Where the Sun Sleeps

Chapter 06

CHAPTER 06

[Ganda ka? Hahahahaha! Ganda mo raw, eh!]

I rolled my eyes and shook my head as I heard Serena's contagious laughter from the other line. I sent her a screenshot of Kasper's latest message to me, na hindi ko na ni-replyan pa dahil hindi ko alam kung anong isasagot doon, at ganito ang naging reaksiyon niya.

[Shet, sana tinanong mo na rin agad kung may crush ba siya sa iyo!] and then she squealed followed by loud giggles. [Medyo masaya naman talagang i-assume na oo, pero hoy, mas masaya kung may assurance, ate ko!]

I then heaved a sigh. "Look, I don't see Kasper as a potential boyfriend, jusko, please lang," I stopped highlighting my notes just to scoff.

[Tanga ka. Alam ko na 'yang inaarte-arte mo. Isa kang scam, Eliott,] Serena laughed, obviously not taking me seriously. Binalewala ko naman ang sinabi niya at nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita.

"Ewan ko ba! It seems better to be his friend than a lover. Sure, he's an attractive man, but so far, masaya akong maging kaibigan siya dahil sa tingin ko, iyon din naman ang hanap niya. Napapalabas ko ang kakulitan niya at tsaka napapakinabangan ko rin talino niya," tumawa ako.

Napakagat ako sa aking labi nang kaagad na gumuhit sa aking imahinasyon ang ngiti niyang unti-unting nagiging tawa hanggang sa maging halakhak na ito, maging ang kanyang mukha ay nakikita ko rin sa aking isipan, na para bang saulado ko na ang itsura niya. Kung hindi lang nagsalita si Serena ay baka tuluyan na akong nalunod sa pag-iisip.

[Kasper's name and reputation is big! Big big!] Serena emphasized. [Bigatin talaga siya around our campus, pero mukhang sa lahat ng mga nagnanasa sa kanya since Senior High School, parang ikaw pa lang yata ang nakakakita ng ganyang side ni Mr. Engineering, sis. Tahimik siya at hindi bumabarkada pero maraming nakakakilala sa kanya. He's like the pride of this university, but he chooses to be lowkey. My gosh, kapag talaga ikaw ang nakatuluyan niya, mamamatay ako sa kilig! As in! Ang swerte mo, 'te, para ka na ring nanalo sa lotto, 'di ba?!]

I scrunched my nose. "Sus, hindi ba pwedeng siya rin ang swertehin sa akin?" Hindi ko napigilang mapabulong sa aking sarili.

Tumawa naman nang malakas si Serena mula sa kabilang linya kaya napatingin ako sa screen ko. [Ayusin mo muna ang study habits mo, sister ko!] I laughed in response when she paused for a few seconds. [Alam mo, Eli, if you really can't find a place for yourself in the field of Architecture, you can shift to a different program.]

My lips formed a thin line at saka ako umiling sa kanya. "I know that I have an option, Serena... pero parang mas mahihirapan naman akong magsimula ulit sa ibang bagay lalo na kung hindi ko pa rin alam kung anong gusto ko."

[Alright, babe. It's alright... Huwag mag-alala! Buhay ay 'di karera!] Anak ng. Bigla na siyang kumanta. [Ooohhh! Dahan-dahan lang! Buhay ay 'di karera! Wooh! Tama!]

Tangina, baliw na yata 'tong kaibigan ko. Pinatayan ko na tuloy siya ng tawag dahil alam kong hindi na siya titigil sa pagkanta.

I shook my head while chuckling. Ah, I gave up on this woman.

***

I was biting my nails while staring at my reflection in the mirror for the third time. Ito na rin ang pangatlong damit na nasusukat ko. I squinted and tilted my head slightly as I tried to strike a pose.

"This looks better," I mumbled and took a glance at the first two dresses I wore. "I think."

Lumingon ako saglit sa orasan at saka nagpakawala ng hininga. Sige na nga, ito na lang.

Napag-desisyunan kong isuot na lang itong black dress na umabot sa ibaba ng aking tuhod. Natural nitong hinahapit ang bewang at dibdib ko. Hugis parisukat ang neckline nito at itinali ko ang puting strap sa magkabilang balikat na parang ribbon.

