Chapter 4

Monday came, at halos hilahin ko ang sarili ko papasok sa UST. About what happened between my sister and I, hindi ko sinabi kay tita sa takot ko na baka maulit muli.

"Chelsy! Okay ka lang?" Carla asked.

Break time ngayon and nandito kami sa usual place namin, in front of the main building. I was only eating salad habang yung dalawa kong kaibigan ay kumakain ng burger.

I sighed and smiled at her, "Yeah, why?"

She looked at me for a little while, like she's reading my mind. Binaling ko nalang ulit ang tingin ko sa salad ko at kumain. The three of us were silent, hanggang sa mag salita si Gertrude.

"Girl, what's the real score between you and Sebastian?"

Sa tanong niyang iyon ay nabilaukan ako. I quickly reached for my tumbler so I could drink water. After that, pinunasan ko ang bibig ko with my handkerchief and looked at Gertrude, who was looking at me innocently.

"Why did you asked?" Kunot noo kong tanong sa kanya.

She just shrugged and went back eating her burger, "Lately napapansin ko na lagi kayong magkasama. Inaabangan ka pa nga niya sa Engineering building tuwing dismissal."

She's right though. Ever since he knew what happened, from the arrangement hanggang sa nangyari sa amin dalawa ng kapatid ko, Sebastian didn't leave my side. Lagi siyang nakabuntot sa akin, which is nice because si Mason ay hindi nakakalapit sa akin.

"Ah wala, we're just friends. Childhood friends to be exact," I answered. Hindi naman pwedeng sabihin ko iyon sa kanila dahil pag nagkataon, baka problemahin pa nila ako.

I don't want to be a burden. I'm sure they also have their own problem, and ayokong madagdagwn pa iyon ng akin.

After eating our snacks, we went back to our building to get ready for our next class. I was busy scanning my notes, nang. ay tumabi sa akin. My gaze went up to look at that person, and bitch, I want to throw him to the North Pole ASAP.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Inosenteng tanong ni Mason sa akin.

I rolled my eyes before looking around, finding a new seat. Madalian kong inayos ang gamit ko, and I was about to stand up when he held my arm. Irita ko siyang tinignan and he was looking at me while smirking.

"Get off of me, asshole," I said in a serious tone.

Lumaki ang ngisi sa labi niya, and he licked his lower lip a little. Padabog kong hinablot ang braso ko sa kanya, pero mas humigpit ang kapit niya sa akin.

"Ahh, so feisty, I like that," he said and winked at me.

I gave him a disgusting look and he just laughed at me before forcing me to sit down on the chair. Dumukwang siya palapit sa tainga ko, and I was doing my na umiwqs, but he held the side of my head so my head was now in placed.

I felt him sniffing on my hair and nibbling my ear. Mahigpit akong napahawak sa desk ko. I tried pushing him away, pero hindi ko kaya. Masyado siyang malakas. Nang hindi siya makuntento sa ginawa niya sa akin, his hands went down to caress my thighs.

I pursd my lips, para pigilan ang sarili ko na maluha. He was molesting me. Harassment!

Tumigil lang siya nang pumasok ang prof namin. I saw him smirking before leaning on his chair, like nothing happened. Fuck him! He harassed me dito sa block namin! At wala akong nagawa!

I raised my hand so I can call the attention of my prof, "Yes, Ms. Makinano?"

I stood up and before glancing at Mason, na nakatingin sa akin ngayon ng mariin. I cleared my throat before getting my things.

"I'm sorry mam, but I'm not feeling well. Can I go home?" I pleaded.

Bumntong hininga ang prof before wiping her glasses, "Ms. Makinano, this will be the only time that I will allow you to cut your class. Understand?"

I nodded my head, "Yes mam, thank you," with that ay nag mamadali akong umalis.

Good thing I bought my car with me today, kaya hindi na ako nag pasundo pa sa driver namin. I went to the parking lot at sumakay agad sa sasakyan ko. Once I got inside my car, ilang beses kong pinaghahampas at pinag uuntog ang ulo ko sa manibela.

"Harssment iyon, at wala kang nagawa Chelsy? Ang tanga mo!" I said to myself habang ginugulo ko ang buhok ko.

