Querencia (Midnight #1)

Chapter 32

Thirty-two
ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈✧༺♥༻∞

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko.

Hindi ko inaasahan ang kahit anong pagdating niya ngayon. We spent our day yesterday together right after our dismissal. Ang dapat na magpa-practice kami maglaro ni Iosef ay naudlot dahil we were together yesterday.

Although, I really am not complaining. Just shocked, seeing him again today.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

Binababa ko ang raketa ko at tinawag si Iosef para mag-water break na lang muna kami. We've been practicing ever since we got ourselves here at home. Sabi ko sa kanya ay dapat feel at home lang siya at hindi dapat siya mahihiya rito sa amin.

Lumapit ako kay Maxeus at tiningnan siya nang masama.

"What's with your look?" Tanong niya.

"I am asking you, Maxeus. What are you doing here?" Ulit kong tanong.

"No, Harmony." Aniya. "What is he doing here?" Tukoy niya kay Iosef at saka tiningnan ang nasa binta na nasa likod ko.

Bumaling ako roon at naabutan siyang umiinom ng tubig. "We're playing Badminton." Sagot ko.

"Why him? If you can play with me instead." Salubong ang kilay niyang sabi sa akin.

I held my breath. "He's my classmate, Maxeus. Natanong ko siya nang mas maaga kesa sa 'yo."

"Harmony, I am willing to shift from my strand to yours just so I could play Badminton with you." He said, full of determination.

I scoffed at him. "There's no big deal in playing Badminton, Maxeus. Stop being childish."

"There's really nothing wrong in playing it, it's who you are playing with. Yeah, call me childish but I really do want to play with you, Harmony." He sighed.

Napapikit ako sa kanyang sinabi. "Gosh. What's your problem, Maxeus? What do you want from me? We're just playing Badminton, for Pete's sake you could join us without fumming."

His jaw clenched. "I am craving for your attention. I want it so bad. Every damn time I see you with other men smiling more than you smile at me. . . it makes me j-jealous," his voice was full of emotion while saying every bit of words that came from his lips.

Napapikit akong muli hindi dahil sa iritasyon kundi dahil sa kung anong kakaibang pakiramdam ang bumalot sa akin. The butterflies in my stomach started to dance again. I feel like bursting right now, I can feel how my cheeks are heated. Ang hindi normal na pagtibok ng puso ko kasabay ang pagbigat ng hininga ko.

You and your weird effects on me, Maxeus. I hate it and love it at the same time.

Hating it because it might get me away from being sane. Loving it because. . . this is what I've been waiting for a very long time now.

Hindi ko na naman maipaliwanag ang mga kakaibang pakiramdam na tila ngayon ko lang naramdaman dahil sa lalaking nasa harap ko. Nakakainis lang kasi 'di pa naman talaga kami maayos.

Wala pang closure and explanation kung ano ba kami at kung ano 'yung nangyari no'n, pero kung kiligin ako ngayon, it's not freaking normal.

"U-uh. . . b-bakit ka ba kasi nandito?" Utal kong tanong sa kanya.

His gaze pierced on me. "I asked your brother if he fetched you already since I cannot find you anywhere on campus."

"Then?"

"Then. . . he told me you were here, with someone. I thought it could be Ela or Vida but learning it was Iosef—I'm surprised." He said as he looked at Iosef again.