Taped-Up Heart

XXXIX. Warm Lips

R-18 (Read at your own risk)

Chapter Thirty Nine

Warm Lips

"Let me help you with that," he said, taking the plates from my hands. Marami kaming ginagawa ngayon dahil last year ko na nga sa college. Kaliwa't kanan ang proposal na kailangang gawain.

"Why do you want to be an engineer?" he asked as we walked together.

I shrugged, thinking about his question for a moment. Pauwi na kami ngayong dalawa. "Growing up, I've always been into these things—construction, buildings. I just like it," I said with a small smile.

He nodded, his usual nonchalant expression softening a bit. Katulad ng palagi, may mga tumitingin pa rin sa amin. Hindi yata ako masasanay kahit kailan.

"You'll be a great engineer someday," he said with certainty.

I let out a laugh. "Really?"

"Yes, really," he said, his tone firm.

I was just the average kind of student. Hindi naman ako hirap na hirap pero hindi rin naman ako nadadalian. Ako 'yung estudyante na hindi naman sobra sa taas ang grades pero never pa naman ako bumagsak. That's my only goal. To graduate on time in college. I'm a dean's lister, but that's because I really worked hard for this. Kaya naman naging goal ko rin na maka-graduate with latin honors, pero kung hindi ko naman makukuha, okay lang. Sapat nang maka-graduate ako on time.

"I really hope so. Pangarap ko talaga 'to ever since bata pa ako," I said. Simula bata ako ito na ang nakikita kong future ko. Na balang araw ako ang magiging dahilan kung bakit may mga magagandang buildings na nakatayo.

I glanced at him. Nasa field na kami ngayon papunta sa shortcut pauwi sa condo. "What about you? What's your dream?" I asked.

"I don't have one," he answered.

Natigilan ako sa paglalakad. Madilim na ngayon dahil gabi na. Ang tanging ilaw ay ang mga malalaking poste dito sa field. "That's impossible. Everyone has a dream."

"Not me," he replied. "I really don't have one."

"How about being a famous artist someday?"

He shrugged. "Nope. I just really like painting. It's my hobby. I can't consider it as my passion."

"I'm sure malalaman mo rin someday kung ano talaga ang pangarap mo."

He stopped walking and turned to look at me. "I think I already did."

Nang makarating kami sa condo, katulad ng palaging routine ay nagpunta muna siya sa unit niya para maligo. Ganoon din naman ang ginawa ko.

It's been a really long day, who knew college could be this exhausting? I remember being excited going to college, thinking it would be fun and exciting, but I was wrong.

It's fun because you get to meet people and discover a different side of yourself, but in terms of academics and the pressure? It's really stressful.

Nang makapagbihis na ako ay nagpunta ako sa refrigerator at kumuha ng ice cubes. I always do this when I'm stressed. I put ice on my face to feel relaxed somehow. Nagpunta na ako sa salas at nagsimula na lagyan ng yelo ang mukha ko. I massaged it on my face in a circular motion.

Narinig kong nagbukas ang pintuan ng unit. Humingi na siya ng duplicate ng keycard ko para raw hindi na ako mag-aabalang tumayo at pagbuksan pa siya. Nasasayang nga ang condo niya, kulang na lang dito na siya tumira. Umuuwi lang siya kapag tutulog na kaming dalawa.

"What are you doing?" he asked, sitting beside me.

Umupo ako ng ayos at pinalapit siya. "Come here. I'll apply some on your face," I said.