Your Eyes (A Short Story)

Kabanata 2

Silently

Kinabukasan noon ay hindi muna kami classmate sa unang subject. Mabuti na rin na hindi ko muna s'ya nakita no'n dahil hindi pa ako himuhupa sa kilig na naramdaman ko kagabi! Baka kasi pag nakita ko s'ya, sasabog ako sa hiya!

3rd subject. Classmate na kami! Nandoon s'ya sa likod. Ako nasa harapan. Ayaw ko ngang lumingon noon kahit na may kumakalabit saakin. Baka kasi mahagip ng mga mata ko ang mga mata niyang kulay abo na nakatingin saakin. Baka malusaw ako!

"Psst... psst?" sitsit nung kumakalabit. Nilingon ko nalang kasi nangungulit. Si Kendrick. Nagtatanong kung sasama ba talaga ako. Tumango naman ako at ngumiti s'ya at nagpasalamat.

Uwian na nang nilapitan ako nina Kendrick, Jessica, Mark at Sheena. Nangingiti sila habang lumalapit sa akin.

"Carol! Wala nang bawian ha? Sama ka saamin this saturday!" ani Sheena.

Ngumiti ako. "Oo, sasama ako."

Nagngising aso naman si Mark saka inakbayan si Sheena. "Pa'no ka kaya napapayag ni Jesson? Mukha ka kasing hindi palasama sa mga tao eh. Sorry kung gano'n ang tingin ko sa'yo but I still like you. We want to be your friends, though." Aniya na tinanguan naman ng tatlo.

"Okay lang yun. Uhmm, uunahan ko na kayo ha? Hindi ako pinilit ni Jesson. Kusa akong pumayag at saka hindi naman ata kayo bad influence 'di ba? Mukha naman kayong mabait..." at crush ko si Jesson. Siya 'yong dahilan este ang pag-aaral pala kaya ako sasama sa inyo.

Bahagya naman akong tinampal ni Jessica. "Ano ka ba! We're not bad influence to you or to anyone, that's a guarantee. It's not our goal to influence other people to do wicked things. Our goal is to excell in school. To graduate. To leave legacy. And to do good things as well. There's nothing to worry about Carol. We're good students but a bit bad-ass! Joke!" Humagikhik pa s'ya pagkatapos masabi iyon.

I was convince so I smiled.

"Speaking of Jesson, where is he?" Tanong ni Kendrick saka lumingon-lingon upang mahanap si Jesson.

Are they friends? I haven't seen them hanged out before or talked often.

"Bro! Where were you?" Pambungad ni Kendrick kay Jesson na nakalapit na pala. Binati na rin ng tatlo.

Napapikit ako ng nasa harapan ko na s'ya. I don't wanna looked up at him. Naisip ko yung chat namin kagabi. Nag-chat ba talaga kami? Hindi ako makapaniwala! Ghad!

"I left my camera in my locker. Kinuha ko lang..." he said dryly.

He's still cold until now. Like before.

"Nandito pala si Carol. Payag na kayo ha? There's no turning back." Giit ni Kendrick na sinang-ayunan ulit ng tatlo.

Napaangat ako ng tingin sa kaharap ko. I met his eyes. Vision is connected. Captivated.

Those eyes. Those eyes is the reason why I fell in love with him. Those gray eye is burning intensity. Covered with mystery. Untold. Empty. Blank expression. Unreadable. Yet attractive. Lovely.

Complemented with his perfect pointed nose, thick eyebrows, red thin lips, and his dark complexion. When I first saw him when we were still in grade 9, he's not as masculine as he is today. Payatot pa s'ya noon at tumangkad pa ata s'ya ng ilang inches! Makes me like him more... so intimidating even before.

Unfortunately and surely, we're not meant be. I know and I already accepted that fact.

4 years. Ang haba. Taon na ang nakalipas nung naging crush ko s'ya. 4 years. Ganoon din ba kahabang panahong ang gugugulin ko para maka move on? Hindi ko pa kaya. Lalong-lalo nang malapit lang kami sa isa't isa.