It's my kuya...
"Hello Kuya?"
"I'm sorry to call you this late Jade, I don't know but I can't stop worrying about you tonight. I just called to check if you're fine." Nag-aalalang sabi niya. What a perfect timing kuya.
"Kuya naman, I'm fine. Don't worry about me okay? Matutulog na ako." Sagot ko at agad akong nagpanggap na inaantok na ako masyado para na rin hindi na sya magtanong pa. Kasi, ayaw ko ring magsinungaling kay kuya. I definitely cant lie to him if he ask.
"Okay, bye!" as soon ay my brother ended his call, umupo ako agad at sinubukan ko ulit syang gisingin. Para man lang tanungin kung nasaan ang key ng room nya but I think he's totally knocked out. I've been waking him up for 10 minutes kaya sa tingin ko I don't have any choice anymore. With all my strength inakbayan ko siya at iginiya papasok sa room ko at as soon as we reached my bed, binitawan ko sya pero pati ako ay bumagsak sa kama. And now, we're both lying on my bed. He is sleeping soundly while I am here running out of breath. I am too tired to even stand up right now kaya nanatili parin akong nakahiga sa tabi niya.
Humihingal parin ako while looking at the ceiling. Pagkatapos ay bigla nalang akong natatawa. I don't know but I'm just like a crazy girl right now. Pinipigilan ko ang sarili kong matawa dahil pakiramdam ko ay may nakatingin sa akin.
What is this? For all the things happened in my life, this is the first time that I felt this kind of feeling. A feeling that I can't explain. Hindi ko alam kung ano itong nararamdaman ko sa ngayon pero, all I know is that It seems like it is tickling me inside.
Then, I turned my head and look at the sleeping handsome guy beside me. But as I look at him, I began to wonder if he ever looked at me like this that night he took me in his room. Might be impossible, right?
....
Paggising ko ay ..what nasa bed ako? OMG, what?? Ang huling naaalala ko kagabi ay nakahiga ako sa tabi niya at pinapanood ang gwapo niyang mukha. Huh? Ibig sabihin, nakatulog ako sa tabi niya? Pero teka, nasan siya? Wala na siya sa kuarto at umaga na. Tiningnan ko ang orasan and its too late for me to go to school now. Its already 9. Tumayo nalang ako nang mapansin kong suot ko parin ang dress ko from the party last night. I can't believe this.
Pero minabuti ko nalang na huwag mag-isip ng kung ano ano. Nagpalit nalang ako at naligo. Pagkatapus ay nagtimpla nalang ako ng kape at pumunta sa veranda. While drinking, I am looking at the sky again. It's about to rain again. Naalala kung kahapon lang ay sinabi kong 'its time to put things back to where it was before' pero can I do that now? Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa cup while thinking about it. Deep in me, I know it doesn't want me to stop but I'm worried.
"What are you thinking? You're always staring at that sky whenever I see you there. Ano bang meron jan." the vampire said habang isinasampay ang towel nya. Nakaligo na sya and he looks gorgeous as usual in his all black clothes. Nagkibit balikat lang ako dahil na rin sa wala akong alam na sabihin sa kanya.
"About what happened last night until this morning, aren't you supposed to say something to me about it?" as he said those words, napaisip ako. Ano kaya kung gawin ko rin sa kanya ang ginawa nya sa akin. It would be fun right? Pero, naisip ko na ang tungkol jan kagabi and I already decided not to do anything.
"Say something? Like what?" Blankong sagot ko.
"Yah!! How old are you?" agad nyang tanong.
"Huh??" ano bang iniisip niya. Hindi ko akalaing yun ang tatanongin nya. As soon as I told him that I am 18 he smiled mischievously again.
"Wow. Alam mo bang you're talking like a 40 year old woman. Ganyan ka ba talaga?" he seems like joking again na para namang hindi. As I heard his words napaisip ako if am I really like a 40 year old woman?
"Who knows?" Tanging nasabi ko at napangisi na naman sya.
"Right, i think the way you talk is like 40 years old but you're such a kid don't you think?" Seryosong sabi niya.
"Haaah!?" Nang iinis ba siya?
"Don't 'haaah' me you idiot. How could you just sleep with... " hindi niya itinuloy ang sasabihin niya na ikinakunot ng noo ko.