Mas dumagdag pa ang rason ko kung bakit ayoko siyang pakasalan, o bakit mas lalo akong hindi papayag sa putanginang arrangement na iyan. If he is already like this, what more pag naging asawa ko siya? Baka gahasain na niya ako.

I reached for my phone at hinanap ko agad ang pangalan ni Basti sa contacts ko.

To: Sebastian

Mason harassed me, sa block mismo!

I'm not expecting for his reply dahil class hours ngayon, so I got surprised when he replied.

From: Sebastian

Talagang hindi ka tatantanan niyang gagong iyan ano?

To : Sebastian

Hey, class hours ngayon ah

From: Sebastian

Alam ko, pero mas importante ka. Kumusta ka naman? Nasaan ka?

To: Sebastian

Parking lot. I excused myself sa klase ko after what happened

From: Sebastian

Wait for me

To: Sebastian

What? No! Okay lang ako

From: Sebastian

Basta, huwag kang makulit, intayin mo ako.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Agad kong tanong kay Seb when he knocked on my window.

"I told you, intayin mo ako," he casually answered.

Nag salubong kilay ko, "Yeah, but you skipped your class?"

He nodded his head, "I can skip class whenever I want."

Agad ko siyang binatukan kaya napahawak agad siya sa ulo niya, "Aray, ang sakit ah."

I rolled my eyes, "Stupid! Go back to your class nga!"

"Wala naman akong babalikan pa. Natapos ng maaga eh," he answered at kumunot ang noo ko sa kaniya.

"Anong natapos ng maaga? Asshole, it's just 1:30pm!" I said while pointing at my wrist watch.

He licked his lower lip before brushing his hair with his fingers, "Oo nga. Check mo pa schedule ko," and he gave me his schedule and I knew that his class for this day ay hanggang 1pm lang.

"Mag palipas ka nalang ng sama ng loob, may alam akong lugar," he said kaya agad ko siyang nilingon.

"Where?"

"Laguna?"

"Sebastian Angelo Monteferrante, nag iisip ka ba? Monday ngayon oh!" Singhal ko sa kaniya and he just laughed at me.

"Monday nga, patay na oras naman so no traffic," he answered, "ako na mag drive, pumayag ka na."

"The fuck Seb, aano tayo sa Laguna?" Taka kong tanong sa kaniya and he just smiled at me.

"Just trust me on this, okay?"

Sa sinabi niyang iyon ay kumalma ako. There's nothing wrong right? I mean, Seb is my childhood friend not to mention that he's my one and only crush, so I guess it's okay right?

"Sige, pero gas mo ah," I said before going out of the drivers seat so I can seat on the shotgun seat.

"Anong meron sa Laguna?" I asked while we're on our way.

Seb was just driving with his right hand, habang nakasandal sa ang kaliwang kamay niya sa bintana. From my seat, I can see how perfect his jaw is. How perfect his pointed nose is. And the way he's adam's apple move when he's gulping. Seb was wearing his uniform, and also a color silver wrist watch on his right hand.

"Gwapo ko noh?"

Sa sinabi niyang iyon, nabalik ako sa realidad. I gave him a digusting look at tumingin nalang sa daanan at humalukipkip.

"So anong meron in Laguna?" I asked him before glancing at his side.

"May treehouse ako doon," he answered at bahagya akong natawa.

"Treehouse? Really?"

He glanced at me for a second before returning his gaze on the road, "Oo nga. Diba noong bata tayo, palagi mong sinasabi na gusto mo magkaroon ng treehouse, tapos mag babahay-bahayan tayo doon? Naaalala mo ba?"

I put my pointing finger on my chin and looked up so I can remember it.

"Seb Seb, gusto ko ng treehouse," nakanguso kong sabi.

Nandito ako ngayon sa bahay nila Seb Seb at nag lalaro kami dito sa backyard nila. We're playing bahay-bahayan right now.

"Huh? Treehouse? Bakit naman?" Seb Seb asked.

He's wearing a paper crown on his head, habang yung puting kumot ay nakatali sa likuran niya. Habang ako, I'm also wearing my own paper crown, habang nakasuot ng pink dress. Ako ang reyna, at siya ang hari sa palsyong binuo namin.

