Dress Me Up Or Dress Me Down

VI

I have never felt this awkward in my entire life.

I was with Kalmin inside the elevator, we were like a foot apart from each other. Nang bumukas na ang pinto ng elevator ay sabay kaming humakbang ni Kalmin. Sabay rin kaming napahinto. Tumingin ako sa kaniya at nagtugma ang mga mata namin. Naramdaman ko na naman ang kaba sa dibdib ko kaya't agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin.

"You go first." Kalmin mechanically said.

"Thanks." Matipid kong sagot bago humakbang papalabas sa elevator.

Nakarating na kami sa parking space ng building nila. Patungo na sana ako sa kotse ko nang tawagin ako ni Kalmin.

"Hey, Tori."

It was the first time he called me by my name. I'd be lying if I said I didn't like the way he called my name using that sexy voice of his.

I turned to him. "Yep?"

"Let's just use my car, it's easier that way." He suggested, tilting his head towards the direction of his car.

I hesitated for a bit but decided to follow his suggestion.

My eyes involuntarily landed on the door of the driver's seat as memories of that Friday night popped inside my head.

"But I'm done talking to you. Clean the car or just fuck off. Do whatever the hell you want."

Kalmin was really cold and scary that time. The way he said each word with such disdain left a huge negative impact on me. Maybe that's the reason why I feel the most uncomfortable with him even though he said that he's now cool about it.

He might have noticed that I was spacing out in front of his car; my eyes were still attached at the door Dianne left her mark on.

"Aren't you going in, Tori?" Kalmin asked.

I slightly jolted in surprise. "Uhm. I was about to. Sorry."

Nagmamadali akong pumasok sa loob ng sasakyan niya at naupo sa shotgun seat. Isusuot ko na sana ang seatbelt nang kumatok si Kalmin sa bintana ng sasakyan. Ibinaba ko ang bintana. He was leaning towards the window; his face was near to mine. Too dangerously near.

I looked at him and I accidentally looked directly on his eyes. I suddenly felt my heart pounding wildly against my chest. I felt that I was being sucked in by those dark orbs of his. After a few seconds of being lured by his eyes, I was snapped back to reality when he finally spoke.

"Pwede dun ka sa likod? I'll place my gym bag there." Sabi niya na parang wala lang. He's not commanding me to follow him but he sounded like he's not going to take no for an answer.

I was a little dumbfounded by his request but still complied because who am I to complain, right?

"Ah, sure. Bababa na ako."

So much for a gentleman.

At ayun nga, sa likod ako ng sasakyan nakaupo habang  nasa passenger seat niya ang Nike training bag niya. Hindi ko alam kung nanadya ba siya o sadyang manhid at slow lang siya. Actually, hindi ko alam kung anong tumatakbo sa isip niya dahil wala siyang pinapakitang emosyon. Pasimple akong tumingin sa kaniya sa pamamagitan ng rear view mirror, his eyes were too focused on the road that he didn't even notice that I was staring intently at him.

"It's fine." my ass.

Tama ako, hindi pa rin niya pinalampas 'yung insidente sa parking lot ng Dark Room. May galit pa rin siya sa akin hanggang ngayon kaya hindi niya kayang mapalapit ako sa kaniya.

- - - - - - - -

"We're here." Kalmin finally spoke. Twenty minutes ang tinagal ng biyahe namin, at sa buong oras na 'yun ay hindi kami nag-usap. Tanging ang tunog lang ng radio ang gumawa ng ingay sa loob ng sasakyan.