Book of Flames [ UNDER-REVISION]

ʚĭɞ FLAMES 04

Introduction To The Trimurti

“Bakla! Ano, pinagalitan ka ng mama mo pagkauwi mo kagabi?"

Masigla akong umiling sa bungad ni Icy sa videocall. “Wala pa sila no’ng dumating ako,” sagot ko bago ako humiga sa ulit sa kama ko. Mabuti na lang talaga, nasiraan pala ng gulong ang kotse nina mama at nahirapan silang maghanap ng vulcanizing shop. Naging daan iyon para makaligtas akong mapagalitan at masabunutan ni mama.

“Mabuti naman kung ganu'n.”

“So, what’s the chika?” Rylie finally joined the video call.

“Ayun na nga,” Icy retoted, fixing her eyeglass. “Umarangkada na naman ang pagiging overthinker ni bakla! Hinusgahan si Euchleid matapos umamin sa kaniya nung tao kagabi!”

Wala man lang preno-preno.

“Bruh! Euchleid Delacroix confessed?! For real?!” Rylie, usually unfazed by everything, clamped her hands over her mouth in shock.

“Oo, may gusto nga si Euchleid kay Fritzey! Ugh, if only we’d bet on this—I could be rolling in cash right now! Nakikita mo 'tong pag kain ko? Kain ng panghihinayang 'to bakla!”

“Interesado lang, correction.”

“Paano umamin? What did he say?”

“Interesado lang, correction.”

Hindi na nila ako napansin nang magsimulang ikuwento ni Icy ang buong detalye, so my mind automatically drifted back to it as I let them converse.

“I'm interested in getting to know you, Aisaeah. I hope I'm not making you feel uncomfortable.”

Nabilaukan ako sa kinakain kong pansit matapos ang ilang segundong pagtulala ko sa mukha ni Euchleid. It felt like everything else around us had blurred away, leaving just me and the weight of his words.

"S-Salamat…" I muttered as I quickly reached for the glass of water Icy handing out. My hands felt shaky that I couldn't even manage to drink it properly. I couldn't believe this... I couldn’t believe Euchleid actually really said that. He had the nerve to say, “I hope I’m not making you feel uncomfortable," after dropping a confession like that?

"Ano'ng sagot mo?" Joko obliged me to give my answer. Sinegundahan agad siya ng mga kaibigan niya na mas lalong nagpalula sa akin. Right now, what I wanted is to just disappear, to slip away before they could see the discomfort in my eyes. I really couldn't handle a confession. Nanginginig at pinagpapawisan ng manlalamig ang buong katawan ko. I couldn't believe this was real and no longer just a “what-if” from one of Icy’s playful delusions. Para tuloy nagmanifest lang 'yung tanong niya kanina habang naglalakad kami. 

I looked at Euchleid, and I was shocked by the emotions I saw in those two pools of amber. I saw genuineness, a vulnerability. A part of me wanted to believe him, to accept that maybe this was real, but my head kept spinning. Despite the fact that I can feel people’s emotions and I feel the sincerity in the way he looked at me… I still couldn’t stop myself from doubting him. I still couldn't shake off the thought that maybe he was just good at pretending and faking his emotions. Because even actors and actresses can make us believe that they‘re inloved with their loveteam. So, who knows? Baka may kalalagyan si Euchleid sa showbiz industry?

Kaya hindi ko rin masisisi ang sarili ko kung magduda ako ngayon. If I let myself believe that he’s genuine, I’m putting my heart on the line. And I know better than to do that. I can’t just throw myself into something like that without thinking about the consequences—especially knowing that I am a matchmaker who doesn’t even know if there’s someone meant for her. I just don’t want to be the fool who got swept up in something that was never meant to be.