Look At Me

Chapter 37

Normally, I would be irritated by someone who frequently asking the same questions over and over again. I hate it when someone has to repeat their words without even knowing I understand and answered the first question. I hate it when people asking me the most obvious things around me but acting like they didn't know anything.

Pero kapag si Zen na ay hindi ko magawang mainis. Isa 'yon sa pinag-aawayan namin ni Kuya Raze, they are saying I'm always mad, masungit sabi nga nila. But when I'm with Zen Mikel Cruz, I couldn't find myself being irritated with everyone.

"Cresia, you good?" he kept asking that when we saw each other at the gate.

"Oo nga, kalma..." I chuckled. Patawa-tawa na parang hindi ko naisipang gawing chandelier ang sarili.

I'm dead meat if ever Reanne heard about that crazy thoughts, lalo na sa katabi ko. It's unending earful. Xy and Phillie will laugh about it, magpapagalingan pa kami at magpapalakihan ng damage na nagawa, pero kapag si Reanne na, hindi lang sermon, irap at mura ang makukuha namin.

"You know you can always tell anything to me, right?" he sighed, nagsawa na rin yata sa pagtawa ko sa mga tanong niya.

I nodded my head, I already knew that because he made me feel that I can confide in him. Not once, not even twice, he did that so many times.

"Your thoughts, your emotions are matters to me, Cresia. And I'm always ready to listen to your story, to your jokes, to your pain.. your anger.."

I was lost again in his eyes, it's hypnotizing.. I bit my lower lip when it began to tremble. Nag-iinit din ang mata ko dahil pilit kong pinipigilan ang pag-iyak.

"Don't bottle up your thoughts, Cresia.. I'm always here to listen.. and I'll do what I can to make you feel better."

We're sitting in the cafeteria where the students are loud, there's so many students but it felt like it's just me and him.

"Just stay with me, Zen.. 'wag ka lang aalis," nagbaba ako ng tingin at ngumiti.

"I won't leave you. Never." he chuckled but I know he's saying the truth.

That day is full of announcements of who passed, who has an incomplete grades, and who needs to retake the exam. It's a good thing that I passed everything, I still don't know my grades but my name is not belong to those who called for warning.

The next thing I knew, it's already my summer vacation. Zen and I never cut the communication, para ngang kasama ko lagi ang lalaki dahil sa araw-araw naming chats para mag-asaran.

Sila Gillene naman ay may kanya-kanyang outings kasama ang pamilya nila kaya hindi kami nagkakausap madalas. They're still active when it comes to messing with each other.

I was busy scrolling through my facebook feed when Reanne request for a video call.

"Ay, shuta!" hindi ko napigilang magmura nang sumalubong sa mukha ko ang mukha ng isang lalaki na may lahing Arabo yata.

Bigla akong natawa dahil alam kong gusto makisali sa trend ni Reanne! Ang babae, tawa rin nang tawa dahil sa reaksyon ko.

"Sia, sabihin mo kay Tita jowa mo 'yan." tawa ni Reanne, ako naman ay hindi na halos makatingin sa screen ng cellphone ko dahil mukha ng lalaki ang nakikita ko.

"Reanne, 'yung gulat ko! Gagi," bulong ko habang tumatawa.

I missed her so much that's why we spent an hour to catch up and laugh like good old days. No one's gonna replace her, that's final.

"Magtetrespass ako sa birthday mo, Sia." sabi ni Reanne, nakahiga na ako sa kama at pilit na umiiwas ng tingin sa kisame para lang 'wag maisip ang pagiging chandelier.