what if we happened

4. At the Corner of the Library

Chapter 4: At the Corner of the Library

Seren

There we were, sitting together in a cozy corner of the library. Hindi ko pa nabubuksan ang bibig ko para sagutin ang pangungumusta niya ay kitang-kita kong gumawa ng kunot ang kaniyang noo, next thing he did, he leaned in closer to scrutinize me. "Luha ba 'yan? Umiyak ka?"

Napalunok ako. "Ha?" I uttered, completely at a loss for words.

I could see his expression shift from curiosity to surprise. "Umiyak ka nga. May problema ba?"

My eyes widened a fraction as I came to realize my makeup must be a mess from earlier tears. All of the sudden, nag-panic ang kalamnan ko, making me feel awkward. I instinctively raised my hands to cover my face, trying to shield myself from his view. My cheeks burned more with embarrassment.

"Ayos ka lang ba talaga?" he asked again, genuine concern now evident in his voice.

I gritted out. I wondered kung anong hitsura ng makeup ko ngayon na nakita niya. I hesitated, keeping my hand over my face as if that could somehow hide the evidence of my breakdown. "Y-Yes, I'm okay. Something just happened," I managed to say, struggling to find words. Mariin akong napapikit.

Tang*na. Paano na 'to? I'm glad we're alone in this library corner, but I'm not okay with this kind of setup. Nakakahiya. Kakagaling ko lang sa pag-iyak. This was not how I wanted him to see me, I should have looked at least pretty in his eyes. Makeup na nga lang ang nagpapaganda sa akin to hopefully impress him, naabutan niya pang ruined. It's frustrating to feel exposed like this, especially in front of him.

It's a bad timing, however I couldn't deny the fact na blessing ang pagkikita namin ngayon.

Kasi napasaya no'n ang kalooban ko.

I just lowered my head so that he wouldn't notice the traces of tears on my face. Unfortunately, that also meant I couldn't see him clearly either. Kainis. Hayaan na.

"Kaya pala mag-isa ka rito," I heard him say, bahagya ko pang nakita ang siko nito na itinuon niya sa kaniyang hita at nangalumbaba. Kinilig ako habang iniisip na nasa akin nakapako ang mga mata niya.

I nodded. "I need personal space. Tahimik at malamig kasi rito."

"Mabuti na lang nakita ka ni Dilim. Nahuli ko pa nga ngiti mo kanina habang hinahawakan mo siya, masasabi kong napagaan niya ang pakiramdam mo."

"Yes, it's comforting. She helps me a lot. Imagine, umiiyak ako 'tapos bigla siyang nag-appear out of nowhere, nakaka-overwhelm lang. Thanks sa pusa mo." Patuloy ako sa paghaplos sa itim na balahibo ni Dilim. "Wait? Bakit nga pala may pusa rito? No pets allowed sa library, 'di ba?" I asked, still looking down.

He chuckled. Napakagat ako ng ibabang labi dahil ang charming ng pagtawa niyang iyon. "Sa totoo niyan, napulot ko lang sila sa daan kanina noong pagpasok ko, naawa ako kaya naisip kong isilid sila sa bag ko. Pinakain ko sila at balak kong iuwi sa bahay mamaya, sadyang may gusto lang akong basahin kaya dumaan muna ako rito at isinama ko na rin sila. Huwag mo akong isusumbong sa nagbabantay, paniguradong malalagot ako."

"Bakit naman kita isusumbong?"

"Para lang makasigurado."

"But what do you mean 'sila'?" I wondered.

"Hintayin mo ako rito, kunin ko lang bag ko." He then stood up. I took that as my cue to finally look up, watching him quickly jog towards his bag.

I stared at him blankly until he disappeared from my sight. Hindi ako makapaniwala. Si Elias ba talaga 'tong nakakausap ko ngayon?