Epiphany

Chapter 3

_________

"And the winner is....... THE PORTENT!" the announcing of winners finally ended and everyone else is celebrating their victory while others are sadly leaving the auditorium because of defeat. The number of people inside is starting to decrease fast as people find their way to leave the place.

"Abhaya, let's wait for my friends. I want to introduce you to them." Ada said beside me. We remained on our seats and waited for her friends who are still at the backstage. I am actually anticipating this introduction for I know that she'll introduce Noah to me. It's not that I desperately want to meet him, let's just say that there is something that I need to know about him.

The guy named Revi who performed a dance number earlier is now walking towards us with a wide smile on his face. They actually got second place and now he is wearing different clothes from earlier.

"Who's this gorgeous lady we have here? Can you introduce her to me, Ada?" I was shocked that he already arrived in front of us. He's fast huh?

Hinampas ni Ada ang lalaki sa balikat niya "Aray!" umatras si Revi papalayo nang hampasin siya ni Ada

"Pati ba naman sa paglandi mabilis ka pa rin? Nakooo!"

"We're not here to play okay? Stop with your games!" Livia stated angrily. She gave them a meaningful stare and the two of them looked like they understand the way she looked at them and suddenly behaved quietly like little kids. I don't get this conversation between them. It's like they are talking about something I have no idea about. I shrugged off the thought and waited for them to finish.

"Anyways, this is Abhaya." Livia introduced me to him.

"I'm Revi, you're name is beautiful just like you." inabot niya ang kaniyang kamay sa akin at ngumiti nang nakakaloko. Tinignan siya nang masama ni Ada dahil sa kaniyang kinikilos. Mukhang palabiro ang lalaking ito at kaaway pa lagi ni Ada.

I accepted his hand "Thank you, nice ----" bago ko pa man natatapos ang sasabihin ko ay nagulat na lamang ako nang ilapit niya ang kamay ko sa kaniyang labi at hinalikan ito.

"REVI!" Tumakbo siya nang mabilis palayo habang tumatawa nang sumigaw ng malakas si Ada. Nakakunot noo na nagdabog si Ada sa pwesto niya dahil sa bilis ng pangyayari. Natawa nalang ako sa senaryo nilang dalawa.

Samantalang tahimik na umiiling sa tabi ko si Livia na mukhang sumuko na sa pagsaway sa dalawa.

I was busy laughing because of the two when a thought crossed my mind. Ngayon nalang ulit ako tumawa ng ganito. Napatigil ako sa pagtawa dahil sa naisip.

"Noah, Almy!" Kumaway si Ada at Livia sa mga lalaking tinawag nila. Napalingon ako sa kanila at nakita na kanina pa pala sila nakatingin sa amin at ngayon ay naglalakad na palapit. Isang lalaking may dark shade of red ang buhok at isang lalaking may itim at malalim na mga mata.

Nang makalapit sila sa amin ay tahimik ko lamang siyang pinagmamasdan. He didn't give me a glance even though I know that he can feel me staring at him. Napakunot noo nalang ako sa kinikilos niya, parang kanina lang ay ang lalim ng titig niya sa akin na ako na mismo ang nag-iwas samantalang ngayon ay siya itong ayaw tumingin.

"Abhaya, this is Almy and Noah." I shook hands with the red head guy named Almy. Noah didn't bother giving me his attention so I was the one who offered my hand.

"I'm Abhaya, nice meeting you." I know it's obvious that my attention is focused to him but I can't stop myself from doing things.

He stared at my hand for some time but didn't accept it. He just nodded at me and I was left dumfounded with his action.

Hinawakan ni Ada ang kamay ko na parang niligtas lang ako sa nakakahiyang pangyayari na iyon. "Hehehe, that was awkward. Pasensya kana kay Noah, baka wala lang sa mood." parang kumulo ang dugo ko sa ginawa niya sa akin. Tinapunan ko siya ng masamang tingin habang tahimik lamang siyang humalukipkip sa gilid ko.

