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Kinabukasan ay swerte namin ni Opal dahil 10 am pa ang first subject namin. And of course, after ng breakfast ay matutulog ulit ako dahil hindi ako makatulog ng maayos kagabi. I barely slept because of Opal's voice!
She kept on bugging me about Lincoln so now I don't doubt if they call me a mess. Dark circles and eyebags started to flash on my visage.
Hanggang sa pagbreakfast namin sa hapag ay inabot doon ni Opal ang kwento niya kaya ayan, pinapagalitan ako ni kuya Rene.
"Hindi ka pa ba natatauhan kay Storm? Get a boyfriend after you graduate. Don't copy Opal's behavior. Maharot yan." He said with finality. Umusok ang ilong ni Opal sa narinig at ako naman ay halos mabilaukan na. Tita Eirene's laugh too, thundered the whole dining room because of what kuya said.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" Histerikal na sigaw ni Opal.
"I said you're a flirt. You're a bad influence to Cel, I am so disappointed." Kuya said acting cool.
"Bakit ako pinapagalitan mo? Alam niyo nang maharot ako dati pa but I know Celeste is in her right mind for not imitating what I do, diba Celeste?"
"Yeah, I know right." I agreed.
Natatawa naman itong katabi ko dahil sa sagot kong mas maiksi pa sa bangs ni dora. Kaya nanatili na lang akong tahimik na sumusubo.
"Ang sungit mo ha? She's old enough to decide for that." singit ni tita Eirene saka bumaling sa akin. "It's better if you're going to find a boyfriend now. Mas mahirap maghanap kapag nagkatrabaho ka na." Explain ni tita.
"Ma, hindi iyan mahihirapan. Sa ganda niyang iyan?" I almost choked again because of what he said. Is that a compliment?
"Duh! You're good-looking too but no one likes you."
"Meron, ma. Nasa malayong lugar lang."
Tita Eirene is kuya Rene and Opal's mom. She's 42 but she looks damn real young physically. Parang beauty queen. She is like an elegant princess in a kingdom. Para rin siyang may lahi because of her green eyes.
Matangkad din siya pero mas matangkad si kuya Rene, hindi gaya ni Opal na five flat lang. Hindi ko din ba alam kung kanino nagmana si Opal kasi iba ang mukha niya kapag pinagtabi sa dalawa. hey, i'm not saying that Opal is ugly. She just have a different physical features, completely different. I haven't seen their father ever since I came into this mansion.
Kuya Renevance, he may be strict to me but I love him as my brother. Kahit pinsan ko sila ni Opal ay talagang kapatid na ang turing ko sa kanila.
He inherited tita Eirene's tantalizing eyes.
"Tita, alam mo bang brinidal style pa ni Lincoln etong si Celeste? Naging center of attention sila kahapon sa court."
"Well, can you invite him here over for dinner?"
"What?!" Sigaw ko agad sa tanong ni tita. Ngiting-ngiti si Opal sa harap ko. Hawak ko pa man din ang tinidor ko! Baka maitusok ko ito sa mga mata niya!
"Ma, it's just a crush. Hindi niya naman boyfriend."
"Tama kuya." Sang-ayon ko kay kuya Rene. Thanking the heavens because I have a knight in shining armour today.
"Eh kung yung jowa mo kasi kaya ang ipunta mo dito para hindi mabully si Celeste?" Tita Eirene said sarcastically. Nakita ko ang pag-irap ni kuya.
Padabog na binitiwan ni kuya Rene and kutsara niya saka walang alinlangang tumayo sa kinauupuan niya.
"Dammit, I'm done. Don't ever bring topics out again about my girl." He said with the coldest voice.
Then, he just walked out from the dining room.
Tita Eirene is just making face because of what kuya said. Opal is even cachinnating.
"Bully niyo kasi." Pag-aamin ko.
"It's true! If she has a girlfriend, then invite her here."
Natapos na kaming kumain pero narito pa din kami dahil hindi pa natatapos ang kwentuhan.
"Ma, alam niyo naman kasing hindi pwede pumunta yun dito."
"Tss... he's gay. Ang drama niya."
"Sino ba kasi girlfriend niya?" Bigla ko namang tanong at nagtinginan lang ang dalawa.
"No comment." Sagot ni Epal, este Opal.
After that teasing in the dining room, naghanda na kami ni Opal para sa school. I didn't followed up another question about kuya Rene's girlfriend because I sensed that they don't want to talk about it.
Pero bakit ganoon? Nameet na nga nila tita Eirene at Opal ang girlfriend niya. Do they meet outside without me? Bakit ayaw nilang sabihin o ikwento man lang sa akin diba?
Kahit sa pagdating namin sa school ay hindi pa rin ako mapakali. I feel like they are really keeping a secret to me.
Imbis na pumasok agad kami ay nagtambay muna kami sa benches sa school oval. Alas nuebe ng umaga pa lang kasi and I never got the chance to take a powerful nap sa bahay kanina dahil na rin sa tensyon noong nagwalk out si kuya Rene.
And Opal's reason is that she's going to write her notes.
