Salem's Eyes (COMPLETED)

10 Salem

Inalis ko ang graduation cap ko pati na rin ang mga medalyang nakasabit sa leeg ko matapos kong maupo.

Tahimik lang ako habang kanina pa daldal nang daldal si Herra sa tabi ko. She was telling me about her summer plans. She was inviting me to go with her and her friends on their beach trip next week. Si Amara ay pumayag na daw. Hindi ako nagbigay agad ng sagot dahil hindi ako sigurado. I was planning on going to my tito's coffee shop to ask if there was a vacant position for me and my cousin. Kailangan kong makapag-ipon.

Pagkatapos mag-speech ng huling guest speaker, doon pa lang ako nakahinga ng maluwag. After the closing remarks and all the congratulations, I stood up to go to my mother. My plan failed because Herra already grabbed my elbow and dragged me to go to Amara's seat.

"Uy, si Zachy." bulong ni Herra sa akin habang kinukuhanan kami ng litrato ni Bomi.

"Sinasabi ko na nga ba, eh. He wouldn't text me to get your number if nothing happened in the ball, Salem." Amara whispered. May makahulugang ngiti sa labi n'ya.

Amara ang I have been avoiding that topic for a few days now. Parehas naming hindi pinag-usapan ang nangyari. When she came to my room the next day with an idle expression, I knew she accomplished her stupid game too. Parehas kaming nakahiga sa kama ko at nakatitig sa kisame ng walang sinasabi. Hindi namin tinanong ang isa't isa kung may nahalikan ba kami o wala. We felt it. We didn't need to tell each other the exact thing that happened in the ball because we were both...traumatized.

When Zacharias texted her a few days back for my number, she already assumed that it was him. Hinayaan ko s'yang isipin 'yon dahil kapag itinanggi ko, malalaman at malalaman n'ya ang totoong humalik sa akin.

And it would be really messy. If she knew that Caius was the one who kissed me, it would be the final reason for her to tell my mother about him. Hindi naman sa hindi ko kayang itanggi o lusutan, talagang hindi lang maganda ang magiging reaskyon ni mama. She wouldn't exactly be against about the idea of him, she would just nag me to tell her more. Si Caius pa lang ang lalaking nakagawa lahat sa akin ng 'to. My mother would be surprised if she knew that I have been spending a lot of time with a boy. Paano pa kapag nalaman n'yang kasabay ko s'yang umuuwi noong mga nakaraan and worse, if she knew that he kissed me.

Kapag nalaman ni Amara na si Caius ang humalik sa akin, makakarating 'yon agad kay mama. Mabuti na rin na wala akong binabanggit na pangalan dahil madaldal s'ya. I wasn't a tattletale like her.

"Sabihin ko na ba kay tita na may magiging boy--" Tinignan ko s'ya bago pa n'ya ituloy ang sasabihin n'ya. It wasn't funny.

She gave me a peace sign and went to Herra when Zach made his way towards me. May ngiti sa labi n'ya. May medalya na kumikinang leeg n'ya. It was his award for being excellent in soccer.

He handed me a bouquet of red roses. His proud smile never faltered even if I didn't show him any kind of gratitude. Hindi ko inamoy ay tinitigan pero 'yung ngiti n'ya ay hindi pa rin nawala.

"Amara wouldn't give me your number." panimula n'ya. Nanatili lang akong nakatingin sa kanya ng hindi sumasagot. "Congrats, Salem." he added and flashed white teeth.

"You too." I simply said and turned around to find Amara. Hindi pa ako nakakahakbang ay hinila na n'ya ako sa braso para pigilan. I faced him. Ang kaninang ngiti ay wala na. His lips were on a thin line while looking at me with furrowed eyebrows.

"Why are you suddenly this cold to me?" he asked. I almost snorted. I have never been warm to him or anyone else. One more thing, this was only the third interaction I had with him. "If it wasn't for that dickhead who dragged you away from me, we almost ki--"