Corner Him

CH 22

I checked myself in the mirror once more. Sinigurado na maayos kong naisuot ang uniporme ng East Pontus High bago ako lumabas ng aking kwarto.

"Hija, hindi ka pa kumain?" bungad sa akin ni manang sa sala.

"Huwag po kayong mag-alala, Manang Ines, may kasabay po akong mag-b-breakfast," ngumiti ako sa kanya at nagmamadali na makalabas ng bahay.

Narinig ko pa itong nagtanong kung sino raw ang kasama ko pero kumaway lang ako sa kanya bago isinara ang pinto. Marahan akong huminga.

Eto na. Facing my day with my new best friend. Napangiti ako kay Heinrich.

Naghihintay ito sa akin ngayon sa labas ng bahay namin dahil nag-alok ito kanina na simula ngayong araw ay sabay na raw kaming papasok ng paaralan. Nasa labas lang din ng gate namin ito nag-parked ngayon.

At sino ba naman ang tatanggi sa ganoong set-up? Ibig sabihin ay may free rides na ako araw-araw. Haha.

Tuwid itong nakatayo at nakasandal ang kalahating katawan sa sasakyan. Matangkad kasi talaga ang lalaking ito. Naka-cross arm din ito habang nag-angat ng tingin sa akin na ngayon ay nilakad ko ang pagitan na distansya ng sasakyan n'ya sa bahay namin.

He smiled and whistled.

"I can hail a cab, Heinrich," sabi ko at mabilis n'ya akong pinagbuksan ng sasakyan para makapasok agad.

He closed the front seat door immediately, dismissing my concerns.

Mabilis itong nakapasok sa driver seat at nabigla pa ako dahil lumapit ito sa akin at inayos ang seatbelt.

Bakit ko nga ba laging nakakalimutan ikabit ito? Lutang na naman ako.

"No. And yes, I'm the kindest best friend, Zypher," he said seriously and started the engine. "Why? Do you like to ride in a taxi cab more than my Hyundai Palisade SUV?" He glanced at me and beamed a little.

It left my mouth hanging open.

"This is the least I could offer to make sure you're safe."

Napalingon ako sa kanya. Seryoso itong nagmamaneho ngayon.

"Wala naman akong sinabi na mas gusto ko sumakay ng taxi, Heinrich," I talked back. "Nahihiya lang ako," I added, almost like a whispered.

"Why are you shy, though?"

Agad ko naman hinarap ang salamin ng sasakyan nang tinapunan n'ya ako ng blankong tingin.

"Then, I will make you used to it," he added. "Well, I'll be having the best ride every day."

Napakurap ako sa kawalan. I should've expected this coming. After all, he's a rich kid.

"Okay, Mr. Vice President," I noted.

"My pleasure, Ms. Secretary," he replied.

Habang nasa biyahe, malinaw na malinaw pa rin sa akin ang mga katagang binitawan n'ya kanina.

"If the parallel world collided with this edge between us, I wish to meet you again."

I couldn't help but respond to him with a kind smile. Matapos 'yon ay nakaidlip ako habang patuloy n'yang hinahaplos ang buhok ko na tila ba isang bata ako na hinihili n'ya para makatulog.

Natupad naman 'yong nais n'ya na manood kami ng sunrise sa rooftop.

He woke me up by caressing my cheeks gently. His emerald eyes greeted me in the morning twilight.

Iyon na yata ang pinakamagandang umaga na nararanasan ko.

He promised one thing earlier while we stared in awe at the sunrise.

"I will always love you, Zypher, even if we grow old as friends only."

"You know, I don't want to ruin your day, but promises are not intact. Feelings even change too. What if? Darating ang araw na makakakita ka ng mas hihigit pa sa akin like diba sabi mo nga hindi ka mag-pu-pursue ng law, so it means we cannot see each other often in the future. I get it, naman na even if I'm only your best friend, I believe we always have a special place in our hearts to love that one friend."

"Yeah, because mom wanted me to pursue a medical course. I'm the only son to take over the business of my family. Alxe may be enjoying the coziness in our hospital." He even made a joke.

My attention from the beautiful sky shaded by sunrise transitioned to his face.

He has that wasted smile on his lips.