Sweetest Lie

Chapter Two - Green Meets Brown

Karina’s POV

“Katrina! Katrina!”

            I heard someone’s calling my sister’s name. I ignored it at first then I felt a hand on my elbow and had no choice but to look back. 

            My eyes met lustrous hazelnut eyes.

            “I think you forgot something.” He said smiling while he showed me a book.

            One quick look at the book and I returned my eyes on his. I am drawn to his eyes, it’s like a box of chocolates.  

            “Oh, thank you.” My sister answered and took it.

            He looked at Katrina but his hand was still on my elbow. “You’re welcome. I’m Ethan. You must be Karina.”

            “No, I’m Katrina.” My sister corrected him. “And this is Karina.”

            “Oh.” When he looked at me again, his eyes lost its luster. He also let go of my elbow. “I’m sorry.” He apologized.

            “No, it’s okay. It happens all the time.” Finally, I found her tongue. There’s something about him that made me speechless. I’d rather stared than talk.

            “Yah, I’ve heard. Marami daw ang nalilito sa inyong dalawa. Now I know why, lalo na pala sa malapitan, magkamukhang-magkamukha kayo.”

            His eyes now focused on Katrina. He never glanced at me again. I wondered why. He should have look at both of us when he said those remark?

            “Sorry but no Tagalog words please,” I said smiling. “We understand a few basic words but we cannot comprehend a phrase much more of a sentence. Also, my sister here gets suspicious that some might be actually saying bad things about us that we didn’t even know.”

            “Kari,” Katrina reprimanded me with her gaze. “Do you really need to mention that?”

            “My mistake I apologize, I should have known better you’ve grown up in the States. But the school year was almost over, how are your grades in Filipino?” Ethan asked.

            Still, his eyes on Katrina. It’s starting to piss me off.

            “Bad,” Katrina answered.

            “I can help you. How about I teach you the language?” He offered.

            “Really you’ll do that for us? We’ve just met.” There’s hesitation in Katrina’s voice when she answered him.

            “Why not? I’m about to leave this school so I don’t mind doing some good deeds before I left.”

            “You’re a senior here?” Katrina asked.

            “No, I’m senior there.” Ethan pointed at the other side of the campus.

            “You’re a college student?” My eyes widened in amazement after realizing he’s pointing at the college building. “How old are you?”

            “Turned twenty-two last month. Does it matter?” Finally, his eyes on mine.

            “N-no,” I stammered. “It’s just that you look young.” I tucked my hair behind my ear.    

            I wanted him to look at me but now his stare made me uncomfortable. Unaware, I bit my lower lip.

            His eyes smiled. “Thank you.”

            I felt my cheeks blushed. I looked down. What’s happening to me?

            “Okay it's fine with me. Kari, what you think?” Katrina asked me.

            “I don’t know. Lolo mentioned he would hire a professional tutor for us.” I answered.

            “Mine is free. You don’t have to pay me anything. I really just want to help.” Ethan tried to convince us. “Please say yes.”

            He held my elbow again and felt an electric spark. I immediately pulled my arm out of his grip. “You feel that?”

            “Feel what?” Ethan asked in response.

            “Nothing.” I regretted asking a stupid question.

            “Please say yes, even just for a day. If you don’t like my way of teaching, replace me.”  Ethan even snapped his fingers to empathize how easily we could get rid of him.

            “Okay one day.” I finally agreed.

            “Aside from making a good deed, what could you get out of it? How can we repay you?” Katrina asked.

            “A dinner,” Ethan said it to Katrina.

            There’s nothing wrong with what he’s asking yet I felt uneasy because it sounded like he was directing it only to Katrina.

            “Sure, Karina will be paying for it.” Katrina quickly responded.

            “Only if you are good and we don’t need to replace you.” She mimicked his tone and the way he snapped his fingers.

            “Let’s meet here tomorrow, same time?” Katrina suggested.

