Hook Me Up (Completed)

51

Anaïs was already packing her things when Kolin showed up at their door. Hindi pa niya ito napansin noong una. Napansin niya lang noong may lumapit dito.

"Hi, Kolin! Sinong hinahanap mo?" Kelly, her classmate, asked. Ngiting-ngiti.

Nag-usap pa sila ng konti before Anaïs could completely zip up her bag.

She immediately walked up to Kolin. Para kasing gusto pang makipag-usap ni Kelly dito, and she couldn't understand why the thought pisses her off. Di naman siya bobo. She knows she likes Kolin. And this time, baka willing na siya to take risk. The only problem was he wasn't asking her about it! Ni hindi nga nanliligaw.

Baka friendship na lang talaga ang gusto.

"Nakakunot noo mo. Mahirap exam?" Kolin asked.

Anaïs shook her head. Hindi niya napansin na nakakunot na ang noo niya. "Hungry lang."

Kolin let out a low chuckle. Itinaas nito ang kanang kamay na may hawak na malaking paper bag.

"Tara."

Sumunod siya rito palabas ng building nila. Medyo madilim na kaya nakahawak si Kolin sa balikat ni Anaïs to guide her.

"Sa garden na lang tayo, 'no?" Kolin asked.

Anaïs nodded but didn't say anything. Napatawa uli si Kolin. "Wala ka ngang energy. Kelan ba huling kain mo?"

"Coffee lang kaninang umaga," she answered truthfully.

Nakarating na rin sila ng garden. Kolin was setting up the foods sa bench while scolding her for not eating proper meals buong araw. Buti na lang at madami itong biniling pagkain.

"Kumain ka nang marami para—"

"Close kayo ni Kelly?" she finally blurted out. Hindi naman kasi siya talaga gutom. The thought just keeps bugging her. Hindi kasi malapit sa babae si Kolin pero ang gaan ng usap nila ni Kelly kanina.

"Ha—?"

"Nevermind. I'm hungry," pagputol niya. She immediately took one of the paper box and started eating. Bigla siyang nahiya sa tanong niya. Why would she even ask that?! Halata tuloy na selos siya!

"Nakasama ko sa workshop si Kelly dati kaya medyo close kami," Kolin explained.

"Okay. Cute naman," she commented, pretending to not care. Okay. So same sila ng hobby. Okay.

They continued eating in silent. Halos hindi na nagtataas ng tingin si Anaïs mula sa plato nito. Kolin just watched her closely.

"Uy," he called softly no'ng hindi na niya matiis ang pagiging tahimik nito. "Selos ka ba?"

"No," she immediately answered. Walang explanation na kasunod.

Kolin didn't push it further. Baka kasi maging uncomfortable na naman ito sa kanya. He didn't want to rush things. This time, he's letting Anaïs lead.

Nag-isip na lamang ito ng panibagong topic.

"Umuwi na pala sila Hale, 'no?"

Anaïs nodded. Medyo tanggal na 'yung inis niya. She didn't want to be bratty around Kolin tapos hindi naman mag-eexplain kung bakit. She might push her away, and it scared her.

"Nagmamadali nga daw. Miss na siguro lola nila," she smiled at the thought. Hay. Kung buhay pa siguro lola niya, may uuwian din sya. "Ikaw? Di ka pa uuwi? We only have 10 days for the break."

"Bukas pa," Kolin answered. "Malapit lang naman. Ikaw?"

Anaïs froze upon hearing the question. Napansin ni Kolin.

"Sorry—"

Anaïs cut him off, forcing a smile. "Ayaw ko umuwi sa kanila e. Mommy's with her new family. She'll just make me feel like I'm intruding with their time. Si daddy, hindi nagpaparamdam."

She said it so casually but talking about it still hurt. Hindi nga niya 'to kinu-kwento madalas sa mga kaibigan niya. But if she wants to be a part of Kolin's life, she knows she also has to let him in in hers. Kahit paunti-unti, at kahit takot pa siya.

Kolin didn't know how to react. He suspected it. Alam niyang naghiwalay ang parents ni Anaïs and it's the reason why she backed out of their relationship, but he didn't know the whole reason. Ngayon, he couldn't imagine how lonely and scary it was for Anaïs. Kaya pala naka-apartment ito kahit na nasa Tagaytay lang din ang mommy nito.

Before he could even think twice, nasabi na ni Kolin ang gustong sabihin. "Do you want to come with me? Hinahanap ka rin nila e."

Anaïs seemed taken aback. "Alam naman nilang magkaibigan na lang tayo," pahabol ni Kolin.

She ignored his last remark. She wanted to go. Ayaw niya naman na mag-isa siya for 10 days. Ayaw na niyang umasang aakitin siya ng mommy niyang umuwi sa kanila. For once, she wanted so be somewhere she's wanted.

"Sige."

"Totoo?"

"Oo nga," she assured.

That night, Kolin sent a message to his sistree.

Kolin:
sasabay si anaïs sakin bukas. kay reese na lang kayo sumabay. kailangan namin ng moment haha