Ocean of Feathers

Chapter 128

The short story is dedicated to Daniel Hernandez. Thank you for helping me during muting days!

Chapter 128

"Bro, why don't you confess?" tanong ni Dan nang mapansin niyang nakatanaw ako ng Melani.

Our classroom was located on the second floor of the Bonifacio building. Tanaw rito ang labas kung saan nakikita ang mga lumalabas na estudyante mula sa campus para bumili ng iba't ibang klase ng street foods sa labas.

"Huh? Do you think she will notice me? That girl is weird, parang puro anime lang ang laman ng utak."

"She's kinda cute, to be honest," nangising sabi ni Dan.

I smacked his arms. "Stop staring at her."

His right brow arched. "Girlfriend mo?"

"I'll try to confess."

"You sure? Kung ako sa 'yo, hindi na ako magpapakatorpe. Aren't you aware that Ralph likes her too? Kaya laging narito sa likuran iyon dahil nagpapansin sa kanya."

"Oh? Akala ko ba ay may nililigawan na iyon sa kabilang section?"

"I don't know. Melani really has this vibe, iyong maraming nagkakagusto pero natatakot sa kanya. Why? Are you afraid of rejection?"

I smiled. "Maybe? She looks so carefree, she's so pretty and cute, her laughter . . . I can't help but stare at her from afar. Pero para talaga siyang walang pake sa mundo. Maybe she'll just look at me weirdly when I confess to her. Worst, she starts ignoring me."

"Oh, so you're afraid of rejection talaga. Pero bakit hindi mo subukan? You're afraid of your reputation? Ayaw mo mapag-usapan na basted ka?"

Huminga ako nang malalim. Umalis na ako sa may bintana nang makita ko na papasok na sa campus si Melani kasama ang mga kaibigan niya.

"Stop pestering me, Dan. Pag-iisipan ko na lang muna."

But I never had the courage during my high school days to confess to her. And the only thing I did was add her Facebook account after we graduated.

Torpe ako? Yes.

***

That's why when I met her again, all I did was stutter when she smiled at me. One of her cousins was the girlfriend of my cousin. It was really a small world, dahil kasama siya ng pinsan niya sa fiestahan.

Muntik ko nang mabitawan ang plato na hawak ko nang makita ko siyang bumaba mula sa kapaparadang sasakyan. We might be friends on Facebook but I wasn't active in social media that was why I never heard of her.

She was still that sunshine girl who easily smiled at everyone.

"Daniel, how are you?"

Siya pa mismo ang lumapit sa akin hawak niya ang plato niya. I blinked. She was talking to me. I couldn't remember when we had a conversation during high school dahil lagi lang akong natanaw sa kanya sa malayo.

"O-okay lang. Ikaw?"

"Okay lang din. Parang mas tumangkad ka. I remember we had the same height during high school."

I chuckled. "Iyon talaga ang natandaan mo."

"I remember, sumakay ako sa jeep before, tapos sumakay ka rin. Umusod ako para makaupo ka sa tabi ko, pero pinili mo sad ulo. Tinawanan ako nina Arabella noon kasi suplado ka daw talaga."

My eyes widened. "No . . . I thought it would be awkward for you."

Her brows arched. "Natatandaan mo pa iyon? At hindi awkward iyon sa akin, hindi naman akin ang jeep."

Natawa ako sa sinabi niya.

"Wala rin akong natandaan na pag-uusap natin noong highschool. I just remember when Dan told me that you like me daw. Tinawanan ko lang siya. I don't you will like me, super tahimik mo at parang wala kang pake . . ." sumubo ulit siya ng pagkain habang natutulala na ako sa kanya.

Dan told her. That asshole!

"What if I tell you that he was telling the truth?"

Ngumisi siya sa akin. "Torpe ka."

"H-how about now? Are you single?"

Mas umarko ang isang kilay niya. "Liligawan mo ba ako bukas kapag sinabi kong oo?"

"I'll start now."

She laughed. "You're not the silent guy I used to know. Pero yes, I am single."

Umawang ang labi ko. "Or should I introduce you already to my family?"

She laughed again. "That fast!"

"What should I do? I don't want to miss this chance again. Dinala ka na sa akin."