Killing Me Softly

Chapter 7

Krisanta's POV

Later that day, nagdesisyon kaming dumaan nina Nico at Jenna sa Cool Beans Library Café bago magkanya-kanyang uwi. They are my blockmates. This place always had that quiet charm—bookshelves packed with donated novels, the smell of strong Sagada brew in the air, and warm lighting that made you forget thesis deadlines existed. Jenna was nursing her third iced coffee while Nico picked apart a slice of carrot cake like it was a lab sample. I, on the other hand, sat there staring at the screen of my laptop, barely absorbing anything. My mind had been elsewhere all day.

On that box..

On Liam...in pain

I didn't want to think about him, but the more I tried to ignore him, the louder the questions got in my head.

What’s in the box? What exactly is he hiding? And why was Sky being beaten to a pulp because of it?

“You look like you’re trying to read your screen through the Force,” Nico said, poking my side. I blinked and looked at him.

“Huh?”

“Wala. Wala lang. Tulala ka na naman. Is it the thesis, or is it... tall, cold, and terrifying?” si Nico. Tumingala ako at pumikit sabay haplos sa batok ko. Hinilot hilot ko ito. Naikwento ko sa kanila kahapon ang nangyari sa parking lot ng mall.

“Tall and terrifying?” Jenna repeated, raising a brow. “Wait, you mean that frat guy na may issue?

“Shh!” I hissed, eyes darting around.

“Suuure. Nothing going on,” Jenna whispered dramatically, grinning. “You just threw yourself between him and a bunch of frat thugs like it’s no big deal.”

“It wasn’t.” I closed my laptop, voice tight. “I just didn’t want anyone dying in front of me. That’s all.”

But they weren’t buying it. I could feel their teasing grins even without looking. Bigla ulit kaming natahimik, then out of nowhere, parang hindi mapakali si Nico, pasulyap sulyap siya doon sa isang mesa. Nagkatinginan kami ni Jeanna.

"What's wrong lover boy?" Jeanna asked. Biglang sumenyas ito na lumapit ang mukha namin. Sumunod kami ni Jeanna na nagtataka, panigurado, may chismis na naman ito. Ka lalaking tao, chismoso.

"See, that pretty woman? iyong mag-isang nagbabasa sa gilid" sabi nito na saglit na tumingin doon bago bumalik ang mata sa amin. Pasimple kaming lumingon ni Jeanna dahil nakatalikod kami doon sa kinaroroonan ng babaeng sinasabi nito. I saw a gorgeous face, ang amo ng mukha niya. Ang ganda! Pero parang suplada ang dating, sobrang seryoso sa binabasa nito.

"Crush ko yan! I wanna talk to her and introduce myself, pero nahihiya ako--napakaseryoso niya, parang masungit" bulong ni Nico. Tumaas ang kilay ko at nilingon ulit ang babae. Still, nasa libro parin ang atensiyon nito, hindi niya alintana ang mga matang nakatingin sa kanya. Ang ganda niya, lahat yata ng kulay mula anit hanggang talampakan niya, fair milky.

"Her name is Lianne Jade De Vera, taga CBA--Accountancy and member of the University Debate Team" patuloy nito. Ibinalik ko kay Nico ang atensiyon ko at ngumiti ng nakakaloko dito.

"Tsk, may bahag din pala buntot mo. Lapitan mo na--ikaw din baka magsisi ka kung maunahan ka" saad ko na tinanguan din ni Jeanna. Sumipsip ulit ako sa kape ko. Marahas na huminga si Nico, parang frustrated.

"Eh kung ganun lang kadali sana--but I saw her one time, may sumundo sa kanya na naka sports car." malungkot nitong sabi. Tumawa kami ni Jeanna at hindi ko napigilan ang tapikin siya sa balikat at umiling iling.

"Dead end. Tapos na ang laban" tatawa tawa kong sabi. Sumimangot ito at sinulyapan ulit ang babae.

