Bulong ng Puso

Chapter Seven

Tila bolta boltaheng kuryente ang nanulay sa pagkatao ni Louise! She instantly tried to pull her hands off ngunit humigpit ang pagkakahawak nito sa palapulsuhan niya.

"I like you, Louise..." walang gatol na pahayag nito. He was staring at her with those piercing eyes, halos hindi magawa ni Louise na salubungin ang tingin nito. Muli niyang tinangkang bawiin ang kamay, at muli ang paghigpit ng hawak nito.

"Be my girl," it was more of a statement than a question.

"Wow ha! Ang bilis mo!" she blurted out. She had thought he was joking sa sinabi nito but when she looked at his eyes, she only saw seriousness and sincerity in them.

"Hindi ako nagbibiro," he let go of her hand at isinuklay ang isang kamay sa buhok nito, pagkatapos ay ginagap ang dalawang kamay niya, "be my girl, sweetheart," tila nangungusap ang mga mata nito.

Sunod sunod ang tibok ng puso ni Louise na pakiramdam niya'y nagwawala ito sa kanyang dibdib at maaring lumabas ano mang oras. She doesn't know what to say at maang lamang na napatitig sa binata. Tila nahihipnotismo siya ng mga matang iyon. Kahit pa ng makita niyang unti unting lumapit ang mukha nito sa kanya ay hindi niya nagawang tuminag. Tumakas na yata pati kaluluwa niya ng mga sandaling iyon. She knew he was going to kiss her, magkahalong takot at excitement ang sumakmal sa pagkatao niya.

Gael stopped when his lips were just an inch away from hers. Ramdam niya ang hininga nito sa kanyang mukha, "If I kiss you sweetheart, that will seal the deal. You're mine," mahinang bulong nito.

Napalunok siya sa sinabi nito, but like a fool closed her eyes intead.

She felt his lips on hers but it was so delicate it was like a soft feather brushing against hers.

This is her first kiss! It was so tender and special that she felt her eyes began to tear up. Matapos ang ilang sandali ay marahan nitong inilayo ang mukha sa kanya. Her eyes remained shut, as if she's afraid to open them again.

Gael held her chin, "look at me sweetheart..." he commanded. She opened her eyes and met his gaze.

"...you're mine from now on... never forget," a satisfied smile crossed his lips.

She blinked, as if trying to wake up from this trance. He held her right hand at marahan iyong hinila, "late ka na sa klase mo."

He led her out of the library, nasa kalahatian na siguro sila ng pasilyo patungo sa kanyang silid ng mapansin niyang nagbubulungan ang lahat ng mga kababaihang nadadadaanan nila. Ang iba ay tila kinikilig, ang iba naman ay tila galit na iniingusan siya at mayroon din namang bakas sa mukha ang panghihinayang.

It was then that she realized that Gael was still holding her hands. Bigla ang ginawa niyang paghinto sa paglakad at dagliang binawi ang
kamay na hawak nito. Gael stopped and turned around to look at her, "what's wrong?" tanong nito, amusement in his eyes.

"I..I'll walk on my own," nakayukong sagot niya, hindi niya magawang salubungin ang mga mata nito. How can she? after that... that... kiss?

Dinalawang hakbang nito ang pagitan nila at walang anumang inakbayan siya. Gulat siyang napatingin dito, malapad ang ngiti nito, "ihahatid na kita. Nahihiya ka ba?"

"a-ano kase..."

"Alam kong hindi ka pa nagkaka nobyo, Ms. Nina Louise Saavedra,"nanunuksong deklara nito, "pero wala kang dapat ikahiya."

She blushed. She only wished na hindi narinig nga mga estudyanteng malapit sa kanila ang sinabi nito.

Trying to fake anger, she removed his arm around her shoulder, "kaya ko ng mag isa. Bye!" she turned around and almost ran away from him.

Hindi pa siya nakakalayo ay narinig niya ang nanunuksong tinig nito. "I'll see you later, love!" sigaw nito.

Louise pretended she didn't hear him at lalo pang binilisan ang lakad.