Teardrops in Daylight (Salvaje Caballero Series 3)

Diez

Hers

"Eat more. Don't worry, my treat." Zach uttered when we're both eating in a classy restaurant.

I just sighed and just chewed a little. Ingat na ingat akong hindi maging matunog ang kutsara sa aking plato.

"I....just don't fit in here." I said in small voice.

Zach stopped chewing and looked at me.

"How so?"

"Just look at my clothes." I chuckled.

He raised his eyebrow. "What's wrong with your clothes? It looks good on you."

Doon ako napangiti ng sobra. It felt good to be appreciated. Akala ko nakakahiya itong suot ko dahil halatang probinsyana ako.

"Now...let's have fun."

"Ha?"

"Arcades tayo." natatawang sambit ni Zach at hinila ako.

In just few minutes we're in arcades that he was talking about.

Natatawa ako habang nagbobowling kami. Halos wala akong natatamaan kahit isa!

"This is so hard!"

"Boploks ka kasi. Ang dali lang oh!" natatawang sambit ni Zach at naghagis at lahat natumba!

"Ang galing!"

He winked at me and nodded cooly. He looked so boastful so I just pouted. Sunod naming pinuntaan ay ang bumping cars na agad kong pinagsisihan kung bakit ba ako pumayag.

"Zach ano ba!"

He laughed and bumped his car to mine.

"Nye nye nye!"

My jaw dropped literally when he even stuck his tounge out and made a face! Parang bata!

At naulit ang ganito. Palagi na din niya akong hinahatid pagkatapos ng klase ko. And in Sundays, we'd go to church together and then bond afterwards. Sa ilang araw na nakasama ko siya, alam kong mabuti siyang tao.

"Tami.....can we talk?"

Napatigil ako nang biglang sumulpot si Marcus pagkatapos ng klase ko. Nagliligpit na ako ng gamit at hindi din ako nagbenta ngayon. Pagod na pagod na kasi akong magluto kaya okay lang naman kung magpahinga muna ako.

Napadala ko naman sa lola ko ang unang sweldo kaya sobrang saya ko na nakatulong sa kanya. Sinabi ko din kay Sara na magpakabit na ng tubig sa bahay para hindi mahirapan si lola na nagbobomba sa poso.

"S-sige."

I texted Zach that I'm going to eat with Marcus and he hasn't replied yet.

Dinala naman ako ni Marcus sa isang restaurant na halatang pangmayaman nanaman.

"Anong pag-uusaan natin, Marcus?"

Napabuga siya ng hangin at mariin akong tinignan. He looked so hesitant.

What's bothering him so much?

"I like you." 

Parang natigilan ako sa narinig. Halos hindi ako nakapagsalita. He.......likes me?

I looked away when I felt my cheeks heated. He really likes me?

"Y-you....do?"

He nodded. "Liking you isn't hard, Tami."

I was left speechless after Marcus told me that. Halos parang wala ako sa sarili hanggang sa maihatid niya ako sa apartment.

Sa gabing iyon, wala kong ibang naisip kundi ng pag-amin ni Marcus. Should.....I tell him that I feel the same way? But Zach clearly told me not to be easy!

Kaya kinabukasan, parang wala pa din ako sa sariling pumasok. Parang hindi ko kayang makita si Marcus ngayon dahil ko alam kung ano ang gagawin ko!

Tapos na ang klase ngunit hindi pa lumabas si Zeijan. Napatingin ako sa cellphone ko na ngayon ay may tumatawag.

"Maam, this is Ynoa Raldovan. Is this the teacher of Zeijan?"

"Yes, Thamina speaking po."

"Someone will pick him up, there was an emergency and I'm really sorry if I'll ask this favor, maam. Zacharius Lim Rio is the name, please accompany Zeijan."

I heard someone in the background calling for her. She apologized first before ending the call.

Yinaya ko naman si Zeijan na lumabas para hintayin na lang si Zach doon. I called him and left a message but he's not answering or even replying.

Bumungad ang pamilyar na lalaki sa akin. Gamit ang seryoso at madilim na mata, agad akong nakaramdam ng kaba.

"Tito Zach!"

I smiled and stood up too.

"Hey there, big boy!"

Nag fist bump pa ang dalawa kaya hindi ko napigilan ang hindi mapangiti. I suddenly wondered what's their relationship.

"Kaibigan ako ng tatay niya." sambit naman niya.

I smiled too. "K-kumain ka na?"

He nodded cooly and clenched his jaw. I just sighed. I kind of waited for him.

I thought we're going to eat together.

"Ikaw?"

"Hindi-"

"Tami!"

Halos nanigas ko sa kinatatayuan nang maramdaman ng presensya ni Marcus sa likod ko.

"Kain tayo?" yaya niya.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit natigilan ako. Hindi naman sa hindi ko gusto pero.... Bakit kasi parang galit si Zach? May nagawa ba ako?

He looked at me with cold eyes.

"Let's go, Zeijan." he uttered coldly and walked away.

"Goodbye, Teacher Tami!" Zeijan waved his hand and smiled.

Hindi na ako nakapagsalita kaya kinawayan ko na lang ang bata. I just sighed and watched them walked away.

"So....let's go?"

Doon ko lang napagtanto na kasama ko pala si Marcus. Napapikit ako at ngitian siya.

"Let's....eat some other time, Marcus." I told him in a small voice.

He popped his cheeks but nodded eventually. He even insisted to drop me off but I declined.

Panay ang tingin ko sa cellphone ko at umaasang may mensahe si Zach pero walang dumating.

It was a blurry saturday when I heard the news about the coming typhoon. Paniguradong suspended ang klase ng mga pre schoolers.

When I heard that our province will be affected as well, I didn't think twice to pack up my things.

Hindi ako mapakali at kinakabahan din dahil sa paparating na bagyo. Inaasahan na dadating ang bagyo sa Lunes pa naman kaya may oras pa akong magbyahe.

"Sigurado ka ba, Tami?"

"Dione, hindi ako mapapanatag kapag hindi ako uuwi." sagot ko at kinuha ang gamit. Nagdala lang ako ng backpack dahil hindi ko kailangan ng madaming damit.

Hinatid niya naman ako sa bus terminal ni Dione at nagpaalam kami bago ako pumila at bumili ng ticket.

My phone rang and I saw Zach's name on my screen. I inhaled first before answering.

"Zach?"

I heard his deep sighs on the other line.

"Where are you? Why is it noisy?"

"Sa bus terminal."

"The fuck are you doing there?"

"Ha? Uuwi ako sa probinsiya namin."

He remained silent for minutes. I thought the call ended so I looked at my screen. Pero hindi naman.

"Text me where exactly are you. Don't you fucking go anywhere." malamig niyang sambit.

"Ha? Bakit?"

"I'm......coming with you." he whispered.