Chapter 9
"Do you have a crush on me, Evander?"
Nagtaas ako ng kilay, hindi pinapahalatang naapektuhan sa sinabi niya. What did he just say? He can't take his eyes off me? What's that supposed to mean?
His brows furrowed and his lips twitched for an unexpected sly smile. Tumuwid siya ng tayo at pinisil ang tungki ng kaniyang ilong.
"Dea, I don't do crushes." He tilted his head to prove a point. "Keep that in your mind."
Umawang ang aking labi nang nilagpasan niya ako at nagsimulang tumakbo palayo sa akin. Hindi ako agad nakatumauli dahil hindi pa kumakalma ang puso ko. I swallowed hard while watching him run away from me.
He noticed that I wasn't running with him so he stopped. Nagkatinginan kami nang lumingon siya. He licked his lips and showed me his watch. Nakatitig lang ako sa kaniya habang ginagawa niya iyon.
"Sisikat na ang araw. Do you want to run or let's just sit somewhere and watch the sunrise?" Nagtaas siya ng kilay.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and shook my head. Hindi pa naman ako tumatakbo pero bakit parang ilang kilometro na ang tinakbo ng puso ko at ang bilis ng pintig nito?
"Let's run." I said and run fast bypassing him.
He immediately caught up with me. We run side by side in silence for the next minutes. Hindi ko siya masyadong kinausap dahil lumilipad ang isip ko sa mga bagay bagay. He'd glance at me from time to time, I can feel it.
After thirty minutes, we stopped running. Ako lang dapat pero kagaya ng parati niyang ginagawa ay sinasabayan niya ako. Umupo kami pareho sa damuhan at halos mapahiga na ako ro'n sa sobrang paghingal.
Axev propped his hands on the ground and glanced at me. Ilang dipa lang ang layo naming sa isa't isa. Maliwanag na at may kulay na ang langit. Umayos ako ng upo at tumingala sa langit. Axev did the same.
We stared at the magnificent sunrise. Even if I feel exhausted because of the long run, I feel calm while watching the sunrise. I don't always appreciate the sunrise or the sunset. I'm too busy to even notice that the day has started or over, but now, I realized that I'm missing a big part of life.
Sunrise, the light and hope after the dark. Sunset, the peace and calm after the chaos. They deserve to be appreciated.
Kahit nang maka-uwi ako ay hindi nawala sa isip ko ang nangyari. Hindi ko na tinanong si Axev tungkol do'n at wala na rin naman siyang sinabi. Ang hirap niya rin namang basahin. I tried understanding his actions but I just can't prove a point.
This is the first time I felt confused around a guy so I'm really in a plethora of thoughts. I wanted to call Tina and tell her about it but I was kind of scared. At hindi ko rin alam kung bakit.
"Labas tayo after exams? Miss ko na mag-chill." Ungot ni Tina habang kumakain kaming anim sa may canteen.
"Tina, can you first focus on the exams?" Yesica glared at her.
Ngumuso lang si Tina at uminom sa drinks niya. The boys were talking about something which we can't relate. Maya maya pa ay biglang tinapik ni Darwin si Cadeo na halos mabulunan sa iniinom niyang energy drink.
"Crush mo!" Tumawa si Darwin.
Agad naming nilingon ang palihim nitong itinuturo. Agad na nakisama si Tina sa pang-aasar ng mga boys kay Cadeo. My forehead creased as I look to whom exactly they're pertaining for. Nginuso ni Yesica sa akin ang babaeng naglalakad mag-isa papunta sa counter.
"ABM 'yan, 'di ba?" I asked.
Tumawa si Tina at umiling iling. "Wala kang pag-asa d'yan, Cadeo! Ang talino niyan 'tsaka mataas daw standards sa lalaki."
