COLD AS ICE (JAVIER SERIES #1)

CHAPTER 9- PRIMO MIO

PRIMO MIO

SHE WAS staring at the man beside her, she could tell na marami siyang bagay na iniisip, his face was blank with no emotions, pero sabi nga nila 'The eyes are the window to the soul' his blue eyes seemed like they were filled with sadness in them, although she cannot read what is in his mind, she wanted to shake whatever he might be thinking at that moment, dahil nakatitiyak siyang di magsasalita ang binata kung tanongin niya kung anong iniisip nito.

She wanted to know more about him, yet she doesn't want it to seem uncomfortable for him, in her head she thought it would be better just to not talk, but she doesn't want the conversation to end there either.

"Naglalaro kapa ba ng Chess sir?" She asked, trying to distract him. Raven was still focused on the road "Not anymore really..." He answered, saglit niyang tinignan ang dalaga, her chin is resting on her palms, probably waiting for him to say more. He could've just stopped talking, but the curiosity that was visible in her brown orbs was making him want to share more.

"Because when i went to Europe for my studies, my father said i needed to study harder, Kaya i didn't really have time to play chess anymore." She couldn't help but just stare at him while he talked, his voice was husky and deep and his eyes were focused in front,  with seriousness on his face, "kung makakapaglaro ka ngayon sa tingin mo magaling ka parin?"

He just shook his head, "Maybe. How about you, do you still play volleyball?" Napakurap kurap ang dalaga sa biglang tanong nito, nabibigla talaga s'ya sa biglang pagiging talkative ng binata, this was the side of him that she never thought she would see.

"Hindi na sir." She answered politely, "Why is that?" "Kasi, college was a really reckless stage for me. Nakakahiya man aminin pero, all i cared about back then was socializing outside, parties and stuff, nawalan ako ng interest sa sports at academics because of that." She explained recalling memories from college, which just made him realize how different their experiences were back then.

His college life was just about studying, trying to meet his family's impossible expectations, while she got reckless and spent all of her days socializing, it somehow made him question if he really lived a life? Or was he just living someone else's expectations?

"And you know what. I regretted that.." napatingin siya sa dalaga, he stopped the car for a moment, because the traffic lights turned red indicating to stop, "Kasi, looking back, sana mas ginalingan ko pa, sana mas pinagpabuti ko pa. Tas mag pa-post post pa ako dati ng 'ok lang 75 at least pasado..... But i should have aimed for more."

He was staring at her the whole time as his heart beat increases, this was a whole different conversation, it was something deeper. More emotional, "I regret being a high achiever too."

"Bakit?" She asked as their eyes met, but he didn't want to break eye contact, and it seemed like she didn't want too either, "Because it really made me question myself. Did i really enjoy life before? Or was i just living up to someone else's expectations? Because i went to college in a whole different place, yet all i did back then was study, i didn't really have time to stop, and explore."

She nodded, "looks like we could both agree with something then." With a smile on her face, "Agreed." He said showing her thumbs up, tuluyan nang naghiwalay kanilang mata nang marinig nila ang busina ng kotse na nasa likuran nila.

Napatingin silang pareho sa Traffic lights, at nakitang berde na ang ilaw nito, they are so drawn with their deep conversation that they forgot they were on the road.

"I bet that driver back there is blazing mad." He said making her Chuckle, "San ka nga pala nakatira?" "Malapit na sir jan lang sa kabilang kanto, konting kembot nalang."