Dark Intramurals: Chronicles of the Magic Wielders (On-Going)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

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SLOANE'S POV

I saw Cilan flinched for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. "I'd just like to apologize to you personally, sa lahat ng mga kasalanan ko sa'yo na ikinagalit mo."

​I raised an eyebrow. "What the heck are you talking about?"

​The guy let out a heavy sigh. Para namang ang bigat ng problema nito sa'kin.

​"You see, you and I are bandmates now. At sa susunod na Miyerkules, magiging teammates pa tayo sa Dark Intramurals National Leg.
Ayoko lang kasi na may wall tayo sa isa't isa, so please accept my apologies, and maybe we can be... friends?" he pleaded as he offered a hand.

​I looked at his offered hand. A part of me wanted to snatch it right away, pero tila may boses ding bumubulong sa akin to reject his proposal.

Sa huli, tinabig ko nang malakas ang kamay ng lalaki, but I guess the force that I used to slap his hand was way too much (o sadyang napakalamya lang nito) dahil na-out of balance si Cilan. With my instinct, I grabbed his back para saluhin siya pero masyado nang malakas ang momentum nitong pabagsak. I used my other hand to cover his head from the floor.

​Pareho kaming bumagsak sa sahig. Ang sakit ng kamay ko, so painful that I thought I fractured it. But the pain was nothing compared to the magical moment as Cilan and I stared unto each other's eyes, and unto nothing else.

I took a closer look on his face. Napakaamo talagang tingnan ng mukha nito. His hazelnut brown Chinese optical gems are sharp from a distance but on a closer look, they actually seem as soft as gelatin. His lips are light pink, like two delicate rose petals.

Time seemed to pass by freely, at mas lalo akong nahihila na manatiling nakatitig lang sa binata.

​"Sloane..." tila bulong na sambit ni Cilan sa pangalan ko.

​"Bakit...?" Good Lord, why do I have to also whisper my reply?

​"Kasi... Medyo mabigat ang katawan mo at nakadagan ka sa'kin," sagot nito.

​Para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig nang marinig ko ang sinabi ng lalaki. Agad akong tumayo at inalalayang makatayo si Cilan. Pareho kaming nagpagpag ng damit. I sighed. Awkward...

​"Sorry, hindi kita nasalo kaagad." Damn, why am I apologizing?

​He smiled, and I felt blood rushed towards my cheeks. "Nope, you actually saved me on time. Kung hindi dahil sa'yo, baka nauntog na sa semento ang ulo ko. Hindi ba sumasakit ang right hand mo?"

​"Ha?" As if on cue, I felt the stinging pain from my right hand again. "Aw...! Damn, it hurts."

​"Pasensya na, kasalanan ko 'to. Dadalhin na kita sa clinic," nag-aalalang anyaya ni Cilan.

​I smiled. "No need. Malakas lang talaga ang pagkakabagsak nito but really, I'm okay."

​Ngumiti rin ang lalaki. "Salamat talaga. Ayaw mo ba talagang makipagkaibigan sa'kin?"

​'Ayoko. Kasi higit pa roon ang gusto kong maging relasyon natin.'

​Napailing ako. Talagang lumalala na ang topak na namumuo sa utak ko.

​"Ganun ba? O sige, hindi na kita pipilitin pa," Cilan said sadly as he turned his back from me.

​"Teka sandali!" Agad kong hinawakan sa balikat ang binata at iniharap sa akin. "I don't wanna be your friend... without formally introducing myself. I'm Sloane August Ramirez. They call me 'Sloane'."

​Muling nagliwanag ang mukha ng lalaki. "Thanks! I'm Cilan Luigi Yap, 'Cilan' for convenience. So, does this mean that you and I are already and officially friends?"