Paper Memories

Chapter 5-II

Chapter 5-II

The skies seems to be crying for me.

Susuong na sana ako sa ulan at hahayaan na lang sarili kong tuluyang mabasa, pero hindi nangyare yun. May payong na nagprotekta sa'kin, bigla akong pinigalan umalis ng may-ari ng payong na yun.

He wasn't the replica, its Ralph Marceus Quizon himself.

I'm not short, and he's not too tall, but he felt like he was towering over me with dominance when I raised my eyes to see him. He's the same as usual—piercings, dark clothes. Then there go his strong jawlines where his passionate lips rest, and I also can't forget his questioning hazel brown eyes."Did something happened?Papauwi ka na ba?"

"Class is over...Bakit ka nasa department namin?"

"Nagpabasa ka na agad sa ulan?" Naglabas na lang siya ng panyo, at sinumulang idampi yun sa mukha ko. Mukang hindi ako nakapagpatuyo ng maayos. I flinch on his casualness. He's too observant sometimes, but at least he would never really know the real reason why I'm drenched." Lagpas isang buwan ng pasukan, at three months nang tapos ang summer... Pero halos hindi pa rin tayo palagi magkasama at nakakapag-usap ng maayos. That's a record, and it feels odd."

"Yeah... Hindi naman ng nagkalahating taon atleast."

"Babawi ako sayo, Shin."

I just hope he can't see me blush, napayuko ako at itunuro ang mga sheds na malapit sa field na pinagtatambayan ng mga estudyante." What's up with that? Anong nakain mo? S-saka pwede bang dun muna tayo?"

"Samahan kitang maghintay bago dumating si Percival." Percival. I didn't thought he'd bring him up this quick. I thought he's here to chat with me. Sana hindi sila nagkasalubong kaninang ng fake boyfriend ko." Pero baka magalit yun ah, dahil sa kalokohan ko."

"He won't get mad." Sagot ko habang naglalakad kami sa ulan." Sasabihan ko."

Ralph burst into laughter, his smile was so bright. Halos mabasa pa kami sa ulan kasi napapayuko siya kakatawa, kaya naman halos agawain ko yung payong at hilain siya para makatakbo kami agad papunta sa shed!" Ang bossy mo. Sasabihan mo talagang huwag magselos ang boyfriend mo?"

"Syempre, bakit hindi?" Biro ko pabalik.

"He's nice guy isn't he?" Malumanay na sabi ni Ralph.

Napatahimik ako sa biglang pagiging seryoso niya. Kaya nilibot ko na lang paningin ko sa tinuturing na best scenery sa campus ng Vitruvius University. Tanaw lang ang architecture and engineering. Malapit din ang arts department namin. Ganto ang layout ng school para sabi nila ay ang mahasa creativity namin. And being in the middle of all this beauty make me feel magical.

"Ayos ka lang, Shin?" Ralph ask casually." I'm still here you know?"

I wanted to feel things first, curate my words first before I messed up anything. Kayo nung magsalita ako para kay Ralph ay halos para akong nilalagutan ng hininga."Yeah. You're here... And Hey, I'm trying to live the way you told me to...Independently and without others---Are you happy now? Am I doing a good job?"

Napahawak siya sa batok. "You're wording it to cruelly...I'm not he-----"

I just nod to myself. "Hindi palaging nandyan kahit ang boyfriend ko."

"That's not really the kind of talk I want to hear about you two---- At hindi sa ganyang paraan ang pagkasabi ko sayo noon." Liar. He just wants to talk about a fabricated man." Ang akin lang...Nasaktan kita nung isang araw. I rejected you when you're already somebody else's."

"That's not how is it, it wasn't an assumption...Pero paano mo nalaman?" I can't break down, pinisil ko ang kamay ko. I want to know why he just decided to reject me out of the blue." Was it to evident in my eyes?...Na kahit my boyfriend na ako?"

I like him, I loved him. Napangisi siya." Assumero lang ako."

Napakuyom ang kamao ko." This is a confession."

"But its over." Kalmado niyang sagot.

"Then explain how you know." Pag-didiin ko.

"...Even since when we're elementary?" Punto ni Ralph kung kelan pa nagsimula ang nararamdaman ko, he casually said it as if it remained in the past. I wonder, if it's not too late to back out from the fabricated life I just made. Maybe this time Ralph would say yes."... Hanggang nagsawa ka na lang?"

"...You're talking in past tense." Tawa ko. As if it's in past tense.

"Well, of course it would be. Past tense. Dun lang ang lugar ko."

"You're good at keeping secrets then, walang paramdam." I bitterly said.

"...How is it going with your number one man?"

I fake a smile, I wasn't thinking of Percival at all. My whole attention was glued to the man in front of me. These words are for him. Something in my gut is telling me he's just holding back, there another reason. Baka may pwede pa akong mabago." Same as always, I never stop loving him

"Pinaghintay pala kita, hon."

Both of us where startled when Percival is suddenly behind us. Mas malakas ang naging buhos ng ulan kaya lumapit siya at isinangga niya ang sarili niya sa akin, kalkulado ang matamis niyang boses." But you shouldn't have wait here, almost in the middle of nowhere. You'll catch a cold."

"I'll take her now, can't I, Ralph?" Tumayo ako, he's not letting the two of us speak. His odd eyes is staring intensely at Ralph." Mauna na kami. So don't go around just to get sick, would you?"

Inakbayan ako ni Percival Alexander Tuares.

He scoot me closer to him as if he doesn't want me to get anywhere else, I flinch upon his contact because his skin is ice cold. I look back at Ralph, I'm still not satisfied with his answer but he already have his mouth shut. Muli akong inilapit ni Percival sa sarili niya sabay bukas sa payong dahil lumalakas na ang ulan. Nagawa pa niyang kumuway para magpaalam kay Ralph.

I sighed, knowing this day isn't ending anytime soon.