Unreachable Zacharius

17

Chapter 17

From the very start, I knew he's far from my reach. But it's okay, I don't like him anyway. Iyon ang nasa isip ko tuwing nakikita ko siya sa iilang gatherings at hindi siya malapitan. Nagmumukha akong tangang nakamasid sa kanya mula sa malayo. He was interacting, alright, but only with businessmen and his relatives. Pansin ko ring hindi siya palangiti. Kung ngingiti man, tipid at halatang pilit.

There are times that he's seriously attentive, making him look dangerous and darker. He looks stern with his thick eyebrows and tightly pressed lips, he then looks hard to approach.

"Say 'hi' to your kuya Zach, Amber." Mommy gently pushed me towards tita Leandra and her son.

I nibbled my bottom lip. Kinabahan ako nang balingan na ako ni tita upang ipakilala sa anak. Kulang na lang ay hilahin ko si mommy paalis upang makawala. "Amber darling, this is your Kuya Zacharius," she smiled and gently tugged my arm.

"Son, this is Amber Ylena, your tito Francisco and tita Catherine's daughter." Tita smiled sweetly.

Zacharius' eyes darted from his mother to me. Sa sobrang tangkad niya ay kinailangan ko pang tumingala ng kaonti. I forced out a smile. This man doesn't seem to know how to show softness towards people. His aura is intimidating. Probably why at the very start, I felt so little underneath his  gaze.

"Hi." I mumbled.

Seryoso ang ekspresyon niya nang maglahad ng kamay sa akin. A smile never touched his lips making me feel so bothered and awkward. He had his lips tightly pressed the whole time, tila walang pakealam at pinipilit lamang ang sarili na makipagkilala. I felt a furious blush across my cheeks.

"Nice to meet you..." Aniya sa tonong naging dahilan ng bahagya kong pag-atras.

He shook my hand. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa magkahawak naming kamay. I can't help but notice how his palms felt against mine. Rough and calloused. Kumunot ang noo ko at ibinalik muli ang tingin sa kanya.

Now I realized that he look more masculine and mature when he's this near, with his stubbles and all that. He looked like a prince from Hollywood movies or warrior in every inch. Nanatili ang mga mata ko sa kaniyang baba. His head tilted, as if trying to catch my vision. I blinked twice to get my senses back. I saw how his eyebrows cockily shot up. I mentally cursed. Shit.

"N-Nice to meet you too. Uh..." I withdrew from his hand swiftly. Kagat-labi akong umatras at pasimple siyang sinulyapan. Nadatnan ko ang suplado niyang pag-irap bago tumalikod at nakihalubilo muli sa kamag-anak. Umawang ang labi ko. Did he just roll his eyes at me?

Ilang segundo kong sinundan ng tingin ang bawat galaw niya. My brow palpitated. Humigpit ang hawak ko sa aking wine glass. Binalingan ko si mommy na ngayo'y abala na tabi ko, may kausap.

"Mommy, sa labas lang po ako..." I whispered on her ear

She glanced my way. Kitang-kita ko ang pagsalubong ng kilay ni mommy. "No, you stay here. Catch up with your lolo and lola." She demanded.

"What? We're not close, mom. Magpapahangin lang naman po ako sa labas." I said, now really frustrated.

"Exactly! You should approach them and be your bibo self." Mariing bulong niya sa akin.

Ngumiwi ako. Sinulyapan ko ang mga matatandang may iba ng kausap ngayon. I don't want to interrupt and be feeling close. Isa pa, there's no way I will come near that Zacharius again! Suplado.

"Later, mom. They're still busy. Sa labas lang ako." I said with finality.

Hinalikan ko siya sa pisngi. Habang papalayo ay narinig ko pa ang sigaw ni mommy.