Loving Izi

Chapter V

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"How's school?" I sliced the cake using my fork and I immediately eat it. Sweetness and a little bit of bitterness was filled in my mouth as I gently chew the cake. I saw Xandro who's waiting for me to answer his never ending question. Nakapangalumbaba siya at wagas kung makatitig.

"It's fine Xandro. How about you?" I asked back. Inabot ko yung pitcher ng orange juice but it's too far. Tatayo na sana ako para kunin ito nang inunahan na ako ni Xandro. Kinuha niya ang pitcher at nilagyan na rin niya ang glass ko.

"Boring eh, at dahil nakilala kita, siguro sa next school year sa paaralan niyo na ako mag-tatransfer." Grin was plastered on his lips while saying that. Ibinigay niya sa akin yung baso ng juice at kinuha ko naman ito.

"Xandro, huwag mo akong gawing rason sa paglipat mo ng skwelahan." 

"You're one of the reasons Ianne. Talagang lilipat kami dito dahil may aasikasuhin si dad sa negosyo." Napatango naman ako sa sinabi niya.

You know I don't like that Xandro. I keep hearing his voice in my head. I really can't see his point there. He don't like what? Which one? The part where Xandro fixed my hair or yung paglapit niya sa akin? Close kaming agad ganun? I don't mind though, Xandro is friendly. Pero ang nakakapagtaka lang ay bakit ayaw ni Izi? Is he jealous?

Butterflies are now tickling my belly just the mere idea of him being jealous because of Xandro. Is that it? Do you like me now Izi? Do I need to make you feel jealous so I could see if there's a slight chance that you will eventually like me — that you will eventually love me? 

I'm both hoping and doubting. But the jealous thingy, I won't do it. I don't want to use Xandro's interest in me para lang makitang may gusto sa akin si Izi. That would be too desperate isn't? 

I want Izi to love me naturally, but I think that's too impossible to happen. Pero kahit ganun, I'm still happy na somehow may kaunti siyang nararamdaman sa akin. His care for me is enough. I won't ask for more because I'm afraid that I will end up gaining nothing if I do it. 

I slowly raised the glass of orange juice to take a sip as my mouth welcomed its fresh taste. I felt like I'm being surrounded with oranges after drinking it, similar to a certain commercial that I've seen in the TV. 

"Do you like it?" Napatingin ako kay Xandro nang tanungin niya ako. I nodded. "Yeah. Ibang iba sa mga natikman ko ng orange juice." 

"That's because iba talaga yan. We brought it from San Terencio. We have a farm there ng iba't ibang uri ng prutas. Yung ininom mo eh pure orange juice na may kaunting honey, para naman hindi ganun kaasim." 

Na amaze naman ako sa sinabi niya. "Did you squeeze it?" I innocently asked. 

Natawa naman siya. "No Ianne, we have our own factory and my crew kami para diyan. It's their job but kaya ko naman. Do you want me to show you? May orange pa sa ref niyo." Nagulat naman ako. Like literally now?

"O-Okay." I answered.

He stood up and went to our refrigerator. Nakita kong binuksan niya ito at may kinuhang tatlong orange. Tumayo na rin ako at sinundan siya sa counter. 

He grabbed a knife and the chopping board, then he cut one orange in half. Habang pinapanuod ko siyang gawin yun sa iba pang orange, umupo ako sa barstool at pumunagalumbaba. Pero agad ding napatuwid nung inangat niya ang kanyang tingin sa akin.

He smiled. "Do you have citrus reamer?" I slightly pout my lips at tumango sa kanya. Itinuro ko ang cabinet na nasa likuran niya. Liningon naman niya ito at binuksan. 

Then, he squeeze the bisected orange with the citrus reamer. Ang satisfying nung ginagawa niya. 

"Uy!" Napapikit ako ng mariin at napahawak pa ako sa aking dibdib nang gulatin ako ni Urm. 

"Jeez! Urm naman eh." 

