Morning Blushes

chapter three

I woke up facing my desk, my head buried in a textbook. I felt the dried tears tightening on my cheeks. These damn tears ruined the texts on my book. I checked the time above me only to see it's almost midnight. I can't believe I dozed off here. Sumuko na ako. Tumayo ako at pinatay ang ilaw. I went to my bed to continue my sleep. Kahit pakiramdam ko wala akong karapatang matulog, my body is demanding it.

I was about to pull up the comforter when some strange sound knocked on my window. Hindi ko na pinansin. Cats are wandering around this time. When it happened again, it's strange it doesn't sound like a cat. I got up to turn on the lights and roll the blinds. Pagbukas ko ng bintana, parang nalaglag ang puso ko sa gulat.  There's a guy sitting by the exterior windowsill. Goodness gracious. What is he? A gargoyle?

Agad akong napalayo at napatitig sa kanya. That gargoyle is casually sitting there para magpahangin. I can't believe this. The only person in my mind is the freerunner. He's the only person who can do this. And if not, I am so ready to punch this goon.

"What exactly are you doing here?" 

"Oh, shit," he mumbled under his breath. "I..."

Pagharap niya, it's really him. Napalayo ako lalo para umiwas sa mga pwede niyang gawin sa'kin. He almost fell off if he's not gripping at the edge of the windowsill. He's wearing a black hoodie that made him look more than some sort of a reaper rather than a thief. Who is he? The Phantom?

I have left with no choice. I need to shoo him away sooner or as much as possible. Pero napatitig na naman ako sa mga mata niya. His eyes are some mystery, peculiarly dark. No one could ever look away once na matignan na yung mata niya. It's something I have never seen before and yet I feel like I have known it my entire life. 

"Excuse me, sir, but it's like midnight."

"I know, miss. I'm sorry."

There's this awkward silence that made me feel uncomfortable. It's still uneasy to be around him, especially I'm alone. I can't explain this drumming beat in my heart. It's making me agitated in some way. The wind is strangely howling. I'm afraid it's making me shiver.

"You better go home now, sir." It was almost a whisper. 

Instead of giving me his response, he looked at me. He just stared at me. Ako na ang umiwas ng tingin. I was too... I don't know. There's something in his eyes that felt like it's trying to read me. I don't want to be read. I don't want someone to know what's on my mind. 

I sighed. "Please, De Guzman. I just wanted to rest." I rubbed my eyes in exhaustion. Napatingin siya sa'kin lalo. He blinked once and stared at me for a long run. "Umalis ka na. You're indeed not the one in danger here."

Nakatungo na lang ako para itago yung mata kong bahagyang namamaga. I just realized he's staring at me because of this. This is making me feel ashamed. No one in school has seen me in this condition. I was always the calm, composed one.

"Okay. Goodnight, miss. I hope you're okay." He finally jumped elsewhere.

Naiwan akong nakatayo doon habang nakatingin lang sa kawalan. Wala sa sarili kong sinarado ang bintana at pinatay ang ilaw. I was just about to go back to my bed when I felt hunger rumbling in my stomach. Mas lalo lang akong nagutom, knowing na hindi ko man lang nagalaw yung pagkain ko kanina. I wish I was good enough to deserve to eat dinner with them.

I decided to just get out of my room with my water bottle. I want a cup of instant noodles but we're not allowed to have that thing here. My great brother said something about instant noodles connecting to our health. But I don't know what else to eat. Manang is definitely asleep by now and I don't want to wake her up just to ask for something to eat.