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

Kabanata 21

Afterglow

When I say that I know my priorities, Sylvier is now part of the list. Even with the challenges of being a freshman—juggling the workload, the stress of mid-semester deadlines, and my commitments as an athlete—I always make sure to set aside time for him. Even on the busiest days, I prioritize spending time with him, no matter how hectic things get.

Oo, sanay na akong maghabol sa mga activities tuwing ganitong may training. High school pa lang, palagi na akong ngarag sa mga subjects. At tuwing mismong deadline na talaga ako nakakapagpasa. Minsan kailangan ko pang humingi ng palugit para makapagpasa. Dagdag pa na hirap talaga ako sa ilang subjects at tamad pang mag-review kapag may mga quiz o exams. 

Hirap na hirap akong makaraos noong senior high. Naisip ko naman na mas mahirap ngayong kolehiyo, pero hindi ganitong wala talagang pumapasok sa utak ko. Na dapat ang mga bakante mong oras, sa pag aaral mo itutuon. Hindi sa pagc-chill o pagiging tamad. Hindi ako makakakuha ng diploma at lisensya kung mananatiling ganito ang lifestyle ko. 

Nakakahiya rin kay Sylvier na ang magiging boyfriend niya ay tulad ko, na hindi kayang maabot ang level niya. So, I decided to study as hard as I could, with his help.

Before I knew it, I found myself becoming more attached to him, growing so dependent and relying on him so much that his presence felt essential.  

Every moment spent with him became a source of comfort and rest, and when he wasn’t around, I was pulled back again in the emptiness of disinterest and boredom. 

"You’re not pushing yourself too hard, are you?" nag-aalala niyang tanong.

Saglit akong tumitig sa kanya sa screen ng aking Ipad, bago binalik ang tingin sa mga tinatapos na activities. 

“Ilang araw ka nang puyat, at ang konti mo lang daw kumain."

He let out a longing sigh when I didn’t respond. Kanina pa siya tanong nang tanong, pero kahit isa sa mga iyon ay hindi ko sinagot dahil nakapokus ako sa mga activities. My mind was preoccupied, trying to remember the lessons he had taught me before. 

Hindi ko naman siya pwedeng tanungin nang paulit-ulit tungkol sa mga hindi ko maintindihan na lesson na naituro na niya, dahil baka mawalan siya ng pasensya sa akin. 

Naiintindihan ko rin namang abala siya, lalo na ngayong umuwi siya sa Metro dahil sa isang emergency, bukod pa sa pag-aasikaso niya ng kanyang internship.

"Wala akong matatapos, Vier, if I don’t push myself too hard."

"At sabi mo magpokus ako kapag nag-aaral. Ganito ako magpokus.” dagdag ko pa.

Hindi siya sumagot. 

“Sanay ako sa puyatan. Unlike you, mabilis kang matapos sa mga gawain mo kasi matalino ka. Ako, kailangan kong magpuyat para may matapos.”

He was the one who told me to focus on what I was doing and not to pay attention to him, saying he’d just sit there and watch. But now, he’s acting like a little kid, pouting and trying to get my attention just because I haven’t responded to him.

“But at least breathe…” He said it worriedly, which made me look at him. 

The light in his room was dim, but enough for me to catch a glimpse of his naked upper body as he leaned cozily against the headboard of his bed in their house in the Metro.

My eyes quickly traveled from his messy hair to the broad expanse of his shoulders, the perfect line of his collarbones, down to the toned muscles of his chest. 

Hanggang doon lang sa dibdib niya dahil may taklob na ang tiyan. Mabilis na bumalik ang tingin ko sa mukha niya. 

I turned my swivel chair to face him properly, "Sa tingin mo, makakausap mo ako sa video call ngayon kung hindi ako humihinga?"