A Burnt Flower's Ashes

Chapter Fourteen

Marahil hindi ako sanay na may ibang tao sa bahay namin.

I couldn't sleep at all. My classmates are already fast asleep in the living room, where they look like cramped sardines. Maging si Uriel ay sumiksik na sa pinakasulok at tinulugan na rin niya ako.

Hindi ko naiwasang mainggit dahil ang sarap ng tulog nila.

"Wow. Don't you ever get tired, dear ants?" sambit ko habang nakatitig sa mahabang pila ng langgam sa kusina. "It's three in the morning, you know. Bukas na lang kayo mag-imbak ng pagkain."

Sinadya kong mag-iwan ng kapirasong tinapay sa mesa upang langgamin ito. Consider that as my gift to them since they're so diligent and it's really inspiring. Grabe, nakakatuwa sila.

I was cheering on the black ants when my phone vibrated.

1 Message Received
From: Sir Hana

What are you doing? Saw you online on Messenger.

Sumagot naman ako at sinabi ko sa kanyang hindi ako makatulog kaya pinapanood ko na lang 'yong mga langgam sa kusina. It was just a matter of seconds when Sir Hana called me via Messenger.

"Aye, boss." I greeted him. "Napatawag ka?"

My heart leaped when he laughed from the other line.

"Young miss, thou shall join me in a midnight escapade."

I giggled at his attempt to sound poetic. Sinakyan ko naman siya.

"I would love to, Sire. Take me from this prison that gets in the way of our romance. I shall wait for you until my last breath, my love."

"Oh, my fair lady. Allow me to save you from the sadness."

My eyes widened when somebody knocked on the window. Agad kong binuksan ang bintana at napangiti ako nang bumungad sa akin si Sir Hana na noo'y nakasuot na ng pantulog. Mukhang bagong ligo lang siya dahil basa pa ang kanyang buhok.

"Hi." bungad niya at ngumiti sa akin.

"Hello." I bit my lower lip. "You're here."

"Hmm." He carefully took my hand. "I wanted to see you."

I guess he's already on the way here when he messaged me.

"Let's sneak into the school." Sir Hana suggested.

I shot him a horrified look. "At this hour?"

He chuckled. "I just want to take you somewhere."

I wasn't feeling a wee bit sleepy, so I abandoned the idea of taking a nap and went with my professor. We strolled the deserted streets hand in hand, and my heart couldn't stay still at his gentle touch.

It felt nice to be able to hold him without the need to hide.

He squeezed my hand. "Ang liit ng kamay mo, Suna."

"That's because you have long and bony fingers." I retorted.

Shortly, we arrived in the campus. We couldn't enter through the main gate since the guard was still wide awake. Sa likod kami dumaan at napanganga ako noong inakyat pa ni Sir Hana ang gate.

"Wow. You climb even better than a monkey." sabi ko sa kanya.

Napangiwi siya. "Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

Ginaya ko naman siya at maingat kong inakyat ang gate. Hindi naman ako pinabayaan ni Sir Hana at inalalayan niya ako. Both of us were extremely cautious as we made our way inside the campus. The guards might be making rounds, after all.