OBSIDIAN ISSUE #1: PUSHED

THIRTY SIX

To be honest, I still could barely picture Azriel out settle in the basics. Condos here are at least an hour away so an apartment was all he could have to choose. Pero naalala kong tumira pala 'to sa dorm noon, so this one for sure isn't a bother to him just as long as it is enough to shelter.

This is not what I was supposed to think, actually. Upang ibsan ang hiya ay iisipin ko na ang lahat huwag lang ang sa kanina. Looking back, I realized how cringey I was acting minutes ago. An unwelcome assumption whispered to me na baka napipilitan siya para tapos ang usapan. And because he's not the type to intentionally offend someone, pumayag na lang siya.

Unti-unting humulas ang kaninang sigasig sa pinagtagpong sakit at bigo. These past few days, I have been secretly complaining about our missed rendezvous. Tapos ngayong dadalhin na ako sa apartment niya, gusto ko namang umatras. Lalo na noong naalala ko ang mga reklamong pinakawalan ko.

It was a shame on my part that the mere whisper of the memory twisted my face in disgust! Hindi ko mapigilan ang manginig. I rubbed my hands on my arms because of the shivers. Hindi na ako sigurado kung alin ang mas pipiliin, ang ngayon ba o ang dating Rosephine.

"What's wrong?"

I peeled my sight away from the window and turned to him. Nahuli ko pa ang pananatili ng titig ni Azriel sa akin bago ito iniwas para tumutok sa daan sa harap.

"Hanggang kailan ka magtatagal dito sa Negros?" trying to distract him from my expression, I asked this instead.

He glanced at my way before a casual reply. "A year. Hangga't wala pa silang nahahanap na kapalit kay Archer."

"Friends kayo noong college?"

"Yep. We belonged to the same clique. Good lad."

I nodded slightly, quite surprise that he's able to share something personal kahit tidbits lamang ito. Perhaps a conversation would be better than keeping my thoughts alone to myself. And since interesado rin naman ako sa ibang parte ng buhay niya. The parts where I know he'd rather not share to just about anyone including me.

"Joker siya sa amin, e. It was never boring in our class kapag siya ang nagtuturo. Ganoon din ba siya rati?"

Marahan siyang tumawa at tumango. Even in the dimlights, I could still catch the depth of his dimple. Also the breathtaking gleam in his eyes when the lights outside rebounded against his face, giving me a glimpse of shadows in his jaw and chin.

I sighed at the view, tahimik siyang tinitigan habang nagmamaneho.

"Are you bored in my class?"

Napatuwid ako ng upo at agap na umiling. "Hindi naman. Scary, a little bit," I admitted shyly.

Before he'd turned to me, his brows are already intimidatingly furrowed reminding me of the angry gods in Olympus.

"You're scared of me? You don't seem so years ago."

Umawang ang bibig ko para sa huli, not because he misinterpreted my words but I was more taken aback that he'd brought a broad memory to the present.

"I-iba naman kasi noon..." kabado kong sagot, hinahagilap ang kuta ng dahilan.

His brows furrowed even deeper. I swallowed, catching the murder of his amusement. And I'm not ready for his questions either dahil alam ko sa sarili na baka pagsisisihan ko na naman ang mga tugon ko.

"What makes it different before? Because you're using your real name now? Your identity? Nababago din ba lahat niyon sa 'yo, Rosephine?" His tone mirrored an accusation but more on the side of pain.