Between the Rainbow (Strawberries and Cigarettes Series #1)

Chapter 30

Karma

I'm kind of relieved that he was willing to do some things after seeing the fucker who harassed him.

Siguro ayaw niya ring manatili sa isip niya. He's got a life here. Far from the life he has in Cebu. And I hope he continues to live the life he wants for himself. I hope that he enjoys it more.

He absentmindedly leaned against my chest and started drawing again. I sighed and crouched a bit, kissing his shoulder. Sinapak niya sa akin ang sketch pad niya kaya natawa ako ng bahagya.

"Oh right... I won't give you more kisses."

Umangat ang kilay niya. "Edi sa'yo na 'yan. Ibigay mo doon kay Cheena."

Ngumuso ako.

"Ang ganda no'n. Kahit ang mga girls topic siya. Sobrang ganda kasi. Elite daw at may ini-endorse na sikat na brand. Tourism ang course tapos—"

I kissed his shoulder again.

"Tapos puro basketball player ang nagiging boyfriend. Pasok ka sa standards no'n. Ikaw nga ang pinili," patuloy niya kahit namumula.

I laughed a little. "Malas niya. I'm taken."

Umangat ang kilay niya at lumingon sa akin.

"I'm single, but I'm courting you, which means I'm taken. I'm not available."

Matagal ang paninitig niya. He looked so flush that I noticed how his eyes sparkled a bit. I gently caressed his cheek to erase the red mark, but it's really his natural blush.

"Ang ganda no'n tapos..."

I tilted my head as my hand grazed his small chin. Tinitigan ko lang labi niyang nangingintab.

"Nothing can top your beauty in my eyes..." I murmured.

He scoffed and smashed the sketch pad on my face again. I laughed and squinted my eyes.

"I'm telling the truth..." nangingiti kong sabi nang dumilat.

Nailing siya ngunit may ngiti na sa labi habang ipinagpatuloy ang drawing. I slowly crawled my hand against his stomach and rested my chin against his shoulder. I looked at his pulse. He's left-handed. Naroon din ang bracelet na bigay ko.

He was now done with his drawing. And boy, he drew it skillfully! I haven't paid attention to drawings, even when I was invested to Verena in the past. I didn't look at the arts with a deeper perspective, unlike now.

Ngayon ko lang napagtanto kung gaano ka ganda ang arts. Kahit wala pang kulay. Kahit simple pa lamang. And how much more if he paints it?

Ibinigay niya sa akin ang isang sketch pad lalo na't dalawa ang binili ko para sa kanya.

"Ikaw rin."

I nodded and took it from his hand. Binigyan niya rin ako ng lapis. Tumikhim ako at isinandal iyon sa hita ko na nasa gilid niya saka ko ginaya ang gawa niya. I was serious the whole time, amazed by my own drawing. Noong nilingon niya, nalaglag ang kanyang panga.

"Ano 'yan? Boobs?" parang natatawa siya nang pangalanan iyon.

"Uh... strawberry?"

"Anong strawberry? Ang layo!" He barked with a laugh.

"This is a strawberry, Shiloh," I hissed.

"Eh ano 'to?" turo niya sa tuktok. "Nipple 'to eh."

"That's the tip of the strawberry." I leered at him.

Humagalpak siya lalo. Halos napasandal na siya sa dibdib ko kakaatras niya dahil sa pagtawa. Ngumuso ako at nahawa na rin kahit medyo masakit sa loob na nilalait niya ang drawing ko.