Last-Minute Changes (2nd)

Chapter 7

Louisse's POV

It was past ten in the evening and sleep seemed to elude me. Ang dami kong iniisip. Actually, there is only one person in my head right now. I don't understand why these past few days, she's all I think about. I have been trying to avoid her but whenever I'm alone there she goes again. Running in my head like a loop.

I looked at the stars above the glass ceiling roof of our pool area before lowering my gaze. I have my feet submerged on the pool water - just trying to enjoy the cold feeling. I was in deep thought when I felt a cold thing hitting my left face.

"Can't sleep? Might do the job." Kuya Lance offered me a glass of wine.

"Thanks." I accepted his offer at uminom nang kaunti. Silence engulfed us until he decided to break it.

"So, what's eating my little sister up?" He wrapped his muscled arm around me at hindi pa nakuntento, ginulo pa ang buhok ko.

"Kuya! I'm not a child anymore." I whined. Eh hindi naman talaga.

Tumawa lang siya bago inalis ang kanyang mabigat na kamay. Nakahinga ako nang maluwang.

"Mukha nga. So, who's the lucky guy?" Tanong niya habang nakangiti. Well, he really knows me well.

"Have you ever experienced being drawn to someone after seeing them for just like ten seconds? Like there's something about that person that makes you curious? Like you want to know everything about that person?" I asked without looking at him.

"Hmn. Tough questions." Hinawakan niya ang kanyang invisible na balbas.

I can see his movement through his reflection on the water. Alam kong nakatingin siya sa'kin pero yung atensyon ko ay nanatili sa mga paa ko na naglalaro sa tubig.

"That sounds like a love at first sight." He chuckled.

"I don't believe in that." I looked at him and rolled my eyes.

"There's always a first time for everything, Sky. Being in love means being in for a lot of surprises." He shrugged.

"I am not in love. I'm just curious. That's all." I drank from my glass.

"Are you telling me that or are you convincing yourself?" He arched an eyebrow at me.

"You're not helping." I looked at him at umiling lang siya.

"Only you can figure out what you feel, Sky. But one thing is for sure, avoiding it will not give you the answers you're looking for. Just give in to it. If it works then, good for you. If it doesn't, at least you tried. No what ifs. No regrets." Ngayon ay seryoso na siyang nakatitig sa'kin.

"Parang ayaw niya sa'kin." I frowned at my feet.

"Whoa. Hold on. Sinong gagong lalaki ang tumanggi sa'yo? Aba't siraulo pala yun ah." Mukhang umiinit na ang ulo ni Kuya Lance.

"Kuya naman eh."

Napabuntong hininga na lang ako. Paano ko ba 'to sasabihin? Tiningnan ko muna siya bago huminga ulit nang malalim. Hindi ko alam kung paano ako magsisimula. God! I'm not even sure myself.

"It's not a he." Pag-amin ko.

Wala akong narinig na kahit ano mula kay Kuya Lance. Pakiramdam ko ay limang minuto na ang lumipas pero hindi pa rin siya nagsasalita. Natatakot ako sa sasabihin niya. Sa kanya ako pinaka-closed kaya kahit anong tago ko ay sigurado akong malalaman at malalaman rin niya. Why delay the trouble? Kung may magiging kakampi man ako, sigurado akong si Kuya Lance yun. Pati dito kaya? God ganito pala kahirap magtapat. Hindi ko alam pero biglang bumigat ang pakiramdam ko. Parang gusto kong umiyak na ewan hanggang sa namalayan kong nagiging malabo na ang paningin ko.