Shades of Kagan

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Avian Burn's Point of View

Time passes like a blur inside Kagan's studio. Tumulong ako sa paglinis sa lugar kahit ilang beses akong sinabihan na umupo na lang. I refused to just sit on the corner. I better do something than nothing. When the clock hits five I told him I have to go.

Kailangan ko kasi pumunta sa hospital dahil kailangan nila ng reliever. Naabutan ko si Kagan sa loob ng kanyang office. Napansin kong kaunti na lang ang mga painting sa loob. Nailipat na kasi ang iba niyang mga painting sa ikatatlong palapag. Doon gaganapin ang magiging art exhibition niya bukas. I actually saw a glimpse of the design of the whole third floor. It was fantastic. It is as if I entered into art itself.

Kagan is really artistic and creative. He's such a prodigy.

"Let me drive you to the hospital," he broke the silence.

"You're busy here, Kagan. You don't have to do that." Tumingin naman ako sa painting na hindi pa rin niya natatapos hanggang ngayon.

He stood up from his seat and got his car keys resting on the table. I rolled my eyes when he acted like he didn't hear me again.

"No seriously, Kagan." Both of us reached the stair case and started going down. And because Kagan has long legs, kailangan ko tuloy bilisan ang aking lakad para makasabay sa kanya.

"Why do you keep insisting to accompany me?" Hindi ko mapigilan na itaas ang aking boses dahil baka hindi na naman niya akong pakinggan. The fact that we will be alone in his car again made me nervous. I don't want to be left alone with him again in such a close space.

"I'm not your responsibility!" Hindi ko namalayan na biglang tumigil si Kagan sa paglalakad at dahil nasa likuran niya ako ay nabunggo ako sa kanyang likod. His back is hard as if I bumped in a wall. Napahawak ako sa aking noo at hinilot iyon.

"Avian..." Kagan's sweet voice almost melted me. Kagan saying my name took my breath away. How could he call me tenderly? We just met. At kung bibilangin ang ilang beses namin pagkikita ay mabibilang lang ito sa kamay. We interacted for only five times— six if I included our interaction at the party. Isang malaking palaisipan pa rin kung sino ang tao nakasama ko nung gabi na iyon.

"I don't know why I'm doing this." Napatahimik kaming dalawa dahil sa sinabi ni Kagan. He's now facing me. When Kagan narrowed his eyes at me, I saw an initial panic in his eyes.

"It seems like the normal thing to do." His eyes looked determined.

"So please, just let me do it." When Kagan finally reached the end of the staircase, he continued walking to the exit. Naiwan naman akong nakaawang ang labi dahil sa sinabi niya. He always says that he doesn't know. Kagan started to become a mystery to me. He's like Pandora's box, and he doesn't have to worry because I don't have the courage to open it. He will always remain a mystery.

When I collected myself, that's when I've decided to follow Kagan outside. Naabutan ko naman ang kotse ni Kagan sa labas na naghihintay. I opened his car door and sat on the passenger seat.

"Magpapalit lang ako ng damit sa school dormitory." I said. I also need to get my scrub suit. Nakita ko ang pagtango niya at sinimulan paandarin ang kotse. We're both silent in the whole ride. Wala pang ilang minuto ay ipinark niya ang kanyang kotse sa tabi at ako naman ay lumabas. I told him that I'll be quick and started running inside the campus. The school dormitory is on the west wing of the whole campus. Kaya kailangan ko pa rin pumasok sa loob ng gate at dadaan sa gilid.

When I walked inside the building, I went straight to the room that I'm occupying. Nang binuksan ako ang pinto ay agad akong napaurong.

Am I in the right room?