Crashing into Love

Chapter Two

Napapikit ako ng maramdaman kong umiikot ang mundo ko. I quickly ran to the bathroom and puked. Nakaluhod ako sa toilet bowl and I flushed it afterwards. I looked at myself in the mirror, I'm pale. Paglabas ko ng cr ay nakita ko ang nag-aalalang mukha ni Raven. Inalalayan niya ako.

"Claire, okay ka na ba? Anong nararamdaman mo? Tell me. s**t, tell me." His voice was laced with worry and I smiled at the thought that he's concerned about me.

"Okay na ako. Sumama lang bigla ang tiyan ko." Umupo ako sa couch at pumikit. Naramdaman ko ang pag-upo ni Raven sa tabi ko. It feels good to be with someone right now.

"Pangit ba ang lasa ng spaghetti?" Natawa ako sa tanong niya. Dumilat ako at umiling. Mukha parin siyang nag-aalala. "Hindi. Ganito lang talaga ako. Maselan yung tyan ko sa pagkain. I love the spaghetti, it's really good. Wag ka ng mag-alala. I'm fine."

His features relaxed. "You sure you're okay now?" Pangungulit niya pa. Tumango nalang ako at ngumiti ulit. Kinuha ko ang throw pillow at niyakap ito. He scooted closer to me and opened the television. Nanood kami ng movie buong hapon.

Kinabukasan ay pumunta uli siya sa bahay. Halos araw araw nandito siya. Naiintindihan ko naman na nalulungkot siyang mag-isa at naaalala niya lang si Cassidy kaya hinahayaan ko siyang magbabad sa bahay ko.

"Tulala ka na naman, ano ba yang iniisip mo?" Pukaw ko sa atensyon niya. He sighed again. At sa pagbuntong hininga niyang yon ay alam ko na. He's thinking of Cassidy again. Tulad ng madalas kong ginagawa ay tumabi ako sa kanya at hinawakan ang kamay niya.

"I love you." Marahang sabi ko na nagpangiti sa kanya. Hinapit niya ako at niyakap. "You're an angel, Claire Faith." Ng bumitaw siya ay may ngiti na siya sa labi niya.

"May nagmamahal sayo kaya wag kang magdrama masyado." Tumango siya. "Kwento ka naman tungkol sa sarili mo."

Napataas ako ng kilay. "Ano namang ikekwento ko?"

Inakbayan niya ako. Halos komportable na talaga ako sa kanya. Ang bait niya kasi. Hindi ko alam kung bakit iniwan pa to ni Cassidy. He seems like a very nice man. "Kahit ano lang. Random. Mga facts about you, anything."

I thought for a while. Then I spoke. "Facts? Hmm, let's see. I got a tattoo when I was seventeen."

His eyes widened. "What?! You have a tattoo? Where?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya. I laughed at the way he reacted.

"Here." Tinuro ko yung gilid ng balakang ko. Akmang itataas nya ang blouse ko para tignan ito ng bigla kong paluin ang kamay niya. I shot him a warning stare. "Don't you dare Raven Andrei or I will castrate you." Banta ko.

He raised both arms up."Oh please, do not cut it. Pano na ako magkakaanak kapag ginawa mo yun?" Malokong saad niya. I rolled my eyes at his display of silliness. "Oh cut the jesting. Di bagay sayo."

He pouted. Aw! He looks so cute and I had to resist the sudden compulsion of pinching his cheeks. "Di bagay? Don't you find me handsome?" Pagiinarte pa niya sakin. I elbowed his stomach and he grinned while calling a truce.

"Ikaw naman ang magbigay ng fact about sa sarili mo. We'll take turns." I suggested and he nodded enthusiastically.

"I am afraid of cockroaches." Nanlaki ang mata ko. I gaped at him while he's busy raising his bushy eyebrow at me. After a short moment of silence, I broke into fits of laughter.

"Oh my god! Are you serious?!" Nakangisi kong tanong. He gave me a glance which probably meant 'do I look like I'm kidding to you?'

"Stop giving me that look. I know, being scared of cockroaches is not the manliest thing in the world. So what? We all have our flaws. Now it's your turn again."

Pinigilan ko na ang matawa dahil mukhang malapit ng mapikon si Raven sa pang aasar ko. Eh kasi naman, kalalaking tao takot sa ipis. I made a mental note to pull a prank on him someday.

"I failed Algebra twice when I was in college." I confessed and his eyes widened. I looked away, knowing that he thinks I'm an idiot now. But what surprised me was when he shouted and asked for a high five. Confused, I raised my hand up and he smacked it with his own hand.

"No way?! I flunked that subject three times!" He enthused as if failing a math subject is something to be proud of. A small smile was slowly forming on my lips and I had to bow down to hide it. This guy is really something.

It was his turn now. He tapped his fingers on his chin for a second. "I made out with my World History professor when I was in third year college."

Nanlaki ang mata ko. "You what?! Why in the world would you do that?" Gulat na tanong ko. I reached for the nearest throw pillow and hurled it at him. I hit him on the face, he reached for the pillow and hid it behind his back.

He shrugged. "Well, she was hot. And witty."

"You can't just kiss someone because they're hot and witty! And she's your professor for pete's sake!" I replied, he grinned as if what he did was a completely normal thing a third year college student would do.

Nailing nalang ako bago nagsalita. Turn ko na uli. "I love drawing so much. Mahilig akong gumuhit kapag may free time ako."

He looks amazed. "Really? Can you draw people?" Curious na sabi niya. Tumango ako.

"Wow! Can you please draw me, then?" He asked. I was hesitant at first, but seeing how amazed he was, I finally gave in.

"Bigyan mo ako ng picture mo. Maybe I'll finish it in a week?" I watched him pull his picture out of his wallet. He handed it to me and I stared at it, feeling something unexplainable simmer inside me.

"Thank you! Thank you Claire Faith!" Masiglang niyakap niya ako. I stiffened at the sudden contact. Hindi ako makagalaw, ng bumitaw siya ay nakita niya ang ekspresyon ko.

"Oh, ano na namang nangyari? Nahihilo ka ba? Nasusuka?"

Umiling ako agad. "Hindi."

He reached for my hand and I looked at it. "Then what's wrong?" Worry was present in his tone. Mabilis kong binawi ang kamay ko na gumulat yata sa kanya.

"N-nothing." Nauutal kong sagot. Tumayo na ako at dumiretso sa kwarto, leaving him there. Inilapag ko sa study table ang litrato bago umupo sa kama. My phone beeped and it broke me from my reverie. Dali dali ko itong kinuha para tignan kung sino ang posibleng nagpadala ng mensahe.

Halos mapiga ko ang cellphone ng makita ko ang pamilyar na numero at ang nakasaad dito.

I know everything. Please come back.