ZWCS#9: Playing with Fire

Philip Henderson

"Hija, meet the Henderson's."

Pinagmasdan ni Philip ng maigi ang dalagang ipinapakilala ngayon sa harapan niya. The moment na sabihin sakanya ng Mommy niya na magdidinner sila sa isa nilang kaibigan ay alam na niya na irereto nanaman siya nito sa kung sinumang anak ng kaibigan nila at hindi nga siya nagkamali.

"Nice meeting you po," magalang na bati ng dalaga sa magulang niya.

"It's true what the news says. You have a beautiful daughter, Tony," tawa ng daddy niya.

Lumapit naman ang Mommy niya at niyakap ang dalaga. "Tracy, Tony, you have a precious gem,"

"Oh, and this is our only son, Philip," pagpapakilala ng magulang niya sakanya. The girl named Trinity smiled at him and recognition was evident on her eyes.

"Oh, it's you," sabi nito sakanya. He scanned her face and tried to remember if he ever saw her before and then he remembered that day where he was in Vanderbilt University.

Nginitian niya ang dalaga at naglahad ng kamay. Nang tanggapin iyon ni Trinity ay hinalikan niya ang likod ng palad nito. "It's nice to finally meet you, Trinity Isla."

That was their first formal meeting. He's just twenty three and he knows to himself that he's not ready to be tied down kahit na sa napakagandang si Trinity Isla. But there was this attraction between them, or was it just him? Pero kung ano pa iyon, hindi na dapat niya pagtuunan ng pansin.

Two weeks after, he visited a friend that is a professor in Vanderbilt University. He was already on his way to his office when he saw Trinity walking while talking someone on her phone. Nacurious siya kaya sinundan niya ang dalaga at ang balak lang niya sana ay gulatin at mag-hi rito pero hindi muna niya ginawa kasi mukhang may kausap itong importante.

"Why are you not replying? You're not answering my calls then lagi ako nada-direct sa voicemail mo. Call me back. I miss you, Steven Alan Herrera. So much."

He hid behind the wall when Trinity ended the call. He didn't let her see him. Tama ba siya ng narinig? Herrera and Trinity?

"Weird.. engaged na si Herrera.." he said to himself and shook his head as if he can't understand what he heard.

The following day, he saw Trinity at the gym where he works out. Nakita siya nito kaya naman lumapit na siya ng tuluyan.

"I'm sorry, what?" tanong nito sakanya nang may sabihin siya pero hindi pala narinig dahil naka-earphones ito.

"I said, I was not so sure that it was you, buti nalang lumingon ka," he casually said.

"Ah. Yeah, I'm a member here,"

Tumango nalang siya at ipinatong ang braso sa handle ng treadmill at tinignan ang dalaga. Pinanood niya si Trinity at nahalata niya na hindi ito komportable sa lantarang paninitig niya rito. Maya-maya lang ay bumaba na ito sa treadmill at kinuha ang tubig na nakalapag sa sahig at saka ito ininom.

"Whatt?" she asked.

He shrugged. "I'm trying to figure out something."

"By staring at me?"

Walang pakundangang tumango siya at humalukipkip. "I'm not sure if you are a bad girl or a good girl. Either way, you're still beautiful." Nginitian niya ito ng makahulugan at tsaka umalis. "See you around, Trinity."

Trinity Isla Vasquez really got him curious but it was too short since he needed to fly to California for his work. A month later, he got a call from Trinity's mom asking him to check on Trinity who was apparently studying in Stanford. To be honest, malayo ang Stanford sa lugar kung saan siya nakatira at ang trabaho niya pero dahil nahihiya siya sa Mommy ni Trinity ay pinuntahan niya ang dalaga sa dormitory nito.