Salem's Eyes (COMPLETED)

31 Salem

"Miss Salem!"

I turned around to see who called me. I was in Verona's bus stop. I needed to drop by the school for the scholarship grant that I applied with Amara. I passed our papers to the office. My cousin was out with her friends and she used her car. Wala akong choice kung hindi ang mag-commute. Ang usapan namin ni Amara ay bukas kami magpapasa pero uuwi na din kasi si Caius kaya naisip kong ngayon na ako pupunta sa school. Baka ako na ang susundo sakanila sa bus terminal.

"Rein," I greeted when he stood next to me.

"Halos araw-araw akong bumabalik dito dahil sa dami ng inaasikaso ko." bungad n'ya na parang normal lang sa amin na mag-usap nang ganito.

I sighed.

He was a transfer student so it must've been hard. "Ikaw?" he asked when I remained silent.

"Scholarship." tipid kong sagot.

I peeked at my wristwatch. Alas kwatro na pero hindi pa rin ako tinatawagan ni Caius simula kanina. Kailangan kong malaman kung anong oras ang dating nila bukas para masundo ko sila.

"Sabay na ako, ah?" he asked like I was the owner of a damn bus. I just nodded at him as an answer. Apparently, he lived in my village so wala namang ibang choice kung hindi ang sumabay sa akin.

Sinadya kong maupo sa row na isa nalang ang hindi occupied. I wasn't very friendly and I wasn't in the mood for small talks at the moment. Lagi nalang akong ganito tuwing hindi ko nakakausap si Caius. I needed his ray of sunshine to brighten up my mood.

I paid for my bus fare and contemplated for a second if I should pay for Rein who was sitting behind the seat across my row. That was what people normally do if they happen to bump into someone they know in a public vehicle. Well, I didn't pay for him.

I always thought of Caius whenever I see those bus tickets in my wallet from when we barely knew each other.

It was our thing.

Mabilis kaming nakarating sa village ko dahil walang traffic. Hindi ko alam kung paanong nasa tabi ko na agad si Rein pagkababa ko sa bus.

"Malapit lang ba 'yung bahay mo o gusto mong tumawag na ako ng tricycle?" tanong n'ya noong magsimula kaming maglakad papunta sa gate.

"It's fine. Malapit lang." sagot ko.

"Sige, samahan nalang kitang maglakad." aniya.

"I'm really fine, Rein. You can rid--" I took a second glance at the guard house because of a familiar figure. Napatigil pa ako sa paglalakad at ganoon din 'tong kasama ko.

"Salem?" Rein asked.

I blinked twice to confirm if I was really seeing my boyfriend leaning his back at the guard house. Napakunot pa ang noo ko dahil hindi mag-sink in sa akin ang nakikita ko. He was holding a long-stemed sunflower and a little paper bag.

He wasn't even looking at me. Matalim ang tingin n'ya sa kasama ko noong maglakad s'ya palapit sa amin. When his angry eyes transferred to look at me, a smile broke on my face. I saw how his face softened because of that.

I jogged towards him to meet him halfway. He caught me when I threw my arms around him.

"Salem," he called me in awe.

"Hey, baby." I whispered and inhaled his damn scent.

My happiness was cut short when I heard a clearing throat. I was snapped out of my clouded mind when I realized that we were still in a public place.

Humiwalay ako sa yakap at hinarap si Rein. Caius hand snaked on my waist and pulled me closer to him.

"Uh," I started. Rein was sporting an awkward smile. I didn't mean to put him on that place. "This is Caius, my boyfriend." pagpapakilala ko. Lumipat ang paningin ni Rein sa tabi ko. Tumingala ako kay Caius para tignan s'ya. I pursed my lips when I saw that his grave expression was back. He was staring at him. "He is Rein. He lives here." simple kong pagpapakilala sa kanya.