August Lies

Kabanata 5

Kabanata 5

MY lips protruded. The silence filled the cold atmosphere around us that I felt myself shivering.

"H-here..." Nalingon ko siya at napalunok nang maramdaman ang pagpatong niya ng denim jacket sa balikat ko.

"T-thanks," I muttered and I saw him nod and look somewhere again.

Nakaupo kami sa labas ng mall, sa bench kung saan ilang hakbang lang ay p'wede ka nang makalapit sa dagat. Malamig ang simoy ng hangin. Nararamdaman ko ang pagdapo nito sa balat ko pero dahil binigay niya sa 'kin ang kanyang jacket ay kaagad na nawala.

Still, it is awkward.

Kulang na lang ay marinig ko na ang kulisap sa sobrang tahimik. Tanging mahihinang hampas ng alon mula sa hindi kalayuang dalampasigan ang naririnig ko mula sa pwesto naming dalawa.

After that awkward scene inside the store, we didn't talk. After he kissed me, ramdam ko ang mabilis na kalabog ng puso ko. Well, I guess I liked his kisses too but... I don't know.

Hindi ako pumapatol sa tomboy, lalo na at sister ko pa.

But you liked it...

Shit, Scira. What the hell are you thinking?!

I cleared my throat and glanced at Warren.

"Sis—"

"Mars—"

We both stopped as our gaze clashed. Kaagad na nag-init ang pisngi ko nang masalubong ang mga mata niya. He looked shy and embarrassed. Namumula rin ang mukha niya kaya lumunok ako at nagsalita.

"I'm sorry if—"

"No, look. I am sorry," he said and he shifted his weight so he could look at me better. Hindi ako nagsalita at nakitang may kung anong emosyon sa mga mata niya. "I just, you know, didn't know what to do."

" H-huh?" I asked.

He licked his lower lip and lifted his fingers to brush his disheveled hair.

"When you turned your back, uhm..." he cleared his throat. "I-I heard the old ladies saying I'm gay and I can't even kiss you kaya..."

"O-oh..." I muttered when I realized that. "Y-you only did that because of it?"

I don't know but I felt quite odd and weirder, sad. Parang hindi ko matanggap na hinalikan niya ako dahil sa narinig.

He stared at my eyes and slowly, he nodded.

"Sorry, Scira, if I made you uncomfortable. If after this and you don't want to be my friend anymore, I will understand—"

"No!" I exclaimed, startling him. "Wala kang kasalanan, Tintin, okay? It's my fault. I called you out loud like that. I respect you, Warren, as a friend, as a man—"

"W-woman, sis," pahabol niya kaya napangiti ako at tumango.

"As a woman," I muttered and suddenly chuckled. "Okay na?"

I saw his lips lift. Tumango siya kaya nagpatuloy ako.

"And I don't have any right to call you that way in public. Una, dahil hindi ka pa naglalantad. That was so insensitive kaya I did kiss you," I said in a small voice. "Which is wrong too. Actually, I was aiming lang for the side of your lips but I think your head moved a little k-kaya..."

"It's okay, baby..." He breathed.

"What?"

"I mean..." he cleared his throat. "I understand. Kaya mo pala ako tinawag na baby."