Cloud Chaser

WHATEVER REMAINS

The photo above is our lovely Engr. Winter Lyle Cordovez! All credits to the rightful owner.

Lyle passed by the circle's lovers lane, a bittersweet memory of him crossed her mind. She faintly smile at the thought and for once, decided to miss her kick boxing class. Tatawag na lamang siya sa kanyang sekretarya para ipagbigay alam iyon. She knows that staying in that lane will only cast the shadows of the past-her nightmare pero desidido siyang bumaba sa kanyang sasakyan. She slowly hold the swing hand and gently swipe the rust building in it. It used to be their favorite place, but now it's only a vivid memory of pain. A waves of memories came crashing as if there is an angry storm at the back of her mind.
"Bwisit talaga yung Myco na iyon! Napaka walang kwenta. Akala niya ba kinagwapo niya ang panlalait sa akin? Hello Lyle! I am not that pangit right?!" isang nagmumuryot na Shalani. Ang bestfriend niya ay palagi na lang ipinagpuputok ng butsi ang kaklase nila sa Physics na si Myco Alacaraz, the basketball team captain! Well, halata namang nagpapapansin lang ang lalaki sa bestfriend niya. Mendrez genes are not that nila "lang-lang!"
"Maybe he just wants your attention, huwag mo na lang patulan Sha. Just focus, akala mo ba hindi ko alam na you were out of your reverie these few days past dahil sa pambubully ni Alcaraz. Crush mo din noh?" She teased her friend because she knew that she hit the spot! Her friend likes the varsity guy!
"WTF! Shut it. Baka marinig ka ni Kuya. Alam mo naman ang isang iyon, daig pa ang daddy sa pagiging epalogs. You shuld tone down your voice. Oo na tama ka, I have a crush nga to Myco pero it's not that malaki naman." She burts laughing with her answer, hindi niya alam kung dahil ba sa cute ang kaibigan niyang todo panic sa pagpapaliwanag o dahil sa ka-conyohan ng sosyalera niayng kaibigan. Natigil an kanilang usapan ng may tumikhim. Her friend stiffened and awkwardly smiled when she saw who is at the back. It is none other than Lawrenxce Psyche Mendrez. Biglang kumabog ng mabilis ang kanyang puso, nope this is not the first time that she will see the eldest of the Mendrez , more so, he will always have the same effect on her. Very subtle yet very hard. Pinatitibok mo ng kay bilis ang puso ko! Sigaw ng malanding bahagi ng kanyang utak but she woke up from her daydream when her bestfriend tugged her arms.
"Lyle, iyong laway mo pakipunasan naman. Tulong tulo, baka umabot sa kalakhang Maynila at magsuspinde pa ng klase kpaag bumaha.Huwag mo namang ipahalata na patay na patay ka kay Kuya."
Inirapan niya lang ang kaibigan sa tinuran nito, minsan talaga gusto na lang niyang tahiin ang bibig ng madaldal na kaibigan dahil mukhang ilalaglag pa yata siya nito sa kuya nito.
"Kapag hindi ka nagtigil, sasabihin ko sa Kuya mo na may gusto ka kay Myco Alcaraz. sira ang pangarap mo ghorl, ano laban?" Katakot takot na irap naman ang isinukli nito sa kanya saka plastik na tumawa.

"Are you guys okay? Kung makapagbulungan kayo parang wala ako ah. Problema niyo?" The ever handsome Psyche speaks habang nakakalokong nakatingin sa aming dalawa, showing her perfect white teeth at nagpalitaw sa dalawang biloy nito sa pisngi. Her dimples shows how sunny yet dark her aura is.

"Ah eh kuya, ano..girl thing. Paki mo ba este anong ginagawa mo here?""Huwag mo akong artehan. I know that you are again talking bout your university crushes. Hindi ako ipinanganak kahapon so please stop fooling me. You should focus on your studies, lalo ka na Lyle. Being an engineer entails hard work and patience upon doing all the plates, so you should always spend your time with your t-squares and materials or practice." Nakairap nitong litanya. Bigla naman akong namula dahil ako pa ang napagsabihan ng lalaking ito. Naturn off na siguro ito sa kanya.Sana all sinasabihan na magfocus sa studies.

