The Oleander Woman [Free Space Series #1]

CHAPTER 39: her pov (5)

kaoriakagi_
lemon juice.

I kept myself from smiling after sending her my message. I'm lowkey enjoying this. Ganito pala feeling kapag malaya akong nakakapagchat sa kan'ya? Ng walang halong kahit na anong kaba?

"Kaori, may nagpapaabot sa'yo."

My brows furrowed when one of my classmates tapped my shoulder. Kahit na naguguluhan, tinanggap ko ang lemon juice na hawak nito. Ipinaabot lang ni Tamg?

Kinuha ko ang phone ko at tumitig sa conversation naming dalawa. Ayaw niya ba akong makita? Bakit pinaabot niya sa iba? Nandito na rin naman na siya sa building namin? Why not give it to me in person?

I wanted to ask her about it, but I stopped myself from doing it.

Matagal kong tinitigan ang lemon juice bago napagpasyahang bawasan. I then took a picture of it and sent it to Tamg.

kaoriakagi_
bakit kalahati yung juice ko?

I enjoyed having her around. I like it when she has no choice but to do what I tell her to do. I adore seeing the look on her face when she's irritated at me. Actually, I'm using it as an excuse to spend time with her.

Sumosobra na ba ako?

Nakakatakot kasi nakita ko nalang isang araw yung sarili ko na nagbabalot ng bento box dahil plano kong sabay kaming kumain mamayang lunch.

"Para kanino 'yan?" Nahuli ako ni mama.

"For a friend." I tried so hard to act normal.

"Kay Catrina ba?"

"Yes," I lied. I've never done this to anyone before. Kay Tamg palang.

Everything was going according to my plan. Tamg and I are becoming closer; she doesn't have any assholes hanging around her anymore, I know her entire schedule for this semester, and I can ask her whatever I want. I couldn't ask for more.

Not until one night, after I'd had a shower, I saw her holding my phone and staring at it, full of shock. Para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig. Kaagad ko itong hinablot sa kaniya.

Gulat siyang nag-angat ng tingin. "I can explai-"

"LABAS!" Napatakip pa siya ng tenga sa sobrang lakas ng boses ko. Fuck, what did she see?! I'm literally panicking right now. Paano niya ba ito nabuksan?! 

"It's not what you're thinking.. promise, gusto ko lang talagang hanapin kung nasaan yung video kasi gusto kong ide-" hindi na niya naituloy pa ang sasabihin dahil tuluyan ko na siyang itinulak palabas ng pinto.

Is this the end? No more freedom to message her?

Kakatapos ko lang maligo pero sumasakit na kaagad ang ulo ko. I check my phone to see what she is looking at—and fuck! It's our picture together! Our secret picture, which I took when we were still kids!

Ano bang hinahanap niya sa phone ko? Kung yung video tsaka pictures nila ni Dicksen na ipinang b-blackmail ko sa kaniya, huwag na siya umasa. I deleted those on the exact same night that I took them. There's no point of saving that on my phone. Naiirita lang ako sa tuwing nakikita ko yun.

I was about to lay down on bed when suddenly, a realization hit me. Tamg is not wearing a pangbahay! Nakita ko yung suot niya kanina. She's wearing a black fitted dress. Is she going out?

Kaagad akong tumayo at nagpunta sa kwarto niya kahit na ginagapangan ng takot.

There's nothing for me to hide anymore. Nakita niya na lahat ng mga tinatago ko sa phone. Yung pagsa-save ko palang ng pictures niya, common sense na agad na may gusto ako sa kaniya.