Pursuing Our Freedom| ✓

Kabanata 6

Kabanata 6

I can't peel my eyes off at Sarathiel and I think Iscalade noticed my lingering stare because of his reaction.

"Gusto mo ba?" panguulit ni Sarathiel sa tanong niya kanina.

I stared at him, still confuse at what he's trying to imply. Ano bang tinatanong niya? Kung gusto ko siya? Am I obvious? Pero wala pa naman akong ginagawa upang isipin niya na may gusto ako sa kanya. I'm pretty sure that even my haptics can't show that I like him, maliban na lamang kung nakababasa siya ng isip.

"Gusto mo? Blueberry cheesecake?" he asked, pertaining to the last piece of blueberry cheesecake on his plate.

Nakahinga ako nang maluwag. See? Stop overthinking, Philomena. He doesn't know and he shouldn't know that I like him.

"Edi bumili ka." Dugtong niya at dali-daling inubos 'yung blueberry cheesecake sa plato n'ya.

Tinawanan siya ng mga kaibigan niya. That's kind of rude but I found it cute. He must really like blueberry cheesecake that much.

"Damot mo, Sarathiel. Mabulunan ka sana." Iscalade winced but turned his attention to me. "Philo, gusto mo ba? Bibilhan na lang kita."

Umiling ako at ngumiti sa kan'ya.

"Hindi na po."

Bumaling muli ang atensyon ko kay Sarathiel. I like observing him and I want to preserve whatever memories I have of him. Napakaikling panahon lang ito kung tutuusin pero hindi ko 'yata makalilimutan na minsan sa buhay ko nakasabay ko siyang kumain.

I don't believe love at this young stage would last long. Maaaring gusting-gusto mo siya ngayon pero kinabukasan ay hindi na. Feelings are not constant and they often change. Paano pa kaya sa isang kabataan na unti-unti pa lamang hinuhubog ang sarili niya? The change will be faster and I know that.

That's why I would like to remember this feeling even though I know it would change soon.

Nakatitig si Sarathiel sa isang direksyon kaya naman unti-unti akong lumingon dito. Wala namang espesyal, mga kumpol lang ng tao na nakapila upang bumili.

"Bibili lang ako ng tubig." Paalam ni Sarathiel at tumayo upang pumila rin sa direksyon na kanina niya pa tinititigan.

Bigla na naman silang tumawa. Hagalpak ang tawa ni Iscalade, his shoulders were even moving. Naiiyak na 'yung dalawa niyang kaibigan habang 'yung isa pa ay nagpipigil ng ngiti. According to their facebook posts that I've stalked before, they were Ade, Cae and Sachael respectively.

"Para-paraan si Gag---" hindi natuloy ni Iscalade ang sasabihin niya dahil napansin niyang katabi niya ako. "God bless you, Sarathiel. May the heavens be with you and let your crush notice you."

"Amen," Ade commented while raising his other hand.

The message was subtle but if I think through it, ibig sabihin ay may crush si Sarathiel at dahil tumatawa sila ngayon ibig sabihin nito ay malayo rito ang crush niya o wala rito ang crush niya sa table ngayon. Ang bottomline ay hindi ako ang crush ni Sarathiel. It hurts but I'm not surprised. Lahat lamang ng pantasya ko na iginuhit ko sa aking isipan ay unti-unting nawalan ng kulay.

The thing about crushes, you can hope but you cannot guarantee everything will be returned.

Okay lang. Hindi naman masyadong masakit.

"Gio, dalian mo na nga!"

I heard a girl striding her way out of the cafeteria. She looks like she's avoiding our table like we have a plague in our area. She looks quite fierce and her high ponytail makes her features look sharp.