Kabanata 3
1526 Words
Evangeline stood by the entrance of their school. Napipikon na siya dahil malapit nang mag-time ngunit wala pa rin ang sasakyan nina Linel. Anong oras ba pumapasok iyon? Linus was already at school. Nakita niya ito kanina na kasabay pumasok ng girlfriend nito. Hindi ba talaga sinusubukan ni Linel na pumasok nang kasing aga ng kapatid?
"Ae? Sinong hinihintay mo?" tanong ng gwardya na mukhang napansin nang kanina pa siya roon.
She hugged her books. "Kuya Marvin, napansin n'yo na bang pumasok si Linel?"
"Ah, si Linel? Oo, kasabay nina Finegan kanina. Maaga silang pumasok dahil may community service si Linel."
Napakunot siya ng noo. "Community service po? Bakit? May gulo na naman bang pinasok ang grupo nila?"
Umiling ang gwardya. "Ang balita ko ay si Linel lang ang magko-community service ng isang linggo. Sinamahan lang ng mga kaibigan."
"May inaway ho si Linel?"
Muling umiling ang gwardya. "Hindi, Ae. Ang alam ko ay parusa iyon sa nangyari kay Mrs. Ferrer. Hindi ka lamang hinayaan ni Linel na mag-community service kaya naging isang linggo ang parusa niya."
Nalunok niya ang sarili niyang laway. Linel took the punishment on his own? Why? Is it because he's really serious about his feelings for her?
Ae immediately shooed the thought away. Mali siya ng naisip, hindi ba? Saka dapat lang namang si Linel lang ang umako sa punishment dahil nadamay lang naman siya, hindi ba?
She sighed. "Sige po, kuya pasok na po pala ako."
Tumango ito saka na bumalik sa pagbabantay sa gate. Binilisan naman ni Ae ang lakad niya upang magkaroon pa siya ng oras na hanapin si Linel. Iniwan na lamang din muna niya ang mga gamit niya sa classroom at ipinabantay sa mga kaibigan.
She found him at the Science garden, smoking again with his friends while some cleaning materials were resting by his side. Malayo pa lang siya ay sinisiko na ito ni Fine kaya naitapon nito kaagad ang sigarilyong hawak.
"Hi, baby." Linel grinned. "Changed your mind about our cancelled date?"
Ae sighed while rolling her eyes. Itiniklop niya ang kanyang mga braso sa tapat ng dibdib at tinaasan itong kilay.
"Pwede ba tayong mag-usap?" Nilingon niya ang mga kaibigan nito. "Privately."
Umalingawngaw ang kantyaw ng mga kaibigan ni Linel. Animo'y nanalo naman sa lotto ang lintik na si Linel kung makangisi.
"Boys, leave. My baby wants some alone time with me." He licked his lips sexily then grinned at her. "Finally, my baby is making the first move, huh?"
Nagngitngit ang mga ngipin ni Ae sa inis, ngunit nang maalala niya ang kanyang pakay kaya siya naroroon ay muli niyang pinakalma ang kanyang sarili. Hinintay din muna niyang makaalis ang mga kaibigan ni Linel. Nang sila na lamang dalawa ang natira sa Science garden ay saka niya ito sinalubong ng tingin.
She drew in a deep breath as she stared at him with sharpened eyes. "Is it true that you're not dumb, hmm?"
He scoffed. "If I'm dumb, I would've dated someone less."
Muling tumaas ang kanyang kilay. "Pwede bang seryosohin mo ako kahit isang beses lang?"
"Oh, I'm serious about you, Evangeline. I bought a house for us, I have my own stocks--"
"Shut up--what did you say? You bought a what?" matindi ang pagkakakunot ng noo niyang tanong.
Linel smirked. "I bought us a house where we'll move into once we get married, I have investments that will sustain our needs and your wants of course, and I am planning to purchase other properties that our future kids can inherit."
"Diyos ko, Linel . . ." Inis na inis niyang ihinilamos ang kanyang palad sa kanyang mukha sa stress niya sa mga pinagsasabi nito. "You're crazy! Hindi rin ganyang tipo ng seryoso ang sinasabi ko!"
He sighed. Sa wakas ay tila naawa na rin sa kanya. "Fine. What's your real question?"
Pinaningkitan niya ito ng mga mata. "Why are you purposely failing your classes, hmm? Is it true that you're trying to become a repeater so you'll stay in the country?" deretsahan na niyang tanong.
Umiwas ito ng tingin. She even saw his adam's apple bobbed up and down while he's dodging her gaze. "I am not failing my classes on purpose. I just have no energy to study--"
"Bullshit! Just tell me the truth!"
