To Trust the Dawn

Chapter 45

Chapter 45

My eyes were still glued on him with vivid astonishment. Kasabay no'n ay ang dahan-dahang pag-awang ng mga labi ko. I was still muttering cusses in my mind because I can't believe that I'm seeing him again. And his eyes... they really have the same color. Kaya kahit ang paglimot ang ipinunta ko rito, parang hindi ko pa rin magagawa dahil narito ang isa na naman sa makakapagpaalala tungkol sa kaniya.

Ang naalala ko, isang beses lang kaming nagkita, and his cousin just briefly introduced me as his girlfriend that time since he looked so busy while holding his plates. We were already college that time. What I remember is his cousin telling me that he was an Architecture student.

I quickly looked away dahil parang nagmumukha na akong nag-s-simp sa kaniya, tangina. Baka ubod din 'to ng pagiging assuming katulad no'ng pinsan niya! Sa pagkakakilala ko sa kaniya, paraan pa lang ng pagngisi, alam mo nang maloko at hindi ka tatantanan kapag inaasar ka. Talagang it runs in the blood ang atake.

Dahil may bagong sinalin ang bartender sa baso ko, diretso ko itong ininom kaya muntik na akong mapaubo dahil sa pait na dumaloy sa lalamunan ko. My brows intently furrowed. I gazed at him, and saw the slightness of worry on his face when I almost choked on my drink. But later on, he smirked as though finding my 'No' amusing.

Bakit ba palagi akong ginagago ng mundo? Kung hindi naman siya ang makikita, 'yong pinsan niya naman na kapareho pa ng kulay ng mga mata niya! Tangina naman, oh.

"Okay. I take No as a No." May naglalaro pa ring ngisi sa labi niya na ang sarap punitin. He was still intently looking at me while playing the glass of wine in his hand.

Lasing na nga yata ako dahil parang iba ang nagmamay-ari ng mga matang nakatitig sa 'kin ngayon. I was already dizzy as I felt my head spinning. My eyes were already sleepy while probing him. Iniwas ko ang tingin para inumin ulit ang isinalin ng bartender. I let out a laugh while looking at the content of the glass. Hindi ko alam kung anong nakakatawa.

"What a gentleman, huh?" nakangisi kong ani nang muling tumingin sa kaniya. I was being sarcastic. Gusto ko lang din tapatan ang hatid na pang-aasar ng ngisi niya.

He drank the content of his glass, not taking his eyes away off me. He still has that amused smirk on his lips na kung may pagkakataon lang akong punitin ay ginawa ko na. Pinunasan niya ang mga labi bago ibinalik ang nakaiiritang ngisi.

"It's the right thing to do, not just being a gentleman." Tumaas saglit ang kilay niya sa 'kin.

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ko dahil biglang natapakan ang ego ko. "Alam ko," parang nanghahamon ng away kong ani. I was gritting my teeth. Kaya ko lang naman 'yon sinabi dahil gusto ko siyang asarin pabalik! Bwiset. Sinira pa momentum ko. Alam ko namang basic decency lang 'yong ginawa niya at iyon ang tamang gawin, he doesn't need to point it out. Tangina, 'yong ego ko!

Dahil sa irita ay iniwas ko ang tingin saka muling tinungga ang alak na sinalin ulit sa baso ko.

"One more, please," pakiusap ko sa bartender at nang mapagbigyan ay diretso ko ulit itong tinungga.

The bitterness was hugging my throat but it doesn't seem to bother me anymore because my ego was really bruised. High school pa lang ako, nagagalit ako kapag nasugatan ang ego ko dahil napapahiya ako, and I'm willing to take this attitude until in my grave.

"Hey..." He held my hand, as though halting me from taking another glass of wine again.

Napatingin ulit ako sa kaniya at sa pagkakataong ito ay nanlilisik na talaga ang mga mata ko sa kaniya. But it quickly vanished upon seeing his reaction. He looks shocked and amused at the same time. He was also squinting his eyes, making his thick eyebrows meet.