Kabanata 16
Downfall
Eventually, after finally opening up to him, tiredness consumed me. I didn't even realize when I fell asleep, I just did.
Nagising na lang ako at bumungad sa akin ang hindi pamilyar na kwarto. This isn't my room, and the color doesn't match my taste. I prefer soft cream tones that feel like inviting rather than black and unwelcoming colors.
Nang mapagtanto ko na nasa unit ako ni Lavin, agad kong inalala ang mga nangyari kagabi. Damn. Am I functioning properly?
Umupo ako at sinandal ang likod sa headboard ng kama. Halos mapamura ako dahil sa sakit ng ulo na naramdaman ko nang gawin ko ang bagay na iyon. My lower body was wrapped in a soft comforter as I struggled to keep my vision clear. Damn. What the hell am I doing to myself?
Tiningnan ko ulit ang paligid ko at nakitang maayos ang mga gamit doon. To my left, there was a shelf filled with books, and beside it stood a clear display case featuring a collection of Lego airplanes. On my right, near the window, a stand held both an acoustic and an electric guitar, each resting apart from each other, like two old friends patiently waiting for the moment they can finally shine. Sa tabi noon ang stand ng isang costume, I thought. A knight costume, huh.
Parang bigla akong nagkaroon ng lakas para tumayo at lapitan ang mga 'yon. Nakamamangha naman kasi talaga ang mga gamit na nandito sa loob ng kwarto niya.
I walked toward the collection of Lego airplanes. Iba-iba ang laki ng mga 'yon, may maliit at merong mga malalaki na sa tingin ko ay sobrang hirap buuin. I guess Lavin put a lot of effort into this. Nahagip ng mga mata ko ang mga frame na nakalagay sa table na katabi ng kama niya.
Lumapit ako roon at tiningnan isa-isa ang mga pictures.
"Damn. He's cute," I chuckled as I picked up a frame of him as a kid. His white skin glowed strongly because of the flash, and he was grinning like there was no tomorrow.
Binaba ko iyon at binalik sa dating ayos habang nagtitingin pa ng ibang mga litrato. Mostly, it was just a picture of him as a kid, but then there was this one frame that literally caught my eye, and I guess it was took when he came to the Philippines. He looked incredibly serious, gazing intensely at the camera. His messy hair was pushed backward as he wore his aviation uniform proudly, complete with pins on both shoulders that you can tell he was already on his way to becoming a pilot.
I shook my head slightly, a smile creeping at the corners of my lips as I tried to hold it back. Bakit ang pogi?
"You done staring at my face?" I heard Lavin's voice.
I immediately returned the picture frame to its original place and cleared my throat. I turned to Lavin, who was leaning against the door, staring at me with a small smirk on the corner of his lips.
Napalunok ako nang sunod-sunod bago napakamot ng batok. "H-hindi naman ako nakatitig, ah?"
Jesus! It was supposed to be a statement! Pero sa paraan nang pagkakabigkas ko, parang tanong ang naging dating noon.
"Talaga?" he asked, taking steps in my direction with a smirk that felt both teasing and challenging.
My eyes widened, especially since it seemed like the first time he had spoken Tagalog. His voice was deep and undeniably masculine, sending a shiver down my spine. Whew.
Calm down, Isaac. Normal lang ang mabigla lalo na't ngayon mo lang siya narinig magsalita ng Tagalog.
But then, there was something in his accent that I found quite enchanting.
