Disguise as a Nerd

Chapter 20: Foreign Emotion

Claire's POV

Kasalukuyan akong nasa kwarto  at nagmumuni-muni ng may kumatok sa pinto.

Napatingin ako dito, "Pasok. It's open" sabi ko. Nakita kong pumasok si Daniel, tinignan ko siya ng matiim.

"I told all of you to get out, didn't I?" Malamig kong saad ngunit bumuntong hiniga lang siya.

"C-can I talk to you for a second?" Tanong nito. Tumango naman ako, "Okay, you have a second."

Huminga ito ng malalim, "Okay as I was saying—"

"—Times up" I cut him off and he looks pissed.

"What?" Tila naguguluhan paring aniya.

"You said you need to talk to me for 'a second', now there's your a second." I explained, quoting a second in the air and he smiles and shook his head.

"Okay.." He gave me a warm smile. "How about thirty minutes, tops."

"Sure" tango ko.

Huminga ito ng malalim. "As I was saying, A-are you... ahmm..." Napakamot ito sa batok. "Ahm. Are you..." Napabuntong hininga ito then followed by him clearing his throat. Nagtaas ito ng tingin "A-are you okay? About what happened to Dainielle?"

I was stunned. I expected him talking nonsense shits and asking bullshit questions but not like this kind of question.

Napataas ang aking kilay. Tinapik ko ang espasyo sa tabi ko signaling him to sit beside me at sumunod naman siya.

Nang makaupo na siya, I looked at his eyes, there was longing, sadness in the depths of them. I blew a loud breath. Another poor creature hit by that stupid cupid.

"Eh ikaw? Parang mas apektado ka pa kesa sa akin." I noticed.

Agad naman itong tumungo. "I just didn't expect to miss her like this..." Napatawa pa ito ng mahina, "..I think I got her.." Tumingin ito sa akin. He was like looking at my very soul. "..but she was the one who got me.."

Napatawa ako ng mahina. Yep. That's our Danielle. I suddenly miss her, then my laugh faded away instantly.

"Although pinagbalakan niya kaming pagtaksilan.." tumingin ako kay Daniel, "I will still believe that she has her own reasons" napailing ako, I didn't know what's happening, But something in me was changing...

Tumango din ito. "Alam kong sandali lang kaming magkasama," tumingin ito sa malayo. "Pero parang sa isang linggong naging akin siya, parang ang tagal na naming magkakilala.." parang napakalalim ng iniisip niya. Tila inaalala ang nakaraan na kailan man ay hindi na mababalikan pa.

I held his hands. The least I could do to say that I understand what he feels. Tumingin siya sa akin at nginitiaan ako at humigpit ang kapit sa aking mga kamay.

Hinila niya ako patayo, at kahit nanghihina ay pinilit kong sumabay sa paghatak niya sa akin.

"Let's go somewhere, shall we?" Tanong nito sa akin at sasagot na sana ako ng may humatak sa akin galing sa likuran.

At dahil nga nanghihina ako, agad akong napasandal sa matipunong dibdib ng humatak sa akin.

Pumulupot ang mga kamay nito sa bewang ko at ipinatong ang baba sa balikat ko.

I looked at him and gasped as I saw Ikoy looking at Daniel sharply. Tila nagbibigay ng babala ang mga titig nito sa lalaking hatak-hatak lang ako kanina.

And because of our position, my face is just an inch apart from his! Hindi ako makahinga kaya't binawi ko ang tingin ko ng marinig ko siyang magsalita.