Scandalous Affair: Oliver Valez

18

L I B E R T Y K I N G S

Ilang araw na ba ang nakalipas? Hindi nga lang yata araw kung hindi linggo. Magdadalawang linggo na akong nakahiga rito sa kwartong ito. Sa dalawang linggong iyon ay lagi kong kasama si Oliver, nagtatakha na nga ako kung hindi ba nagtataka si Oly. Syempre, kung ako 'yon ay magtatakha ako kung bakit palaging ang dad ko ang nagbabantay. Lalo na't hindi naman niya kaano-ano ang best friend ko, hindi ba?

Malamang, ganoon ang papasok na katanungan sa 'king isipan. Pero tuwing papasok si Olivia na may malaking ngiti at pasalubong ay nawawala ang aking pangamba na baka nakakatunog na siya. Para bang napapawi ng kaniyang mga ngiti ang pangambang namumuo sa 'king kalooban. Tila ba'y ito ang hinahanap na sagot ng aking puso.

Nakatulala ako ngayon sa binta ng aking silid sa ospital na ito. Matatanaw mula rito ang asul na kalangitan, hindi ito kasing linaw katulad ng nakikita ko sa ibang bansang napuntahan ko. Pero hindi ko alam kung bakit nagbibigay sa 'kin ng kadalisayan ang polluted na langit ng Pinas. Nakakatuwang panooring ang mga ibong nagsasayaw sa hangin at ang huning kay sarap pakinggan.

Sa tagal ng pag-stay ko rito ay hindi man lang dumalaw ang aking ama. Noong nakaraang araw ay sinabi sa 'kin ni Oly, na ang una raw niyang tinawagan ay ang ama ko nang maisugod ako rito. Of course, sadness creeped inside my heart again. I don't know why, hindi na naman bago sa 'kin na wala siyang paki, but nasasaktan pa rin talaga ako.

My mom didn't know what happened to me. Wala naman kasing contact si Oly sa mom ko kaya hindi niya nasabihan. Hindi ko na rin naman talaga ipinaalam sa kaniya. Para saan pa ba? I'll just get disappointed again. I don't want another heartbreak, it won't help me recover, anyway.

I'm facing sideways towards the window to see the trees and birds dance together with the wind. It's a peaceful scene, this is what I want. I lifted my hand and tried to reach the wonderful scene in front of me. I never reached this peacefulness kahit gaano ko subukang abutin. Nagulat ako nang may kamay na humawak sa 'king kamay na nakataas.

Big, warm hands intertwined with mine. His warmth spread inside my lonely heart, making it alive. I looked at him, surprise was evident on my face. His dark orbs glinted with a homey feeling. He had this gentle smile while looking at me, he rubbed his thumb to the back of my hand. "What are you doing?" he asked.

Ibinaba ko ang kamay kong nakataas kanina na ngayon ay hawak-hawak niya. I just shook my head and looked at our intertwined hands. "Nothing," I whispered. Narinig ko ang pagbuntong hininga nito kaya tiningala ko siya. My ocean, blue eyes met his dark, gorgeous one. We're staring at each other like there's no tomorrow. His warm hand still giving my heart the warmth that I always seek. "Done with your phone call?" I asked him, not cutting our eye contact.

"Yeah," he said huskily. We're still staring at each other. I didn't even notice if I'm still breathing, or how many seconds have passed. He bent down a little, still looking at me. I gulped at the movement he did. His proud nose touching my cheeks. I closed my eyes, savoring the feeling it sent to my whole being. He traced my jaw using his nose then moved away a little.

I opened my eyes to look at him. Something flickered in his eyes and it made me bite my lips. He moved his face closer, our lips almost touching. I can smell his minty breath, I could even taste it. "Why do you look sad?" he asked me in low voice.

That question made my heart feel something different. I can't even name it. My eyes started getting wet. I can feel warm liquid on the side of my eyes trying to escape. I can't speak, I felt the lump on my throat and I know any attempt to speak will break my voice. I looked away, trying to hide my emotion.

He sat besides me. His other hand held my face, making me look at him again. I avoided my gaze from him. Baka kasi 'pag tinitignan ko siya ay biglang tumulo ang aking mga luha. I don't want to be seen as weak specially by him. "Hey, look at me," he said gently, making my lips quiver.