Chapter 7
"Ang tahimik mo ngayon." sabi ko kay Trisha habang naghihintay sa prof namin for our third period.
"Ha? Ano, pagod lang." sabi niya at tipid na ngumiti. Bumaling siya sa sinusulat niya at umiling na lang ako.
"Sure ka? Wala ka bang problema?" tanong ko sa kaniya. Bumaling naman siya ulit sa'kin, this time she give me a warm smile.
"Wala talaga, promise." sabi niya and I just nodded in response.
Two days after, I am pacing back and forth inside my room for I was thinking on what was the thing I had left sa birthday party ni Nasher the other night. Well according kay Kiel, malay ko ba na baka pinagtri-tripan niya lang ako after all diba? Pero malay ko ba din kung meron talaga akong nakalimutan.
Umupo ako sa kama habang hawak-hawak pa rin ang phone ko, still planning to text Kiel or what. I didn't even reply to his last text sa'kin dahil sa gulat and of course because I was nervous din. Eunice, tao lang siya. Remind that to yourself!
"I can just ask him kung ano ba nakalimutan ko and then ask him again to send it na lang kay Kuya Roy. With that I wouldn't have to face him!" I said to myself, smiling at the idea forming in my head. That's it! Problem solved, well this is way too far to a real problem.
I typed my message and click send. A minute after he replied.
Kiel:
Your message is too long, I don't even know what you're trying to point out. In simple words, I can't understand you.
Napa "o" ang bunganga ko nang mabasa ang message niya. Seryoso ba siya? I did make sure na it is detailed for him to understand kaya lang medyo napahaba, trying not to sound mean with that message!
I didn't reply to him yet, because I don't know what to say! Suddenly he texts again and I opened it.
Kiel:
We'll meet tomorrow. I'll text you the place and time.
This can't be happening. Napasapo na lang ako sa noo knowing that I can't do anything na.
----
The next day, I dress for our meet up ni Kiel. It was in the afternoon around 4pm since yun naman ang nasa text niya.
Since malapit lang naman sa'min ang meeting place na sinabi ni Kiel, I wore a gray sweat pants and a loose black shirt. I let down my long black hair. Wala naman si Kuya Ethan ngayon and nasa business trip sina mama so, basically mag-isa ako ngayon sa bahay, although may kasama naman talaga ako, sina manang.
Nagpahatid na'ko kay Kuya Roy and dumiretso na kami. Hindi kalayuan, I saw Kiel leaning against his Land Range Rover.
"Kuya, saglit lang po ako." Tumango lang siya saka bumaba na'ko.
His busy playing with his car keys on his right hand while he place his left hand inside his pocket. Kung sa malayo, akala mo sinong international model ang makikita mo, kahit pa naka printed shirt and black short paired with his loafer, he looked manly and handsome. Yung tipong may maraming girlfriend ang itsura.
He leaned up and our eyes met, my heart skip a beat at that time. Kinakabahan lang siguro ako sa presensya niya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako nagkakaganito.
Umayos siya ng pagkakatayo at hinintay ako na makalapit sa kaniya. I stopped when there's enough space between us.
"Asan na?" tanong ko sa kaniya. He raised his eyebrows and flash a hint of his ghost smile.
"This?" sabi niya sabay pakita ng isang kulay blue na panyo na galling sa likod niya.
My eyebrows raised upon realizing that it was my handkerchief, the one I brought sa birthday party ni Nasher. Talaga bang nakalimutan ko talaga yun? Nahulog ko ba? Saan ko ba nailagay yun? I cannot remember anything I lost my handkerchief that night. Baka naman hindi akin 'to ha.
"Is that mine?" I asked.
"Who else did I speak to during that night, malapit sa comfort room?" his tone was filled with sarcasm that I don't like. Napalunok ako nang banggitin niya ang salitang comfort room. I reached out my hand to him showing my palm.
"Akin na." yun lang ang sabi ko waiting for him to hand me my handkerchief. Hindi naman talaga kawalan sa'kin itong panyo na'to, I have plenty of it sa bahay kaya okay lang na mawala, pero since hindi naman niya sinabi kung ano ba yung naiwan ko that night, I got curious that's why.
He gives it back to me, pero upon receiving it, he suddenly pulled his hand back making my eyebrows got furrows.
"Not too fast." Sabi pa niya
Napakunot lang ako and my mouth is half-open, not knowing what he's trying to do now. Hindi ako kumportable sa kaniya. I felt unease when he's talking to me and when he's near me. I waited for him to speak.
"I found it, so you better owe me something." Sabi pa niya and aakmang ibibigay na sakin yung panyo.
"It's not that important, I have plenty of it in my room," I said blankly.
He was taken aback at my words and his mouth was half-open now.
"So you're saying that I can keep this?"
I nodded in response. Based on his looks, he's not satisfied with my answer. His eyes were looking at mine intently that it made me look away from his gaze. I can't look at him. I just can't.
He sighed in defeat. "Okay, I can just keep it. You can go."
I scoffed at him knowing na wala lang pala ang pinuntahan ko ditto? Andito na rin lang naman ako, aba'y kunin ko na sa kaniya yung panyo ko.
"Pero since I went here, just give it back to me. Thanks anyway for keeping it." I finally said.
I reached out again my hand to him. The side of his lips rose and he nodded with satisfaction.
"Well, that means, you still owe me." He said forming his lips a thin line.
"What do you want ba?" tanong ko.
Ngumuso siya and he looked away like he's thinking of something.
"That's for me to know and for you to find out." Sabi niya lang and he was ready to go.
"That's it?" I asked again.
"Yes, for now. Thanks for coming over." Sabi niya lang at sumakay na siya sa kotse niya. He didn't start the engine yet and the rear window open revealing his chiseled jawline in front of me. Bumaling siya sa'kin. "You're welcome by the way." Then he left.
All, for that stupid panyo.