"Sorry." Natatawa niyang saad. She went besided me and pulled the other barstool. Umupo siya doon at tinignan niya rin ang ginagawa ni Xandro.

"Why are you both here?" She asked. Pumunta kasi sa garden yung ibang mga lalake at doon sila kumain ng cake. Pero dahil nagstay ako dito sa kusina, nag stay rin dito si Xandro.

I just shrugged my shoulders as my answer. I saw Xandro pouring the juice in another glass then he gave it to me. Nagsalin din siya ng ibang baso at kay Urm naman niya ito ibinigay.

"Try it." He uttered. Ininom ko yung ginawa niya at ganun ulit. Parang may nakapalibot na naman sa akin na orange. Ang sarap nito.

"Hmm, it's good" Urm said while nodding. Napatingin ako kay Xandro para sana tignan kong nasatisfy siya sa sinabi ni Urm pero nagulat ako nang makitang sa akin siya nakatingin at hindi kay Urm. 

He raised his two thick brows as though he's waiting for my comment. "Uh, masarap nga Xandro. Parang yung ininom ko lang kanina." 

He nodded and gave me his sweet smile. He was satisfied with my comment so have gave me another glass of orange juice.

Umiling ako sa kanya. "Hala, okay na yun Xandro. Hindi naman maganda kung yan lang ang iinumin ko. I might become acidic because of that."

"Oh right. Sorry." He said shyly. Napakamot pa siya sa ulo niya.

"What taking you so long?" I flinched when I heard him behind me. Agad akong napalingon and I saw Izi scowling at us. 

"Nag squeeze kasi ako ng orange juice Izi kaya natagalan at —" 

Hindi niya pinakinggan si Xandro dahil bumaling siya sa akin. Napalunok ako dahil sa namumuong inis sa kanyang mga mata. 

"Your dad is calling you Ianne. Hindi mo raw sinasagot yung tawag niya. Bakit ka kasi nandito? Ugh never mind, just stay by my side para mabantayan ka, ako tuloy itong pinapagalitan ng daddy mo." Naiinis niya sambit at agad niya akong tinalikuran.

"And please drink water." Dugtong niya at tuluyan na siyang umalis sa kusina.

Napatulala ako doon. "What was that?" I heard Urm saying that. I didn't mind her, agad na rin akong umalis sa kusina at pumunta sa kwarto ko. I left my phone here. I didn't expect my dad to call me this Sunday, ang akala ko kasi busy siya ngayon. 

I opened my phone and saw eight missed calls from dad. Jeez. Why? Is it urgent?

I dialed dad's number at tinawagan ko siya. Nakakaisang ring palang eh sinagot na niya.

"Ianne!" Bungad niya sa akin.

"I'm sorry dad. Iniwan ko kasi dito sa room yung phone ko." I explained

"It's okay anak. I just want to tell you na baka matatagalan pa kami dito sa San Maguin." Nalungkot naman ako sa sinabi ni daddy. 

"Why dad?" I asked

I heard him sigh. "Anak malala kasi yung damage ng dam dito. We should be here while they're fixing it. I'm sorry. Nandiyan naman si Izi eh." Napasimangot ako sa sinabi niya. Mommy and daddy knew since then na crush ko si Izi. Maybe that's the reason why dad asked him to come here and accompany me. 

Speaking of Izi, dapat pala na nasa tabi niya lang ako if I really want our relationship to level up. 30 days, 30 chances. 

Huminga ako ng malalim. Nakakahiya na pinagalitan pa siya ni daddy dahil sa hindi ko sinagot ang tawag niya. 

"Fine dad and please send my regards to mommy. Tell her that I miss her. Please be safe. Love you dad." 

"I'll will Ianne. I love you too." Then he ended our call. Napatingin ako sa orasan sa kwarto ko. It's exactly 10 am. 

I put my phone inside my pocket assuming that dad might call me again. I searched for my scrunchie at agad ko naman itong nakita sa vanity table ko. Kinuha ko ito at sinakop ang buhok ko. I tied it with my cute floral scrunchie and faced the mirror in my vanity. I pulled some of my hair out, specifically on the side of my ears.