Maya-maya lang ay bumalik na sa tabi namin si Ravi "Tara na! Let's celebrate our victory at the cafe in front of the school." Ada announced and led the way while we all followed her tracks. Nasa harapan ko siya habang naglalakad at hindi ko pa rin tinigilan ang matalim na tingin ko sa kaniya kahit na hindi niya ito nakikita.

Tila ba naramdaman niya ang paraan ng pagtingin ko kaya naman nilingon niya pero inikot ko lamang ang aking mata nang magtama ang paningin namin.

Nang sulyapan ko siyang muli ay mayroon ng maliit na ngiting nakapaskil sa kaniyang labi.

Nang makarating kami sa cafe na kanilang tinutukoy ay kumuha kami ng pwesto na malapit sa malaking glass wall.
Pinagmasdan ko nalang ang mga taong dumadaan sa labas habang abala sa pag-order ang mga kasama namin. Naagaw ng pansin ko ang isang puting van na nakaparada lamang malapit sa harapan ng university namin. It reminds me of the van that was reported on the news recently. People who are said to be using this kind of van in abducting kids to illegally sell their organs.

"Abhaya, hindi na daw available yung chocolate frappe, anong gusto mo?" natuon ang atensyon ko kay Ravi na kasalukuyan nang nakatayo sa tabi ko.

"Pwede din ako." biro niya habang tumataas baba ang kaniyang kilay sa akin kaya naman natawa ako sa kaniya.

Bigla nalang tumayo si Almy sa kaniyang upuan at umakbay nang makalapit kay Ravi "Tumigil ka na diyan, Ravi. Huwag mong ginagalit ang lion." Tila binuhusan ng malamig na tubig si Ravi dahil sa sinabi ni Almy.

Napakunot noo ako sa narinig at tinignan nalang sa mata si Almy na ngayon ay nasa harapan ko. "Lagot itong lalaking 'to. Tsk Tsk" Sa totoo lang ay hindi ko maintindihan kung sino ang tinutukoy niyang magagalit at bakit naman malalagot itong si Ravi. Isa na siguro ito sa mga bagay na mahirap din tungkol sa kakayahan ko, kahit na naririnig ko ang mga iniisip nila ay madalas naman ay hindi ko maintindihan kung ano ang tinutukoy nila.

"I'll just have White Chocolate Mocha." I simply answered and smiled at them.

Hinili na palayo ni Almy si Ravi papunta sa kinaroroonan ninanda Ada at Livia. Nang makalayo sila ay narealize ko sa sarili ko na kaming dalawa nalang ni Noah ang natira sa table namin. Napatingin ako sa kaniya na nakaupo ngayon sa harap ko at naabutan ko siyang madiin na nakatitig sa akin.

I forgot that he is here with us because of how quite he is. For the last time, I tried reading his mind with our eye contact but up until now, I see nothing, I hear nothing. I didn't break the connection of our eyes and raised my brow at him. I haven't forgotten what he did to me last week and earlier today at the auditorium. I was planning to forget about that incident last week and try playing nice to him but I guess that won't happen anymore. We've had only two interactions but I feel like my blood is going to boil every time I see him.

Ngumisi lang siya sa pagtataray ko at kampanteng sumandal sa upuan niya. He's too overconfident just because he got the looks and talent?! Parang ang presko na ng dating niya sa paningin ko!

"You're that girl the other week, right? The sad rain girl?" I got offended by the way he reminded me of that day and gave him an annoyed look. If I'm the sad rain girl, then ano siya? The mean guy I badly want to punch in the face.

Pinigilan ko ang inis na nararamdaman ko sa kaniya at tumawa sa harapan niya. Take note, in a sarcastic way!

"It's better to be considered sad than become a mean person like you." I smiled at him mockingly and expected him to be mad at me for what I said but what happened is the other way around.

He laughed!

___________