The Burning of Summer

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

Tahimik nanaman kami sa byahe. Wala na akong nagawa kanina nang dumating ang mga tinawagan ni Reid na gagawa ng sasakyan ko. When they said it cannot be done within the next few hours I just lose hope and hopped into Reid's car.

Hindi lang ako nagsalita since si Ate naman ang tumawag sa kaniya at hindi ako. Bahala na lang silang mag-usap. I know I said that I'll just act like a civilized person but everytime I see him I just lost it.

Gusto ko na lang sungitan ito to cover up my real emotions.

"Are you hungry?"

Nanatili akong nakatingin sa tanawin sa labas ng bintana. It is only four in the afternoon, hindi na ganoon kainit ang sikat nang araw considering that it is almost sunset.

"Nope." yun na lamang ang sinagot ko.

I should be used to the silent car rides because that's what usually happens every time I'm in this car. There is music playing on the stereo but it isn't loud enough. I'm sure crickets are a lot louder than the music right now.

Bakit kaya sa tuwing sinasabi ko na lumayo ito sa akin, na huwag na lang kaming mag-usap, somehow we always ends doing the exact opposite.

Nang nawala ako ng isang linggo dito ay naisipan kong huwag na lang pagtuunan ng pansin kung ano man ang nararamdaman ko. Maybe it was just a passerby. That I will eventually forget about.

So far there hasn't been any progress.

"Why'd you change your hair color by the way?"

Is he seriously trying to make a conversation right now?

"No particular reason." sabi ko saka sinipat ng tingin ang aking buhok na ngayon ay ash blonde ang kulay.

"It looks good on you."

"I know."

Sinadya ko talagang sumagot ng maiksi dito upang ipahiwatig na ayaw kong makipag-usap. Good thing his phone rang, para hindi na ako ni kausapin.

"Hello.." bungad nito sa kung sino man ang nasa kabilang linya. Matagal bago ito muling nagsalita. "No I won't do that."

Hindi ko na naiwasan ang tumingin dito sa napansin ko ang pagka-irita sa boses nito.

"I told you not now.."

Ano kayang sinasabi ng kausap nito? Base sa expression ng mukha ng lalaki ay iritado at parang inis ito. And based on his answers, I think that person is asking him to do something.

"Call me when something is up." iyon lang ang sinabi nito at saka pinatayan ng tawag ang nasa kabilang linya.

His lips formed into a thin line, his jaw clenching tight like he's trying to contain his anger. Why?

Napansin marahil nito ang pagtitig ko dahil tumingin din ito sa akin at mabilis ding ibinalik ang tingin sa daan.

"I know what you're thinking and no, I'm fine. Everything is fine."

Sabi nito na para bang nababasa nito kung anong ini-isip ko. Well he's wrong. I'm thinking if who the hell called him to make him look like he wanted to punch a wall or something.

I shrugged my shoulders at his comment and shifted my gaze at the front.

"That's not what I'm thinking." masungit kong sabi.

"What is it that you were thinking then?"

"A lot. And they are none of your business."

"But you are my business."