Umupo ako sa vanity chair at saka nagsimulang ayusin ang aking buhok. I curled it just to add volume to my straight black hair. Since my skin is fair, the black outfit looked outstanding, I must say. Pagkatapos naman ay nag-makeup ako. I put on a light-colored lipstick which Serena gave and just used a few products, pulling off a light makeup.

Okay na naman siguro ito para kay Serena. Siya ang nagturo sa akin ng mga ganitong bagay, eh. I just wanted to go to the party para hindi na ako mag-abala pang magluto ng hapunan. Masyado nang maraming nangyari ngayong araw na ito.

Tumayo akong muli pagkasuot ng black heels at huling sinuot ang kwintas na niregalo sa akin ni mommy. I smiled as I touched it before leaving the room.

To: Kasper

G.

I just pressed the 'send' button and there was already a knock on the door.

"You see, I never get lat-"

Nag-aabang sa may pintuan si Kasper at nang magtagpo ang mga mata namin ay napahinto siya sa pagsasalita. I consciously composed myself as I stared back at him. It was the chance to survey his look and attire, at hindi ko napigilan ang sarili kong gawin iyon.

He is wearing a white dress shirt that slightly hugged his body paired with black slacks. There is also an expensive watch on his right wrist while the left hand was inside his pocket. Bagsak ang itim niyang buhok and even by just the looks of it, I can tell that it is very soft. Cute... but manly.

Okay. Well, fine, gwapo siya. Gwapo siya ngayon, in fairness.

"Yabang mo, 'no? Hindi rin naman ako na-late, eh," I smiled and chuckled softly. "Good evening, anyway. Tara na," I added before stepping outside my house.

Gumilid si Kasper at tahimik lang akong hinintay na mag-lock ng pinto. I then looked back at him at sandaling natawa nang mapansin ko ang itsura niya. His tongue went to the insides of his cheek, clearly not hiding his reaction. Tsk.

"You should pull yourself together, man," I let out a short laugh before grabbing his wrist so we could go to his car already. Hindi ko na siya hinintay pang magsalita dahil mukhang wala naman din siyang nais sabihin.

"You look... uhm, beautiful, Eliott," tumaas ang parehas kong kilay at kaagad na umiwas ng tingin nang gumapang sa katawan ko ang hiya matapos niyang sabihin iyon. Nararamdaman ko ang pamumula ng mukha ko.

Narinig ko ang mahina niyang pagtawa bago buksan ang pinto ng kotse. "I mean, you always do, though," hindi pa rin nakatakas sa akin ang kanyang ibinulong, but I pretended not to hear it.

Parang tanga. Pa-fall pala 'tong lalaking 'to. Sana in-inform din 'yon ni Serena sa akin.

I went inside of the shotgun and watched Kasper walk to the other side. Pinanood ko siyang umupo at magbukas ng makina. And I didn't even flinch when he caught me staring again.

"What?"

The side of my lips rose up immediately before simply tucking my hair on the left ear as a tease. "Huwag mong ipahalata masyado, Valentin. Tss, crush na crush mo talaga ako, 'no?"

Kasper laughed amusingly, glancing at the road for a second or two before giving me his full attention. His lips then formed a smile that I think I just saw for the first time.

"Yeah, I like you," he spit out those words so casually muntik na akong maniwala. Napahinto tuloy ako dahil hindi ko iyon inaasahan.

Akala ko ba magtatawanan lang kami? Kasi gano'n ang bonding, 'di ba? Magtatawanan lang.

Silence started to fill the atmosphere, so Kasper just started driving. It was about two minutes before I had the courage to speak.

"Gago ka."

Nakita ko sa peripheral vision ang gulat sa mukha niya, but he didn't speak though, so I continued.

"Kapag ako talaga nahulog sa 'yo, ay, ipaghanda mo na lang ako ng yelo para sa pisngi kong unang babagsak sa sahig," I muttered as a joke, becoming straightforward like usual.

It was my asset sometimes, being upfront, but of course, it still depends upon the situation.

Pagkatapos ko iyong bitawan ay nanatili na lang akong nakatingin sa labas ng bintana. I'm thinking if I should regret what I said, however, my thoughts were cut off when I heard his reply.

"What if I say that I already fell first, Eliott?"

Tangina. Nagbibiro lang naman ako?