Kabanata 2

Kabanata 2

Tinakpan ko ang mukha ko ng unan na kanina ay yakap-yakap ko. Nag iinit ang pisngi ko at habang dinidiin ko ang unan ay mas lalo akong nahihiya sa nasa isip ko.

There is nothing to be nervous about since I'm the only one here inside my room but... bakit ba kinakabahan pa rin ako?

The image of us once again flashed inside my mind.

The city lights, si Law at ako.

"Hay!" Buga ko ng hininga dahil tila na ako hihimatayin sa pag pipigil.

Why am I so affected by that?

I shouldn't be right?! And why does Law did it ba? What's his purpose?

I rolled my eyes. Kagat labi akong humiga muli sa kama at pinag masdan nalang ang kisame sa harap ko.

I'm thrilled that's why I'm chasing him. But does that thrill needs to bother me... to the point that I can't sleep properly?

I looked at the clock on the right side of my bed. Pasado alas dose na at may pasok pa ako bukas, pero heto ako at hindi makatulog.

Hinilamos ko ang kamay sa aking mukha and when I took another set of minutes by just staring on my ceiling, I decided to finally get my phone.

Mag ce-cellphone nalang ako at bahala na nga bukas!

I scrolled down my social medias to take away my thoughts in what happened earlier... pero kahit habang pilit ko nang inaabala ang sarili ay naiisip ko pa rin.

I'm usually joyful and flirty when I'm with him... pero kanina... I think I showed him my other side. Which I don't really understand.

Bakit ganoon?! Dati naman ay hindi ako kinakabahan kapag kasama siya, pero...

"Hah! I can't take him out my mind!"

This is useless! This cellphone is useless!

I scrolled more on my social medias... I have a lot of notifications and chats on my accounts but I'm too lazy to entertain all of that.

Habang nag iiscroll ako sa newsfeed, I found a photo of a bunch of barbeques. I don't usually share things on my newsfeed, pero dahil wala nga akong magawa at hindi makatulog... I'm gonna share this nalang.

I finally shared the photo and captioned it with '#cravings' even though I'm not really craving for it.

And then... back to scrolling again.

As expected, my shared post gained a hundred of reactions in just a minute. But the thing that really suprise me was that certain person who first reacted on my post.

'Caleb Valenziares reacted on the photo you shared.'

Heto nanaman ang puso ko, nag simula nanamang kumalabog nang kumalabog.

Hindi ko pa nga siya nawawala sa isip ko, tapos heto nanaman siya!

Ha! Bakit ba sobrang affected ko ha?! It's just a reaction! There's nothing to feel.

Seriously, I'm over reacting!

Napapikit ako, this is getting out of hand. It seems like I'm not on my purpose anymore, I'm supposed to be thrilled not nervous. What the hell?!

I heard my phone beep. At kasabay ng pag hilot ko sa sintido ko ay siyang pag dilat ko upang basahin ang kung anong mensaheng pumasok sa inbox ko.

From: Caleb Valenziares

Still up?

I licked my lower lip as I've seen who slide on my dms. Napabuntong hininga ako as I heard my heart beating so fast, it beats like as if I'm running miles to miles.

I quickly replied though, kahit na tila hirap na hirap na ko sa kakakalabog ng dibdib ko.

From: Gave Mendoza

Nope, still you.

I chuckled as I touched the sent button. Kinakabahan pa ako niyan, ha!!!!

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ganito ang nararamdaman ko kay Law. I'm kind of nervous these days when I'm with him, but I can't deny that I like this feelings.

Hindi ko mapaliwanag ang pakiramdam ko... it was unexplained but deeply felt.

I mean... nito lang naman ako nag ka ganito. Noong mga unang araw talagang nang titrip lang ako. Ni hindi kinakabahan, ngayon ko lang napansin na nakakaramdam na pala ako ng ganito.

I heard my phone beeped again. Mabilis ko iyong kinuha, the excitement became evident right now as I have calmed myself. This is the first time I talked to him through medias, and yet ngayon ko lang iyon napansin dahil sa kaba.

Patuloy ang pag beep ng phone ko, it took me second to look at it, and to my surprise it was a face time from Law.

Agad akong napabalikwas at nag tungo sa pinakamalapit na salamin sa kwarto. I looked at my face to see where I can put some attentions on to be more beautiful. At noong makitang wala namang problema, inayos ko nalang ang buhok at damit ko.

Don't get me wrong ha! I'm extremely beautiful but Law is a different story!

Natawa ako sa sarili ko.

"Hello!" I greeted once I saw him on the phone.

Hindi siya nag salita, he only looked at me with his usual expression. Nakatago ang kalahating mukha niya sa kumot and his pillow freely touched his face.

