Skin Deep

Chapter 13

Luna's POV

We both laid on the cold wooden mahogany floor, staring at the ceiling while munching on our ice cream and cookies.Halos isang oras narin kaming nagtatanungan at kumakain ng ice cream at cookies, but I never ever got bored, not even a second.

"May ipapakita ako sayo." Sabi niya at tumayo.Pagkarating niya may daldala siyang isang makapal na photo album.He sat down so I sat down as well.Binuksan niya ang album at pumunta sa isang page ng album.Then there it is.A young Zander with a cowboy suit on and riding a horse.

"Ang cute mo noong bata ka.What happened now?" I said, mocking him.He faced me with disbelief.

"Cute parin naman ako ah?Guwapo pa!" He said with pride.I rolled my eyes and shooked my head.Sinara niya na ang photo album at tinignan ako.He just kept staring at me.

"What?Wala akong maseshare sayo Zander." I said, putting emphasis on 'Wala'.

"I know you have something." Tumaas baba ang kilay niya.Napairap nalang ako at binuksan ang bag ko.Inabot ko sakanya ang isang sketch pad that houses most of my drawings.He started flipping the pages page by page.

"Ikaw talaga nagdrawing nito?" He asked in disbelief.

"I know.Hindi rin ako makapaniwala, but believe it or not, ako talaga nagdrawing niyan." I said.

"You're really lucky." Sabi niya.

"Paano mo nasabi?" Tanong ko naman sakanya.

"Kasi andami mong kayang gawin, eh ako?All I do is get wasted, waste my parent's money and hey, I always fail my classes." He said then chuckled.

"Hindi pa naman huli ang lahat.You can still change that." Sabi ko naman sakanya pero ngumisi lang siya.I placed my hand on his arms.

"I know you can." I told him as I look him in the eyes.He faced me then smiled.

"I hope this is a start, Luna." Sabi niya saakin habang nakangiti.

"I hope so." I said in a whispered voice.I hope this is the right decision.I hope this is something that would actually benefit me rather than hurt me again.I hope all his intentions are good, and just like what Frida said, to trust is to take risk, and I think I'm willing to take a risk now.

--

I moved my body and felt the soft leather cushion.Agad kong binuksan ang mga mata ko at napansing wala ako sa kuwarto ko.I checked my watch and my eyes widened to see we're an hour late for school.Hinanap ko si Zander pero wala siya duon.Agad akong tumayo at hinanap siya.Nakaamoy ako ng mabangong aroma kaya sinundan ko iyon.

Then there he is, standing in front of a stove with his shirtless back facing me.I swallowed, hard.Pumeke naman ako ng ubo at napaharap naman siya saakin.He's all smile and teeth.

"Good morning." He said in a jolly tone.

"As much as I'd like to say that back, I have to go.Late na ako for school." Sabi ko sakanya ng may bahid ng alala sa boses ko.

"I know.Now sit and eat." He demanded.Napataas naman ako ng kilay at nagcross ng arms.

"Again I am not your dog." Sabi ko sakanya.

"I thought you believe I can change.That's why here I am, doing something good first thing in the morning." He said in a serious tone.Napairap naman ako at umupo sa harapan niya.He had a victorious smile pasted on his face at nilagyan ako ng pagkain sa harapan ko.

"Eat well, Lou." Tinignan ko naman siya ng masama.

"Huwag mo akong tawaging Lou." Sabi ko sakanya.