Chapter 5
2000 Words
"Don't wanna sit?"
Nakahalukipkip na dinungaw ko si Alfonso. We're in their school's garden and he's sitting on one of the benches.
He's tall, obviously. Nakaupo na't lahat pero umabot pa s'ya sa bandang dibdib ko. I'm tall myself, five-six yet he's taller and bigger.
"Mangangalay ka." Sandali pa n'ya akong tiningala bago itinuloy ang ginagawa.
Umismid ako. I can sit but not on this bench. It looks dirty. Are there any maintenance here? Why there are traces of moss and what is that... dried algae?
"I'm fine." Muli kong sinilip ang ginagawa n'ya. Naglalagay s'ya ng band aid sa may panga and nahihirapan s'ya roon. Kanina pa rin s'ya ngumingiwi.
Inilahad ko ang kamay. "Let me."
Alfonso tilted his head. He smirked before handing me the band aid.
Naiiling na kinuha ko iyon. This is my first time and I don't even know what to do but still...
Kinuha ko ang alcohol sa bag at walang pasabing ini-spray sa gasgas sa panga n'ya.
"Ouch!" reklamo n'ya pero mukha namang hindi nasaktan. Nasa mukha pa rin ang ngisi.
Using my finger, bahagya kong tinuyo ang bahaging iyon ng mukha n'ya. His skin is both soft and hard at the same time.
"I didn't know you're a troublemaker," sabi ko bago marahang nilagyan ng band aid ang gasgas n'ya roon.
"Thank you!" He smirked. Kinuha pa n'ya ang cellphone at ginamit iyon para tingnan ang sarili.
I sighed. This man is really beautiful. And that bruise made him more beautiful. That's cheating, really.
"Hindi ko naman hahayaang bugbugin nila ang best friend ko!" He chuckled. "Well, they can't even beat Sebi. Papawis na rin."
"If you just wanna papawis, you can try and hit the gym, you know." Umirap ako.
Alfonso chuckled. "Mas magandang ka-sparring ang kaaway ni Sebastian, believe me."
Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ako o mapapailing. Hindi ko nga rin alam kung bakit parang gusto kong matawa. Is it because of what he said?
Alfonso remains a puzzle to me.
Ilang beses akong bumisita sa school nina Ahia at madalas ko s'yang makita roon. He should be busy, lalo at malapit na ang graduation nila but no, madalas ko s'yang nakikitang nakikipag-asaran lang sa barkada n'ya.
Siguro dahil completion na lang naman ang pinagkakaabalahan nila? Kaya siguro ay parang ang gaan lang ng aura n'ya.
But most of the time, he's just smirking in the corner, shaking his head.
Katulad ngayon, nasa loob ako ng sasakyan at pinanonood s'ya mula sa malayo.
Ilan lang sa mga kasama n'ya ang kilala ko dahil hindi ko pa rin naman nakikilala ang iba pa nilang kaibigan ni Ahia. Ni wala nga rin si Ahia.
They are having fun. Halata iyon dahil tawa nang tawa ang dalawang babaeng kasama nila. Mukhang may pinagtutulungan silang asarin. Magulo at mukhang maingay ang grupo nila.
Except for Alfonso. He's just sitting in the corner, smirking and sometimes, licking his lips.
I leaned on my seat. Kanina lang ay binabasa ko ang profile n'ya at ng iba pa. Wala nga lang akong interes sa mga kasama n'ya. Ilang beses ko na ring nabasa ang profile n'ya at na-memorize ko na nga iyon.
"Here's the report, Miss Corrine..."
Agad na nakuha ni Narie ang atensyon ko. I scanned the report.
"Is Ahma asking you about Ahia?"
She stiffened. Isang buntong-hininga ang pinakawalan n'ya bago dahan-dahang tumango.
Katulad ng napag-usapan, dumadaan muna sa akin ang report n'ya bago kay Ahma. Wala namang masama sa report n'ya, tinatanggal namin iyong hindi ikakatuwa ni Ahma pero alam ko nga lang na posibleng mangyari ito.
Ilang papel ang inilabas ni Narie. Inilapag n'ya iyon sa lamesa.
"My loyalty is yours, Miss. Nagre-report din ako tungkol sa Young Master pero katulad ng sa 'yo, filtered ang mga iyon."
Sa halip na makahinga nang maluwag, pakiramdam ko ay mas sumikip ang kinalalagyan ko at naiipit na ako.