Samantalang ako, nakaupo lang sa kama habang ang buhok ay malayang namamahinga sa dalawang balikat.

"Why are you still up?" He finally spoke.

Kinagat ko ang labi ko, hindi alam kung sasagutin ba ang tanong niya gayong siya talaga ang rason kung bakit di ako makatulog.

"And you're craving for barbecue?" He seriously asked.

Umiling ako agad, ngumiti at nanatiling nakatikom ang bibig dahil hindi ko naman alam ang sasabihin.

"If you want it so bad, I can buy some for you." aniya na ikinagulat ko.

I suddenly want to crave for that for real tuloy! Namula ang pisngi ko sa sinabi niya, the thought of him giving me what I crave in the middle of the night is beyond my expectations!

Gusto ko sanang sabihin pang clout lang 'yun... pero nahihiya ako eh. hihi.

"N-No, but thanks!" Utal kong sagot.

I heard him chuckled, nag angat tuloy ako ng tingin sa cellphone ko. Kahit namumula ay napaangat ako ng tingin para tignan kung anong nakakatawa sa sitwasyon namin ngayon.

"I really like it when you're shy and conservative..." puna niya sa inaasta ko ngayon.

Mas pumula ang mukha ko. He chuckled more, bagay na hindi ko yata makayanan dahil sa naninibago kong puso.

"... because it seems like it's another version of you." he continued.

Napatingin ako sa kanya at napatitig, and he's just there, staring at me too, with a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"Law..." binasag ko ang katahimikan na namutawi sa amin ng ilang minuto.

Dahan-dahan akong humiga at ginaya ang posisyon niya, I'm now also covering the side of my face. I rested my phone infront of me, hinayaan ko iyong dumantay sa unan na nasa harapan ko.

"Why did you do that?" hindi ko mapigilang tanong.

"Hmmm... what?" he asked.

"That thing... earlier."

Namungay ang mata niya sa sinabi ko. Humikab naman ako, hindi ko na pala namalayan na inaantok na pala ako.

Saglit akong pumikit para ibsan ang antok na sumasagi sa isip ko. Nakatapat pa rin ang phone ko sa direksyon ko... ngunit habang nakapikit ay... tila hinihila na ako sa pag tulog.

I convince myself to open my eyes, but the next thing I knew.. when I opened my eyes... it's already morning the next day!

"Damn!" sigaw ko noong makitang alas otso na ng umaga at late na late na ako.

Dead battery pa ang phone ko!

"Gaveriel!" Rinig kong sigaw sa pintuan ko... na sinundan pa ng ilang kalabog.

Dali-dali ko iyong binuksan, at noong mabuksan ay agad kong nakita si Manang Celeste na hindi na maipinta ang mukha.

"Ano ka bang bata ka! Kanina ka pa namin ginigising, pinag alala mo pa ako! Umagang-umaga!" Bulyaw niya sa akin.

"Sorry po, napuyat po kasi ako kagabi." Saad ko at sinapo ang ulong nananakit dahil sa mga biglaang pag galaw.

"O siya dalian mo na at humabol ka sa klase mo. Kanina pa tawag nang tawag si Alyson, kailangan mo raw pumasok!" saad niya bago ako tinalikuran at irapan sa sarili kong pamamahay.

Ngumuso ako at sinunod ang sinabi niya. I charged my phone first before entering the bathroom, at habang naliligo ay saka lang nag sink in sa akin kung bakit nga ba ako napuyat kagabi.

It's because of...

It's because of Law!

At natulugan ko pa siya kagabi!

"Hay!" Bulyaw ko at agad na inalis sa isipan ko ang nangyari kagabi.

I managed to prepare as quickly as possible though, so when eight-thirthy arrives, nasa tapat na kami ng school ni Mang Carlos.

Alas sais ang una kong klase, and it's already our second subject but I really doubt if I can make it... so sa third subject nalang ako papasok.

Tama! Sa third subject nalang.

Nag lakad ako sa pinakamalapit na kubo na makikita ko, good thing the kubos are free and no one is in there... so malaya akong makakapag hintay sa third subject namin.

I opened my phone... finally. Noong mabuksan ay agad akong binulaga ng sandamakmak na missed calls at text mula kay Alyson. Her texts are similar to each other, telling me to come to school and never tried to absent since we will have something to do. I texted her that I'm already here, so that she will be at eased.

Marami kaming gagawin today? What is the sudden agenda?

I open my data connection to see... if Law sent me something... or if he chatted me when I fall asleep...

Noong mag loading ang feed ko, our chat box immidiately made its way on me.

I opened it, at ang unang nakita ko ay ang call namin na umabot ng... ng... tatlong oras?!

