The One Who Stares Behind

KABANATA 14

"Ms. Romero! I thought you don't sing." I was surprised too.

"What you did was impressive aside from your well, attirude? Actually, it was amazing! Great job to both of you!" napapapalakpak pang puri nito ngunit inirapan ko lang ito at umupo sa bakanteng upuan sa may unahan.

"That's what you called talent," mahinang bulong ko sa hangin ngunit hindi iyon nakaligtas sa katabi ko. Tumingin ito sa akin ngunit agad rin nitong binawi nang makita niyang nakatingin rin ako sa kanya.

"I-I'm s-sorry." Why are they afraid of me?

I just leaned back in my chair, put my earphones in, and started playing music.

I don't like the way he stares, I find it so strange and..

I glanced at the person next to me as they took their things and walked straight out.

Only then did I notice that everyone else had already left. I even saw Ms. Lylanie tidying up her things before she also left.

Hindi ko parin tinanggal ang airpods mula sa tenga ko.  Sa halip ay nilakasan ko pa ang volume nito at naglakad na rin palabas.

Bago lumabas ay binalingan ko muna ng tingin ang bakanteng upuan dito sa likuran. Wala na rin siya.

If I could turn back time
If I could make you mine

I was right in front of the door when I bumped into something hard. No, it was actually a part of a human body.

Slowly, I lifted my face to confront the stranger who owned that hard chest.

Sobrang lapit ng mukha namin sa isa't isa na sa isang maling galaw ko lang ay magdidikit na ang aming mga labi.

Gaya ng dati ay hindi mo parin ito makakitaan ng emosyon. Blangko ang mga mata nitong nakatingin sa akin. Sa hindi mabilang na pagkakataon, bigla na naman akong nakaramdam ng kaba.

It was almost too late when I realized that our lips were about to touch.
I could even smell his minty breath. His intense gaze made me shiver and feel nervous at the same time.

Because of the tension, I pushed him away slightly, creating some distance between us. I shot him an angry look, but he only responded with a teasing smile.

May sinabi pa ito na hindi ko rin naman narinig dahil sa lakas ng volume na naririnig ko mula sa earphones na nakasuksok pa rin sa magkabilaang tenga ko.

Annoyed, I removed it, but it was too late as he had already moved away. How would I know what he said? Was he insulting me? Wait, why should it matter anyway?

I shook my head. I checked the time on my watch. It was past five in the afternoon.

Xandrev..

Instead of heading straight to our dormitory, I took the path leading to Xandrev's first.

"Hi Zafh!" tumango lamang ako kay Tom.

"Hi Zafhyrna! 'going to visit your brother?"

"Obvious ba Zedd. Alangan namang ikaw ang puntahan niya dito. Dream on pare! Si Zafhyrna yan!"

"E kung ikaw ang bangasan ko?! Nagtanong lang ako gago!"

Napailing na lamang ako bago tuluyang pumasok sa kwarto nila Xandrev.  Kakatok pa sana ako ngunit bukas na rin pala ang pinto nito.

Kaya napapasukan e. At gustong gusto rin naman tsk.

Silence was all I found there. I sat down on the couch and my eyes caught a picture frame on the table.

It was Isaac, Drev, and El. Isaac was laughing, while Xandrev was in the middle, looking serious as he stared at the camera. Sira ulong 'to. Galit na galit sa camera.

I smiled broadly as I remembered that I was the one who took this photo during our first year of senior high school.

Eli was smiling in it. I couldn't help but touch his face on the frame. Almost perfect... but will never be mine. Sometimes it's just ironic how we can't have someone we love.

Maingat ko itong inilagay muli sa lamesa.

"Motherfucker!" I was startled and quickly turned to face the owner of that voice.

"Don't look at me! God! You're giving me a heart attack!"

"Holy shit, Xandrev! Put your clothes on first!"

Drev was half-naked, with the towel hanging dangerously low. I quickly turned away and shut my eyes. This guy is really shameless.

"Hintayin mo ako dito." utos nito.

Iminulat ko na ang mata ko nang makarinig ako ng kalabog ng pinto.

Siguro ay nagbihis na ito. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang isipin kung ganito ba lagi siya tuwing haharap sa mga bisita niya. Masyado kang nagbibigay motibo Xandrev Ross.

Maybe that's why those shameless women never leave him alone. Then again, he seems to like it.

"What brought you here?" he asked, surprised.

"Surprise visit. Were you expecting someone else to drop by?" I teased.

He smiled. Napahawak pa ito sa baba nito na animo'y nag iisip pa sa isasagot nito sa akin.

"Supposedly, yes. I thought it was Nicole or Sandra.. that's why I prepared myself."

I rolled my eyes at him."So tell me Xandrev, which one of them answered my call earlier? It must have been Nicole or Sandra?" I asked sarcastically.

"Oh, you called?!" he asked, surprised, as he checked his phone.

"Oh, you did."

"Hello? Xandrev's sleeping. He must be tired of.." pangagaya ko pa sa boses ng babae kanina.

Hindi makapaniwalang tiningnan ako nito bago inakbayan at inilapit sa kanya. "You're cute. " sabi nito matapos tumawa.

Tinulak ko ito at bahagya na ring natawa.

I just copied her voice. I didn't expect it to turn out worse than I thought.

"Stop laughing, Xandrev!" I scolded him.

"It must be Shantelle who answered your call."

My jaw dropped at what he said. How many girls has he been with? "You're really a womanizer."

Tumango tango ito na hindi man lang kinontra ang sinabi ko.

"Zafh, he's not here. I knew exactly what brought you into this room." I looked at him, and his expression was serious.

"He's not the reason I came here, Drev." Really. I am not lying.

"Okay. Then what?"

"It's a 'who' Xandrev. And that is you."

Kumunot ang noo nito sa sinabi ko.

"Drev, tell me. What bothers you?"

Natigilan ito at tumingin sa akin na para bang hindi niya inaasahang tanungin ko ito sa kanya.

"I saw you talking to someone on your phone earlier, and you looked distracted," I added.

"What time is it, Zafh?"

I looked at my watch. "It's almost 6 PM."

I knew he was avoiding something. But why?

"Let's go to the auditorium. There will be an announcement." Before I could respond, he had already pulled my hand and was leading me out.

Tahimik lamang kami habang tinatahak ang daan papunta sa audi.

I suddenly stopped when he did, turning me to face him.

"I'll tell you soon. Okay?"

"Okay," I replied shortly.

"I hope you understand, Zafh."

I forced a smile and nodded. At that moment, I could feel his pulse as he held my wrist.

I understand Xandrev. I understand that it's hard for him to say this to me.

And I trust him.