He shook his head. Sandali itong natahimik bago siya muling tinapunan ng tingin. "Date me for real and I'll tell you the truth."
"No."
"Fine. Date me and I'll make sure I'll graduate on time." May paninindigan siya nitong tinitigan. Ang mga mata ay naging seryoso na rin. "Damn it, Evangeline. Your lack of ability to see that I am serious about my feelings for you is the very reason why I wanna stay more. Kasi puta baka next year, hindi ka na manhid."
She was taken aback. So it's true? That he was really failing his classes just so he can stay and be with her? Kasi gusto talaga siya nitong mapasagot?
Ae pursed her lips and shut her eyes. Linel and his stupid ways of getting what he wants!
Her eyes opened. "Diyos ko, Linel. Nagsasayang ka ng pagkakataong makatapos para lang sa akin?"
"Like I said, I ain't gonna stop until you become officially mine, Evangeline."
"Why the hell do you even like me that much? I don't understand! Ano ba ang nakita mo sa akin?!" pikon na pikon na niyang sigaw ngunit tinitigan lamang nito ang galit niyang mukha, ang mga mata ay tila nahuhumaling nang husto kung makatitig.
"'Yan. . . " ani Linel na tila ginayuma. "Kapag nagagalit ka, kapag wala kang poise, kapag nagiging totoo ka. . . 'yan. That's what is driving me crazy."
She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes. "Baliw ka na."
Ngumisi ito. "Baliw naman talaga sayo. Can't believe you don't know that yet when everyone in campus is well-aware of what I feel for you."
She groaned. Nabubwisit lang siyang makinig!
"Stop chasing me, Linel. May pangarap ka! Sabi ni Linus, gusto mong makasali sa isang special program, pero dahil sinasadya mong ibagsak ang mga klase mo, baka hindi ka na matanggap. Do you know that?"
"Of course." He tucked a few strands of her hair behind her ear, and she hates her body for feeling something because of what he did. "But I can't pursue two goals at the same time, can I?"
She sighed. "Ano ba talaga ang priority mo sa buhay? Maging special class military personnel o mapangasawa ako?"
"Oh, baby you come first. You will always come first. My career is just my second priority so the longer you make it hard for me to win you, the longer my other dream needs to wait."
'Ang putanginang 'to, gini-guilt trip pa ako?!' asik niya sa kanyang isip.
Her nostrils flared as she stared at him with narrowed eyes. Nakakainis isiping alam niyang seryoso ang sinabi nito, at natatakot siyang sisisihin siya ng mga magulang nito balang-araw oras na ibagsak talaga ni Linel nang tuluyan ang mga klase nito dahil lang sa kanya.
She hates him! This stupid and obsessed motherfucker better graduate on time so he'd leave the country!
A bright idea came into her mind. If he will graduate on time then he will pursue his dream career, right? Ibig sabihin mawawala na ito sa paningin niya?
She calmed herself down and lifted both brows. "You wanna earn my yes? Fine." Itiniklop niya ang kanyang mga braso sa tapat ng dibdib. "Study. Make sure you'll graduate on time and I promise to give you my yes."
"After you scammed me when you asked me to carry Mrs. Ferrer? No, baby. We're doing this my way." He smirked. "I say we start dating now, and if I'll fail this year, break up with me and I promise to leave the country. Win-win."
She sighed, realizing this conversation wouldn't go anywhere if she wouldn't let him decide.
Inirapan niya ito. "Fine. But no kissing, no hugs, no s*x and everything s****l. We're still young, Linel. Do you understand?"
"That's hard?"
"Do you really wanna date me?"
"Of course."
"Then keep your hands to yourself. Do we have a deal?" she asked, raising a brow.
Linel sighed. "Can I at least hold your hand? Kiss your head or cheeks sometimes?"
She rolled her eyes at him. "Only when no one is looking."
"Cool."
He pursed his lips, trying to suppress his grin while he's looking around. Mayamaya ay bigla itong yumuko at hinalikan siya sa pisngi. Sa bilis ng pangyayari ay hindi kaagad siya nakagalaw kaya natitigan pa niya ang mga mata ni Linel habang sobrang lapit ng kanilang mga mukha.
She bets he saw how red her cheeks turned, and she hates that her body is responding this way towards his kiss! Nakakainis!
"Let's go on our first date tomorrow, ten AM," ani Linel sa may lambing na tinig habang hindi pa rin inilalayo ang mukha sa kanya.
She swallowed the pool of saliva in her mouth. "W-Where?"
The corners of his lips rose for a meaningful smirk. "Somewhere that will always remind you of me. . ."
Muli siyanng napalunok. Ae doesn't like how that sounds at all
- Writer