We started face timing in exact twelve thirthy-eight, at inabot kami ng alas tres.

Teka, what time do I fall asleep? If I'm not mistaken, wala pang ala una ay nakatulog na ako... so that does mean... he continued face timing with me even if I'm already sleeping? or does he fell asleep too?

Napapikit ako sa kabang naramdaman, he's really getting out of my hand.

From: Caleb Valenziares

Seems like your phone got dried out. Goodnight.

That was his text, and it was sent right after the call ended. I bite my lower lip, and smiled. This feeling... is really something. I can really feel the butterflies inside my tummy.

Mag goodmorning ba ako!?

Eh, ayoko!

Siya nga hindi, eh!

Ngumuso ako at pinindot ang pangalan niya, I checked his profile and the first thing I saw is his latest post about something.

It was a video call screenshot, the girl is covering her face with a blanket, her eyes are closed as well like as if she's sleeping, at dahil doon ay hindi mo makikita kung sino ang babaeng iyon.

But then, I face time with him last night... So I'm positive that it was me.

It was me.

My heart beats so fast.

"Thank you, then." his caption.

Kumunot ang noo ko sa caption niya. I scrolled down again even my hand is not with me anymore. Dahil sa kuryoso, tinignan ko ang ilan niyang post maliban doon ngunit wala na.

Ang huli nalang ay ang pinost niya rin kahapon na litrato ng mga nag gagandahang ilaw ng syudad.

Pinindot ko iyon, libo ang comments doon pero agad ko ring nakita ang ikinomment doon.

Oo nga pala, nag comment ako.

"Then you should be glad, I came into your life." This was my comment.

He also reacted on it, too, pala. Ngayon ko lang napansin. Napangiti muli ako, ngunit agad ding napawi noong maalala ang newest post niya.

What is his caption again?

Hinanap ko ang kaninang post na nakita. I immidiately saw it din naman.

"Thank you, then." the caption.

Napapikit ako. Napangiti at napailing. I don't know how to react actually. I'm speechless and somehow... overwhelm?

Pinaypayan ko ang sarili ko dahil sa nag iinit kong mukha, I feel like my face is burning and I can't do anything about it.

Law is too much!

And why am I getting played in the game I actually started?! I suppose to be the one who did things that Law is doing but... why am I just here?! Watching myself to fall on the trap na ako mismo ang gumawa.

"Gaveriel!"

Lumingon ako sa pinanggalingan ng tawag. I still feel my face burning, ngunit huli na nang maalala ko iyon. I already face the man who called me, agad ko rin namang binawi ang tingin noong makita ang tumawag.

"Whoa! Nag bablush ka naman agad sa akin?" Hindi makapaniwala niyang saad.

Agad akong napatikom ng bibig at automatikong umismid. Ang namumula kong mukha ay pinalitan ko nang simangot dahil sa kanya.

"Nope, don't worry." I replied.

Binigyan ko pa siya ng hand gesture tanda nang di pag sang-ayon habang umiiling.

He laughed, and then leaned on the corner of the kubo. Hindi siya pumasok, nanatili lang siya roon sa hamba habang nakangiting nakatitig sa akin.

"Why are you here? Don't tell me you wait for me here? Hinintay mo ba ako dahil sa napansin mo ang pag ka-late ko ngayong araw?"

Umirap ako sa kanya. "Asa ka pa, Jude."

Hinawakan niya ang kanyang dibdib at sabay umaktong nasasaktan sa sinabi ko. He still smiling though, so I knew that he's just exaggerating things.

"You're so rude, you're hurting me." maarte niyang sabi.

"Hay nako, Jude! Wala akong pakielam sayo!" Irap ko sabay sandal sa upuan ng kubo.

I opened my phone and saw Law's post again. Completely ignoring Jude's presence.

"Seriously?! We're talking, Gave! You're so rude."

I rolled my eyes. "Eh, bahala ka sa buhay mo diyan."

"Talaga? Bahala ka mag kakasakit ako rito. Umaambon, oh?" tanong niya sa akin.

Now that he mentioned it, umaambon nga at makulimlim, it will probably rain. At yes, nag papaambon nga siya.

"Don't talk to me like that, ako ba ang nag sabing mag paambon ka?"

"Kung ganoon ayain mo ko riyan sa tabi mo!" he smiled.

Napatitig ako sa kanya. Jude is always like this to me, he's always getting in my nerves but he's very kind, though.

May pake naman ako sa kanya, it's just that... he's annoying. He's talkative and I don't like men like that.

"Pumasok ka rito kung gusto mo, pero wag mo akong tabihan." tamad kong sabi sa kanya habang binabalingan ang phone ko.

