Chapter 4 : Avoiding him

Chapter 4

I WAS SITTING peacefully in the corner when I suddenly heard chit chat around me. Malapit lang ito sa akin kaya naman ay kahit bulong lang ay naririnig ko sila.

"Girl, nakita mo ba yung post ni Rita?" rinig kong bulong nung babae.

"Yah! And I envy her, like duh, I hope I have a boyfriend like hers," maarteng sagot ng babae.

"Are they really together?"

"My sister said he was courting rita last year but sadly, Rita needed to go back abroad, maybe he wants to court her again. What a lucky girl." nagtawanan ang dalawa.

Court her? and again?

Hindi ko na natiis pa ang mga naririnig kaya naman ay umalis na ako doon.

Hindi siya nagpunta sa amin ng araw na iyon dahil may importante itong gagawin kaya naman ay bakante ang oras namin sa subject na iyon na ikinatuwa ko dahil hindi ko pa ulit siya kayang tingnan ng malapitan, lalo na ngayon na ginagawa ko ang lahat upang maiwasan siya.

Nag-aalala sa akin ang dalawa kong kaibigan dahil nanatili lang akong tahimik buong araw at walang imik.

They never asked me but I know they already have an idea what happened to me—or what makes me frustrated.

Kinabukasan ay ganun pa rin ang mood ko. Mas lalo pa akong nalungkot ng makitang nakasakay si Rita Danielle sa sasakyan ni Theseus ng mapadaan ito sa guard house.

Why am I hurting? It's just a crush, but why do I feel a pang on my chest?

AFTERNOON, Vera was not around so I decided to buy food by myself.

Nakatingin lang ako sa mga paa ko habang naglalakad hanggang sa mapatigil ako ng may nabangga ako.

"Sorry," sabi ko at umiwas.

Napaangat ako ng tingin ng bigla ako nitong hawakan sa braso.

"Are you okay?" si Theseus na bakas ang pag-aalala.

Tumango lang ako at binawi ang kamay bago siya nilagpasan, narinig ko pang tinawag niya ako pero hindi ko siya nilingon.

NAGKASALUBONG muli kami hanggang sa mag-uwian ay hindi ko siya pinansin.

Maybe it's time to uncrush him.

It's been a week since I started to avoid him. I still remember our last encounter which is last night. My parents invited them and I was shock that he was also there, he's not always attending a dinner when my parents invited them. Madalas ay ang isa lang niyang kapatid ang sumasama kaya naman nagtaka ako sa ikinilos niya kagabi.

Nakasimangot akong bumaba dahil inaantok pa ako nang ipatawag ako nila Mom. Ngumuso na lang ako at nagpatuloy bumaba ng hagdan.

"My," mahinang tawag ko.

"Darling, here!" sigaw nito sa dining kaya dun na ako dumiretso.

Malapad akong ngumiti ngunit agad din iyong naglaho nang makita kung sino ang kasama nila Mom sa dining.

My eyes widened and I don't know why I am suddenly feel nervous because of him!

"Hello, hija! Mana ka talaga sa Mom mo, beautiful as always." masayang bungad sa akin ng nanay ni Theseus.

Nahihiyang ngumiti ako sa kanya. "Good evening po sa inyo," lumapit ako kina Mom para humalik.

"Sit beside him, darling!" sabi ni Mom nang mauupo sana ako sa tabi niya.

Napakamot naman ako ng noo. Kinakabahan akong umupo sa tabi ni Theseus. Hindi ko ito binalingan ng tingin at nanatiling tahimik.

Nang nagsimulang kumain ang lahat ay tahimik lang ako at sumasagot lang kapag tinatanong nila. Naramdaman ko naman ang tingin ng katabi ko ngunit pinili kong balewalain iyon kahit gustong-gusto ko na lingunin siya.

Nang matapos ang dinner ay nagpaalam na ako sa kanila dahil hindi ko na talaga kinakaya ang presensya niya.

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang makalabas ako ng bahay. Tumambay lang ako sa garden namin at umupo sa damuhan. Napatingala ako sa kalangitan, humiga ako at tumitig lang sa langit na puno ng mga bituin at sa bilog na bilog na buwan.

Napangiti ako at napapikit ng biglang humangin ng malakas.

"So damn pretty," napamulat ako nang marinig ang boses nito at may maramdaman sa may tainga ko.

Napabangon ako at nanlalaking mata na tumingin sa kanya. "Ano?!"

He chuckle. Ako naman ay nahihiyang nag-iwas ng tingin.

Magsasalita na sana ako para sawayin siya ngunit inunahan niya ako.

Tumayo siya at ngumiti sa akin. "See you tomorrow, Dahlia." naiwan akong gulat sa kinilos nito.

That's what happened last night.

''Vera, ano next subject natin ngayon?'' kinakabahan kong tanong.

After what happened last week, I decided to avoid him. I'm just nothing to him yet I act like a mad girlfriend. I'm just fifteen years old, turning sixteen this coming saturday, maybe I was too young for this. But how would I stop myself admiring him? Pero hinahangaan nga lang ba talaga? I can feel that this is not a crush anymore. When I saw him he makes my heart beat so fast, he can make me happy in his simple glance, the way he smirked at me, the way he talked to me using his cold voice I felt so contented. Lastly, seeing him with other girl makes me jealous and hurt at the same time. I'm not dumb not to notice this feeling. I think I am already falling in love with him.

But do I really am?

''I think it’s Business Finance, why?'' I just shook my head and she shrugged.