Maraming grupo ng mga estudyante ang nakatambay dito ngayon. Basta mga ganitong oras ay marami talaga. Pero ang ginagawa ni Opal ngayon ay nirerewrite ang notes ko sa Animal Science dahil tinamad na siya kagabi. Pero hindi siya tinamad makipagchika tungkol kay Lincoln at Branden. Walang preno ang chismis niya.
"Jusmiyo marimar naman Celeste! Ang pangit ng handwriting mo! Hindi ko maintindihan!"
"Next time, write. Para hindi ka mahirapan, okay?" I adviced sarcastically.
After saying that, Opal kept complaining about my handwriting. Ako naman ay nagsscroll lang sa instagam feed ko. Mabuti na lang at hindi sobrang init ngayon dahil may mga nakahilerang puno ng acasia na nagsilbing shade para sa audience kapag may naglaro man ng soccer dito sa field or practice ng mga dance troupes and cheer-dancers.
Sa hindi kalayuan ay may mga grupo ng lalaki nakaupo rin sa benches. I secretly glance at them because I saw one of them pointing at me and they are like teasing and trying to push that man wearing eyeglasses.
Now, they are getting near us. Rinig ko ang pagpipiglas ng lalaki.
"Uy ano ba?!" Mahina nitong sigaw sa mga kasama. At nang narito na nga sila sa harap ko ay kita ko ang pamumula ng lalaking nasa harap ko mismo. Napakamot ito sa batok niya.
"Celeste! Si Smith pala!" Pakilala ng isnag lalaking may unipormeng Education.
"Uh, h-hi."
"Hello." I greeted back but I showed no sign of smile.
"Do you mind, uh... if I a-ask for your, uhm... p-phone number?"
"I'm sorry. Smith, right?" I asked. Tumango naman siya. "I don't really text but nice to meet you."
Nilahad ko ang kamay ko para makipagshake hands, dahan-dahan naman nitong idinikit ang palad niya sa akin and that, I felt its trembling and warm sensation.
"T-thanks..." he said then they left.
Nagsihiyaw ang barkada niyang naroon sa benches.
I didn't gave my phone number because frankly, I don't really text. If I am, it might be tita Eirene, Opal or kuya Rene whom I text.
I am thankful because the other students around us didn't mind. Pati ang grupo nina Smith ay nawala na rin dahil siguro may mga klase na rin.
I looked at Opal and instead of writing ay hindi na maipinta sa mukha niya kung ano ang reaksyon.
"Okay ka lang?" Tanong ko. Mukha siyang natatae.
"Did you just do that?" She didn't answer my question.
"Do what?"
"You entertained your admirer!"
"And?"
"Huwag mo akong ma-and and! Humaharot ka na ha?!" Halos mapatakip ako sa tenga ko dahil sa sigaw niya. I roam my vision around, and I saw other students' attention is directed at us.
Bigla kong hinila ang buhok ni Opal dahil sa inis. "Bwisit ka!" Mahina kong bigkas.
"Talaga naman! Hinarot mo admirer mo! Tsk. Papagalitan ako lalo ni kuya dito e." She cried.
"Alam mo, ang pangit pakinggan iyang maharot. I'm just being nice." I defended.
"Why? If I can remember, you're not nice to your admirers. Bakit? Anong pagkakaiba niyang nagconfess kanina?"
"He didn't confess!" I protested. "He just asked for my number."
"Excuse me, parang ganon na din yun. He'll ask for your number, then you give it to him. And you text each other tapos boom! Nafall!"
Natawa ako sa explanation niyang with actions pa. Pero siya ay nanatiling nakabusangot.
"Advance mo mag-isip."
"Bahala ka diyan. Ako talaga ang malilitikan kay kuya nito." She rubbed her nape.
She's now frustrated. She does that when she's frustrated!
Lumapit ako para yakapin siya pero halatang nagtatampo na talaga.
"Sorry." Malambing kong saad. She just rolled her eyes.
"Earlier, I just realized that tita Eirene's right. Kailangan ko din siguro magloosen up." Nanatili akong nakayakap sa kanya at nakasandal ang ulo sa balikat niya. She smells like fresh lilac.
"By being nice to that man?" Mahina niyang bulong.
"Well kinda." I answered. Kumunot lalo ang noo nito.
"Then bakit si Lincoln? Bakit sa iba mo pa binibigay ang chance?!"
Napakalas ako sa yakap dahil sa narinig.
Why would he mention Lincoln here?!
"Why do you want me to be nice to him?" I asked coldly.
Ngayon ay medyo lumiwanag na ang mukha nito.
"Come on, don't deny it. I'll help you both. I will serve as the bridge for your connection."
"What are you saying? He's just my crush. Well honestly speaking, hindi as in. Anyway, magteten na. Let's go." I hurriedly stood up and grabbed my bag.
Hindi niya na natapos ang sinusulat niya dahil naparami ang usap kanina sa field. And I really told her na punta na kami so I can avoid that talk.
Probably, Opal's lucky because our prof didn't check our notes. She just discussed some of our lessons.
Nagklase na kami ng BioChemistry pero hindi ako makafocus dahil naiinis pa din ako sa best friend kong sobrang daldal.
