But Not Me (GxG)

BNM-18

Noelle Canarette

I find myself once again at Miss Agape's house for the second time. Nakaupo ako ngayon sa sofa dito sa living room, naghihintay sa kanya. She told me not to move dahil kukunin lang niya ang med kit.

Hindi ko maintindihan ang sarili kung bakit kusang sumusunod ang katawan ko sa sinasabi ni Miss Agape. Alam niya at alam ko how rebellious I can be. Usually, when we are together, we always argue and tease each other. We can't even have a decent conversation. Kaya ngayon, nakakapanibago na tahimik ako sa harap niya at sinusunod siya. I feel like a meek puppy wanting to be taken care of and given attention.

I heard the distinct sound of heels clicking against the floor, growing louder with each step. Habang palakas ng palakas ang tunog ng takong niya, sumasabay naman ang tibok ng puso ko and this feeling is freaking me out!

The feeling seems somewhat familiar, but at the same time, it's different.

Una ko tong naramdaman kay Khloe, my step-sister.

My body automatically stiffened nang tuluyan na siyang lumapit sa kinauupuan ko. Nalanghap ko agad ang perfume niya, It's a natural scent mix with the freshness of a forest. One thing I noticed is that she doesn't use just one perfume, she uses different ones. Maybe it depends on her mood.

"Here." Umupo siya sa left side ko and placed the med kit on her lap. "Let me see your face."

Since my body was stiff because of her presence, I didn't move. Nakaharap lang ako sa malaking TV na parang tuod. Suddenly, I felt her hand on my right cheek, guiding me to look at her.

"Are you okay?" Tanong niya nang tuluyan na akong makaharap sa kanya. "Do you want me to take you to the hospital?" Dagdag niya habang sinasalat ang noo ko.

Mabilis akong umiling at sinubukan na mag-relax. "Hindi na, okay lang ako."

"If you say so," Tinanggal na niya ang kamay at sinimulan na niyang buksan ang med kit. She first took out the gauze. She was about to apply something when she stopped and looked at me. "Don't tell me you're scared of this?"

"No!" Agad na sagot ko.

Hindi naman talaga ako natatakot. Parang tanga lang talaga ang katawan ko na nadadala sa ginagawa niya. It was as if I was being carried away by some unseen force, completely under her spell.

"You're weird. Are you sure you're okay?" Sasagot na sana ako when she suddenly brought her face closer, causing me to hold my breath. May ilang pulgada na lang ang pagitan namin. "Hindi ka naman nabagok, right?"

"Miss ma'am." Lakas loob kong sabi. Raising my hand, I placed my pointy and middle fingers against her forehead para itulak siya palayo. "Kung ginagamot mo na lang po ako."

"I'm just making sure. You're behaving so strangely right now. It's quite unusual." Kibit-balikat niyang sagot.

Nakahinga na ulit ako ng maayos nang simulan niyang kalikutin ang med kit niya. It's as if her face had a magnet and that's where my gaze was fixed. Hindi ko man nga lang napansin na ginagamot na niya pala ako, I was just staring at her face.

Umurong ako nang may ilalagay sana siya, pinilit ko pang tingnan kung ano ang nasa daliri niya.

"Stay still, it's just ointment." She showed me her finger with a white gel-like substance.