Whispers Of The Past (Province Series #1)

03

"How did you get this?"

"Uh.." 

Tinitigan niya ako. His eyes pierced through me as if he's accusing me of something. Iniwas ko ang tingin ko. Mag-eexplain lang naman ako pero bakit parang ayaw lumabas ng mga salita sa dila ko? I think I'm mute! And not to mention that we're inches away from each other and I can also smell his scent!

Oh, God. Hindi ko alam kung anong uunahin, ang mag-explain ba o yung i-admire kung gaano siya kabango at ka-gwapo? Nadi-distract ako!

"I'm asking you again, how did you get this?" Humakbang ulit siya sa 'kin papalapit. Our distance just got shorter and his eyes looked darker now. 

"Uh, sa S-Samgyupsalamat..." I replied with a small voice, hindi pa rin tumitingin sa kaniya at nauutal-utal pa dahil sa kaba.

"Tinanong ko kung paano, hindi kung saan," Tinaas niya ang kilay niya. 

Natutop ko ang bibig ko. All my built up irritation a while ago was replaced with embarassment. Hindi ko magawang gumalaw nang hindi naiisip kung gaano kami kalapit sa isa-t-isa.

"Ano?" He raised his brows, waiting for my answer.

I took a deep breath and finally answered, still nervous. "N-Nalaglag mo kasi habang nagmamadali kang sumakay ng j-jeep... Hindi mo yata napansin na nalaglag, kaya pinulot ko na lang." 

"At hindi mo man lang ibinalik kaagad?" He scoffed. "When were you planning to return this to me, then?"

"Paano ko ibabalik, hindi ko nga alam kung paano kita hahanapin?" I kept my voice as small as possible. I could get misinterpreted and I might sound mad if I didn't. I don't want that.

"Oh, come on. I see you on my school most of the time, you can easily find me there. I know you know there are many ways!" He sounded intimidating. He actually looked like a lawyer trying to hot seat the defendant! At ako yung defendant!

Kinabahan tuloy ako ng slight dahil pakiramdam ko kakainin niya ako nang buhay! I mean, okay lang naman sa 'kin kung iba ang pinag-uusapan, pero hindi pa yata ako prepared for mature roles, direk!

"Nagkita tayo sa milk tea shop, diba? You could've returned it to me right then and there," He raised his hand in argument, yet he's still not raising his voice.

"I'm sorry," I felt really guilty now.

"Hindi ko nga kasi alam kung paano..." Mahina lang ang boses ko. I pouted and played with my fingers. "And I don't even know your name..." 

"Huh?" 

He looked confused because my voice was too small that he didn't understand what I said. For some reason, I didn't repeat myself kahit na hindi niya nga ako naintindihan.

"Alam mo? Just-" He took a long deep breath and sighed. "Forget it."

He stepped back twice, keeping a distance between us. Bumuntong-hininga siya ulit at tumigin na sa 'kin, his eyes are softer this time. He didn't speak. It's like he didn't want to ask any more questions and he just easily understood my reasons.

I somehow got curious. Bakit siya galit na galit sa simpleng panyo? Gaano ba kaimportante ang panyo na iyon sa kaniya para mapansin niyang nawawala? Ako nga hindi ko na namamalayan na limang panyo na pala ang nawawala ko, 'e. What's so important with that single handkerchief?