Eliana
“Take it. That will take a while.”
Hindi nalang ako sumagot at sinimulan ang binigay niya sa aking burger. He started munching on his in a few. Walang umimik the first few minutes naming pagkain.
“Oo pala, nasabi ba sa inyo ni ate Maya na susunod na lang siya?” Tina asked.
I nodded, “Baka hindi na raw muna siya sasabay kung hindi makakasunod. Nakasalubong ko siya kanina.”
“She must be busy,” Alaric uttered.
“Nasabi niya nga sa akin noong isang araw na marami siyang projects na tatapusin.”
They continued the talk. Hindi na rin ako nakasunod at wala na rin akong naimabag sa usapan. Nakikinig na lamang ako hanggang sa may lumapit sa aming waiter dala ang tingin ko’y order ko na.
"Spaghetti with chicken and large fries po, miss." The waiter smiled at me as he gave me my food. "Pasensya na po natagalan."
"Ayos lang, Salamat."
Alaric gave him a nod, “Thanks.”
Nakalahati ko na iyong binigay sa akin ni Alaric kaya iyon muna ang inubos ko bago simulan ang spaghetti. Tina was now cleaning her plate, tapos na siya.
Nang tingnan ko naman si Alaric ay patapos na rin ito. He was sipping on his soda when I look at him.
“Hmm?” he raised his brows at me. “Yes, what is it?”
Nadako ang mga mata ko sa plato niyang malinis na. I frowned mentally at myself for noting those things in my head as they eat comfortably with me. Gusto kong madaliin ang pagkain ko kasi baka aalis na sila at kailangan pa akong hintayin.
It bugs my head and makes me uncomfortable. So I decided to leave my unfinished chicken leg on the plate and sip on the remaining iced tea.
“I-I’m done… Let’s go?”
I heard a scoff. “Eat properly. ‘Wag mong madaliin.” Alaric was intently digging his eyes to mine. “Continue your meal, Eliana.”
Hindi na ako nakasagot at pinagpatuloy na lang ang pagkain ko. Tina’s eyes landed on me. She then received a text and suddenly fixing herself as she read it.
“I think I have to go now…” she whispered, panicking. “Emergency lang sa Math club, sorry! Alaric Jonquil look out for her, alright?”
Mabilis niyang inayos ang gamit niya at sinukbit ang bag sa balikat. I was stunned to even do anything. Iniisip kong sasabay na ako sa kaniya pero mabilis ang mga naging galaw ni Tina hindi na ako nakapagsalita pa.
“Hoy, Alaric Jonquil fucking Avila you have to stay with her until she finish eating, get that? Delulu pa naman ‘yan kung ano-anong iniisip kapag mag-isa na. Bye, I’m off!”
Her words are quick it took me a while to let it sink in. Nakaalis na siya naglalaro pa rin sa utak ko ang mga sinabi niya.
“Alaric Jonquil…” wala sa sarili kong bulong.
“Hmm? Yes?”
Mabilis ang lingon ko sa kanya. “Uh…”
“You called me? Do you need anything?” His brows twitched upward, demanding an answer from me.
“I-I didn’t say anything.”
"Am I hearing things?" I heard him whisper. "Kumain ka na." nakangiting sabi niya habang nakatingin sa akin. "I'll wait."
Inirapan ko siya. Pwede naman na siyang umalis, eh! 'Wag niyang sabihin na dito lang siya hanggang matapos ako? Ibig sabihin ba no'n papanoorin niya bawat nguya ko?
"Alaric, don't tell me you're going to stare at me while eating?"
Tumawa siya. "I'll wait you. Binilin ka na rin naman na sa'kin ni Tina. Eat properly, 'wag mong madaliin." he pointed at my mouth na kasalukuyang ngumunguya. "Hindi na kita tititigan."
He was quiet. I can hear him murmuring something and it isn't that loud to be heard. Sobrang hina kaya hinayaan ko nalang siya doon at nagpatuloy sa pagkain.
I finished my food after a couple of minutes. Nang matapos ako ay bigla na lamang tumayo si Alaric. His hands was buried in his pockets.
Nangunot ang noo ko sa inasal niya, "Oh, bakit?"
"I'll order snacks." He fished for his wallet and waved it at me. “I’ll be back, stay here. Understood?” I nodded like a dog.
"Why, gutom ka pa?"
