Rose-Colored Metamorphoses

CHAPTER 2

Inilibot ko si Akiara sa buong campus. Nauuna akong maglakad habang nakasunod lang siya sa akin, at ako naman ay hindi nagsasalita unless nakakarating kami sa mga lugar na dapat kong ipakita sa kanya.

Tanging Gym, Library, Mini-park, at Shower Room nalang ang hindi pa namin napupuntahan. At dahil magkatabi lang ang Gym at Shower Room, madali agad namin itong napuntahan. Ang mga huling lugar na natitira na lamang ay ang Library at ang Mini-park.

Isa ang Library ng HCBU sa mga pinakapaborito kong lugar sa loob ng school. Maliban sa tahimik, walang gumugulo sa akin sa loob ng malawak na library. Pwede akong magbasa, matulog, o kaya magsulat.

I opened the door before her. Hinintay ko siyang makapasok bago ko isinara ang pinto. Akiara's eyes are sparkling as she scanned the high shelves of books in front of her.

"I miss Japan... Lagi rin akong laman ng library doon. Are you fond of novels, Xavier-san?"

"Yeah."

She walked towards the nearby shelves and scanned the books there. She smiled as she saw a book. Her fingers traced its outline before pulling it out of the shelf. Naglakad siya pabalik at ipinakita iyon sa akin.

It was Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. I've read it before but I didn't finish it because I hate romance novels and I think the characters inside those kinds of novels are idiots because lovelife can only take away your freedom.

"This is one of my favorite books, Xavier-san. I'm recommending this to you,"she said with a sweet smile on her face.

" I hate Romance novels. "

Her face looked a little bit gloomy for a second, then it changed back into a smiling one." Then just give it a try in case you are interested. "

I silently turned my back and walked towards the exit. "Let's go, the last place is the mini-park. I want to go home, I bet you too. I don't want to waste my f*cking time."

I opened the door for her. Mukha siyang gulat na ewan. Most probably because I cursed. I really don't give a damn.

Sobrang tahimik niya. That's fine with me. Mas gusto ko ng tahimik na kasama. Ang besides, ayokong makipag-close sa tao. Solitude is the best for me.

Since that incident in Grade Nine, I realized that relationships only cause you troubles. Friends can stab you from behind. Lovers will leave you. Families, well Mama and Papa are always busy, so I don't really feel what a family feels like.

I felt a tug on my coat. I looked beside me and saw Akiara tugging my sleeve. Coldly, I asked her. "What is it?"

"Are you crying, Xavier-san?"

Kinapa ko ang pisngi ko at naramdaman kong basa iyon. Luha?

"I'm not. Napuhing lang ako. Please, pakibilisan mo maglakad," sabi ko habang mas lalo ko pang nilakihan ang mga hakbang ko. Mabilis naman siyang sumunod sa akin.

Hindi nagtagal at narating na namin ang mini-park ng HCBU. Para lang 'yong isang malaking oval na may mga halaman at sa may entrance ay may playground para sa mga pre-school at elementary students. May mga benches sa gilid para pagpahingahan ng mga nagpupunta doon at mayroon ding mini-stage sa pinaka-unahan ng oval. Napansin kong nakatingin si Akiara sa swing kaya tinanong ko siya. "Gusto mo bang maglaro? You can play."

Nilingon niya ako na parang naninigurado. I nodded.

She smiled and then bowed.

"Arigato gozaimasu, Xavier-san!"

I was stuck for a moment. Matagal na rin pala simula noong huli kong naranasan na may ngumiti sa akin ng ganoon. Whenever I'm around people, all I can see is scowls on their faces and disappointed expressions.

She immediately ran to the nearest swing. Dali-dali siyang sumakay at masayang naglaro doon. Mas lalong naningkit ang kanyang mga mata habang masayang tumatawa. Tinignan ko lang siya.

"Look, Xavier-san! I'm flying!" tawag niya sa akin.

I just nodded as I watched her. Nakita kong medyo hinangin ang kanyang palda at medyo nakita ko ang kanyang cycling shorts.

Dali-dali akong tumingin palayo.

P*ta. Is she some kind of an idiot or something?

Mabilis niyang pinatigil ang swing at namumula na yumuko.

" Next time, ingatan mo naman na huwag liparin ng hangin ang palda mo. There are so many perverts here in HCBU. Got it, Matsubara-san?" I said coldly pero ramdam ko ang pag-iinit ng pisngi ko sa nakita ko.

"Gomen nasai, Xavier-san. Did I embarass you?" sabi niya habang sinisilip ang mukha ko.

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ko. "Why would I get embarrassed? I've seen so many things far worse than that."

Well, actually that's a lie. But you know, just to save my ego. Mas lalong namula ang mga pisngi ni Akiara habang mahigpit na nakahawak sa kanyang palda.

"Let's go," sabi ko bago ko ibinigay sa kanya ang kanyang bag. Mabilis akong tumalikod at naglakad papalayo. Malayo pa ang gate ng HCBU. Nilingon ko si Akiara at nakita ko na medyo nilalakihan niya rin ang hakbang niya para makasunod sa akin. Hinayaan ko lang siya. Hindi naman ako naiinis. Hindi rin naman ako galit. Wala lang. Nagtataka lang ako kung gan'yan ba talaga ka-clumsy ang mga katulad niya kagaya sa anime or mataas lang talaga ang mga standards at isip ko sa mga babae. Maybe mabilis akong ma-piss off sa mga kagaya ni Louise na makulit at hindi tumitigil especially when I wanted to be alone. While this girl, Akiara, honestly I don't know. It's strange enough na hindi blurred. Clumsy siya but I'm not pissed on her like how I get pissed on Louise earlier this morning.

"Ah, Xavier-san, matte."

"What, Latte? You want coffee? Canteen's already closed."

"No, I said wait. Medyo hinihingal na ako. Ang bilis mo maglakad."

I slowed down. Medyo namumula pa rin ang mukha niya at nag-uumpisa na siyang pagpawisan dahil sa mainit na klima ng Pilipinas. Nakakaramdam na rin ako ng init dahil sa uniform namin. I glanced at my watch. Four thirty. Medyo tirik pa rin ang araw pero hindi na kagaya ng kanina na nakakasunog ng balat. I removed my coat and hung it on my shoulder. Then I removed the buttons of the sleeves of my shirt and rolled it up. I also removed my necktie and the first two buttons of my shirt so that I can breathe properly.

I glanced at Akiara. She has already removed her coat and tied it on her waist. And then she looked at me.

A cool breeze passed. I saw the fluttering of the leaves on the trees around the campus. I heard the flapping of the wings of the birds as they flew with the wind.

Marahang nilipad ang itim na buhok ni Akiara. Nakatingin lang siya sa akin. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. And then, she smiled.

"Oi, Xavier-san. I want to be friends with you."