"Para doon tayo mag bahay-bahayan!" Masayang sabi ko habang pumapalakpak pa.

"Oh yeah, naalala ko nga," sabi ko at tinignan siya, "so, tinupad mo pala iyon."

He glanced at me for a second, "Oo naman, para sa reyna ko."

Napailing nalang ako at tinuon ang tingin ko sa daanan. When we arrived at his treehouse, agad kaming bumaba ng sasakyan. Pinagmasdan ko ang paligid, at maraming halaman at puno ang nakatanim dito.

"Sir, nandito po pala kayo. Hindi po kayo nagpasabi," one of the household keeper said to Sebastian.

Namulsa si Seb at nahihiyang napakamot sa batok niya, "Sorry po manang, biglaan eh."

"De bale hijo, kalilinis lang ng treehouse kani-kanina lang," sabi ng household at napatingin siya sa akin.

"Siya ba ang tinutukoy mo hijo?" Makabuluhan na tanong nito kay Seb.

Seb glaced at me before nodding his head to manang. Nakita king ngumiti si manang at tinapik ang balikat ni Seb, bago nag paalam na aalis na ito. Seb walked towards my direction at hinawakan ang palapulsuhan ko.

"Tara, nasa likuran iyong tree house," aya niya and I nodded my head.

Namangha ako sa itsura ng treehouse niya. Para siyang bahay kubo, pero nasa puno ito. There's a ladder and a rope, para makaakyat sa loob ng bahay. When we got inside the treehouse, I saw a small bed made out of wood, a carpet, at mini dining area and kitchen. May nakita pa nga akong dalawang korona. Isang pang hari, at isang pang reyna.

"Welcome to our palace, my queen," Seb said at nilagay sa ulo ko ang korona na pang reyna. He was already wearing his own crown.

Natawa ako at pinagmasdan ang kabuoan ng treehouse na ito. Nakakita ako ny guitara na nakasandal sa dingding nitong bahay, at agad ko iyon kinuha. I sat on the bed before strumming the guitar, even though I don't know any chords.

"Turuan kita?" Seb asked while pointing at his guitar.

Umiling ako bago binigay ang guitara sa kaniya, "Wala akong tyaga mag guitara," I said and he looked at me, "You play guitar pala."

He chukled before placing the guitar back on its own place, before seating down next to me, "Natuto ako sa states. Pag bored ako, nag guiguitara ako. Stress reliever ko ang pag guitara eh."

I nodded my head, "That's nice. Ako kasi, walang alam sa pagtugtog ng instruments eh. Wala kasi akong tyaga sa ganon."

"Baka dahil kasi, hindi iyon ang passion mo, o iba any forte me," he said kaya napalingon ako sa kaniya.

Nangingiti kong tinanggal ang korona na suot ko at pinatitigan iyon, "Noong bata tayo, paper crown is enough for us. Ngayon, totoong korona na."

"Lyric," napatingin ako sa kaniya.

He licked his lower lip before biting it gently. Ilang beses bumukas ang bibig niya, at ilang beses din itong sumara. Kumunot ang noo ko sa kaniya.

"What is it, that you want to tell me?" I asked, seriously.

"Pwede ka bang maging reyna ko sa palasyong binuo natin?"

Sa tanong niyang iyon, halos tumigil sa pag tibok ang puso ko. What? Ang bilis naman ata?

"Look, matagal na kita gusto. That's why todo ang pag bantay ko sayo. Ayoko kasing mapunta ka sa iba," dugtong niya sa sinabi niya.

I sighed before standing up to face him, "Sebastian, you know mahirap akong ligawa. Masyadong mataas ang standards ko sa lalaki."

He nodded his head, "Alam ko naman iyon, pero kaya kong gawin sayo ang lahat ng gusto mo. Gusto mong haranahin kita, it's fine with me. Gusto mong sulatan kita ng tula at letters, it's fine with me. I will wait for you, may chansa man o wala. Kung gusto mong maranasan ang old style of pursuing someone, gaya ng sabi mo, hayaan mo na ako ang mag paranas sa iyo ng ganon."