As You Lie Awake

CHAPTER 3: ALIEN?

Chapter 3: Alien?

Weekends are my favorite. I always have a date with myself during weekends. Dinadala ko ang sarili ko sa bookstore, bibili ng libro at buong maghapong mananatili sa coffeeshop, sipping my favorite coffee and reading my new book.

Grabbing a copy of a classical book that I have long rooting for, I went straight to the nearest coffeeshop. Nang makapag-order ako ay sinimulan ko nang basahin ang libro. I was flipping over the pages when I had this weird feeling that someone is watching me. I rubbed my hands in my arms to remove the weird feeling. Pinagpatuloy ko ang pagbabasa ngunit nararamdaman ko pa rin ang kakaibang pakiramdam na iyon. I drank from my cup at iginala ang paningin sa paligid.

And to my surprise, I caught the reason of this weird feeling. Nang pumasok ako kanina dito ay iilan lamang kami doon. There were couple on the side, a group of teenagers taking selfies with their coffee and an old woman munching on her cake slice. But now there was one additional customer inside who was sitting near the glass wall, right behind me.

Semper.

Bigla akong nanlamig nang maalala ang boses na narinig ko sa isipan ko nang huli ko siyang makita. Bumigat ang dibdib ko, and I doubt if it is the coffee or Semper, but the latter was more probable. Itinaas ko ang librong hawak ko upang matakpan ang mukha ko, at gamit ang isang kamay ay niligpit ko ang mga gamit ko. I stealthily move, picking up my shoulder bag to leave the coffeeshop but just as I was only few steps near the door, a hand grabbed me by the arm.

Napatuwid ako ng tayo at dahan-dahang inangat ang paningin ko mula sa kamay na nakahawak sa akin hanggang sa mukha ng may-ari ng kamay na iyon. My gaze slowly ran from his arm, to his slender neck that was shown, and his face topped with the messy hair that looks like a damn fashion trend that perfectly suits him.

I pulled myself together, trying to hide the fear that crept inside me. "Y-yes?"

"Please stay."

Bigla na lamang napataas ang isang kilay ko. I would have been shaking right now because that voice was the same voice that I heard in my head, but his words left me dumbfounded. Or maybe it's just my imagination that the voice was the same. Pero ang salitang binitawan niya ang dahilan kung bakit ako natigilan.

Please stay.

Seryoso? Iyon ba talaga ang sinabi niya?

"Excuse me?" Naguguluhang tanong ko. He had no intention of letting go of my hand at hinayaan ko lamang din iyon. His palm was warm as it was holding my arm.

"Ang ibig kong sabihin ay huwag ka munang umalis. Maybe we can have a cup of coffee."

Okay, the voice has become scary now.

"I... I j-just had coffee." Ni hindi ko nga naubos ang kape ko dahil sa takot ko sa kanya!

"Please continue reading your book."

"T-tapos na ako..." Who am I kidding? My bookmark was placed not even on the 1/4 of the total pages. Semper looks at it like he was saying he caught me lying and I forced a smile. "I'm j-just re-reading this..."

His gaze fell on the paper bag that contains the other books that I bought on the same bookstore as printed on the paper bag. Again, he caught me lying. I sighed in surrender.

"Alright, I'll continue reading my book," pagsuko ko at naunang humakbang pabalik sa upuan ko kanina. He walked behind me, and I can feel his tall height covering me. My high heels are my best friend today and if I haven't been wearing one, magmumukha akong unano sa tabi ni Semper.

Semper sat across me while I read my book. Ang totoo niyan ay hindi ako makapag-focus dahil nakatingin siya sa mukha ko. I tried raising the book so that it will cover my whole face, but I stopped when I realize how stupid I look.