The Death of Gabriel

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

I woke up, my eyes are quite swollen, pero alam ko na mawawala na din ito mamaya.  Ngayon, I felt more determined to do well on school. I should focus my thoughts more into my studies dahil graduating na ako this year.

Two weeks passed, since that day, still his words never left my mind.

Pagkatapos nang klase, I walked outside the school to see the familiar view of a man na nakasandal sa kanyang kotse habang naghihintay sa akin.

It's been a part of my day. Ang pag-buksan niya nang pinto, and the view of him driving while looking straight on the road. It's been two weeks already, but this man beside me is still quite a mystery to me.

Ang alam ko lang, he's a good person.

And he's good looking.

Ang alam ko lang he's a gentleman.

Nabanggit din pala ni mama that he graduated this year as a valedictorian.

Nakita kong bahagyang gumalaw ang Adam's apple niya, our eyes met and he furrowed his eyebrows. I didn't realize that I've been staring at him for that long.

"I'm not going to disappear anytime soon. Hinay hinay lang. I might melt." he said smirking

I looked away immediately, bigla akong ginapangan nang hiya. I heard him chuckle.

"I wasn't staring, napatingin lang ako, cause your hairstyle looks different today." palusot ko, hoping we would buy it.

"Uh-huh." sambit niya, at ngumiti nang nakakaloko. I bit my lips, and tried to think of another topic.

"K-kailan ang balik mo US?" I said stuttering for words.

"After my mom's birthday." tipid niyang sagot.

I nod at his response. Malapit na ang birthday ni Tita Iyah. Oh great, then it will be easier for me to convince myself that I'm not slowly falling for him.

It's not like he feels anything for me, alam ko na sinusundo niya lang naman ako because of his mom.

"I'll be first year in college. I'll be pursuing culinary and arts." Sambit niya while eyeing me.

I only nod at his response. Right, because siya ang magmamanage nang mga restaurants nila, soon. Geez why do I look so depressed about the idea that he's leaving soon. It's not like we're anything.

"I'll be back din naman agad, sa susunod na bakasyon." mahinahon niyang, wika as if he's assuring me that he will come back.

"Oh right, baka namimiss ka na nang girlfriend mo sa US." I said trying to sound enthusiastic about it.

"I don't have one, Avery." he said seriously.

"Well then you should get one, isama mo siya sa pagbalik mo, and introduce me to her." I said suggestively. He just shrugged of his shoulders.

Pinarada niya na ang sasakyan sa harap nang bahay, bumaba siya para pag-buksan ako nang pinto. I muttered "thank you" and walked towards our gate.

I looked at him. Seriously Earl, you should get yourself a girlfriend. I'm afraid that I'm starting to think that I like you...

I just shrugged off my shoulders with whatever I am thinking, at pumasok na sa bahay. Dumiretso ako na ako sa kwarto para makapag-bihis.

That's right Francisca. I can certainly imagine Earl dating a beautiful woman, yung tipong well educated, very classy and high-fashion at the same time.

Bumaba na ako para maghain at kumain nang hapunan kasabay si Alice at si mama.

"Anak, sa Sunday na ang birthday nang Tita Iyah mo, magready ka na nang isusuot mo." bilin ni mama.

"Opo ma." sambit ko. Marami akong bestida, pero halos lahat ay simple lamang I might ask Primiella , Kirs and Misy to go to the mall with me.

Kinabukasan, I did my usual routine at pumasok na sa school. Hinatid ako ni manong. It was Friday.

After school, na-abutan kong naghihintay sila Primiella sa harap nang cafeteria. I saw her with a huge bouquet of flowers in her hands.

"Those flowers look beautiful." pambungad ko, habang nginingitian siya nang nakakaloko.

Maybe it's from her boyfriend.

"Guess, who it is for? Sayo to Frans. It's from a brother of someone I knew." sambit ni Prim ngayon siya naman ang ngumiti sa akin nang nakakaloko.

"Sa inyo nalang, hinde ako mahilig sa bulaklak eh." sambit ko. Totoo, I don't like flowers.

I mean I do, pero mas gusto ko ang mga ito kapag nakatanim. Flowers that are in bouquets only lasts a few days, at pagkatapos noon malalanta rin.

"Ito naman masyadong suplada. Sayo ito be, nageffort yung tao eh." wika ni Misy.

"Tsaka may note oh. Apology gift naman pala eh. Ikaw ah Frans may hinde ka sinasabi sa amin." sambit ni Kirs, sabay kurot sa tagiliran ko.

"Okay lang maging ma-kire, paminsan minsan." wika ni Prim at sabay sabay kaming nagtawanan.

Wala na akong nagawa kundi tanggapin ang mga bulaklak. Sino naman kaya ang nagpapabigay nito?
Lumabas na ako sa school and saw Earl na nakasandal sa kaniyang kotse habang naghihintay sa akin.

Nagtama ang mga paningin namin. Last day na pala nang pagsundo niya sa akin. Ayoko munang lumapit, I just want to enjoy this view. I want to remember every inch of it. I want to remember every single detail about it. In other words, if this will be the last time. I want to cherish all of it. I can't believe that for such a short time frame, I've grown fond of Earl.

Dahan dahan akong lumapit sa kanya.

Nakita ko ang pagtitig niya sa mga and bulaklak na dala ko, bago ako pag-buksan nang pintuan. Dahan dahan akong pumasok, his scent filled my nose. This had been part of my daily life.

"Hinde ba nagseselos ang boyfriend mo na may ibang lalaking sumusundo sayo?" he said titling his head as he faced me.

"Wala akong boyfriend, at wala akong balak mag-boyfriend." mahinahong sagot ko sa kanya.

Our eyes met and remained that way for a while, bago niya pinaandar ang sasakyan.

I want to tell him that I will miss him, but I don't want to give him false ideas. Dahil ako mismo ay unsure of my own feelings. Ipinarada niya na ang kotse niya sa harap nang gate namin.

"Thank you Mr. Earl Salvatore." I said sincerely.

"Anytime, Miss Francisca Avery Vasquez. You have a long name." He said as he raised his eyebrows, and chuckled while opening the door for me.

"See you on Sunday." pahabol niya.

Dali dali akong pumasok sa bahay, at dumiretso na sa kwarto. I found a big box laying on my bed. Dali dali ko itong binuksan to find a color red long gown, with a pair of heels na hinde naman ganoon kataas. I also found a note with initials on it.

"Wear this. -E.S"

Agad agad akong nagtungo sa bintana upang tanawin kung naroon pa ba ang sasakyan niya. Andoon pa siya, I saw him leaning on his car na tila na malalim ang iniisip. Hinde pa pala siya umaalis.

"Madalas siyang ganyan, Ate. Pagkahatid niya sayo he would usually stay there for a while." sambit ni Alice, na bigla nalang sumusulpot out of nowhere.

She's right he stayed there for a while. Natapos na kami magdinner nung sumilip ako ulit sa bintana, and that time nakita ko palang siyang paalis.

That night, I couldn't sleep. Ano ba kami ni Earl? I mean, I have to admit that I have a little crush for him.