Bits of Chemistry | ✓

Kabanata 8

Kabanata 8

Just like what he declared, Etienne started to distance himself from me. Nasa iisang lugar lang kami ngunit ang presensya n'ya ay malayo.

I was immune to the ill-treatment of others. Hindi na bago ito sa akin dahil simula ng bata ako ay naranasan ko na ito. From my stepfather, to my playmates, and even to my new family. Hindi naman lahat ay sinalubong ako ng yakap at halik.

Yet, I couldn't bear the thought that Etienne was deliberately drifting paths away from me.

Napalunok ako habang nakatitig sa kan'yang likuran. In a four-cornered room, I could feel the distance he implemented between us. He even switched seats. Pumangalumbaba ako habang pinapanood siyang may sinusulat sa kan'yang notebook. It was probably our lecture. I couldn't care less about our lesson, mas mahalaga sa akin ngayon si Etienne.

"Hi," pangungulit ko sa kan'ya. I even took his notebook to capture his attention. His moonlight eyes forthwith met mine.

I gave him a skittish smile.

Hindi siya sumagot, nanatili lang siyang kumukurap sa akin. He even snatched his notebook from me. My lips formed a quick pout. Ang sungit naman ng baby na 'yan.

"Galit ka ba sa akin? I don't even meet CL anymore," I declared openly. Nakita ko ang bahagyang pagtaas ng kan'yang tingin.

"Wala naman akong pakialam," he answered frigidly. "Umalis ka na nga riyan, Lavy. Mag-aral ka na, we have our quiz for our next period."

"Hindi ako aalis dito nang hindi mo ako pinapansin. Ikaw na nga lang 'yong kaibigan ko tapos iiwan mo pa ako?"

"You can have more friends, Lavy. I'm sure no one will even say no to you. You're a Reverio." he stated, not even lifting a gaze. Patuloy siya sa pagsusulat sa kan'yang notebook. I could feel his apprehension because of the inconsistent lines in his notes.

"I only want you though." prangkang saad ko. "I don't care about the others; I want you as my friend."

His hands stopped moving. Unti-unti siyang nag-angat ng tingin sa akin. A smirk, which rendered me tight-lipped, formed in his lips.

"But. . . what if I don't want to be your friend anymore?"

Bigla akong kinabahan sa pagbabago ni Etienne. He even lifted a finger and gently place it on his lips. Sa tagal naming hindi nagsama, nanibago ako sa ngisi n'ya. It looked somehow wicked. Like an evil prince who finally conquered a kingdom.

"Do you still want me, Lavy?"

"Oo naman!" I absentmindedly answered. Lalong lumawak ang ngisi ni Etienne.

His brows rose in amusement. Pinagdaop n'ya ang kan'yang mga kamay at matagal na kumapit sa akin ang kan'yang titig.

"But I don't want us to be just friends. . ."

The intensity of his stare caught me off guard. Napalunok na lamang ako dahil sa kan'yang tingin. I wasn't able to answer back. Natapos ang maikling breaktime namin na wala akong ma-i-sagot sa kan'ya.

Natapos ang quiz namin at tumunog na ang bell hudya't na tapos na ang klase. The skies were slowly turning neutral blue. Maaga ang lubog ng araw ngayon at mukhang uulan dahil sumusulpot na ang mga makakapal na ulap.

I was silently sweeping the floor when Tanya nudged me. Napalingon ako sa kan'ya habang nauurat.

"Lavy, hindi ba't may namamagitan sa inyo ni CL Soteiro?" Tanya asked in a vicious way. Nilakasan n'ya ito upang marinig ng ibang mga kaklase namin.

Cleaners kami ngayon, my hands clutched tightly on the broom. Pinipigilan ang sarili na batuhin siya nito. Ang daldal talaga nito parang pinakain ng pwit ng manok.