I scanned her reports about Ahia. Mahigit dalawang linggo pa lang naman kaming nagkasundo ni Narie at sa totoo lang, wala pa s'yang masyadong maii-report but this is not about that...
Walang mali sa nasa report. Filtered iyon pero hindi halatang may mga detalyeng tinanggal. Mukhang maayos magtrabaho si Narie, una ay 'yong profile ni Alfonso at ngayon naman ay ang tungkol dito sa report ni Ahia.
Hindi ko nga lang puwedeng kalimutan ang posibilidad na nagdududa na si Ahma kay Ahia. Mori's reporting to her directly. But Mori's loyalty is with my brother kaya posibleng pati kay Mori ay wala na ring tiwala si Ahma...
I massaged my temple.
Ang bata ko pa para problemahin ang tungkol dito! Wala nga lang akong choice lalo at hindi ko gustong mapahamak si Ahia! Kung bakit ba naman ay hindi s'ya nag-iingat!
"Continue with this." Itinaas ko ang mga report. "But be cautious. Ahma can smell lies even from miles away."
Ahma is capable of that. She's not the family's head for nothing.
My routine is going to the gym and visiting Ahia's school... and talking to Alfonso.
"You're here because?"
Luminga pa ako para hanapin sa paligid ang barkada nila ni Ahia pero wala naman akong makita. Kahit ang kapatid, wala rito.
We're in the coffee shop near his school. I got bored wandering around that I had to stop and have coffee here. Mainit pa kasi at madaming estudyanteng nagkalat. Hindi na ako umaasang makikita ko si Alfonso but here he is.
Kung kailan akala ko ay uuwi akong hindi s'ya nakikita, bigla na lang s'yang umupo sa bakanteng upuang nasa harap ko.
"May kailangan akong i-retake," aniya, nakangisi.
Mukha namang totoo ang sinasabi n'ya dahil tatlong aklat ang dala n'ya at kanina pa s'ya abala sa isa sa mga iyon.
Sandali akong napatitig sa kanya. He's wearing a white dress shirt partnered with a khaki-colored chino pants. His hair is everywhere on his head but they are beautifully arranged, a few are on his forehead. Mas nakadagdag pa sa karisma n'ya ang suot na reading glass.
I unconsciously sighed. Gusto ko sanang mag-iwas ng tingin pero nabaling naman sa panga n'ya ang mga mata ko.
Yes, he has that charismatic jaw if there's one. Beside that, his oriental eyes are always gleaming with so much mystery, his thick and naturally red lips looks like a sin.
"Are you a good student?" Hindi ko alam kung bakit ko tinanong iyon.
His gaze lift up. Smirking, he closed the book he's reading.
"What's your definition of a good student, hmm?"
Nagkibit ako ng balikat. Ano nga ba?
"What are you going to study?"
I sipped on my drink. "Business."
"Understandable. Malaki ang business ng mga Liu."
"I'm gonna take BDes in Jewellery Design after that." I felt excitement just by telling him that.
"Really? Interesting." Mukhang nakuha ko ang atensyon ni Alfonso. "So, puwede pala kitang kunin kapag magpapakasal na ako? For my rings?"
I glared at him.
"Relax, Corrine." He chuckled. "By the way, if you want to know if I'm a good student or not, I can help you in your course, you know."
"Marketing Management ka, right?"
Malapad ang naging ngisi n'ya. "I'm a few months left for a business degree, Corrine."
Saka ko lang pinagtuunan ng pansin ang mga aklat na dala n'ya. Those are not related to his course.
"Ahia's doing that also," I said as a matter of fact but still, pakiramdam ko ay mas lalo akong humanga sa kanya.
"Dalawang beses akong magma-march this year," aniya.
Hindi na dapat ako nagulat. Pareho naman sila ni Ahia. And what should I expect? Alfonso is a businessman in the making, talagang kailangan n'yang pag-aralan ang lahat ng kursong related sa negosyo.
"I'll help you study. Then, tell me if I'm a good or bad student."
I tried hard not to smile. "Well, let's see. Ahia's one of the best student out there."
Alfonso chuckled. "This is not China, Kiddo."
Agad ang pagsimangot ko. He and his annoying pet name.
"I'm not a kid, Alfonso. If it's not obvious to you, dalaga na ako."
Nagkibit lang s'ya ng balikat. "Do you want some cake?" He eyed the coffee bar.
