His Untold Tattoo (R18)

KABANATA 8

VIII.

My forehead creased so I click his profile, and I remember his face. Siya 'yung kanina na muntik na 'ko matamaan ng bola sa field at ang tao na nakaharang. His feed is more on to sport.

kazu_mrsgn

Kazuhiko Sy Marasigan

Athlete • Educator

He looks decent so I composed my first ever reply in my dm's request.

stazielle: hello ?

I turned off my phone and went back to studying. Napatulala ako nang maalala na next week na rin pala start ng OJT namin. The school planned about the three big companies in whole duration of semester although the usual was just once. I didn't know if I'm excited or what. On the job training as an Civil Engineering student is really hard tapos ay sabay pa ang classes as graduating student. It's really draining, you know.

"Dabi, have you seen Dal?" Nalem ask. "My twin is really hard to find these days."

"Baka rindi na sa'yo kaya gusto mapag-isa," asar pabalik ni Cielo.

Dabi and Dal were on the same colleges so Nal ask her. Dalum is probably at the library and studying now. Knowing how studious he is.

"Isang beses nakita kong naka-ngiti 'yun habang nakatingin sa phone!" Nalem hissed. "Baka may lovelife na kambal ko."

"Akala ko ba mas matinik ka sa babae, Nal? Naunahan kapa no'ng kambal mong tahimik?" Asar naman ni Kuya Onyx.

I am with my cousins right now. Lunch break ko at sumaktong wala rin silang class. We're currently on the side benches of the open field ng E-aston. Ang wala lang sa amin ngayon ay si Au at Kuya Arceon. Sabi ni Soljer kanina, may pinuntahang province si Kuya Arceon. Hindi na nasabi kung saan exactly but I think he's safe naman doon. Au is probably busy with her upcoming pageant.

I am peacefully chewing my bread when Roux suddenly got up and looking empty at my back. Kita ko rin ang pagbago ng hitsura ng mga pinsan ko. Sina Kuya Onyx, Nal, Evan and Cielo ay napatingin din sa likuran ko. Kami nila Aryan, Belle, Dabi and Miel ay nakatalikod pa rin kung saan nakatingin ang iilan namin'g pinsan.

"Bakit Kuya?" Tanong ni Miel kay Roux na nasa gilid niya. By that, Miel also look at our back. "Ay, sino sila?"

Isa-isang lumingon sina Dabi, Belle at Aryan.

"Omg!" Nagulat ako nang bahagyang tumili pa si Dabi na katabi ko. Muntik na tuloy akong mabulunan. "Omg! Omg! Why siya palapit sa'tin? Maayos ba mukha ko? Tignan mo nga kung may tinga ako sa teeth!?"

Aryan even check Dabi's teeth.

Napailing na lang ako at tinuloy ang pagkain. Baka kakilala nila 'yun kaya ganyan sila maka-react.

Habang nasa pagkain ang atensyon ko, lumilipad din ang isip ko dahil iniisip ko kung ano ang ire-regalo ko kina Mom and Dad. They will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary next week and I can't think a perfect gift to them. Last year, I gave them jewelries. It's just a simple necklaces with a different pendants. Mom had the moon while Dad's the sun. I even engraved it their names so it can be memorable. Good thing they still wear it up to this day.

Maybe, I'll ask my Kuya Tiago and Tevyn later.

"Marasigan, what's up?" Biglang sabi ni Nalem habang hawak ang bola ng basketball.

Marasigan?

I think that's a familiar name.

"Wala rito ang bola niyo, Marasigan. What brings you here?" Evan said.

"Why there's a tension? Gosh," I heard Dabi sighing. "Hindi naman siguro sila maga-away, right?"

"Zip it, Dabs!" Mahinang saway ni Aryan sa kaniya.

There's a moment of silence. Nakatayo pa rin ang mga pinsan kong lalaki plus si Cielo na mukhang irita sa nakikita na nasa likuran ko.

Ano bang problema nila?

Hinayaan ko na lang dahil panigurado ay kakilala nila 'yun. I don't have an actual and permanent group of friends excepts my cousins and few of my blockmates. My cousins have a lot of friends, sabi nga noong isa kong kaklase ay mabuti raw ay hindi ako bothered dahil ang dami naming kakilala. Sabi ko ay hindi naman, since ako kaunti lang talaga ang kakilala ko because I can't stand to socialize and talks comfortably with others.

"Grabe naman 'yan. Bantay sarado?" I heard someone from the back said. "Come on, guys. Hindi pa rin tapos 'tong issue na 'to sa inyo?"

My cousins just scoff.

'Tong girls na mga katabi ko, mukhang confuse pa so they turn their back again facing and finishing their meals.

"I just wanna talk to Tazielle for a second," someone's voice is familiar so I look back a little. And there, Kazu smile again at me.

"They are eating, Marasigan. Can't you wait?" Evan said.

"I don't want to wait, Evan. She's not replying to my dm's so might as well look for her personally," Kazu politely said then look at me. "You got seconds, Taz?"

