Strings and Arrows

Chapter 28

"What is it Zeal?" mariin kong tanong sa kaniya.

Ginantihan niya lang ako ng isang malalim na buntong hininga.

"Are you really not telling me about that?"

Again, instead of answering me ay tinapunan niya lang ako ng titig. 'Yong para bang nagmamakaawa na 'wag na siyang pilitin.

Matagal akong nakipagtitigan sa kaniya when I finally gave up by heaving out a sigh.

"Fine by me then." I said at tinalikuran siya. Ngunit bago pa man ako makahakbang palayo sa kaniya ay nahigit na niya agad ako papalapit sa kaniya. Sa sobrang lakas ay napasubsob ako sa kaniyang dibdib.

I felt his hands moved around my waist na ikinagulat ko. I also felt him burried his face on my neck kaya damang-dama ko ang bawat hininga niya doon.

Naramdaman ko naman kaagad ang malakas na kalabog sa puso ko. Marahil ay dahil lang ito sa gulat.

"Spirit. Please promise me to never communicate or even go near around that guy!"

Dahil sa sinabi niyang iyon ay agad ko siyang tinulak at tinignan with furious eyes. See? I don't get it!? Papaano ko maiiwasan ang lalaking 'yon kung hindi ko nga alam ang rason ng pag-iwas ko or kung enough ba ang rasong 'yon para iwasan ko siya!? This is why I wanted to ask him about Matt! Pero ayaw niyang umamin.

"Paano ko siya maiiwasan kung wala naman akong kaalam-alam bakit? O kung dapat ba?"

"Can't you just trust my words? Please?"

Tinaasan ko siya ng isang kilay at pinameywangan.

"Not a valid reason."

"Damn. Talagang kaya mo 'kong balewalain ano? Ano bang pinagsasasabi ng lalaking 'yon at mukhang malaki na agad ang tiwala mo sa kaniya? Hindi mapagkakatiwalaan iyon!"

Pinitik ko naman ang noo niya na ikinanguso niya.

"Excuse me, I am just giving him the benefit of the doubt kasi ang unfair naman ng hatol mo and he's not here to speak for himself. At isa pa, aren't you aware that you're committing a Fallacy here?"

He threw me that 'are-you-kidding-me' look na tinawanan ko lang.

"Which Fallacy?" Panghahamon niya.

"Poisoning the well. You hamstrung your opponent before he could even defend his side."

"So you're the judge here huh?" He said with a playful smile.

"Nilalayo mo 'ko sa topic huh? We were suppose to be talking about Matt."

"Ikaw 'yong nauna. And besides why are you really so fond of him?"

"I was just being friendly! And besides, he also seems charming."

"But I am charming too!" He said in a kid's tone. Pakiwari'y nagtatampo. He even pouted his lips! Damn. Nababaliw na ba 'to?

I raised my eyebrow again at his statement.

"And? What's your point?" I said and crossed my arms.

"But you're not so fond of me like you are right now towards him." Pagmamaktol niya.

"Stop being so childish Cupid." Natatawa kong sambit saka siya inirapan.

Nagpunta ako nang kusina para kumuha ng malamig na tubig. I didn't noticed that he was following me kaya ganoon na lang ang pagkagulat ko nang makita ko siyang malapit sa akin.

"Damn Zeal! Papatayin mo ba 'ko sa gulat?"

"I do not have any intentions of killing you, my dear."

Napahinga na lang ako ng malalim out of fraustration saka siya inirapan.

I finished my glass of cold water saka ito nilapag pabalik sa sink at naglakad na papuntang kwarto ko.

Now I am fully aware na nasa likuran ko siya. I checked it on my peripheral vision so that I won't have to jump out of surprise when I see him at my back. Okay?

"You're being too defensive right now, soulmate."

Napairap naman ako sa sinabi niya. And where did he get that endearment?

"You're my soulmate though. And besides, your name has a similar meaning to it." He said.

I stopped and faced the door of my room. Pinihit ko ang door knob ko and I successfully opened it.

Papasok pa lang sana ako when Zeal suddenly held my hand. He's being so unusually clingy right now. What's up with him?

He stared at me directly. Para bang kinakabisado ang aking mga mata.

"W-Why are you staring at me like that?"

"Your eyes. They're beautiful. And they're just even a window. I know there's something more beautiful inside."

Matagal akong nakipagtitigan sa kaniya. I couldn't move. It was as if his words have magic! Na hindi ko namamalayang hini-hypnotize na pala ako nito.

Our stares broke when my phone suddenly rang.

Goddamit! What was that?

I hurriedly looked for my phone inside my room at tinignan kung sino ang caller.

It was Sav.

"Yes Sav?" I said and breathed heavily. God I wanna thank her for calling. I don't know why.

Lumayo muna ako ng kaonti at tumungo sa veranda ng kwarto ko.

I know it's kinda useless na lumayo ako kung gusto kong 'wag marinig ni Zeal ang usapan namin dahil for Pete's sake he can even hear you from a far.

I just feel like I have to do it. Parang reflex na. Ang awkward naman kung sa harap niya mismo ako magdada-dada diba?

"What happened? You went home early. May nangyari na naman ba sa 'yo?"

"I am fine Sav. I just had to go home early dahil I got tired at sinamahan na 'ko ni Zeal pauwi."

"That's good then!" She said enthusiastically. I could even say that she's smiling while saying that.

"And nga pala, are you with Zeal right now?" Tanong niya na ikinapagtaka ko naman. What's with the sudden question?

"Yes. Why?"

"Hmm? Nothing really though. Just tell him na may naghahanap sa kaniya dito. Babae. Sinabihan ko na lang na umuwi na and she told me na if ever I get to see him around, ipagbigay alam ko na lang raw na naghahanap siya."

"Oh. Is that so? I'll tell him na lang. What's her name ba?" I asked. Ngayon lang kasi ako nakarinig na may naghahanap sa kaniya aside sa mga babaeng naghahabol sa kaniya of course. But I think this one's different. I can feel it.

"Wait. Nakalimutan ko eh. I'll try to remember."

She paused for a moment at ang pagtahimik niya ang mas lalong nagpabigat sa nararamdaman ko. It's as if I don't want her to remember the name but at the same time, a part of me wants her to remember it also.

"Aha! I remember! It was Clotho!"