"That cheesecake." Nakangusong itinuro ko pa ang paboritong cake na ikinatawa n'ya.
Mas lalo akong napasimangot nang ma-realize kung bakit.
"Corrine..."
Umaga at sabay kaming magbe-breakfast ni Ahia. I'm just waiting for him on the dining area.
Tumaas ang kilay ko nang makitang seryoso ang kapatid.
"You always visit San Sebastian..." panimula n'ya nang maupo sa kabisera.
"I don't have anything to do here, Ahia."
"And you always talk to Alfonso..."
"Who should I talk to, Ahia?" Nakataas ang kilay na tanong ko. "Paano kita makakausap if you were so busy with other things?"
Gusto kong matawa nang makitang kaagad s'yang nag-iwas ng tingin.
"Just call me if you ever go there again," bilin n'ya, dismissing me.
Habang mas nagiging abala si Ahia, mas madalas naman kaming nagkakausap ni Alfonso.
I don't know how. Nagising na lang ako na kapag bumibisita ako sa school nila o tumatambay sa coffee shop sa tapat niyon, nagkakausap na kami about random topic.
"Here..."
Tiningnan ko ang cake na inilapag n'ya sa harap ko. Nasa pareho kaming coffee shop at mula nang malaman n'yang gusto ko ang cake, iyon na ang lagi n'yang ino-order sa akin.
"May pera ako, Alfonso. I can pay."
He shrugged. "I also have mine, Kiddo."
I rolled my eyes at him.
"What are you reading?"
I saw him taking a glance at the book I was holding. Inayos ko iyon para makita n'ya nang maayos.
"The Great Gatsby..." He read the title. "Are you bored?"
"There's nothing to do here." I closed the book and leaned on my seat. "Ilang weeks pa before my classes. I'm bored."
Alfonso eyed me. Tumango-tango s'ya na para bang may kung anong sinasang-ayunan.
"There's a museum nearby. Do you want to visit there tomorrow?"
Just by that, sunod-sunod ang naging pagtango ko.
"So, you have a crush na?" Harper shrieked. We're in video call and she's too excited.
I shook my head. Hindi ko alam kung crush ko nga ba si Alfonso. Noong mga nakaraang taon, aminado akong crush ko s'ya lalo na at hindi ko makalimutan ang tungkol sa kanya pero ngayong mas madalas ko s'yang makita...
"Just a month there and you got yourself a boyfriend, really, Corrine?!"
I rolled my eyes at my best friend. She's super OA. Kanina, crush lang. Ngayon ay boyfriend na.
"How's Beijing, Harper?" tanong ko.
"Stop asking the nonsense, Corrine. Beijing is still Beijing." Her eyes glimmered with enthusiasm. "May I see him?"
"Hmm?"
"The guy who got your attention! Is he guwapo?"
I smiled wickedly at her. "Are you questioning my standards of a man?"
S'ya naman ang umikot ang mga mata. "That's why I am asking. Mapili ka, Corrine. You're not even looking at any guy when you're here."
"Alfonso's not just any guy, Harper." I repositioned myself on my bed. "He's more than that."
"So, Alfonso is the name." Sandaling natahimik s'ya, mukhang nag-iisip. "The whole name, Corrine?"
I have no reason not to tell her that. Matapos ko nga lang sabihin kay Harper ang buong pangalan ni Alfonso, hindi na n'ya ako kinausap.
Naging abala na s'ya sa ipad n'ya at kitang-kita ko kung paano s'ya naging mukhang baliw. She's smiling from ear to ear, giggling like crazy. Pumapalakpak pa s'ya at mukhang tuwang-tuwa sa kung anumang nakikita.
"Ten minutes, Harper. Should I end this call na?"
"Gosh!" She giggled before showing her ipad. "Look, oh. Now I know why you have a crush on him!"
Si Alfonso ang nasa screen ng ipad ni Harper. Hindi na ako nagtaka na naging stalker na lang s'ya bigla.
"He's so hot!"
"He is," I proudly said. Bakit ako pipili ng hindi?
I tilted my head when I realized that. The thought is ridiculous and dangerous.
"But Corrine..."
Naagaw ng nag-aalalang boses ni Harper ang atensyon ko.
"He's guwapo and sexy. He looks like you can really depend on him..." maingat ang voses n'ya. "But, he's no Chinese."
- Writer
