JEWEL
Chapter Twenty-three
"Ang ganda.."
Di ko mapigilang sabihin habang pinapanood namin ang paglubog ng araw. Nag-aagaw ang mga kulay sa langit. I never thought I could find such beauty in this kind of scenery. For me, beauty is about make-ups, fashion, jewelries..
"Mas maganda ka pa din, mahal." bulong sa akin ni Arnulfo.
We're sitting on the sand while watching the sun go down. Nakaupo ako sa harap niya habang nakapalibot ang mga bisig niya sa akin.
"Tse. Baka nakakalimutan mo na may kasalanan ka pa sa akin."
"Maniwala ka na sa akin. Di ko naman sinasadya. May tinanong lang sila. Di ko naman sila pwedeng hindi pansinin. Baka isipin nila na bastos ako."
"Kahit na." I said facing him. "Sana lumayo ka agad sa kanila nung nasagot mo na yung tanong nila. Were'nt you aware na pinagnanasahan ka na nila? At yung mga hagikhik nila, halatang malalandi!"
He laughed a little and gently pulled me closer to him. Humarap na lang ulit ako sa dagat dahil hindi ko kayang tagalan ang mga titig niya.
"Selosa ka talaga.. Sabi ko naman sa iyo, hindi tumitibok ang mata. Wala lang yun. At hindi natin sila kilala kaya hindi mo sila dapat pinagsasalitaan ng ganyan." malumanay niyang sabi.
I sighed. Okay, mali na ako. Hindi ko dapat sinasabihang malandi ang mga babaeng yun. And besides, ganun din naman kami ng mga friends ko whenever we spotted a hot guy.. Gosh! So it means, malandi din ako sa paningin ng iba! I don't care whatever they think of me. Pero noon yun.. Nung napapunta ako dito at nakilala ko si Arnulfo, naging conscious na ako sa mga kilos at trato ko sa ibang tao.
'Look, what I've become. I bet my mother will praise me for this..'
I miss my parents.. Miss ko na din ang kapatid ko. But being with Arnulfo feels like home too. Being here is his arms is more than enough to ease my longingness.
"Anong oras tayo uuwi?" I asked him since konti na lang at ganap ng lulubog ang araw at didilim na ang langit.
He didn't answer me right away kaya humarap ako sa kanya. He seems absorbed in his own thoughts that he didn't even notice that I'm facing me right now.
"Arnie, what are you thinking?"
That's when he noticed me and looked at me.
"Huh?"
"Sabi ko, ano bang iniisip mo? Kanina pa akong nagtatanong sayo kung anong oras tayo uuwi, hindi ka naman nasagot diyan. Malapit ng dumilim oh. At lumalamig na din ang hangin."
I swear, I saw a glint of sadness passed his eyes before he smiled at me.
"Ah. Iniisip ko kasi kung saan naman kita sunod na dadalhin para ma-explore mo naman itong bayan namin." sagot niya sa akin.
"Talaga lang ha? Baka mamaya niyan, iniisip mo na yung mga haliparot na mga babaeng yun." I said pouting.
His brows furrowed at what I said.
"Watch your words, princess."
Napabuntong hininga na lang ako. How unbecoming of me. I've always been so sure about myself. But with Arnie, I feel like I'm crossing in a wire. One wrong step and I'll disappoint him. And I don't want to diaappoint him.
"Sorry.." I said and gave him a peck in his lips. "Uwi na tayo?"
Hindi ulit siya sumagot. Instead, he looked at me and caressed my hair. His gaze went from my eyes, to my nose, to my lips.. It was as if he's memorizing every detail of my face.