Why would she even mention that strange man, eh in the first place we weren't even an item!
Sa tagal ko ng walang crush, hindi na tuloy ako sanay o maalam kung ano ang pwedeng gawin. But all I know is that in front of Lincoln, hindi ako makatingin ng diretso and I just hope he doesn't realize that I have an attraction for him but I doubt! Lalaki siya! Alam ko na expert ang mga lalaki sa ganyan. What should I do?
Inaayos ko na ang mga gamit ko nang lumabas na ang professor namin. Last subject na namin ng hapon at nakahinga na din ako ng maluwag. Alas diez nga ang first subject pero maghapon nang walang vacant.
Lumabas agad si Opal para salubungin ang nakahalukipkip na si Lincoln. Yes, he's outside our classroom with Branden and I don't know why. So I just got distracted all of a sudden. I can't focus on what my prof is trying to point out.
and susunod na din sana ako nang bigla akong tawagin ni Storm.
"Uhm Cel..." tiningnan ko siya. Hawak-hawak niya ang biochemistry na libro niya.
"Yes?" I asked. Nahagilap naman ng mata ko sina Opal, Lincoln at Branden na nasa hallway na't nagtatawanan.
"Can you bear a little time for me? Uhm... to help me with our lesson dito sa Biochem? Nahihirapan kasi ako."
"Huh? Anong topic ba?"
"Sa balancing."
"Madali lang yon. Sige pag-iisipan ko pa kung anong oras bukas kasi may napagplanuhan na kami ni Opal sa vacant eh."
"Just give me a time na wala kang gagawin okay? Ayoko namang mag-abala ka pa."
"Okay sige." I said.
"Thanks again." I smiled as a reply.
Nagmartsa na ako palabas at nasa likod ko si Storm.
Nakita ko naman ang madilim at matalim na tingin ni Lincoln sa tuhod ko.
With that look, I regret wearing a black checkered skirt.
Ibinaba ko ang handbag ko para matakpan iyon.
Si Storm ay nagpaalam na rin at sumama na sa mga barkada niyang sina Felix.
"Kahapon medyo okay na siya kaya ngayon, she's okay as you can see!" Rinig kong paliwanag ni Opal. I know she's happy because Branden's here, but I'm not.
I glimpse at him and I saw him staring at me. I avoided his peculiar gaze.
"Okay na ba tuhod mo?" He blurted out.
I stretched my feet and swayed it to show him it's okay.
"I think so." I just answered. The truth is, I can still feel a searing pain but it's bearable. Hindi gaya kahapon na hindi ko na siya halos magalaw. I looked at my knees once again.
"Pero nangingitim pa rin." He said again. Hindi ko na naiwasan ang nga mata niya.
"It's probably because of my skin. It's sensitive but it's really okay now." I explained.
Nagsimula na kaming maglakad sa hallway. Si Branden at Opal ang nasa harap namin. I feel so attacked because of the situation.
"May sundo kayo?" He asked. I can sense that he's trying to make the atmosphere better by asking questions. Maybe he noticed that I am silent that's why.
"Meron." Maiksi kong sagot.
"Sino susundo?"
I looked at him irritatingly.
"Kuya ni Opal."
Hanggang sa waiting shed ay sinamahan nila kami ni Opal. Pati si Branden.
Ngayon ay naglakas ng loob na ako magtanong.
"How did you know our sched huh?" I coldly asked.
"I texted Opal."
"Huh?"
"He wants to see his crush. Don't blame me." He laughed because of what he said and I cleared my throat because of it.
I rolled my eyes. Opal didn't told me about messaging Lincoln! Lintik na babae!
Imbis na mafrustrate ay inilabas ko ang phone ko galing sa bag to text kuya Rene. Sigurado kasi akong hindi pa natextan ni Opal dahil busy siya ngayong nakikiharot sa crush niya.
As I sent the message, bigla na lang itong hinablot ng katabi ko.
"Hey!" Agap ko. Tinaas ni Lincoln ang phone ko.
"Who are you texting?" He asked while trying to sneak out on it.
"It's none of your business! That's private! Give it back to me!" Sigaw ko saka hinablot ang damit niya but with that awkward gesture, I hurriedly let him go and punched his chest. Nadaing pa siya dahil ata sa lakas ng pagsuntok ko pero natawa na lang din siya sa huli.
Sa huli ay hindi ko iyon nakuha dahil mas matangkad talaga siya kesa sa akin.
He's typing on my phone and I saw him smiling like a hyena beside me. I rolled my eyes again. Bakit kasi ang tagal ni kuya Rene?!
"Here." He said. Inabot niya ang phone ko pero hindi ko iyon tinanggap.
"Ang arte nito." Nagulat na lang ako dahil hinablot niya ang kanang kamay ko.
It feels... surreal. Ang lambot ng kamay niya. It is also amazingly warm.
He grabbed my hand and gave my phone back. Napatingin ako sa kamay niyang nasa kamay ko pa rin, but the phone is separating our hands to touch holistically.
"Wait for my text later. I will expect for a reply."
On the last words he said, the sound of an automobile horn distracted the the dancing fireflies on my small stomach.
Kuya Rene's here.