He's Loving Girl

Chapter 3

Irene Pov

"Ohh my god, there he is! Right directly next to us!" Sabi ni Ryan, habang niyuyugyog ang balikat ko. Na para bang ito na ang pinaka most exciting moments niya. "And check out that ride" sabay hila nya sa braso ko! "A shiny black BMW, extra-dark tinted windows. Nice, very nice. Okay listen my dear Irene, so here's the deal, kunwari bubuksan ko yung door ng kotse ko and accidentally bump it into hi's, so then magkakaroon ako ng excuse para makausap siya." Bumaling siya sa akin at hinihintay kung sasang-ayon ako sa plano niya.

"Do not scratch my car. Or yung kotse niya. Or kahit anong sasakyan ang nandun." Sabi ko,umiling-iling ako habang hinahanap yung susi sa bag ko.

"Okay" he pouts. "Hwag mo ng basagin yung trip ko! Better yet sakyan mo nalang." Sabay kindat niya sakin.

"Ayoko nga idadamay mo pa ako sa kalokohan mo. Sabi ko sabay talikod sa kanya!.

"Hey wait-"

"Bahala ka sa buhay mo" pagputol ka sa sasabin niya. And just as I'm about to unlock the door, hinila niya yung hood ko, pinunasan niya yung salamin ko, umikot siya sa kabilang passenger side where he urges me, via not-so-subtle head tilts and thumbs, to look at JD who's standing behind him.

So I do. I mean, it's not like I can avoid it forever. Huminga muna ako ng malalim at tumingin sa kanya. And what I see leaves me unable to speak, blink, or move.

And even though Ryan starts waving me, glaring at me, and basically giving me every signal! Iniisip nya sigurong nakalimutan ko na yung misyon nya--- I can't. I mean, I'd like to, because I know I'm acting like the freak everyone's already convinced that I am, but it's completely impossible.

And it's not just because JD is undeniably gorgeous, with his shiny dark hair and curves around his high-sculpted cheekbones, pero nung tumingin siya sa akin,he removes his sunglasses, at nakipag-titigan siya sa akin, I see that his almond shaped eyes are deep, dark, na para bang pamilyar sa akin. Framed by lashes so lush they almost seem fake. And his lips! His lips are ripe and inviting with a pertect Cupid's bow. And the body that holds it all up is long, lean, tight, and clad in all black.

"Huy, Irene? Hel-lo? You can wake up now. Please." Sabi ni Ryan nakalimutan ko kasama ko pala siya! Bumaling siya kay JD, laughing nerviously. "Sorry about my friend here, she usually has her hood on."

It's not like I don't know I have to stop. I need to stop right now. But JD's eyes are fixed on mine, and his mouth begins to curve. Napapahiya akong umiwas ng tingin sa kanya! My god nakakahiya baka isipin niyang pinag-papantasyahan ko siya "bakit hindi nga ba,singit ng kabilang isip ko" what happen to me? Kelan pa ako nag-kaintrasado sa mga lalaki? "Ngayon lang!" Singit muli ng kabilang isip ko. Napapailing nalang ako habang nilalaro yung susi sa kamay ko.

Before the accident I didn't even know about things like that. And definitely wasn't able to see it. But from the moment I woke up in the hospital, I noticed color everywhere.

"Are you feeling okay?" the nurse asked, na para bang balisang nakatingin sa baba.

"Yes, pero bakit namumutla ka?" Nalilito kasi ako sa inaasta niya, parang ang weird niya!

"Ano ako bakit?" Nahihirapan siyang itago ang pagkataranta niya.

"Namumutla ka! Pati yung buong katawaan mo, especially your head."

"Okay! Magpahinga ka na muna, puntahan ko lang yung doctor mo." She'd said, lumabas siya sa kwarto ko at halos patakbong naglakad sa hall way.

And by the time I started hearing thoughts, gettibg life stories by touch, and enjoying regular visits with my dead sister, Aicelle, I knew better to share. Ayaw ko na ng ganitong klaseng buhay, nakalimutan kong meron pa palang ibang paraan.

Naputol ako sa aking pag-iisip ng mapansin kong nakatingin si JD sa akin, nakasandal siya sa kanyang kotse.

"Irene right?" JD says, umayos ako ng pagkakatayo, inalis ko yung tingin ko sa kanya. When Ryan makes a show clearing his throat. At alam ko na yung pinakaayaw niya ay yung dinededma siya.

Naglakad ako palapit sa kanya and say, "Oh sorry. Ryan, JD, JD, Ryan." Nagtatakang tumingin si JD sa akin.

"JD?"

"JD! short cut ng Jasper Dwayne, masyado kasing mahaba yung name mo. So i prefer to call you JD. May problema ba?" Tanong ko sa kanya. And the whole time my eyes never once waver.

Tumingin siya kay Ryan, nag-nod muna siya bago binalik yung tingin sa akin. And even though I know this sounds crazy, for split seconds his eyes moved away, I felt strangely cold and weak. At nung binalik niya yung tingin niya sa akin, it's all warm and good again.

"Can i ask a favor?" He smiles. "Would you lend me your copy of Wuthering Heights? Need to get caught up and I won't have time to visit the bookstore tonight.." kinuha ko yung libro sa backpack ko at agad kong, inabot sa kanya. Pero hindi ko sinasadyang mahawakan yung dulo ng daliri niya. Napatingin siya sa akin at ngumti.

Randam ko ang pag-init ng mukha ko, kaagad kong naitakip yung dalawang palad ko, sa aking pisngi, pakshet nakakahiya baka isipan niyang may gusto ako sa kanya.

Pinatong nya yung libro sa ibabaw ng kotse niya, lowered is sunglasses, and said, "Thanks, see you tomorrow," at bago pa ako makasagot sa kanya, narinig ko nalang na humarurot paalis yung kotse niya.

"Excuse me," pagkuha ni Ryan sa atensyon ko, lumapit siya sa akin while shaking his head. "But when I said you'd freak out when you saw him, it wasn't a suggestion, it wasn't supposed to be taken literally. Seriously Irene, what happened back there? Because that was some mega tense awkwardness, a real Hello, my name is Irene and I'll be your next stalker anong klaseng moment yun? I'm serious, akala ko kunwaring tutulungan kita? maniwala ka sa akin, you are extremely lucky, our good friend Samantha was not here to see that, because I hate to remind you, but she did call mike..."

Oh ha! ang haba nun! Hindi maproces nung utak ko yung mahabang english nya, speechless ang lola niyo. nakakadugo sa ilong gosh! Hinayaan ko nalang siya na magsalita ng magsalita. Palihim ko nalang hinawakan yung peklat sa may noo ko, pero hindi siya kita kasi nakatago sa bangs ko.

I mean, how can I explain how ever since the accident, the only people whose thoughts I can't hear, whose lives I can't know, and whose auras I can't see, are already dead?