Meeting In The Purple Afterglow (Out Of My League Series #1)

Kabanata 1

Competitor

“Ayan si Macey…natatandaan mo ba?” Manang Sonia said.

I looked at the girl she pointed to and paused for a moment to remember her face. She was casually laughing with the staff, her cheeks slightly flushed from all the laughter.

Mula sa kinatatayuan namin sa labas ng conservatory ng Casa, kita ko ang suot nitong brown na polo shirt na hapit sa hubog ng kanyang katawan. Itim na pants at puting sneakers ang katuwang noon. Iyon ang uniporme ng mga staff ng Casa Rios- presentable at malinis tingnan. Ngunit dahil ang babaeng iyon ang may suot, agaw pansin siya, lalo na kapag ngumingiti at lumilitaw ang biloy sa kanyang pisngi. 

“Kay gandang dalaga." puna pa ni Manang Sonia. 

Who wouldn't know Macey Arnaez? She's the famous beauty and brain student here in Monte Real. Both lower and higher batches liked her during our elementary and junior high school days. The girls idolized her, while most of the boys had a crush on her. Though she wasn't rich, her beauty and intelligence were more than enough for the people here to recognize and love her.

“Mabait ‘yan, masipag at matalino pa.” puna ni Kuya Osias. 

For two years without seeing her, I noticed the changes in her. If she was already fair and beautiful before, now she seems even more radiant. She could easily be mistaken for a model in Metro.

She’s the typical chinita girl, with eyes that disappear when she smiles. Her cheeks flush when she laughs, highlighting her porcelain skin. May pagkamaamo ang mukha, palakaibigan at hindi ganoon kayumi kumilos, ngunit malakas ang dating.

Maraming nagkakagusto sa kanya. At kitang kita iyon ngayon habang abala siya sa pag aayos ng mga halaman sa paso na ililipat ng pwesto. The boys would suddenly stop, captivated by her presence, with some staring shamelessly. Others tried to play it cool, casually interacting with her while pretending to focus on their work. 

Ngunit iba ako. Oo nasa kanya na ang katangian na hinahanap ng mga lalaki sa isang babae. The ideal girl, ika nga ng nakararami. But I’m not really interested in her, not because I don't find her attractive. It's just that I don’t see her as someone I could be with. 

“Bakit nga ulit nag apply ng trabaho dito, Manang?” usisa ni Kuya Osias.

“Bakasyon naman daw at naiinip na sa bahay lang. Gusto rin daw makaipon para sa susunod na pasukan, para makabawas sa gastusin. Kahit nag iisang anak, hindi ini-spoil ng mga magulang.”

Tahimik ako sa tabi ni Kuya Osias, hindi nag abalang makisali sa usapan nila ng aming mayordoma. I watched Macey as she smiled at her co-staff, fully engaged in a conversation that seemed incredibly interesting for them. Every now and then, she would wipe her forehead with the back of her hand.

“Nasa tamang edad ka na hijo, nagpapaligaw na ang dalagang ‘yan.” humagikgik si Manang Sonia at sinabayan pa iyon ng malakas na halakhak ni Kuya Osias. “At si Cecilia na Lola niya, ikaw ang gusto para sa kanya!”

Napakunot ako ng noo at marahang sinuklay paatras ang aking buhok, gamit ang mga daliri sa kaliwang kamay. Binalingan ko ang aking kapatid na mas lalong tumawa at sa sandaling iyon, alam kong pinagtitinginan na kami ng mga empleyado na nasa loob ng conservatory. 

“Syempre naman, Manang, gwapo ang lahi namin. Iniisip ko rin na ireto ‘yan, ano sa tingin mo, Siris?” 

My face contorted at the question. My brother was already starting his plan, and it seemed like he had found an accomplice in Manang Sonia. 

“Ayos naman siya." I replied, trying to keep my tone disinterested while masking my embarrassment. 

“Pasok ba sa tipo mo, hijo?”