Nevermore

Chapter 21: Strip tease

I left the gymnasium when the practice started, hindi na ako nakabalik sa klase ni Mr. Sanchez dahil halos thirty minutes na ang nakalipas at malamang ay nadismiss na iyon kanina pa. I opted to eat lunch instead of going to my next class since I really don't feel like wrestling with numbers at the moment.

I entered the cafeteria with spaghetti in mind but I didn't think for a second that things will get blown out of proportion real fast...

"Sorry! Sorry! Hindi ko talaga sinsadya, bigla ka nalang kasing sumulpot eh!" The girl flailed her arms wildly while I'm trying to save my shirt from getting completely soaked...in sticky spaghetti sauce

I sighed, my shirt is hopeless anyway "Ayos lang."

"S-Sigurado ka?" Tumango nalang ako dahil napapagod na akong kausapin sya

"Uh Okay." Tumango-tango rin ito na parang nag-tataka. I think she expects me to lash out at her. Its her lucky day though, I'm not in the mood for bloodbath.

Nagugutom na ako pero hindi rin naman ako makaka-kain kung ganito ako kadungis kaya pinuntahan ko muna ang sasakyan ko para mag palit, mabuti nalang at mayroon akong spare shirts doon. Abandonado ang parking lot ng dumating ako kaya hindi ako nag dalawang isip na hubadin ang puti kong t-shirt kahit na malayo pa ako sa kotse dahil wala namang makaka-kita and besides mayroon naman akong itim na sando. But it was a bad move, dahil hindi ko mahila ang t shirt pataas, sumabit iyon sa aking buhok dahilan para lalong sumikip ang bandang leeg. I couldn't pull it above my head at tuluyang natabunan ng tshirt ang aking mata.

"Shīt.Shīt.Shīt." I cursed as I stumbled blindly around the parking lot in stilt-like heels

I tried to tug it back down but my feet got caught in something and I crashed in the pavement

"Oh Fūck!" I tasted blood on my lips as I rolled over in a weak attempt to stand up.

Sinusubukan kong iangat ang sarili ko ng marinig ko ang mahinang tawa kung saan

I bristled in anger, how can someone laugh at my misfortune?

"Intayin mong maka-tayo ako rito kung sino ka man. I'm gonna skin you alive, I swear!" I wriggled in the ground to disentangle myself from the shirt hanggang sa maramdaman ko ang dalawang mainit na palad na dumapo sa beywang ko, I stiffened out of fright.

"S-Sino ka? Bitawan mo ko!" I wriggled harder but the stranger stabilized my movements with his hands on my waist

"Stop moving, you're gonna hurt yourself more." Kilala ko ang boses na 'yon!

"You shouldn't be doing a strip-tease in a place like this, you know?" He said jokingly as he helped me out of the shirt. Marahan nya iyong hinila pataas at ng matanggal na iyon, kulay abong mga mata ang sumalubong sakin.

He stared at me with an almost smile before he stepped back and offered a hand, tinanggap ko iyon at hinayaang hilahin nya ako patayo.

"You're lucky I'm here..." Nag-simula syang lumapit ng tuluyan na akong makatayo kaya nag simula akong umurong hangang sa mapasandal ako sa isang sasakyan.

He stepped closer and closer hanggang sa isang hakbang nalang ang pagitan, and this close I can see every detail of his face...the angular jaw, the pointed nose, the mole near his temple, the peircing gray eyes and the pink lips. He looked like a masterpiece and he stood just inches away from me with his mouth hanging slightly open as if he was inviting me to taste him.

"Mabuti nalang nandito ako, kung hindi baka kung napano ka na." Pag papatuloy nya, his eyes looked earnest at lalong nagwala ang puso ko dahil doon.

"Oo nga, m-mabuti nalang." I murmured, lumapit pa sya at idinampi ang dulo ng aking t shirt sa gilid ng aking labi

"Its bleeding." I dumbly nodded in confirmation

He folded my shirt and handed it to me "Mag ingat ka na sa susunod." With that, he turned and started to walk away

"T-Teka, Sandali lang!" I gulped when he stopped walking and faced me.

"I owe you, Cross." I waited for his response but he just nodded

"You're welcome." Sagot nya at nagsimula na uling mag lakad palayo

"Hindi, teka! Saglit lang!" He stopped again and arched a brow at me in question

"Utang ko sayo nung inihatid mo ako sa bahay, utang ko ulit 'to sayo."

He crossed his arms "Just say thank you to cover everything, then."

"Ayokong nag kakaroon ng utang na loob, gusto kong bumawi."

"There's no need for that." He said but I saw a glimmer of interest in his eyes

"I've made up my mind, Cross, There's no changing it." I smiled at him

"Tomorrow at five pm, here at the parking lot. Hihintayin kita." I finished and went over to my car.

***

Authors note: I did some revisions on chapter 20, but its only for enchancement(nothing life-altering) so you can skip it but if you're interested, feel free to take a second look!