Spellbound

〉chapitre O3

O3 : I told you...

When the last bell rang, I immediately gathered my things and went outside. Maraming estudyante ang naglalakad at nakatambay sa corridor kaya medyo nahirapan akong makadaan. Mahigpit kong hinawakan ang aking libro at ang canon camera. Nakalimutan kong iwan 'to kanina sa office namin dahil na rin sa pagmamadali sa second class ko.

"Merida!"

Nilingon ko ang tumawag sa akin. Napakunot ang noo ko habang hinihintay siyang makalapit dahil hindi ko maalala kung saan ko siya nakita noon.

"Uhm.. Hi!" bati ko dito.

"Oh, hey! it's me Newt," ngumiti sa akin at nilahad ang kaniyang kamay, "Newt Lawrence."

Tinanggap ko ang kamay niya. "Is Lawrence.. your last name?"

He chuckled and let go of my hand. "It's Escarian. We met before, right?" aniya habang nakatingin ng diretso sa mga mata ko.

Escarian..

"Oh. I-I actually don't remember.." nahihiyang sagot ko bago umiwas sa nakakatunaw niyang titig.

"Ako yung nag-abot nung libro sayo sa library."

I pursed my lips while still looking down, embarrassed. Siya nga yung gwapong librarian na tumulong sa akin abutin yung book noon.

"Right.. the librarian guy," kahit nahihiya ay nag-angat parin ako ng tingin at nginitian siya, "B-bakit mo ko tinawag?"

"Someone told me the accident happened earlier at the gymnasium and... I'm here to apologise in behalf of my brother." He flashed his full set of teeth and lend his hand once more to me and asked, "Wanna grab some coffee?" in hard english.

Tumango ako sa alok niya kaya mas lalong lumawak ang ngiti sa mapulang labi nito. While walking, some students were staring on us.. no, they're staring at him. Sino ba namang hindi mapapalingon sa lalaking kasama ko ngayon? Based on the way he approached me, I can tell that he's the opposite of his brat brother. Plus, he's freaking one of the student librarians in school. Who wouldn't like a guy who likes to hangout with the bunch books?

"Hindi naman kasalanan ng kapatid mo yung nangyari. I'm the stupid one who ran through the wet floor." I said before sipping my espresso.

Hindi ako mahilig sa kape dahil sumasakit ang tiyan ko pagkatapos pero sa tingin ko, kung tatanggihan ko ang alok niya baka isipin nito na nagtatanim ako ng sama ng loob kay Escarian. So I just shrugged off the thought and pay attention to the blue-eyed man in front of me.

I don't know but somehow, his eyes reminds me of the man whom I met last night.

"But Weiss said he did it again," naiiling na sabi nito habang hinahalo ang kaniyang kape, "Pagpasensyahan mo na si kuya. He's just like that.."

Tumango ako at nilapag ang espresso dahil nararamdaman ko na ang pag-aalburoto ng tiyan ko. Damn, did I drank too much?

"You'll get along well soon! I think he was just shocked to see you.." nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi nito. Shocked with what? "Well, you're beautiful and... smart and a journalist." He grinned at me while picking a bagel to pieces with his long fingers.

I had to admit, the guy is good at flirting.

"Flattering.." I grinned back at him despite of the pain in my stomach. Umiling muli ito at yumuko sa hiya. Kaya doon ako nag-isip ng paraan para makaalis na dito dahil feeling ko ay bubulwak na ang bulkang pinatubo sa katawan ko.

Come on! think of something, Merida!

"Do you know-"

I held my phone up with my bag in one hand and cut him off by saying,