Salem's Eyes (COMPLETED)

38 Salem

My heart almost fell when someone behind me gripped my shoulders. Agad akong napatalikod sa gulat. Kumalma lang ako nang makita kong si Caius pala 'yun. He was panting. Mukhang tinakbo n'ya ang cafeteria.

"Akala ko hindi kita maaabutan." hingal na sabi n'ya. Agad akong sumimangot. Humarap ako muli ako sa counter ng cafeteria at bumili ng tubig para sa kanya. Naghihintay lang ako ng pagkain na inorder ko. My friends were already in the table.

I gave him the bottle of water that I bought. He drank a bit and faced me again like he was really in a hurry.

"Your asthm--"

"Magpapaalam lang ako. Tapos na kasi 'yung klase ko kaya dumiretso ako dito dahil lunch mo."

I wiped the sweat on his forehead. Pinabawas n'ya nang bahagya 'yung mahaba n'yang buhok. It wasn't tied as usual so his hair falls down his eyes. I brushed it up so I could see his whole face.

"Where are you going and why are you in a hurry?"

"Paalis na kasi 'yung mga ka-grupo ko sa baby thesis namin. Hinihintay lang nila ako sa gate. Mags-sleep-over kami."

"You should've just called me. Look, you're tired from all the running."

A smile broke on his face. "Gusto kitang makita, eh." aniya atsaka tumawa na parang tanga.

I was just relieved that he brightened up a little bit since we got back together but I couldn't deny that I was still paranoid. May mga gabi talaga na hindi ako makatulog sa pag-alala. That's why we always call each other at night until we both fall asleep.

I was aware that he was avoiding the topic whenever I open up about his fraternity. Ang lagi n'yang sinasabi sa akin ay huwag akong mag-alala dahil ginagawan na n'ya nang paraan.

"Fine. Let's text and call each other." Tumango s'ya bilang sagot. "You gotta update me every minute." dagdag ko pa.

He just looked at my whole face. Kumunot tuloy ang noo ko.

"Baby, what is up?" nag-aalala kong tanong. Napatingin ako sa palagid dahil sa kabang naramdaman ko. "Are they watching us? Delikado bang nag-uusap tayo ngayon?" sunud-sunod na tanong ko, ang kaba'y dumadaan na sa bawat parte ng katawan ko.

"Huwag mong isipin 'yan."

"You told me we shouldn't be talking here in school."

"Wala sila ngayon."

"But--"

"Huwag kang mag-alala. Tapos na."

Kumunot ang noo ko.

Tapos na?

"What do you mean?" nalilito kong usisa.

"Tapos na, Salem ko." he chuckled.

"Then why do you look worried?" tanong ko pa.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit mas lalo akong kinabahan sa sinabi n'ya. He was out of the frat just like that?

Bakit parang hindi naman s'ya masaya? I just couldn't believe that they let him off easily after everything they made him do.

Shouldn't we celebrate right now? Ang dami n'yang pinagdaanan sa fraternity na 'to. We broke up because of it and he even gained a thousand bruises. He was fucking depressed for goodness' sake tapos ay ibabalita n'ya sa aking okay na?

Did his plan work? Ito ba 'yung sinasabi n'yang s'ya ang bahala sa lahat at babalik s'ya sa akin?

Hinawakan n'ya ang mga kamay ko kaya muli akong napunta sa realidad. Nang sumilay ang paborito kong ngiti sa labi n'ya, nawala ang kabang naramdaman ko na parang bula.