"Tama na Nico. May nagmamay ari na huwag ka ng umeksena" si Jeanna na pinanlakihan ng mata. After another hour of semi-productive thesis talk, we packed up. Jenna was catching a ride with her boyfriend; Nico had a coding class pa raw. Naiwan ako, pretending I needed to "review one more file," but in truth—I just needed air. Solitude. A pause. So I did what I always do when I needed to breathe—I offered to get something outside and stepped away. I was zipping my bag shut when someone tapped the shelf behind me twice, softly. I turned—And there he was.

Sky.

Still carrying faint bruises from that night. Still with that lopsided, sunshine-in-the-middle-of-a-storm smile on his face. Dressed casually in a light hoodie, hands tucked in his pockets like he had all the time in the world.

“You always hang out here?” he asked, voice light and playful. I stared at him.

“Do you always follow people who save your life?” Pabalang kong sagot. Ang paglapit niya ay hindi ko gusto, baka mas lalong gugulo ang buhay ko dahil sa kanya, dahil sa bintang ni Liam sa akin na connected ako sa kapatid niyang ito sa pagtatago sa box.

He laughed.

“Fair question. But no, I don’t. Not always.”

“You’re saying this is coincidence?” nakataas kilay kong tanong ulit. Tumawa ulit siya ng mahina at sinuklay ang brass up nitong buhok.

“Maybe. Or maybe the universe wanted me to thank you properly.” He took a step closer, but not too close. Just enough to soften his presence. I noticed he was holding a warm drink—probably something sweet, judging by the whipped cream.

“I owe you, Krisanta.” nakangiti parin ito. Tumaas ulit ang kilay ko, he knew my name already. Well, he must have his own ways, lalo sa nakikita ko and based sa background ng surname nila, they can track background if they want to.

“You don’t owe me anything,” I said, tone sharp. “You were going to die. Anyone with a conscience would’ve done the same.” balewala kong sagot. Seryoso parin akong nag aayos ng mga gamit ko. I don't want this conversation with him, who knows his evil brother is just around and conclude again na magkasabwat kami.

“But you actually did,” he replied, smiling again. “And not just anyone would stand in front of a bunch of frat boys with nothing but a phone and guts.” I didn’t answer. I hated that his words felt like gratitude wrapped in flattery. It made me uncomfortable.

“You’re brave,” he added after a beat. “And kind. That’s a rare mix.”

"Yeah maybe you're right. But please tell your brother to stop pestering me. I don't know anything about that stupid box he's bubbling.--and I don't have business with you, idiin mo iyan sa kokote niya" inis kong sabi. Napamaang ito sandali, parang nabigla sa sinabi ko. Bigla niya akong hinawakan sa balikat, trying to confirm iyong narinig niya sa akin. Tumingin ako sa kamay niya kaya bigla din nitong tinanggal.

"He, what? Tarantado talaga. Where on earth did he get that stupid idea that box ay nasayo? Tsk!" biglang nawala ang ngiti nito, napalitan iyon ng galit sa kanyang mata. Pero saglit lang iyon, nang bumaling ulit siya sa akin, calmed na siya, bumalik ang ngiti niya.

"I don't know that sibling issues you two have, but please spare me--hindi ko kayo kilala" matapang kong sabi.

"I apologize Kris--sorry--

I looked away. “If you’re done thanking me, I’d like to enjoy my overpriced coffee in peace.”

He chuckled again and backed off a little, raising his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay. I’ll stop. But if I bump into you again, it’s definitely the universe.” iyong klase ng ngiti niya parang nakakaloko. Opposite talaga silang magkapatid, kung gaano ka cold iyong isa, na halos hindi mabinat ang skin ng mukha dahil walang emosyon na makikita, eto naman banat na banat dahil nakangiti lang lagi.

I glanced at him. “Or it’s you not respecting personal space.”

“Touché,” he said, and that smile never left his face. He began to turn away, then paused and looked back.

“Oh—and for the record,” he said, tapping his chest lightly, “you didn’t punch me. You saved me. That makes you the scariest kind of person.”

“How so?”

“You saw everything… and still chose to interfere.” He winked and walked out, humming some upbeat song like he didn’t just drop a loaded statement. I stared after him, unsettled. I didn’t punch him. I saved him. And yet he looked at me like he knew more about me than I did about him. Ano ba universe, bakit ba ako napunta sa gantiong sitwasyon?!