"Wohoo. Sana all engineering." Nakakalokong pasaring naman ni Shalani.
"And you also young lady, stop bombarding your face with makeup. Not bcause you are in the Tourism Department eh ubusin mo ang pallette dyan sa mukha mo. Kaya ka napapansin ni Alcaraz, huwag kang makalpit lapit sa lalaking iyon." Agad na bira naman ni Psyche ngunit hindi pa din nawala ang nakakalokong ngisi ng kapatid.

"Wala. wala. sana all engineer!"Napailing iling na lang ang lalaki sa kanyang kaibigan. She doesn't want to lose her energy to her friend na reyna ng kalokohan. Tahimik na nakapangalumbaba si Lyle sa gym habang pinapanuod ang laro ni Alcaraz when someone silently sit beside her, her heart started beating and she know who it is. Isang lalaki lang ang nakakapagpabilis ng puso niya, the senior Psyche. They belong in the same department pero siya ay freshman pa lang samantalang nasa fifth year naman na ang lalaki sa kursong Civil Engineering. Her breathing stopped when he gently poke her.
"Problema mo?" she asked"
"Tinitingin tingin mo sa court? Eyes in here." Nakairap nitong turan.

"Huh? This is a basketball game Psyche, alangan naman na sayo ako tititig. OA ka ghorl?"

"One more stare in the court Lyle, I'll make sure that they will be out of the team tomorrow." he icily uttered

Hindi ko talaga maintindihan ang taong ito. Minsan okay, misan di namamansin, minsan naman possessive. Haller feeler, possessive ka dyan. Wala namang label! Bigla bigla na lang itong sumusulpot out of nowhere, i know he is my crush pero isn't it weird that your crush follows you anywhere you go? or ako lang ba? Hindi ka sure? Ako din.

I am currently reading a magazine sa salas ng mga Mendrez, I am not into handsome boys but I am currently craving for Shawn Mendez, napaka gwapo nito sa cover ng latest ish na Sugar Mag, she excitedly flips the cover page and salivate when he saw some sexy shoots of her celebrity crush. Goodness gracious, papalicious! I bit my lower lip to stifle my malanding tili when a powerful hands flipped close the ish that I am reading. Nangunot agad ang aking noo nang makita sa aking harapan ang preskong si Psyche habang nakasuot ito na hoodie at jogging pants na may tatak na Nike. Nakarating sa kanyang ilong ang mamahaling Tom Ford perfume ng lalaki because he is only an inch away from her. His icy stare sent shivers to her spine, hindi siya makagalaw kahit na crumpled na ang mukha ni Shawn Mendez na hawak hawak pa din ni Psyche. Anong problema ng lalaking to?

"Psyche!! That's my fucking Shawn Mendez that you crumpled, what the hell is your problem? Wala namang ginagawa sayo iyong mag. Nilibot namin ni Shalani ang book stores para lang makakuha ng copy niyan yet you had the audacity to tore it into pieces?!" Naiiyak na ako sa sobrang panghihinayang, no do not mess up with my Shawn Mendez fan girling.

"Huwag na huwag mo akong tanungin kung ano ang mali, Lyle. You are salivating with that fucking cover na halos brief na lang ang saplot. Para kang siraulo! Sa varsity ng eskwelahan natin, ganyan ka din. And you also have the audacity to ask me what is wrong?!" he icily explained. Napabuntong hininga na lang siya sa tinuran ng lalaking ito. Hindi niya pa din maintindihan kung bakit ganoon na lang kung magmuryot ito sa paglalaway niya sa kasarapan ni Shawn Mendez, like gorl.

"Psyche."
"What?!" he snapped using his thick Italian accent.

"Para kang Math problem, hindi ko maintindihan." ngisi ko sa kanya. Hinampas niya ako ng magazine bago iiling iling na nagwalkout.
"Whatever, stop fantasizing your Shawn Mendez. I could pose with my briefs on, I could even pose naked for you. Just say it." he murmured.
My heart pummeled with what he said. Bakit parang nakaka excite? Charot. Psyche, stop welcoming me into your zone. Crush lang kita, crush lang. Walang malisya.Yeah, fool yourself Lyle sigaw ng kanyang isip and she gently pushed the idea away. He is a star and I am just a dust. He is shining even from afar, and I don't. We will never be meant for each other. She made her way outside to breathe some fresh air bago pa siya muling lamunin ng kanyang insecurities. Good thing Shalani shouted na malapit na itong matapos. Ahhh, she needs to distract herself again.