Lovesick: Book 2

05

The gut-wrenching-butterfly description of anxiety. Maybe it's because my nemesis is standing right now in front of me, or maybe because of the hangover.

It feels like I was back again in that waiting room meters away from where we are both standing, while I let my heart sip all my blood just so it could calm my nerves from exploding to anxiety.

Kanina ko pa gustong umalis sa harapan ng lalaking ito pero ang pagpipilian ko ay nalimitahan ng kamalasan. Kung gagamitin ko ang hagdan ay baka mauna pa ang kaluluwa kong makababa bago ko tuluyang malabanan ang aking sakit sa ulo at natitirang hangover kagabi. Napilitan na lamang akong hintayin ang pagbukas ng elevator.

"How are you?"

Hindi ko siya malingon ngunit sapat na ang repleksyon naming dalawa sa harapan ng makintab na pinto ng elevator para makita ko siya ng buo kahit sa kabuan ng mata ko.

"I'm fine, and you?" I answered then threw the same spitting question I didn't want to ask.

Parang ang bastos kung hindi ko ibabalik ang tanong sa kaniya.

"How's school?" Another question from, at siya naman ang bastos para sagutin ang tanong ko ng tanong din.

Napalingon ako ng bahagya sa kaniya mula sa pintuan ng elevator. Did he just assumed it with his question to me or is he still updated?

"Wait, you're now in college right?" Naramdaman ko ang paglingon ng ulo niya.

"I am," that confirmed me that he isn't updated. "Ikaw?"

"Me, in college?" He asked with a chuckle, more like a sarcasm. Then the same moment when the miracle happened.

Dahil walang floor number ang monitor kanina, biglaan lang na sumulpot ang elevator kasama ang pagtunog ng bell.

Wala akong pinalampas na oras kaya pinasok ko na ito na para bang batang nakikipag-unahan.

But it would take greater effort to escape this boy. He's now standing next to me while the both of us are left in this cornered metallic box, slowly calming myself more from suffocation.

Bakit pa siya sumunod? Naghahanap ba talaga siya ng gulo? I mean... yes, it's been a long time since we last met and lots of things happened from more than half a year... won't that be enough to call us strangers?

"What's your program?" His voice echoes from the cornered space.

"Writing, English Lit," tamad kong bulong sa hangin. They say people can notice if you're happy talking to someone from the tone of your voice. So I try to force a smile so he won't notice the fear inside me.

Still, twenty more floors.

"You're really pursuing your writing, I suppose?"

"And you? Music?"

18th floor. Parang naging hangin lang ang mga palapag na aming dinaanan.

"Yes... working on my first EP actually,"

That's a big thing right? Creating something like a mini-album? Well, I guess if his name rocketed on the viral single he released out of nowhere, producers would want to invest with his talent.

15th floor. May mga staff na nakasuot ng corporate attires ang sunod-sunod na pumasok dahilan para magsiksikan kaming lahat sa maliit na espasyo.

Ako ay napaatras at walang naging takas para mapalapit sa lalaking kanina ko pang hindi magawang titigan.

Our shoulders were brushing up lightly, his leather giving pinches to my cotton hoodie.

From here, I can smell his scent that I failed to notice since we came inside the elevator. I didn't know that the fresh like earthy wood that sharply cut through my nose and the mixture of soft vanilla was coming from him.