Helix University 2: Kalidasa dela Cuesta

23: Double date with an extra

Cassi

Mula sa pagtunganga sa asul na kahong mayron pang asul na laso na nasa harapan ko ay iniangat ko ang tingin kay Kalidasa na malawak na nakangiti sa akin at muling bumalik ang mga mata sa kahon.

"Ano 'yan?" Nakakunot ang noong tanong ko sa kanya at ang malawak niyang ngiti ay naging tagilid at alanganin. Tila nahihiyang napakamot pa siya sa batok saka binuksan ang kahon. Namilog ang mga mata ko ng tumambad sa akin ang mga nakatatakam na blueberry muffins na siyang laman ng kahon.

"Naiwan natin sa fastfood 'yong binigay ko sa'yo noon kaya naisipan kong magdala ulit." Nakangiting sagot niya sa akin saka ako inabutan ng isa. Napatunganga ako, hindi sa muffin na iniaabot niya sa akin kundi sa mukha niya mismo.

Was he always that good looking or I only failed to notice it before because I focused on the thought of hating him to prevent myself from feeling what I was feeling right now? The fringes of his brownish hair were brushing his perfect eyebrows. There was no visible pore on his moisturized pinkish white skin like that of a baby. Isama pa ang matangos na ilong niya at ang mamula- mulang mga labi na lagi na lang nakangiti. And speaking of his lips... my eyes darted to it, was his lips always been that kissable?

"Cassidy."

His voice stirred me from my trances and I blinked as I lifted my eyes to meet his. Gosh! What am I thinking?! I felt my face burned so I unthinkingly snatched the muffin on his hand and sipped on my frappe hoping that it would help me cool down my perverted thought. Wala sa sariling kumagat ako sa hawak na muffin at 'di mapigilang mapapikit. Wow, it still tastes divine. Parang mas masarap pa nga ito ngayon kaysa nang nauna. Napamulagat ako ng marinig ang marahang pagtawa ni Kalidasa.

"I'm glad you like it." He beamed. Nakapatong ang magkabilang mga braso niya sa mesa at aliw- aliw akong pinanonood sa pagkain.

"Baka mahuli ka ulit sa practice mo." I said, trying to dismiss the awkwardness building inside me again. He was doing everything to make our relationship work out so I decided to put an effort into it, too. It takes two to tango, 'ika nga nila.

"Mabait si Captain Mino ngayon sa amin. He gave us a 20- minute break." Aniya. Tumango ako at ipinagpatuloy ang pagkain.

Kalidasa stood up his practice because of me and that was why he was chastised by his Captain yesterday. What I felt most guilty about was that he did it twice and it was all because of my irrationality. If only I had put aside my pride and let him explain first, he wouldn't have thought of ditching his practice considering that their match will be happening next week.

"Was your Captain always like that?" Tanong ko.

"Yeah. Like all the time." Sagot niya, "hindi siya makukuntento ng 'di nakikita ang members niyang gumagapang na sa pagod." Sinundan niya iyon ng mahinang pagtawa. And it was suddenly felt refreshing hearing him laugh. Or was because I'm starting to see him in a whole new light?

"But you like him."

Natahimik siya at napatulala sa akin kapagkuway napakamot sa sentido at nahihiyang napangiti, "Fudge! Much as it sounds so weird and I really hate to admit it but I really do like him as my Captain. Kung hindi sa good leadership niya ay hindi makakatikim ang team namin ng panalo." He said humbly as he handed me another muffin again which I accepted as I unawarely stare into his eyes.

Pure, unrehearsed expression-- that was what I was seeing in his eyes. Pakiramdam ko ay kailangan ko ng iiwas ang mga mata ko dahil tila ba'y mas pinabibilis pa no'n ang pagkahulog ko ngunit hindi ko iyon magawa, because there was a stronger force pushing me to hold on him while we were falling together.

I swallowed and faked a little cough, "P- Pero sabi nila, ikaw daw talaga ang nagpapanalo sa team niyo."

"Isa ako sa mga nagpanalo." Pagtatama niya na lalo kong ikinatunganga, "maswerte ako kasi magagaling din ang mga teammates ko." Gosh! Was he just saying that to earn some good points from me? Pero bakit pakiramdam ko ay hindi naman siya nagpapagwapo lang sa akin? I felt myself falling deeper. Was that bad? Muli akong tumikhim at pinilit pigilan ang emosyong binubigso ng dibdib ko.