Tune of Rapture (Echoes #2)

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Love

"Tell me. Tell me why you're angry," he said and walked towards me.

My heart pounded heavily, so I quickly grabbed Mang Artim's hat. As he approached me, I could clearly smell his masculine cologne.

I took a deep breath and shook my head at him. He held onto my arm, preventing me from moving away. He met my gaze with serious hazel brown eyes, and I saw no trace of amusement on his face.

"Tell me, Leroy," ulit niya, mas klaro na ang boses ngayon.

Inilingan ko siya. Tinanggal ko ang kamay niya sa aking braso at lumabas na ng kabalyerisa. Narinig ko ang yapak ng kan'yang bota na nakasunod sa akin.

Fuck.

"You're ignoring me? Bakit? Just because I didn't answer your call?" rinig kong habol niya.

Mabilis ang lakad ko papunta sa bahay-kubo ni Mang Artim. Bakit ba siya nakasunod? Why couldn't he just let me avoid him? Wala na siya roon kung hindi ko siya pansinin!

I was just following what he wanted to happen. I didn't want to eat my words about not talking to him! Before I came here, that's what I was doing. I didn't want to waste time on someone who didn't want to talk to me.

"I said I had a midterm exam, that's why I didn't call you, kasi hindi ako makakapag focus kapag tumatawag ka." patuloy pa rin siya.

Napangisi ako. Kaya nga ibang babae ang pinasagot mo, eh?

Tumango na lang ako at pumasok sa bahay-kubo para ilagay ang sombrero ni Mang Artim. Wala ang matanda roon kaya lumabas din kaagad ako. Sergo was still there, standing and waiting for me to come out.

His brow furrowed, and his eyes were filled with frustration. Huwag ka nang mag paliwanag! May exam ka kaya hindi mo nasagot. Ayos lang. Kahit ako rin naman siguro ayaw na may nanggugulo.

Tangina lang, ah? I swallowed, feeling like something was stuck in my throat. I didn't pay him any attention as I walked out. He followed me again, like a dog.

"Sa susunod, kapag tumawag ka ay sasagutin ko na." mahina niyang sabi.

"Wala ng susunod. Hindi na ako tatawag sa 'yo." sagot ko sa malamig na boses.

Bakit pa ako tatawag? Ayoko nang marinig ang boses ng girlfriend niya. Naiirita ako.

"Kasi dinelete mo ang number ko?" tanong niya.

Umiling ako at nilingon na siya.

"Bakit ko idedelete? I have a lot of things to do, not just thinking about why you didn't answer my call. Forget about it. You have an exam, I understand," seryoso kong sabi at nag lakad ulit.

Narinig ko ang mura niya nang iwan ko siya roon. I ran my hand through my hair as the loose-fitting polo I was wearing fluttered in the wind.

I didn't bother looking back to see if he was still following me. Kapag talaga sumunod pa 'to, sisigawan ko na. Ang sabi ko, ayos nga lang. Hindi na niya kailangang mag paliwanag. At bakit ba siya nag papaliwanag? Nag papaliwanag as a friend?

"Ako nga dapat ang umaaktong ganiyan. Mas pinili mo pang mag laro ng Valorant kaysa uwian ako rito." suplado niyang sabi sa aking likod.

Ako naman ang napamura. Tangina! Sumunod pa talaga. Sa inis ay nilingon ko siya. Nag lalambing ang mata niya habang nakanguso, halatang nag pipigil ng ngiti.

I smirked at him. "Hindi ikaw ang inuwin ko. Ang lupain at ang mga trabahante-"

"Trabahante ako rito, mas nauna pa nga ako kay Aga." putol niya.