Salem's Eyes (COMPLETED)

11 Salem

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako nagtatago mula sa kanya. I mean, it wasn't my intention to really hide from him but I didn't have any reason to show myself either. He was obviously enjoying the company of the girl he was with. I just wanted to avoid his loud mouth this time. Lalo na at kasama ko pa ang mga pinsan ko.

Amara went to Batangas with Herra and her friends. I refused to go because I wasn't in the mood to spend three days with them. I told Amara that I would look after my cousins in her behalf. Nakonsensya lang s'ya dahil sa sinabi ko. I told her to enjoy herself because she needed peace of mind so bad. Lahat kasi ng galit n'ya ay binunton n'ya sa mga kapatid n'ya.

"I don't want to eat, Luca!" sigaw ni Aien. Napapikit ako dahil sa sigaw n'ya. Nakuha namin ang atensyon ng mga katabing table sa japanese restaurant dito sa loob ng mall.

Kumuyom ang panga ni Luca dahil sa kawalan na ng pasensya. Kanina pa kasi wala sa mood si Aien. I decided to take them out of their house since they have been hibernating there since their mom died. Akala ko makakatulong 'yung pagpasyal ko sa kanila dito pero pati ako ay nawawalan na ng pasensya.

Kahit pa kaninang nasa loob kami ng sinehan ay nagwawala na si Aien. We went out of the cinema without even finishing the movie.

I called for a waiter because Aien spilled her juice. Buti nalang ay nagbaon ako ng damit n'ya.

"Let's just go home, Ate." buntong-hininga ni Luca. Hindi pa kami tapos kumain at halos hindi pa nagagalaw ni Luca ang pagkain n'ya. Pinunasan ko ang mukha ni Aien at pati na rin ang mga kamay n'ya. I needed to wash her with water because she was sticky.

I settled the bill first before fixing our things. Binuhat agad ni Luca ang kapatid n'ya at nauna na silang lumabas dahil nagsisimula nanaman si Aien. I fixed the chairs. That was the least I could do because we've caused trouble in the restaurant.

Bago pa ako tuluyang makalabas sa restaurant, nakita ko na s'ya na nakatingin sa akin. Alam ko naman na may malaking posibilidad na makita n'ya ako dahil kay Aien kanina.

Nakita ko sina Luca na nakikipaglaro sa mascot ng restaurant. Aien doesn't look happy but she was interested. Hindi na rin s'ya umiiyak.

"Salem!"

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad. Napapikit ako nang mariin. I didn't know he'd really follow me eventhough I've expected it already-- I meant, he was likely to really do it because I knew him. Ilang beses ko na ba s'yang nakakasama? I didn't know. Pakiramdam ko kilala ko na talaga s'ya.

For goodness' sake, he even kissed me.  Para nanaman akong sinuntok sa sikmura dahil sa naalala ko. Lagi nalang ganito ang nararamdaman ko tuwing bumabalik sa akin 'yung gabi na 'yon. It has been weeks and yet, the strange and uncomfortable feeling was still the same.

I turned around to see him. His face was marked with that specific memory that I was trying to avoid for days now. Pero tuwing nakikita ko 'yung bulaklak na binigay n'ya na nasa kitchen counter pa rin hanggang ngayon kahit tuyo na ay ginagapangan pa rin ako ng hiya. My mother was the one who took care of that flower. Hindi ko alam kung bakit hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa n'ya inaalis 'yon.

"Caius," pagbati ko sa kanya noong makalapit s'ya sa akin. Sinilip ko muna ang mga pinsan ko na hanggang ngayon ay nilalaro ang mascot sa 'di kalayuan.

"Tara? Samahan ko na kayo?" he asked with that face-splitting smile. It hasn't been that long since I last saw him in the cafeteria. Nagpaulit-ulit nanaman sa utak ko ang huling sinabi n'ya noon.

"We're heading home." sagot ko naman. Nawala ang ngiti n'ya atsaka saglit na kumunot ang noo na parang may iniisip s'ya.

Caius was wearing his black jacket. Underneath that was a pale yellow shirt with a small Marvel print. He looked good, as always. But his hair was still a mess kahit na umikli ito.