Always Have Been, Always Will Be | ✓

34

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Chapter 34

Remembered

"Kuya Sauyer, nandiyan si Eli—" Naputol ang sasabihin ni Thaianara pagkatapos na napagtantong huli na siya.

I was pulled out of my deep thoughts upon hearing Thaianara's voice. Saglit akong umiwas ng tingin sa kaniya at saka bumaling sa kaniyang likod. Lahat sila ay nakatitig na sa aming dalawa suot ang iba't ibang ekspresyon. Phelomeno and Euclid both had their concerned expressions on, Swyney was smiling, just excited to see me again, and then Grazen and Kaia who had their eyes wide open.

Galing naman. Ano 'to, teleserye?

Tumikhim yung lalake sa harapan ko. "Sorry. I just wanted to use the bathroom," aniya sa malalim na boses.

His voice made my insides unsolicitedly stir a little bit. The last time I heard it, it wasn't that deep. Pero ngayon, sa ikinalalim pa nito, akala mo'y ilang taon na ang lumipas, e magd-dalawa pa lang naman.

Bumaling ako sa kaniya upang salubungin ang mga mata niyang nanatiling nakapako sa akin, para bang hindi niya na ito maaalis. I clenched my fist, as if heaving a chunk of courage from my core to return the same level of nonchalance he was exuding.

"Ginagamit ko pa. Mayroon pa sa ibang kuwarto," matabang kong wika.

His jaw clenched. "Are you gonna take a little more time?"

Hindi ko napigilang itaas ang aking kanang kilay. Bigla namang nawala ang malakas na kabog ng aking dibdib dahil sa pinakita niyang kapal na mukha.

Bullshit. I got nervous for...this?

Pake mo ba kung matatagalan pa ako, e marami namang banyo riyan, hindi lang yung ginagamit ko—pero syempre, hindi ko sinabi 'yan dahil matino akong tao.

"Maybe. But there are more bathrooms other than this one," simple kong sagot, hindi rin tinatanggal sa kaniyang mukha ang aking mga mata.

I couldn't help but scan his face again. It was quite weird seeing how his face changed since the last time that I saw him. He looked so matured now—taller and bigger, as if he wasn't already tall and big in the first place. Umiba na rin yung ihip ng hangin niya. If before you'd have to cover your ears because of how annoying he was, now, you would have to look away due to the way he'd pin you down with his glare.

But maybe it was just because I wasn't used to it. I was more accustomed to his tender and gentle gaze.

"I'm lazy. Can't I just wait for you to finish instead?" He probed.

Wow. His physical characteristics changed a lot, but his next-level audacity remained.

I bit the insides of my cheek. "Huwag na. Baka manigas ka p—"

"Okay! Actually, Kuya, tapos na 'yan si Elize!" Untag ni Thaianara at pumagitna sa aming dalawa.

Hindi natanggal ang aming mata sa isa't isa. Ewan ko ba kung guniguni ko lang iyon, o nakapansin talaga ako ng multong ngisi sa kaniyang labi.

"Elize, halika na rito. Tulungan mo ako maghain ng tanghalian." Saka na ako umiwas ng tingin nang tuluyan na akong higitin ni Thaianara palayo sa harapan niya. Awkward pa siyang tumatawa habang ginagawa iyon.