Chaining Lockets

Kabanata 15

Kabanata 15

"Here..." my eyes landed on Locket when he sat beside me.

I sighed, inabot ko ang bukas na bottled water na ibinigay niya sa akin at tinulungan niya akong hawakan iyon nang makitang nanginginig ang kamay ko.

When I'm done drinking, I lowered it, mabilis naman niyang inangat ang kamay para punasan ang gilid ng labi ko at napabuntonghininga lang ako.

"Thank you," I muttered after a while and smiled weakly.

"Are you okay now?" he asked and I shook my head, ibinaba ko ang tingin ko para sana titigan na lang ang kamay pero hinuli niya iyon, his other hand moved closer to my face as he tilt my chin up so he could look at me.

"What's the matter, hmm? I will listen..." he said, his soothing voice made me feel calmer.

I looked around, trying to check if he's around but Locket called my attention again.

"He isn't here," aniyang marahan kaya hinarap ko siya.

"W-wala?" I asked and he shook his head at me.

"We're far from him, hmm? He won't see us here." Aniya at napahugot na ako ng hininga.

I moved closer to him and he offered me his arm kaya mabilis akong sumiksik doon. I rested my face on his neck, my arms hugging the side of his waist, seeking for comfort and when I felt how he draped his arm around my shoulder, my tears started falling again.

I fisted his uniform and sobbed, tila hindi nauubos ang luha ko habang umiiyak doon at wala siyang reklamo habang nakasiksik ako sa kanya. I can feel how he moved his hands on my shoulder, up and down, assuring me he's here.

"I'm just here...it's okay." He whispered. "Iiyak mo lang."

I took me a while before I got a grip of myself, Locket remained patient with me, he's silently tapping my arm and kissing my hair and I was so grateful for that. Nang humiwalay ako kay Locket ay basang-basa na ang balikat niya ng luha ko at gusot na ang uniform niya, his top almost got untucked on his pants kaya suminghap na ako.

"S-sorry, Locket..." I said shyly and he glanced at me.

"Hmm?" he asked, confused pero tinuro ko ang damit niya at nang sumulyap siya roon ay natigilan pero biglang natawa.

"It's okay," he said and stared at me, "are you okay now? Nalabas mo na lahat? Gumaan ba ang pakiramdam mo?"

I nodded abruptly, he smiled and helped me dried my tears.

"Here, water again, Pinga." Aniya at muling binuksan ang tubig kaya inabot ko iyon at ininom. Habang umiinom ako ay nanatili lang siyang nakatitig sa akin kaya ngumuso ako at pinunasan ang labi ko.

"Grabe ka naman makatitig, Pingu..." I said, "para akong matutunaw."

His eyes widen, bigla akong natawa nang napakurap-kurap siya at tinuro ang sarili niya.

"I'm...I'm Pingu again?" he asked in shock kaya natawa ako at kinuha ang panyo sa kamay niya para punasan ang luha ko.

"Ayaw mo ba?"

"Gusto!" he answered in conviction. "Gustong-gusto."

I eyed me teasingly and he nodded at me, "I swear, gusto ko. Ako na ulit si Pingu, ah?" he asked kaya napangiti na ako.

"Okay...pero friends lang tayo." I said and I was expecting some violent reaction from him but I didn't, sa halip ay nagkibit-balikat lang at ngumiti.

"Alright," he answered at ako naman ang nagulat sa kanya.

"Wow, wala kang say?" I asked and the side of his lips lifted, his gray eyes twinkled when he took the handkerchief from me and he dried my cheek.