I stood up and smiled when I'm satisfied with my ponytail. Nasulyapan ko yung lip gloss na ibinigay sa akin ni Urm noon. Walang pag-alinlangan ko itong kinuha at binuksan. I leaned towards the mirror so that I could closely look my lips while putting lip gloss on it. 

Just one swipe on my lower lip with the stick and I pressed it with my upper lip. I cast a smile and slightly pinched my cheek making it look like that I blushed. 

Napatingin naman ako sa pinto ko nang may narinig akong kumatok dito. I walked briskly to it and immediately opened the door making my jaw dropped as I saw Izi standing there with his firm arms crossed over his chest. 

I stepped back when he entered my room. Isinara niya ang pinto at nakita ko pang inilock niya ito. 

He then faced me with his face plastering a grim expression. "Ano sabi ng daddy mo?" Even his voice is cold as him back on the days when he's not talking to me. 

"Baka raw matatagalan pa sila sa San Maguin." Sagot ko sa tanong niyang kay lamig. 

Hindi siya umimik. Tinignan niya lang ako ng mariin. Naconscious tuloy ako. Jeez, what's with the intense stare? 

"Stop staring." I murmured.

"Then stop being so annoying." He muttered. 

"What? I didn't do anything." Naguguluhan kong sambit sa kanya. 

Lumapit siya sa akin kaya napatingala ako. Gosh, he's so tall. Nagulat ako nung inilapit niya pa ang kanyang mukha sa akin.

"W-What are you doing?" Naghuhuramentado na ang puso ko dahil ang lapit namin sa isa't isa. I can barely breathe because of our distance. Ilang pulgada na lang mahahalikan na niya ang labi ko.

"Why is your lips so shiny?" Nahiya naman ako sa tanong niya kaya agad kong iniwas ang mukha ko. Lumayo ako sa kanya at medyo napayuko. Jeez, namumula na ang aking pisngi dahil sa kahihiyan.

"You're really something. You just met him Ianne pero mukhang gusto mo na siya huh." 

Kumunot ang noo ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Anong gusto? Sino? "What are you talking about?" I asked him. 

"Xandro, Ianne. You like him do you? That bastard." He scoffed.

Natawa naman ako saka umiling. "I don't like him Izi. Iba ang gusto ko, and Xandro is friendly kaya hindi rin impossible na magustuhan ko siya." Sabi ko at tumango tango pa. It's true. Xandro is sweet obviously. Gwapo pa siya. Kaya hindi rin malabo.

"Oh don't you dare Ianne. Hindi mo siya kilala at sino namang unggoy ang nagustuhan mo kung hindi si Xandro?" Itinaas pa niya ang kanyang isang kilay habang hinihintay ang sagot ko sa tanong niya. 

I smirked. Itinagilid ko ang ulo ko at napahalukipkip. "Secret." Ang manhid niya talaga. All this time, hindi niya talaga alam na gusto ko siya? 

He groaned. "Ianne, malalagot ako sa daddy mo." Unti unting namang nawala ang ngisi ko sa labi nang marinig ang sinabi niya. So he didn't want me to be with Xandro kasi magagalit si daddy? 

Nga naman. Ano pa ba ang bago? Why would he be jealous Ianne? 

"Magagalit si daddy." I murmured bitterly. 

"Yes Ianne. Magagalit ang daddy mo kaya huwag mo ng pansinin si Xandro." I looked at him. I hoped na nagsisinungaling siya, na hindi lang si daddy ang magagalit kundi pati rin siya. But my disappointed heart was disappointed once again. 

I heaved a painful sigh. "Don't worry Izi. Dad won't get mad at you. Actually, gusto niya pang magkaroon ako ng boyfriend eh." Sabi ko at agad na siyang linagpasan at lumabas na sa kwarto ko. 

I'm really disappointed but I should stay focused. There's still 28 chances remaining. Dalawang araw pa lang naman Ianne so there's still a chance. Just be yourself and let your heart do the work.

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