Chapter 11: Often
It's a brand new day for me at dapat maghanda na sa nalalapit na kill fest. It's Saturday, and there's no class.
Hinahanap ko si Julia dahil kanina pa siya umalis. Sabi niya may kakausapin lang daw siya.
I was walking and walking when I heard some voices inside the greenhouse of the university.
"Nakakainis ka talaga, G! Pwede ba, tama na! Nakakairita ka, eh."
"Pero sweet naman,"
I leaned on the door of the greenhouse, and I saw Julia with a guy!
"Tss," Ani Julia
"You're mine, okay?" Sabi 'nung lalaki na kasama ni Julia.
"Ewan ko sayo!" Sabi ni Julia at nag-blush pa.
The guy chuckled.
"Ano 'yan?"
Nagulat ako sa nagsalita sa likod ko. "Selton, ano ba?! Nanggugulat ka naman, eh! Parang aatakehin naman ako sa puso dahil sa gulat!"
He laughed. "I'm sorry. I was walking around when I saw you listening, and you were too focused."
"Shh, huwag kang maingay." Saway ko sa kanya.
"Oh, it's the president's sister." Sabi niya pagkatapos dumungaw sa kung sino ang nasa loob ng greenhouse na tinitignan ko.
"You know the guy?" I immediately asked.
"Yeah, I sure do."
"Really?" I asked. I want to know!
"Oo nga," He said with a smile.
"Who is that?"
"A kiss first, then I'll tell you."
"You're insane—"
"Just kidding," He laughed. "That's Godwin Kang. Mrs. Evelyn Kang's son." He replied with a smile. So, may anak pala si Mrs. Evelyn Kang? Papaano kaya sila napadpad dito? I can't help but wonder.
"Oh, I see... And what's with him? Bakit sila nag-uusap ni Julia?"
"They're in a mutual understanding,"
"Oh, matagal na ba?" Hindi ko inaakala na may ganito pala sa buhay ni Julia.
"Why? Do you like G?" He asked with a smirk.
"What? No! I'm just concerned for Julia. She's my friend."
"I was just kidding,"
"Palabas na sila! Magtago na tayo!" Sabi ko at hindi ko na hinintay ang sagot niya at hinablot ko na ang braso niya papunta sa medyo tagong parte, sa maraming halaman.
Nang makaalis na sila ay binitiwan ko na ang braso ni Selton.
"Makahawak ka sa akin, parang concern na concern, ha." He smirked.
"Ang feeler mo masyado! Mamaya kung mahuli ka, damay pa ako. Diyan ka na nga!" Sabi ko at naglakad na palayo.
Hinabol niya naman ako. What's with this guy? "Demerine, nakapag-lunch ka na ba?"
Kaagad kong tinignan ang aking wrist watch at tanghali na pala at dapat ay magtanghalian na ako! Kumalam bigla ang tiyan ko.
"Hindi pa, eh." Sagot ko naman.
"Kain tayo, dali! My treat!" Masigla niyang sabi.
"Sigurado ka?"
"Magyayaya ba ako kung hindi?"
"Fine. Basta sabi mo ah, libre mo 'ko!" Nakangiti kong sabi sa kanya.
"Oo nga," He said at nagpatianod na lang ako sa kanya.
*****
Nandito kami ngayon ni Selton sa cafeteria. Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit ang gaan-gaan agad ng pakiramdam ko kapag kasama ko siya.
"Hindi pa nga tayo magkakilala ng lubusan tapos nilibre mo na 'ko," Sabi ko sa kanya nang nakuha na namin ang lunch.
"Just eat," He said with a smile.
"Uy, thank you, ah? Hayaan mo, ako naman manlilibre sa susunod."
"Sige ba!" He said with a big smile on his face.
"Hindi pa tayo magkakilala ng lubos, kaya gusto ko sanang magtanong." Sabi ko, nag-alinlangan pa 'nung una.
"Anong tanong mo?"
"Paano ka napadpad dito?"
Biglang nag-iba ang ekspresyon niya. "It's a long story, Demerine. But I'll tell you something."
"Ano 'yun?"
"I'm the son of Selina," He said, which shocked me.
Ang tagal pa bago tuluyang mag-sink in sa akin ang sinabi niya. What the heck? He is the son of Madame Selina? Ang tagapangalaga ay may anak?!
"Hey, ayos ka lang?" Biglang tanong ni Selton na nakapag-pagising sa diwa ko.
"Ah, o-oo," I answered, but I still can't believe that I'm with her son right now.
"You don't look okay. Alam ko na magiging ganito ang reaksyon mo, and I hope na makikipag-kaibigan ka pa rin sa'kin. I know that my mother is really wicked. Pero siya 'yun at hindi ako. Sana hindi magbago ang tingin mo sa'kin. I just wanna be honest." He sincerely said.
"H-hindi naman kasi ganoon kadali, Selton. Sariwa pa sa akin ang lahat ng sinabi mo. But thank you for being honest with me."
"Thank you, Demerine. Just please, don't stay away from me." He begged.
"I wouldn't, okay? You're a friend of mine now. Pero isa lang ang hinihingi ko sayo. Please don't keep secrets from me. At hindi pa kita lubusang kilala."
"So you want to know me more? Let's hang out often, then." He said with a grin.
-
BINABASA MO ANG
Death University
Mystery / ThrillerZaya chose to run away from home with nowhere to go. After a long drive with her car, she stopped in front of a big old building, which turned out to be a school. When she entered, the truths started to unravel before her, and she meets the face of...