I drink to my bottled water before closing the lids of my packed meal. Nagpunas ako gamit ang handkerchief at tumayo na. Doon ko lang mas nakita na may kasama pa si Kazu na dalawang lalaki. They are wearing a white polo and jersey short, Kazu is probably fresh from bath since his hair is still wet and has a towel again.

Roux looked at me.

I just give him it's okay look, then he give in afterwards. Lumapit ako kay Kazu.

"Sorry. I don't use phone often," sabi ko.

The two men walk away. "Kazu, sunod ka na lang! Parking lot!"

"Sana all may date!" They joked.

Nang makalayo sila ay tsaka lang nagsalita si Kazu.

"No, no. It's okay. Hindi ka naman mahirap hanapin so it's okay," he said. "Kapag kasi ramdam ko na may nakatingin sa'kin ng masama, alam ko na agad na mga pinsan mo 'yun. They really hate me to death."

Kazu laugh a little.

I just simply nod.

"Won't you ask me why they hate me?" Tanong niya. Bahagya kaming tumigil sa paglalakad. It's enough space from my cousins.

"Nope. Not my business."

I put my right hand in the pockets.

Napatingin ako sa ibang tao na nakaupo sa benches, they are looking at Kazu. Baka kilala talaga siya since varsity player nga. I don't usually watch during intrams except to my cousin's game which is basketball. Also, during festival or intrams, even in our foundation week I prefered staying at home. Unless may plano kaming magpi-pinsan or need for attendance.

"Bakit mo nga pala 'ko hinahanap?" I snap.

"Uh, yes. I just wanna ask if you're free this Saturday?"

Today is Thursday, it's 2 days from now. Am I free?

I visualize my schedules. Hindi naman ganoon ka-tight ang schedules ko ngayon but I want to rest on Saturday sana.

"Sorry, but why are you asking me again? What for?" I genuinely ask. Hindi ko alam kung gusto niya bang bumawi dahil sa nangyari o may iba pang intensyon. I will appreciate more if someone is really straight to the point.

"Paano kung I'm asking you out for a date?"

I bite my inner lip.

Date?

"Anong date?" Someone's voice that is so familiar and I hate the most popped out of nowhere. "Hoy, anong date? Pre, may nagyayaya ng date? Payag ka rito?"

Tinignan ko si Gio.

Nagulat din ako nang makita si Kuya Tev sa gilid niya na nakangisi at nakatingin kay Kazu.

"Tevyn, pare," Tinanggal ni Kuya ang pagkaka-akbay ni Gio sa kaniya, biglang lumapit kay Kazu at naglahad ng kamay. "Kuya ni Tazielle."

"Kazuhiko Marasigan. Nice to meet you," nakangiti si Kazu kay Kuya. He looks kinda nervous.

"Lamig ng kamay mo, Kazu. Kalma ka lang," Kuya Tev said and laugh. He turn his side on me with a wide smile. "Sige na. Hintayin ka namin doon."

Naglakad si Kuya Tevyn papalapit sa bench kung nasaan ang mga pinsan ko.

Naiwan si Gio na ang sama ng tingin kay Kazu. Mas matangkad lang ng kaunti si Kazu kaysa kay Gio, Kazu has a fair skin while Gio is lightly tan.

"Hoy gago, tara na. Ano'ng ginagawa mo d'yan?" Bumalik si Kuya Tevyn para hatakin si Gio na kaunti na lang parang masasapak na si Kazu.

Natawa na lang din ako dahil sa inasta ni Kuya Tevyn. Akala ko magpa-panic din siya nang marinig na yinayaya ako ni Kazu ng date.

I mean, they never impulsively interfere with this kind of situation. Not before.

Tinignan ko si Kazu, medyo awkward dahil nakatingin din pala siya sa'kin with his bubbly smile.

"Sorry," sabi niya bigla at umiwas ng tingin. "S–so, uh. This.. this s—"

"You looked tense," sabi ko nang mahina lang tumawa. "It's cool. Kuya Tev is a no-strict brother."

"Yep, I can see that. 'Yung naiwan, Kuya mo rin?" He's talking about Gio.

I shook my head. "Anyways, this Saturday? Can I think about it?"

Ngumiti na naman siya ng malapad. Bakit lagi siyang nakangiti? Kulang na lang mapunit ang labi niya.

"Of course, Taz. Just dm me your answer so we can manage or the best is, if you have a preferred time, inform me. Okay? You're the boss here anyway."

"Sira. Your schedule too is tight, you're an athlete."

"Aw. Do you prefer a non-athlete person?" He acted hurt. Humawak pa siya sa dibdib niya. Bahagya na lang akong napangiti. Guys like him is really good at flowery words, right. "God, you smiled!"

Nagulat ako dahil bahagyang napalakas ang boses niya sa tuwa.

"Wished I captured it," he said with a low tone. "Papatayin na 'ko ng mga pinsan mo sa tingin so I badly need to go. See you around, Hermosa."

He winked at me and jog his way out.

I stand there, a little shock.

Ramdam ko ang tingin ng mga tao lalo ng mga pinsan ko sa likuran ko. Damn. They saw that?

"Sana all date," biglang sabi ni Gio nang mapadaan siya at mabilis na nilagpasan ako.