In Every Bus Stops

Chapter 3: Zerto

CYZIE

I've always been cautious around my surroundings ever since the day I decided to part ways with my parents but tonight is different: all of my senses are active as if I'm a spy in a movie, waiting for a sudden danger that might come. Pauli-uli ang mata ko sa lugar na binabaan ko. My eyes didn't even missed a single spot just to secure my safety.

Kapag siguro tinitigan ako ng ibang tao ay aakalain nilang may hinahanap ako dahil sa sobrang likot ng mg mata ko na pati ang malinis na nilalakaran ko'y hinahanapan ko ng dumi.

I can't help it. I've been this way since day one, and I'm sure that me, being this way can keep me away from harm... right?

"Hi"

"Oh my God!" I shrieked as I look at him.

Muli akong napakurap ng ilang beses. My thought was immediately contradicted when this guy came, freaking the hell out of me. I thought my senses were all active and my eyes never leave a spot but how could I miss his presence?

I heaved a deep breath and try to calm myself. Luckily and strangely, I'm half guarantee that this guy would not pull anything funny to harm me.

I heard him chuckled and by the moment I looked at him, I was again, mesmerized. His little laugh made me stare at him. He was not wearing his specs that's why I could see the upper part of his face wholely. How can a man be this gorgeous? I want to know.

And before everyone accuse me, I'm not doing anything wrong. Hindi kasalanan ang tumitig. Wala akong ginagawang masama. Hindi ba't ginagamit naman ang ating mga mata upang makakita ng magaganda? And now, I'm just using my eyes to see a beautiful thing.

"Uhm... Hello?"

I was brought back to reality when he uttered a word. Napakagat ako ng labi ko habang siya nama'y napakamot sa kaniyang pisngi.

What am I doing?

"Uh..." I smiled sheepishly. I don't know what to say or even what to do. Should I smile back? Or no? Should I wave at him? In the end, I just bobbed my head.

I heard his soft chuckle. "Introvert?" he asked. I just nodded.

Me being an introvert doesn't have anything to do with him. I think he's just opening a topic so that we could have a small talk and I appreciate the effort but I just couldn't bring myself to cooperate after what had happened in the bus plus yong ma-issueng konduktor.

"Obviously," he uttered, shrugging his shoulders. "You can't even say hi."

Nag-aalangan man ay nagpatuloy na lang ako sa paglalakad at hindi na siya nilingon pa. I need to be cautious alright, but it's not like he's gonna pull something funny, right? Sa dami ng taong nandito ngayon sa paligid, imposible namang bigla niya akong saksakin. And basing on his appearance today plus that pretty face he holds, he doesn't look like he is to cause harm.

Boogshh!

Napalingon ako sa kalangitan nang marinig ang tunog na yon. My eyes sparkled and my mouth gaped.

"Woah.." I mumbled under my breath.

It was a breathtaking fireworks display. The mixture of the different colors lit up the dark sky. Sa bawat pagsabog nito ay siyang pagbabagsakan ng mga maliliit na ilaw na mistulang mahiwagang ulan sa kalangitan. Hindi ko maiwasang mamangha.

It's been what? 5-6 years since I last saw a firework display with my own eyes. In those years, I was contented on watching videos or TV dramas that have fireworks in one of their scenes. And now that I'm seeing it before me, I can't help but to feel excited and happy all at once.