"What." Blankong sagot ko. At parang, ano? Anong klaseng expression ang nakikita ko sa mukha niya? Parang hindi siya makapaniwala? Saan? Hindi ko alam pero hinawakan lang niya ang noo niya.
"Masakit ba ang ulo mo? Hangover?" Sabi ko na ikinangisi na naman nya. Ano bang problema niya? He seems weird today, epekto ng suju?
"Yah, for some reason, i dont really think so but... i mean, are you just fine bringing someone... a guy i mean in your bed and casually sleeping beside him like what you did last night?" Mukhang nag aalinlangang sabi niya.
"Huh? Ano bang sinasabi mo? Nagbabayad na nga ako ng utang na loob. Isa pa sa tingin ko kasi this is the real repayment for my debt to you. I think that we're even now. And pinatulog mo din ako sa bed mo diba, it would be rude for me to let you sleep in the floor. And its not like i have a choice, nakatulog ako sa tabi mo ng hindi ko namamalayan kaya---" hindi ko pa natatapus ang sasabihin ko ng bigla siyang tumawa.
Pinanood ko na lamang siya. Ang weird talaga ang vampire na to ngayun tanging nasabi ko sa sarili.
"Wae? Aren't you being too soft to me?" he said.
"Huh?.. Naisip ko kasi, that what I did to you is nothing kompara sa ginawa mo sa akin noon. Yes, I admit na nahirapan akong dalhin ka sa room ko. Pero, you're no longer a stranger to me, you're now my neighbor. Unlike what am I to you when you helped me that night. The fact that I am a complete stranger to you back then and yet you helped me is enough reason for me." As soon as I finished talking napakunot noo na naman ako dahil ngumiti ulit sya ng isang mysteryosong ngiti.
I just look at him when suddenly, may dumapong maliit na ibon sa ulo niya. Naramdaman siguro niya na may something sa ulo niya, pero whats with his expression right now? Tumitig sya sa akin without moving. Naalala ku yung reality show na napanood ko on the part where there are boys who are trying to feed the pigeons. Naisip ko na mukhang natatakot sila sa pigeons. And thinking about it, hindi ko alam kung anung pumasok sa ulo ko at bigla akung sumigaw ng;
"Ahhh!!! Look out!! May pigeon sa ulo mo!!"
As soon as he heard me, napabalikwas sya while he hold his head na para bang may kukuha sa noo nya at napaupo pa sya. That sight is indeed so much funny. Hindi ko naisip na makikita ko sa ganyang itsura ang isang napakagwapong nilalang. I can't help but laugh at him.
After some moments, he stood up with his coolness again. Pero I can't stop laughing at him.
"Paboya... What makes you think that I am afraid of birds huh? And what? Pigeons? Kailan pa napunta ang pigeon sa Baguio huh?" protesta niya. Pero no matter what he says i just can't stop smiling. Natatawa pa rin ako sa reaction niya kanina. If only may camera ako that moment.
"Yah.. This is the first time I've seen you smile. Well, you did look cute when you smile. But you're laughter is.... creepy." Nakangising sabi niya. But as soon as I heard the very last word, napawi agad ang mga ngiti ko. Am I really laughing just now?
"And about what I've said that you talk like a 40 year old woman, It's only a joke." Pagkasabi nun ay tumalikod sya at pumasok na sa room nya.
....
The days goes by and me and the vampire became closer I think. We often talk to each other at the veranda, while drinking coffee. We both stared at the sky sometimes and since that day, though it is rare I can smile now. I think he became a reason for me to smile and laugh again. These days, I no longer think like before. Sa tingin ko ay tuluyan na akong naging isang normal na tao. My friends in school keep on telling me that I am now like a different person. Those days, my heart seems empty. But now, i am completely focused on what my heart is feeling right now. My doubts and fears about falling into him is gone with the wind. Now, I think I am completely focused on what I feel for him.
"Ahhh.. I want to have a break. Yahh, may alam ka bang magandang pasyalan?" tanung niya sa'kin while we we're staring up the sky again.
"Huh? Hindi kasi ako namamasyal kaya I don't have any idea kung saan ang pinakamaganda." Tanging sagot ko.
"Haha.. i think so too.. ahh.. have you heard about that famous Lapresa? Lets go there tomorrow." Agad niyang sabi.
"Lapresa? Deal." Agad ko ring sagot sa kanya.