NAKATITIG lamang sa repleksyon niya sa salamin si Selry. She could clearly see the dazed glow in her brown eyes. The natural flush of faint red still on her cheeks. Ang kanyang hintuturo ay nakadikit sa kanyang labi. She could still feel the softness and warmth of his lips on hers. The way he was shocked and his body tensed on her sudden act of intimacy. The confusion, coyness and embarrassment when she tried to make the kiss deeper but could not get his response. The uplifting tingly-bit sensation in her stomach she had felt the moment he did.
What she saw in front of her was a Selry she never thought she could be.
Blooming ako, leche! Puñeta, ba't parang ang ganda ko? May ganda pala ako, bakit ngayon ko lang napansin? Hanubayan!
"Shet!" She blurted out. Naitakip niya ang mga palad sa mukha.
Gahd, Selry! Ano ba 'tong nagawa mo? Gaga ka talaga!
What she did was so-not-1890s-Maria-Clara-character. She could not help but feel worried. Baka kung ano ang maisip ni Carlos tungkol sa kanya, worst ay kay Cecilia. It was no way that Cecilia would be that bold.
Only her as Selry could.
Tapos tatakbo ka nang saniban ka ng katinuan, kung hindi ka ba naman shunga!
She cursed herself.
Matapos ang ilang minutong paghalik niya kay Carlos ay saglit lang na nagkatitigan sila. His face was flustered. Noon din ay nakaramdam siya ng hiya. Walang paalam na basta na lang niya itong iniwan at kumaripas ng takbo papasok sa kwarto ni Cecilia.
She had wild fantasies on kissing but, never in reality did she ever initiated. Hanggang pantasya lamang siya. Afterall, she was saving her first ever kiss for her the one.
For my special one.
Napakunot-noo siya when she felt an achy thud in her chest. Na tila ba hindi ito sang-ayon nang bumalandra ang mukha ni Carlos sa kanyang isipan. The hurt was familiar but, felt like it was for something or rather someone else. Bagay na ipinagtaka niya.
But I only love Carlos so far, or do I really?
She tried recalling but her mind only showed her a vague memory of what looked like a teenaged guy. His face was blurred. She felt weird about it. There was an unmistaken void somewhere in her heart but could not identify what exactly it was or for whom?
Could it be related to what that mystery woman was talking about? Was it what Cecilia was too sorry to had changed? Pero, ano nga ba iyon?
She was in that state when succeeding knocks startled her. Awtomatikong napalingon siya sa pinto na kalapit lamang ng vanity table kung saan siya naroon. Nakita niya ang pagpihit ng seradura at pagbungad ni Estrella nang bumukas ang pinto.
"Señorita, dumating na po si Ginoong Rafael. Kasalukuyan po silang nasa hardin ni Ginoong Carlos." Inporma nito na nakatingin sa kanya. Napaiwas siya ng tingin nang sumilay ang kakaibang ngiti sa labi nito.
She composed herself then cleared her throat, "Pasabi na lamang na ako ay nag-aayos pa. Ipagpaumanhin din nila ang aking kabagalan." Aniya na itinuon na muli ang pansin sa salamin.
Kinastigo niya ang sarili sa isipan. Kung sana ay itinuon na lamang niya ang pansin sa paggayak ay sana'y hindi siya nakakaramdam ng pagmamadali.
BINABASA MO ANG
Esta Vez (This Time)
Historical FictionEsta Vez. Mga salitang ipinagwalang-bahala ni Selry. After all, it was just a part of a weird dream. Weird, dahil sa paulit-ulit na lamang niyang napapanaginipan iyon. But, as the recurring dreams became disturbing so was her curiosity. Hanggang sa...
