Abstract

CHAPTER 5

Khyrieze Llanelli Villaraigosa's POV

Rian and I decided to buy some grilled food and burgers. Gutom na gutom daw siya kaya madami ang bibilin niya. The benches are already occupied kaya pinili namin na sa damuhan nalang umupo kung saan hindi gaanong ma-tao.

"Hey, put this first before sitting on that grass." I said then give her my towel. Akma kasing uupo na ito. Inabot niya naman sakin yung dala niyang food namin before accepting my offer. Ako kasi yung may dala ng drinks kanina na ngayon ay nakababa na sa damuhan.

"Paano ka? May towel namn ako I can use it" nakangiting sabi niya pero umiling ako.

"Don't mind me, my skin aren't exposed" I said before sitting on the grass. I'm wearing leggings under my short din kasi so I didn't bother sitting on the grass. Siya kasi ay short shorts lang, so Im worried na baka kagatin siya ng insects.

"Okay" she said then sat on my right. Hindi niya kasi makikita yung fountain sa harap namin kapag sa harap ko siya mauupo.

We filled with silence after that. It's not an awkward silence but a relaxing one. Ngumiti ito bago nagsimulang kumain ng BBQ. Ako naman ay burger ang unang kinuha ko. We were eating peacefully when I suddenly notice some male students on my peripheral, they were at my left side so medyo nakaharap si Rian sa kanila. Nakita ko pang itinuro kami ng isa nilang kasama.

"Hey, what happened? Bakit nakatitig ka lang sa burger mo? Hindi ba masarap?" tanong ni Rian at bahagya pang tinapik ang hita ko.

"Nothing, I'm just wondering if anong fast food yung kalasa nitong burger nato" I smiled then bite once again.

Pasimple akong lumingon sa grupo ng kalalakihan na nagbubulungan. Damn it! I can't hear them but I know what they are talking. Nahuli ko kasi ang isa sa kanila na nakatingin sa hita ni Rian kaya tinaasan ko ito ng kilay. What the? Ngayon lang ba sila nakakita ng hita ng babae?

"Let them, naka cycling naman ako. Wala silang makikita, no need to worry" she said as she continued to eat. Napatingin lang ako sa kanya. What? She noticed those fuckers and yet she's still cool?

"Look at them and at least raised your eyebrow. Binabastos ka nila" mahina kong sabi but she remain silent. Agad kong hinila yung bag ko at kumuha ng t-shirt para ilagay sa hita niya. Ang tigas ng ulo niya.

Lumingon ito sakin at bahagyang natawa. "Ang damot mo naman, hanggang tingin lang naman sila e. Do something kapag may lumapit na" sabi nito pagkaubos niya sa kinakain niya kanina. Kumuha ulit ito mula sa plastic and this time grilled hotdog ang kinuha niya. She was about to bite on the top of it nang bigla ko itong agawin sa kanya at kinagat ng patagilid.

"Eat this fucking hotdog sideways. Like what I did" mariin kong sabi. Tumango ito while bitting her lower lip to suppress her laughter. "Rian" I warned. I don't know what's with her at ginagawa niya ang ganitong mga bagay. Damn! Hindi lang naman kasi yung mga lalaki nayon ang naapektuhan! Jeez! I'm doing my best right now to control myself and here she is, such a tease!

"What? I'm not doing anything" nakangisi nitong sabi.

"D-don't do it again when you're w-with me, I'm damn p-protective to my f-friend" I said then look at the fountain na patuloy ang pagsayaw.

"I see. But I think, AV and AA aren't the type of person na mababastos nalang basta basta. They're almost shout it out loud that they are gays. Ang maton maton kaya nila gumalaw" she said while eating the hotdog the way I told her.

"They are not my friends" mahina kong sabi. Nagtaas ito ng tingin sakin.

"Oh, really? What are you guys then?" binaba nito ang stick ng naubos niyang hotdog before drinking her soda.

"Teammates" maikli kong tugon at inabot ang muka niya. May naiwan kasing sauce sa gilid ng labi niya. Pagkatanggal ko ay pinunas ko ito sa towel na inuupuan niya.

"Just Teammates? Hindi ba kapag ganun kaibigan mo nadin?" naguguluhang tanong nito.

"What's the meaning of friend to you?" I just asked.

Napakunot noo ito at humawak sa baba. "They're the ones that with you through ups and downs. Like your Teammates kapag natalo or nanalo kayo." she paused. "Ang totoong kaibigan, hindi ka iiwan no matter what happened. They will support you and of course, correct you when you did something inappropriate" she continued bago ako tinitigan.

"I don't know, for the past 4 years of my life here at San Benito, I've neve have a friend not until you came. I don't know. Honestly, hindi naman ganun kadali sakin na makipag palagayan ng loob sa isang tao but you're different. Feeling ko dahil din to kay Mom and Tita Ari. There's connections between us kaya siguro nagtitiwala ako sayo" I said looking at her intently. Seryoso lang itong nakikinig sakin.

"R-really? You felt that too?" hindi makapaniwalang sabi niya. Tsk! Sa haba at dami ng sinabi ko, yun lang ata nag sink in sa kanya.

"Y-yeah, the moment that I saw you... There's something inside me na hindi ko mapaliwanag. Hindi ko alam kung bakit, not until nakilala ko si Tita Ari. Then I figured it out na dahil yon sa kanila." I smiled at her. Tumango tango ito.

"Do you mind telling me your reasons?" She said.

"Reasons?" pag tanong ko sa sinabi niya.

"I believed, hindi ka naman magkakaganyan if there's nothing wrong happened sa past mo. Now tell me, what happened" her eyes were comforting. It's telling me to trust her and she'll just listen.

"I-I... I d-don't know h-how to start" mahina kong sabi at napayuko. I felt her hand reaches mine kaya nag angat ako ng tingin dito.

"Okay I won't force you, maybe... It's too early para makielam ako sa decisions mo. I'm sorry" she said sincerely. Tumango naman ako dito. "J-just let me know k-kapag handa kana. I'll listen okay?" nag aalangan na sabi nito. Ramdam ko ang takot sa mga mata niya. Lumayo na ito at umayos sa pwesto niya.

"Ri, don't feel bad asking me those kind of questions. It's just that, I'm not yet ready." sabi ko and this time ako ang umabot sa kamay niya.

"Are w-we still o-okay?" she asked. Ngumiti naman ako.

"Of course! C'mon! Don't be like that, hindi bagay sayo" natatawang sabi ko at bahagyang ginulo ang buhok niya. Agad naman niya akong hinampas sa hita.

"Aish! Don't to it again! Ang hirap hirap mag ayos ng buhok!" reklamo nito at tinanggal sa pagkaka pony ang buhok niya para ayusin. Hindi ko maiwasang mapapikit nang malanghap ko ang amoy ng buhok niya. It never changed, kahit na pawisan siya kanina ay hindi nawala ang vanilla scent ng buhok niya.

Napamulat nalang ako nang maramdaman ko ang paghiga niya sa lap ko. Her eyes are closed but her lips were smiling. "You can't sleep here, halika umuwi na tayo" mahina kong sabi pero umiling siya.

"I wanna be with you pa, let's stay like this for a moment" she said then open her eyes. I just smiled before brushing her soft shining hair using my hand.

_____________________

Hello fellas! How are you doin'? Salamat sa iilang nagbabasa. I appreciate you guys! Sending virtual hug to all of you!