Wanted: Tutor

21

WANTED: TUTOR

Chapter 21

Elmo's POV

"So? Where do you want to go?" tanong ko kay Julie nang makasakay kami sa sasakyan ko.

"You're the driver. You decide." aniya.

"Well. You're the girl so you decide." sabi ko naman.

Tumingin siya sa akin and raised her eyebrow. Again. Ang sarap talaga inisin nito minsan. Lumalabas yung ganda niya pag nagtataray siya eh.

"That rule is applied when you're dating. Are we dating, Elmo?" tanong niya sa akin.

Nginitian ko siya ng nakakaloko saka nagtaas-baba ng kilay.

"Do you want to date me?" tanong ko.

"Oh please. If you're drunk, then I'll drive." aniya.

"Hahaha. I'm just kidding. Sige na. Ako na bahala." sabi ko saka na inistart ang sasakyan.

Tahimik lang kami sa biyahe. Medyo awkward dahil hindi naman ako sanay na di kami nagsisigawan nito ni Julie. Pero what the hell. This is better than bickering with her.

"Music?" tanong ko.

Tumingin siya sa akin sa pamamagitan ng mabibigat na mata.

"Huh?"

"I mean, gusto mo magpatugtog?" tanong ko.

"Ah. Hm. Ikaw bahala." sabi niya at nagkibit-balikat.

Ini-on ko ang stereo ng kotse ko. Sakto ay naka-connect iyon via bluetooth sa phone ko kaya iniabot ko ang phone ko sa kanya.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" she asked me.

"Well, I don't know what type of music you like so there. Ikaw na pumili."

Kinuha niya ang phone ko saka nagscroll sa nagtap sa screen. Bigla naman umalingawngaw mula sa speakers ang isang kanta.

"All of the Stars?" tanong ko.

"I just shuffle played your songs. Di ako makadecide eh." aniya.

Nilagay niya sa cupholder ang phone ko saka na sinandal ang ulo sa headrest at pumikit.

'It's just another night
And I'm staring at the moon
I saw a shooting star and thought of you
I sang a lullaby
By the waterside and knew
If you were here, I'd sing to you
You're on the other side
As the skyline splits in two
I'm miles away from seeing you
But I can see the stars
From America
I wonder, do you see them too?'

"Alam mo yung movie na OST yan?" tanong niya sa akin.

"Uh... No?"

"Ts. Anyway. It's entitled The Fault in Our Stars. It's actually a book by John Green."

"Uh-huh."

"Wala lang. I just want to feel Hazel Grace's little infinity too." sabi niya.

"Hazel Grace?"

"Yeah. Yung girl sa story." sabi niya. "Gusto ko mahanap yung magiging Gus ko. Someone who will accept and love me for all of my imperfections. Yung lalaking mamahalin ako kahit na alam niyang hindi ako perpekto."

Lumingon ako sa kanya and saw her still resting her head but this time, her eyes are closed.

'So open your eyes and see
The way our horizons meet
And all of the lights will lead
Into the night with me
And I know these scars will bleed
But both of our hearts believe
All of these stars will guide us home'