!"

"Still. Ano 'yun?"

"Ayoko nang iopen, baka gugulo pa eh. Okay naman na."

"Gusto kong malaman. . ."

"Promise. Okay na 'yun. Huwag mo na isipin." He rested his hand on mine. Bumagsak ang mga mata ko roon. "Walang problema. Huwag mo na isipin, hmm?"

He squeezed my hand and flashed a warm smile, assuring me that everything was fine. I managed to make a small smile even when I didn't feel like it. Because deep inside, I wanted that to be our truth.

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December 12, 2023