"Kairos Leonel Abella-Ferrolino," the brute said while literally grabbing my hand and then gave it a brief kiss. Agad ko naman iyong binawi dahil nandidiri ako sa presensiya niya. He just smirked at me and faced Gregory.
The brute which named Kairos offered his hand and then they went for a man hug. Naputol lang ang pagtingin ko sa kanila nang biglang bumulong si Zoey sa aking tainga.
"Kilala mo pala ang pinsan ko, Lil?"
Nagpakawala ako ng malalim na hininga at sumagot, "Not until now."
"Hm," Zoey only said and called the boys. "Kai, Greg! Balik na tayo sa stop natin. Baka hinahanap na tayo ng mga kasama natin."
Since nag-commute lang kami patungo rito dahil hindi naman ito kalayuan, kailangan pa naming tumawag ng tricycle or any rideable vehicle.
Papara na sana si Greg sa tricycle na paparating nang pinigilan ito ng isang kamay. I looked up and saw Kairos beside Greg. His hand was on Greg's but his eyes were on me. When our eyes met, he lowkey gave me a wink which made me froze in shock and disgust at kinausap si Greg as if he didn't do such horrible deed.
"Bro, may dala akong kotse," he said. "No need to call a tricycle."
"Ganoon ba? Sige," ani Greg at bumaling sa akin sabay hawak sa palapulsuhan ko. "Tara na, miss."
Thank God the ride was quick. Kasi kung natagalan pa kaming apat sa kalsada, baka natusok ko na ang mata ni Kairos dahil palagi siyang nakatitig sa akin whenever he had the chance.
Some might feel butterflies in their stomachs, pero ibahin niyo ko. I felt nothing but disgust.
Nang nakarating sa stop, ipinakilala ni Zoey ang kaniyang pinsan sa lahat ng mga kaklase ko. I almost choked on my saliva nang nakita ko kung paano namula ang mga pisngi ng mga babae kong kaklase dahil lang nahawakan ni Kairos ang mga kamay nila tig-iisa. The brute even kissed their knuckles! Just like what he did with mine earlier.
Mayamaya ay napagdesisyonan na ni Zoey at ilang class officers—including me—na simulan na ulit ang byahe para makarating kami roon before mag 2PM.
After a couple minutes of driving, we finally reached Oslob. Ipinark nalang nila ang van at ang kotse namin sa parking area since we have to ride a boat para makarating sa mismong island.
And since marami kami, we occupied lots of boats. Kasabay ko sina Greg, si Mang Roman, Zoey and my other classmates. Of course, hindi mawawala ang pinsan nitong walang hiyang nakatingin sa akin palagi.
Seriously, minutes from now tatawag na ako ng pulis! He's such a creep!
Thank God I survived.
"Sumilon Island!" sigaw ng isa sa mga it girl sa classroom noong senior high, si Fei.
Napangiwi ako nang walang hiya siyang lumapit kay Kairos at nagpa-picture.
Habang nakatitig ako sa kanila, napatango-tango ako. Based on their looks, bagay naman sila kasi I can't deny that Kairos is handsome kahit ayaw ko sa kaniya sa hindi malamang dahilan. Fei is a gorgeous one, campus crush.
The whole day in Sumilon Island was fun. Picture dito, picture doon. Ligo rito, ligo roon. I had fun watching my classmates having fun in the sea while I just sat on the seashore with Mang Ramon. Wala si Greg kasi kinuha siya ni Zoey at agad siyang dinumog ng mga kaklase ko.
Tumawa nalang ako sa nakita.
Night came and we finished eating dinner. We booked rooms sa isang resort kasi bukas ng hapon pa yata kami uuwi. Share kami ng room ni Zoey. Gusto ko sana mapag-isa but she kept on insisting na share kami.
As what I've told, I have no close friends but they talk to me occasionally.
"I like your boyfriend, Lil," biglang sabi ni Zoey nang naghahanda ako para lumabas. Gusto ko magpahangin at makipagtitigan sa kawalan.
I chuckled. "Hindi ko iyon boyfriend, Mayor Zoey."
"How come? He looks at you differently."
"Doesn't matter. I only see him as my father's scholar, a friend and a brother."
Hindi na nagsalita si Zoey and faced her phone kaya I took that opportunity to get out.
Hindi ko pa nga tuluyang naisarado ang pintuan nang narinig ko na naman ang nakakairitang boses na iyon.
"Where are you going this late?"
I closed the door, sighed, and faced the brute.
"Kahit saan basta wala ka," I answered and faked a smile.
He chuckled. "Why do you hate me?"
"Just because?" I answered.
"You can't hate someone just because," he said and stepped forward kaya napa-step backward na rin ako.
He kept on stepping forward hanggang sa naramdaman ko nalang ang malamig na pader sa likod ko.
He smirked and placed his hand just beside my face. I gulped out of nervousness. Paano ba naman, ang lapit na ng mukha niya sa mukha ko. Ano ang gagawin niya?!
"See you around, Lili."
Lord, please get me out of this hell.
✓
The whole Sumilon Island trip was fun and I went home with a smile on my face because a specific someone didn't bother me the whole time."Pasukan na sa Lunes, Lilianna. Did you prepare your stuff?" tanong ni Mama habang hinihiwa ang steak. Nasa isang mamahaling restaurant kami ngayon because Mama got her pay today. Hindi man halata but my mom always treat us to fancy restaurants or even go anywhere in the Philippines kapag sweldo niya na.Ayon kay Papa, nakagawian na nilang dalawa ang mamasyal kapag may extra sa mga sahod nila noong magjowa pa lamang sila. I found it very endearing because despite their busy schedules due to their works, hindi pa rin nila nakakalimutan ang isa't isa.Nilunok ko muna ang kinain ko bago sumagot. "Yes po, Ma. Naka-plantsa na rin ang uniform."