Naramdaman ko ang kaunting pag alog ng kubo, so I'm sure he's already inside. Wala na sana akong balak mag angat ng tingin sa kanya pero noong lumubog nang kaunti ang kawayang upuan sa tabi ko ay tumingin na ako sa kanya.

"I told you not to sit down beside me." Nguso kong sabi.

"Stop it nga, Gave. I want to sit here." ginaya niya ang porma ng nguso ko.

He's now also pouting.

Nag katinginan kami, nakipag titigan naman siya sa akin. Parehas kaming nakanguso sa isa't isa at sa hindi ko alam na dahilan ay naiinis ako sa kanya.

"Stop pouting! Ako lang dapat." bulyaw ko.

Mas lalo niyang inginuso ang labi niya, he's slightly smiling so he can't properly pout, mas lalo akong nainis.

I pouted my lips more and slap his arm. "Stop it!" I hissed.

Hinampas-hampas ko ang braso niya, at kahit buong pwersa na ang gamit ko sa pananakit sa kanya ay wala siyang naging ibang reaksyon kundi ang pag tawa lang. He laughed and stop my hand for slapping him, making him hold my hand for a little while.

Napatingin ako roon at agad iyong binawi, umirap ako at tumalikod nalang sa gawi niya para maiwasan ang pang aasar niya sa akin. Tanging ang halakhak niya lang ang namutawi sa apat na haligi ng kubo, and it is really annoying to think that I'm on the edge of laughing too.

Lol. Stop it, Gave, or he might think of something impossible.

"Oh, so the rumors already reached you, Gave?" He asked, out of nowhere.

Lumingon ako sa kanya at nag taas ng kilay, questions are all over my face about rumors he's talking about.

"That! The rumor about Valenziares and Ysay. I bet you're bored 'no? Nag kapanahon ka sa rumors eh!" Sabay turo niya sa cellphone kong naiwan ko palang nakabukas sa lamesa.

Rumors... what? Valenziares... he mean Law and who?!

"What are you talking about?" Medyo iritable ko nang tanong.

"About Valenziares and Ysay! Ysay confirmed she's the girl on the photo, so everyone assumes that they are a thing." Sagot niya.

Ha?

Wait... What?

Itinikom ko ang bibig ko para pigilan ang sarili sa pag sasalita ng kung ano. Who is this Ysay? It's clear that... the girl on the photo was me! That was my blanket resting on my face, that was my room on the background and yet she claimed that she was me... I mean that she was the one on the photo.

"Hey, Are you okay?" Jude poke my arm to caught my attention.

Binalingan ko siya ng tingin at tinaasan ng kilay. "Sino 'yong Ysay?"

Saglit siyang tumitig sa akin at hindi agad sumagot. Pero noong makitang seryoso ako at medyo interisado ay tumango siya at nag patuloy. "She's very popular, I can't believe you don't know her."

"I don't know her so she's not." Maarte kong sabi.

Medyo nagulat siya sa tono ng pananalita ko pero agad din namang nakabawi kahit na halata ang pag tataka sa mga mata niya.

"Her name is Rebecca Ysabella Valerio, everyone calls her Ysay and as I have said she's popular. She won the intramural pageant last year, hindi mo ba siya narinig noon?"

Umiling ako. "I haven't heard anything about her." Ngayon pa lang.

"She has a very angelic face, maganda kaya sikat." Nag kibit balikat siya.

Why does he always include popularity? What's the essence of being popular when in reality you're pathetic?

Okay. Nang judge na ako.

Kalma, Gave.

Eh, kasi naman!

"Hmp!" Tangig nasabi ko nalang bago tumayo at nag martsa palabas ng kubo.

Mainit ang ulo ko, that's a fact. Hindi ko alam kung anong ikinagagalit ko but I badly need to see Law right now. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit kailangan ko si Law, pero... ah! Basta!

The bell rang when I'm on my way to the architectural building, napairap ako at inis tuloy na bumalik sa dinaanan. I'm late to my two subjects so... maybe mamaya ko nalang hahanapin si Law.

I need to confirm if I'm really the girl on that picture, although I knew that I'm really the girl... I need atleast an assurance from him.

When I take my steps back on where I was a minute ago, I saw Jude standing near our building and looking at something far from us.

Tinabihan ko siya... to look on where he's looking. And when I directed my eyes on Jude's line of vision. I saw Law... and a girl.

Probably...

"That is Ysay, Gave." Jude whispered. "See? They are a thing."

Law and that Ysay is talking... sa isa sa mga kiosk habang ang mga papel sa harap nila ay malayang nakabalandra sa lamesa.

"She's the popular girl I'm talking about." Dagdag ni Jude.

Umirap ako sa sinabi niya.

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