Umiling lang siya at pumihit na para umalis. Sinundan ng tingin ko ang likod niyang habang naglalakad siya papunta sa counter. Maliit na lang ang pila. Pinalinis ko sa dumaang waiter ang lamesa namin.
Nang ibalik ko ang mga mata kay Alaric siya na ang nasa linya. Siniguro kong walang naiwan bago ako sumunod sa kanya. I stood behind him as he was still oblivious of my presence.
"You're going to eat all of that?" Halos mapatalon siya nang magsalita ako. “Don’t worry, I left the table clean before walking to you. Wala ka namang naiwan ‘no?”
He ignored my last question, “I told you to wait, though…” Inabot niya ang bayad sa cashier. “And I’m not eating all of this.” mahinang tawa ang narinig ko sa kanya nang itaas nito ang paper bag na hawak.
“Para saan ‘yan, display?”
Iling ang nakuha ko sa biro na ginawa.
"I'll give it to you. Merienda mo mamaya."
Nagulat ako sa narinig. Napahawak ako sa kanyang braso para pigilan siya nang hindi ko namamalayan. “I’m fine! I don’t usually eat snacks. You can have that. Though, it’s too much for you…” Naging bulong nalang ang huling mga salita ko. Inalis ko naman agad ang kamay na nakapatong sa balikat nito.
Hindi siya sumagot. I saw how he played with his tongue on the insides of his cheek. His eyes showed patience in them, parang gusto niya na akong sermunan pero hindi niya magawa.
Nagkibit-balikat lamang siya sa akin. “Let’s go. May klase pa tayo ng ala una.”
Nakasunod lang ako sa kanya palabas ng Jollibee. His hair looks neat, the strands are in the right places and end just above his nape. I trace his back figure in my head, memorizing every corner and the shape of his shadow.
My heart started screaming at an unfamiliar beat. I frowned at myself and halted immediately, eyes still on him. How weird that his back figure was already enough to send butterflies in me.
I almost want to curse myself for praising him too much in my head. Nothing will change the fact that he loves annoying me to death and loves seeing me speechless to every word he throws.
Nataranta ako nang tumigil din siya. Bigla akong naglakad palapit nang matantong ang layo na ng agwat namin.
“A-Al…”
“Nahuhuli ka.” Baling nito sa ‘kin. “Tss. Dalian mo, mahuhuli tayo sa klase. Stop daydreaming as we walk.”
Umiling ako, “I’m not…”
“And stop lying, you’re not so good at it.” Mahinang tawa ang narinig kong muli sa kaniya.
Kasabay ng kanyang pag-iling sa akin ang paghawak sa magkabilang balikat ko. He pushed me in front of him as he free my shoulders from his hold.
“Were you thinking about something?” Sinabayan niya na akong maglakad.
Umiling lamang ako at piniling manahimik kaysa ano pa ang masabi ko. Dumaan kami saglit sa tindahan na katapat lang ng campus para bumili ng ipit ko. I bought a small garterized yellow ponytail.
Alaric was still holding the take-out in his hands as we entered the campus. Some girls eye him as we walk side by side. I almost rolled my eyes thinking he would praise himself again later. Kapag kaming dalawa nalang.
“Don’t mind them. Alam ko namang lumalaki na naman ‘yang ulo mo sa mga matang binibigay nila sa ‘yo.”
“Oh yeah? So that’s what you think?” Nang lingunin ko siya ay suot niya na ang kanyang mapang-asar na ngiti.
Hinampas ko siya sa braso nang malakas. Muntik niya nang mabitiwan ang hawak.
“Aray! Para saan ‘yon—Aray!” Pinalo ko uli.
“Trip ko lang, bakit may angal ka don?”
"Anong trip mo lang?" he frowned. "That hurts…" nakita ko ang paghimas niya sa braso na pinalo ko.
Pareho kaming huminto sa may kanto ng corridor. I can see the stairs to our classroom from where we are standing. He leaned in, tilting his head a little as he squinted his eyes, kind of examining me.
Kumunot naman ang noo ko sa ginawa niya at agad na inatras ang mukha. Mahinang tawa ang narinig ko saglit bago sumeryoso ang ekspresyon nito. His eyes were glued onto mine.
“What are you doing...”
I cursed under my breath when he leaned in closer than he was already. He eyed me sideways, then he sniffs my hair.
“Hmm…” he hummed in between. “Last week you smell like a fresh book opened in a cozy morning along with a hot chocolate. Now you smell like—”