The first few weeks of being a freshman student was bearable. Naga-adjust pa rin kami sa new environment but thankfully, we managed."Lian!" lumingon ako sa direksyon kung saan narinig ko ang boses ni Sawyer. She was running towards me. "Lian! I have something to tell!"I almost shrieked when she almost slipped on the floor. We were on the first floor of the building kung saan tiled ang sahig ng quadrangle. I saw some students from the senior high department laugh at her clumsiness pero parang wala lang iyon sa kaniya."Bakit ka ba tumatakbo? Alam mo namang medyo madulas ang sahig dito!"Sawyer laughed. "That makes running more exciting!""Ano nga pala sasabihin mo?" tanong ko nang p
Nagpatuloy sa pag-uusap sina Sawyer at Greg as if may sarili silang mundo habang ako ay halos maging literal na estatwa na dahil sa titig ni Kairos na nasa tabi ko pa rin.I cursed in my head. Bakit ba ayaw niyang ialis ang tingin niya sa akin?! Hindi naman ako isang pintura na tinititigan!Nabaling lamang ang tingin ni Kairos sa harapan nang nagsalita ang emcee at sinabing magsisimula na ang program one minute from now."Ba't may pa-program pa? Daming hanash nina Dad, ah!" wika ni Sawyer.Kairos, who was beside me, chuckled. "Your brother turned 21 today, you know. He's a debutant.""Bakit n'ong nag 21 ka wala ka namang ganitong keme-keme?"
Midterms Exam is coming kaya todo review kami sa mga lessons na t-in-ackle ng mga professors. Nandito kami sa kwarto ni Sawyer ngayon nag-aaral. Wala kaming pasok ngayong hapon because the professors were busy with some stuff kaya hindi na namin iyon pinalampas at agad pumunta rito sa bahay nila. Hindi naman ito kalayuan kaya walang problema. "Why didn't you tell Gregory that you're coming with me? Diba higpit na binilin ng Papa mo na dapat kasama mo siya palagi?" Sawyer asked out of the blue. I smiled. "Having a bodyguard—or whatever you call them—all the time... is sometimes draining, you know?" Bawat galaw ko ay monitored nina Mama at Papa, and that is through Gregory. I can only go out when I'm with him or when I'm with his father, Manong Ramon, so that they'd know what I was do
I can't believe that brute! He really had the audacity to put his lips over mine without my permission! My lips is now ruined because of him!"Ano ba kasing nangyari, Miss? Bakit ang pula ng pisngi ni Kairos? Tila may sumampal sa kaniya."Well...Nagkibit-balikat nalang ako at pumasok sa kwarto ko. Hindi na ako pumunta sa office ni Mama at Papa roon. Today is their 20th wedding anniversary kaya alam kong namamasyal sila ngayon and enjoying each other's company.Bumagsak ako sa kama at tinakpan ng unan ang mukha ko at doon sumigaw nang sumigaw. I'm so angry right now, shouting my lungs out isn't enough.Kinabukasan, I woke up early even though it's the weekend. I have one class today
"Ms. Vera—""Just Lilianna, please," pagputol ko kay Ms. Coming.She smiled. "Lilianna, Mr. Ferrolino will be your dance partner in the upcoming dance contest in your school."If this brute really is my partner, that means he's also a business student. Ayon kay Ethan, he's in his third year."I'm gonna come here from time to time to monitor your progress. Dance to you hearts' content, guys," wika ni Ms. Coming at umalis na ng studio. Naiwan kaming dalawa ni Kairos dito.I looked at Kairos who walked to the laptop and searched something. Bigla namang dumapo ang mga mata ko sa labi niya. Uminit naman ang pisngi ko nang naalala ko na naman iyong ginawa niyang eskandalo sa mall. Na
Chapter 9Nagising ako sa ingay ng alarm clock ko. Bumangon naman ako para patayin iyon. I looked outside and the sun was about to rise. I could also hear the birds chirping and singing. Bumuntonghininga ako at umalis na sa kama para maligo.I was not supposed to wake up this early but I heard that Mama took a day off today and would stay inside the house all day. Ang rason kung bakit bumangon ako nang maaga ay ayaw kong makita si Mama. I couldn't face her... no, I don't want to face her.It's just that, I'm still upset about our last conversation. Of course, I understand where she's coming from. She wanted the best for me. But does wanting the best for her own child means controlling her every move and every decision? Hindi ko na alam.
Umiyak ako nang umiyak nong gabing iyon. Hindi ako makapaniwalang magagawa iyon ni Mama. Ano na ang gagawin ko ngayon? Paano ako makakapunta sa contest bukas? Ayokong biguin ang department ko.I might get a low grade because of this! Lagot na naman ako. I cannot afford to get a low grade. I have to do something... but how?Kinabukasan, maaga akong nagising but I was not moving. Nakasandal lang ako sa headboard ng kama at nakatunganga sa damit na nakasabit sa pintuan ng kwarto ko. It was a white dress shirt na binili ni Kairos para sa akin kahapon. Binigay niya iyon sa akin habang pauwi kami sa galing Naga.Bumaling ako sa alarm clock ko and it says that it's already 9 in the morning. The contest will start at exactly 2PM pero dapat nasa school na ako ngayon dahil magre-rehearse pa dapa