Is it possible to fall in love at this age? I don't really know. They said at this age you're going to experience a happy crush or puppy love but why do I feel different? I'm so confused.

I’m still a minor. A fifteen year old girl turning sixteen this coming saturday while he’s already nineteen.

Thinking about our age gap makes me lose a hope that he will like me.

What is love? What does it truly mean? Maybe I need to understand it soon. The only love I know is for my family, the rest I don't have any idea anymore.

I fix myself and sit properly. I stared at the board blankly. I didn't want him to see that I was hurt because I was jealous. We greeted him after he entered our room. We stared at each other for a second before I looked away.

Our topic for today is Flowing of Funds. He discussed to us how the movement of money in and out of bank accounts. He also said that flows can vary depending upon the number of times money moves, the currency, the payment rail, type of business, the goods or services the business provides, by whom the business is run, and asset types that the business holds.

Nang matapos siya magdiscussed ay medyo nag ingay na ang paligid kaya naman ay sinaway niya ang mga maiingay, using his cold voice. ''Quiet. I have announcement.'' striktong sabi nito. Natahimik naman ang lahat dahil sa takot nila.

''Mr. Yiu can't book a flight from the U.S to the Philippines for a reason. I don't really know the exact date when he will come back. So, expect me here for more upcoming days. That's all. You can have your lunch now.'' He said then looked at me intently.

I was about to leave with Vera but he suddenly called me. ''Ms. Moretti, I need to talked to you.'' nanlaki ang mata ko dahil sa boses nito.

Is that real? Or am I just hallucinating? His voice is full of gentleness as if he is talking to a child for pete sake! Vera looked shocked at what she heard too. Like, he’s not like that naman! He’s so mean kaya! She looked at me with his judging eyes before walking away. She just waved her hand then left. ''Ahm why?'' naiilang kong tanong.

I sit on the chair in front of him. My brows furrowed when he suddenly stand to close the door? He even locked it. I looked at him confusedly. ''You're avoiding me.'' he stated.

Umiwas ako ng tingin. ''I'm not.'' sagot ko.

''Do you think I'm going to believe you?''

''Nagtanong ka pa, di ka naman pala maniniwala.'' pasmadong sagot ko.

He sighed. ''Are we okay?'' tanong nito.

I secretly snorted.

''Oo naman, bakit?'' umiling ito.

He sighed heavily.

''You're acting different.'' his voice is very gentle.

Seriously, what the hell is his problem?

''Huh? Panong different?'' inosenteng tanong ko kahit alam ko naman ang tinutukoy niya.

''Are you mad? Is this because of the girl-”

I cut him off and that made him stiffened.

''Hindi ng sabi! Bakit naman ako magagalit kung kasama mo girlfriend mo? Hindi ako nagseselos! Pakialam ko sa inyo?!'' iritadong sabi ko.

He stared at me for a second before he pursed his lips to smile. ''So, that's the reason why are you avoiding me? You're jealous? She's nothing.'' tumingin ako sa kanya.

My lips parted.

''She's not your girlfriend?'' umiling ito.

''She's not and she will never be. Are you still mad at me?''

Umiling ako. ''I'm not mad, I-im just frustrated for nonsense reason you know.'' I awkwardly said then he chuckled.

''You're so cute baby.''

My eyes widened when he called me baby! Is this for real?!

''Baby?!'' sigaw ko.

''Yes baby?'' my lips parted.

Mahihimatay na ata ako dito. Totoo ba ito? If this is just a dream, this will be the best dream ever!

''Stop giving me a mix signals, I don't need that!'' inis kong sabi dito.

Nanatili itong nakatitig sa akin kaya naman hindi ko maiwasan kabahan.

''What if I told you that I like you?'' tanong nito.

Natigilan ako. He likes me? Damn self, what if lang, wag kang excited. Umiwas lang ako ng tingin at hindi na naglakas ng loob pa na tignan sya.

''Dahlia Nicaleigh Moretti, do you mind if I court you?'' He said using his serious voice.

Is he really serious? What if he's just playing with me?

Malalim akong napabuntong-hininga.

''I’m still young. A fifteen years old student. Hindi ko alam kung maniniwala ba ako.'' tanging nasabi ko.

''So I am. I am not that old. But I respect your decision, but I wanted you to know that I'm not playing with you. I am so damn serious. I will start courting you in your 16th birthday whether you like it or not.'' my jaw dropped.

My heart beat so fast as he smiled at me.

But it feels so wrong!

I’m still a minor! Ano na lang ang iisipin ng mga tao sa paligid namin dahil nililigawan niya ang batang katulad ko?! Kung sa akin wala iyong malisya ngunit sa ibang tao alam kong marami ang huhusga sa amin lalo na sa kanya.

Sa halip na tumango ay fipid na lang akong ngumiti.

I don’t know anymore.

Ang bilis ng pangyayari. I can’t help but to doubt. He is a nice person, pero ganon na lang ba talaga yun? Pwede bang mahulog ang isang tao ng ganon kabilis?

Natapos ang lahat ng klase na iyon lang ang inisip ko. Hindi ako makapaniwala dahil ang gusto kong lalaki ay liligawan na ako. Ang sarap isipin na nagustuhan ako ng lalaking gusto ko, ngunit kaakibat naman nito ang takot sa posibleng mga mangyari.

I will ask my Mom about this matter.

Hindi ako dapat mag paligoy-ligoy. Kahit naman labis ang pagkagusto ko sa kanya ay hindi ko rin gusto na masaktan sa huli dahil paglalaruan lang pala ako nito.

For now, I will let destiny decide what is meant for us—or if we are really meant for each other.