Time and Fallen leaves

Under the moonlight

"Fuck it's locked"

Tila masira na ang pinto ng office dahil sa kakasipa ni Leeon dito. Having the finest materials for the school's facilities has his cons after all. Hindi na nagawa ni Erin ang kanyang trabaho dahil nag-iisip na rin ito ng paraan kung paano sila makakalabas.

It was locked from the outside and only Leeon has the key but unfortunately, he seems to have misplaced it. Tila pinaglalaruan sila ng tadhana at binigyan ng pagkakataon na magsamang muli, just like what she used to read in romance books. But of course this is real life, dahil mukhang walang balak magpahinga si Leeon hanggat hindi ito makalabas.

"Do you know how to pick locks?" Umiling si Erin sa tanong ni Leeon. What am I, a thief?

"Let's call for help"

"Good suggestion, naiwan ko phone ko sa bag ni Jade so use yours"

"Low battery na ako"

Silence.

Another curse came out of Leeon's mouth. Ngayon lamang nakita ni Erin si Leeon na ganito ka stress. He used to be calm and collected most of the time, who knows being locked up would eventually break him.

"Mom will kill me" and that answer Erin's train of questions. Erin immediately search for tools that can open locked doors, but all she could find are stack of papers. After a few pacing back and forth, Leeon finally calmed down and sat on the couch. If only Erin could say how handsome he looks especially when he ran his hand through his hair, but doing so would make things more awkward than they are right now.

"Sorry, it's just...mom will probably look for me. She has to know my whereabouts or else she'll kill me..not literally but..yeah, you get the gist" tumango na lamang si Erin to assure Leeon that she understands his situation. After meeting with the headmistress, hindi na ito nagulat sa sinabi ni Leeon. Walang muling umimik sa dalawa, leaving two introverts inside alone made the room quieter than it originally was. But the silence was comforting, it's like their presence alone makes up for the deafening silence between them.

"Why are you so calm?" Muling pagbabasag ni Leeon sa katahimikan. Napa angat ng tingin si Erin and was surprised at how Leeon's eyes flicker under the ray of sunset. Magkaharap ang dalawa, unable to keep their gaze away from each other. Hindi mapigilan ni Erin na bahagyang mapahawak sa kanyang dibdib, her heart feels like it's about to explode. Never in his life had she experience this kind of feeling and it bothers her a lot. This only happens whenever she's with Leeon, it was chaotic yet comforting, she doesn't like how it feels.

"No one will look for me" dahil nagpaalam na siya sa nanay ni Keeana. But Leeon must have misunderstood given how his gaze soften. He doesn't know why he suddenly had the urge to pull the lass and lock her into his arms. He suddenly had this urge to protect Erin with all his might, Erin is that special to him.

But instead of doing so, he just stared at her, unable to speak a word. Napatikhim naman si Erin, probably too conscious by the stare Leeon's giving.

"I suddenly crave rice cakes" pagpuputol ni Erin ng katahimikan. She's used to the silence, she's always used to not talk but it just feels different whenever she's with Leeon. She felt like she need to someone whom Leeon can set his gaze upon, she felt the need to keep Leeon entertained, even if it means breaking her law of not speaking first. She has come to the point where she must act like a woman, so he could see her as one. Just like Yuna. But little did she know that her unique traits is what made Leeon felt attracted to her.

The two didn't know that with these little interactions —the two are slowly getting closer to each other, to the point where even the simplest gaze can make their hearts flutter. But no one wants to give in, the two were still confused and in denial. The two were still figuring out this foreign feeling that only they could explain.

"It feels weird...this feels weird" napahawak si Leeon sa kanyang dibdib, his heart racing so fast he feels like it could explode. The thought of him and the one who made him feel things —left alone inside a dimly lit room made his stomach churn. His head so woozy he thought he's inside a plane in the middle of a turbulence. When was the first time he felt this towards Erin? The first time he set his gaze on her.

No, he does not believe in love at first sight. He believes in no such thing. But he can't explain why he felt a sudden spark the first time their eyes met. Those doe, almond shaped innocent eyes that could see right through his soul, those small, refined, and delicate bridge of her nose, those full, well-shaped lips that always formed a slight pout; it all made Leeon's heart skip a beat. Erin's eyes seem serene contrary to Leeon's chaotic ones. Perhaps that was the thing that keeps on pulling him towards her.

"Kalma lang, Leeon" the lad didn't even realize that he's practically trembling, not because his anxious, but because of the frustration. He's frustrated with the thought that he can't control how he's supposed to feel whenever she's around. Magaling si Leeon magtago ng kanyang nararamdaman, heck that's even his forte, over years he had already practiced how to hide his emotions, because he was taught to do so. In the world of entrepreneurship, being cynic and distant is what made the businessmen thrive, because the opponents cannot read what's on their mind, hence it will be hard for them to know his next move. Leeon excelled in that area.

He was taught to conceal his thoughts as well as his emotions, making him hard to read. But the very sight of Erin made his facade crumble, the more he's with her, the harder it is to control the rapid beating of his heart. Mahigpit na hinawakan ni Leeon ang kanyang nanginginig na kamay, he's starting to sweat as well. The spacious four corners of the room suddenly felt tight and confined. He suddenly felt the need to breathe deep.

Agad naman na nag panic si Erin nang tila nahirapang huminga si Leeon. Out of instincts, tumabi ito sakanya at mahigpit na hinawakan ang kanyang mga kamay. This is not helping at all. If only Leeon could scream it at her face, what she did made it even worse, mas lalo lamang itong nahirapang huminga causing Erin to panic even more.

"Oh no, anong ginawa ko? Ganito nalang, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and look for that one thing that makes you feel calm. For example, a book"

Sinunod naman ni Leeon ang suggestion ni Erin. Mariin itong pumikit at huminga malalim, whilst thinking of something to fix his gaze on once he open his eyes. A book, perhaps? Or the painting that hangs on the wall? Before he could even choose, it's like his eyes move its own accord and meet the gaze of a woman in front of him. Pansin ni Leeon ang pagsinghap ni Erin dulat ng gulat. Sa lahat ng pwedeng titigan, bakit siya pa?

Staring at Erin actually helped Leeon calm down, he wasn't even surprised at all. Perhaps he already knew Erin's effect on him but was too in denial. But this time, hindi niya na itatanggi ang kakaibang nararamdaman niya sa tuwing nandiyan si Erin. This time, he'll start hearing how his heart screams for her. Perhaps this time she'll listen too.

The silence is too defeaning that they can both hear their ragged breaths. No one utter a word, because they are both waiting for the other to speak first. Erin wanted to know what is going on inside Leeon's mind, and so is the latter. The room was dark as the sun had already set, they both forgot to turn on the lights, only the glow of the moonlight casted a hint of light from the windows.

Silence

Leeon finally broke the silence, but what he said made Erin wished he hadn't said anything at all. Because it was then she realized, that she too, is definitely attracted Leeon.

"You're beautiful"

That exact moment became another one of their little secrets that only the two of them knew. Their only witness is the moon watching them from the window, creating a light that shows Leeon's eyes fixated on Erin, and the lass' mouth slowly forming into a smile.