Where the Sun Sleeps

Chapter 04

CHAPTER 04

"Anong pinagsasasabi mo? Nagjo-joke lang, eh," I jokingly glared at Kasper but he did not meet my eyes, instead, he just laughed silently before drinking his own cup of coffee.

We studied together for thirty more minutes before he insisted on walking me to my first class.

"Afternoon class ka?" sinubukan kong magtanong upang hindi lamang tanging katahimikan ang bumabalot sa aming dalawa.

"Yeah," but he just simply answered. Tumango na lang ako at saka sabay kaming pumasok ng building paakyat na sa fifth floor.

May amats yata ang lalaking ito. Parang sampung palapag na rin ang kanyang inaakyat dahil gusto niya pa akong samahan papunta sa classroom ko kahit kaagad din naman siyang bababa kapag nakapasok na ako. Crush lang talaga ako nito, eh.

Huminto na kaming dalawa ni Kasper sa huling hakbang sa hagdanan at tipid ko na siyang nginitian. "Thanks," I mumbled as I turned to him.

His lips quite pouted before putting both of his hands inside the pocket. Sandali siyang lumingon sa paligid namin bago muling tinagpo ang mga mata ko.

"Hmm," he hummed with a single nod. Sinuklian niya rin ako ng isang ngiti na bahagya ko namang ikinagulat, na parang ngayon lang siya ngumiti nang ganoon. "Good luck, architect."

He put out his one hand just to pat my head and even before I could say a word, he turned his back on me and started walking downstairs casually.

He called me an architect.

***

"Just get your purse and pay. Twenty pesos lang 'yong kwek-kwek, Jav," Noah complained while Serena was pouting, pulling the sleeve of his shirt. Nagpapalibre kasi. Napailing na lang ako at bahagya pang natawa sa inaasta ng dalawa. Without uttering a single word, I quickly finished my meatballs before throwing it to the trash can.

"Basta libre ang mga hospital bills ko in the future, doc, ah," Noah tsk-ed and chuckled afterwards when he glanced at Serena. And of course, binayaran niya na nga ang kwek-kwek ng kaibigan namin.

"Ito naman, ang yaman-yaman tapos kuripot," I teased her.

"Tse! Inuubos nga kasi ng KPOP ang mga pera ko. Sugar mommy vibes, charot!"

The three of us had the chance to meet today since our classes ended at five. After eating street food, balak naming pumunta sa mall para roon mag-dinner mamaya pagkatapos naming mamili ng mga supplies sa bookstore.

"By the way, Noah, kilala mo na ba si Kasper?"

Nanlaki ang mata ko nang banggitin ni Serena ang pangalan niya. Nilingon ko siya sa backseat at pinandilatan ng mata. Napansin kong sumilip si Noah sa rear view mirror bago niya ako tapunan ng tingin dahil sa shotgun seat ako nakaupo.

"No. Who's that?" He remained focusing on the road while having a conversation now.

"Ay, may hindi pala nagke-kwento sa kaibigan, oh," sinundot ni Re ang aking tagiliran, dahilan upang palihim ko siyang samaan ng tingin. "Alam mo, bebe Noah, mas mabuting tanungin mo na lang si Eli. Hahaha!"

"Timang ka. Mas kilala mo 'yong lalaking 'yon kaysa sa akin. Mahilig ka sa gwapo, eh."

"Duh! Sa ganda kong 'to, malamang!"

I just shook my head and shifted to my seat. Nang maramdaman kong lumilingon si Ark sa akin, I didn't fight the urge to look back at him anymore. And as if the timing was just right, huminto kami sa may stoplight.

"Sinong Kasper? Suitor?" he cleared his throat before facing the front again. I glanced at his fingers tapping the steering wheel.

"No," I answered immediately, sounding a little defensive kaya't tiningnan niya muli ako pabalik. "Hindi nga, promise," I said again.