            “Sure, tomorrow it is. Hasta Mañana!”

            “Yes see you tomorrow,” Katrina answered and waved her hand.

            Katrina hold my hand as we walked away,

            “I thought he would be teaching us tagalong. Why speak in Spanish?” I’m not pleased with the way he’s talking to Katrina.

            “You don’t want him to tutor us?” Katrina stopped walking. “Why? He seemed to be a nice person.”

            “It’s not because a person gave you back your book, he’s nice already. Don’t be so trusting.”

            “Nah, I think he’s really a good guy. I like him” Katrina started walking again. I am left behind.

            Unable to move my feet, I called her. “Kat, what do you mean you like him?”

            She turned around and smiled teasingly. “You don’t have to worry dear sister. I like him but not the way that you like him.”

            “No, I don’t like Ethan!” I took big steps to catch her.

            “Stop denying. I saw how you stare, you tucked your hair and blushed in front of him.” Katrina smiled beamingly. “You’re so obvious. You even remember his name, huh!”

            “Okay fine. I like his eyes, but only his eyes.” I admitted.

            “Busted!“ Katrina laughed. “This is the start of a new chapter in our life.”

Ethan’s POV

“Where’s my book?” Mary Ann asked.

            “Pahiram muna. Kinuha kasi ni Katrina eh.” Paliwanag ko.

            “Ano!? Papaano ako? Anong gagamitin ko?” Nakasimangot na reklamo ni Mary Ann. “It’s a work book Ethan. Get it back.”

            “Sorry na huwag ka ng magalit.” Inakbayan ko ang kaibigan. “Tomorrow kapag nagkita kami I’ll find a way na makuha ko iyung libro mo.”

            “Bakit kasi binigay mo?” Inis na sita niya sa akin.

            “I used it as a prop. Nagkunwari akong naiwan ni Katrina iyung libro niya. Mabuti nga at hindi niya napansin na hindi ‘yun kanya. Promise, bukas ibabalik ko na ‘yun sa iyo, may sagot pa.”

            “Bakit bukas pa? Ngayon na.” Maktol pa rin ni Mary Ann.

            “Bukas na lang kasi baka mag-back out sila sa usapan namin.”

            “Anong usapan?”

           “Hindi sila marunong magtagalog kaya ako muna ang mag-turo sa kanila.”

           “Ikaw? Diba nangako ka din sa akin na tuturuan mo ako sa Math?” Lalong humaba ang nguso niya sa pagmamaktol.

            “Marami namang oras na pwede kitang turuan. Magkasama naman tayo sa iisang bahay. Pagbigyan mo na ang Kuya Ethan mo ha.”

            Ipiniksi niya ang balikat para maalis ang kamay ko doon. “Third year high school pa nga lang ako pero huwag mo akong gawing bata. Twenty na ako Ethan kaya tigilan mo yang pang-uuto mo sa akin. Ibalik mo sa akin ‘yung libro ko. Alam mo naman na wala akong pambili nun.”

            “Oo na, halika na. Umuwi na tayo baka naghihintay na sa iyo ang Nanay mo.” Yaya ko sa kanya.

            Anak si Mary Ann ng kasambahay namin. Natigil siya sa pag-aaral sa probinsiya kaya kahit hindi nalalayo ang edad namin ay third year high school pa lamang siya. Mabait at malambing si Mary Ann kaya nakigiliwan siya ng aking mga magulang lalo na ni Mama.

            “Bukas mangako ka na kukunin mo iyung libro ko. Baka nakakalimutan mo. Kaklase ko sila Katrina kaya kapag nagkamali silang maipasa ang workbook ko sa teacher namin. Mapapagalitan kaming tatlo.”

            “Opo!” Sabi ko sabay akbay uli sa kanya.

            Excited na ako. Bukas makita ko na uli ang isa sa mga kambal. Kanina ay napansin ko na green pala ang mata nila. May bago na akong paboritong kulay.

            Green.