Dusk Kisses

12

"What do you mean rito? I'm not pertaining to this place," I raised my brows and trailed my sight to him. The mixture of the light from the vintage pendant and the blue and violet color made him more charismatic and charming. 

Ano ‘tong nakikita ko? Kailangan ko na ba magpacheck-up sa mata?

"Edi saan?" I'm confused,

"Diyan" he pointed to my chest which made me look at it. 

Oh, he's talking about the necklace.

Holy guacamole.  Akala ko naman tinuturo niya yung boobs ko! 

I pouted imperceptibly for a second. I was mortified because I was thinking that way. "Uh.." I cleared my throat "yeah… ang ganda," that word was an understatement. Hindi lang siya maganda pero hindi ko rin alam kung paano ko pa sasabihin. I can’t verbalize the awe it gave me the moment I threw a look at it.. It was so simple yet so extraordinary. "...thank you pala, pero hindi mo naman kailangan mag-abala" naalala ko na naman yung sinabi ni Asteria about this necklace and that stupid idea which made my heart double a beat. I pursed my lips as I looked away. I could not help but my eyes kept coming back to him. Making me pin my deep gaze onto... him. 

if only my eyes have a f*****g laser, I would  have rendered  him on his seat na.

Oddly enough, but I could not process what was happening to.. me.

I stared at his appearance until I got satisfied. He was talking about something but his astonishing presence was taking away my ability to focus on his words. How could he be so charming at times like this? Napaka effortless. "It was your birthday, and you deserve that. Just say thanks." I pursed my lips, being clueless about what I'm going to say. “You remember when we went around the mall after we watched the movie tapos may nadaanan tayong jewelry shop?” I nodded. What happened last week is still as clear as water in my mind. “You said the necklace looked so good, but I didn't know which one so… I ended up buying that.”

Smiling like a fool, I locked my gaze with his. I never expected this guy to be like this. Sabi nila walang perpekto---pero hindi naman nila sinabi na merong halos perpekto. He's what every girl would wish for. He’s definitely a total package. "It wasn’t that necklace, but even so… ang ganda pa rin,” I hope he could see the sincerity in my eyes. I mean it.

“Sobra…” he slowly formed a smile within his thin lips, rendering me silent. God knows how much the mere sight of it could make any soul mend---but that couldn’t be me. His smile was too much for my system so I turned my eyes away, compromising the eye contact we just made. Delikado na ‘to. I heaved a breath. 

I cleared my throat, subtly snapping him in reality. Nakatingin pa rin kasi siya sa akin na para bang mawawala ako kung sa iba siya titingin! "A-andiyan na yung food," manong suddenly appeared kaya siya yung tinuro ko para ibaling ang atensyon ni Kent mula sa akin. Kasama ni Manong yung nag-seserve ng food. 

"Paano kayo nagkakilala, iha?" Manong broke the silence. I sipped on my ice tea then cleared my throat.

"Paano nga ba?" I asked Kent, kunwari'y nakalimutan ko. 

he arched his brow, "you forgot?" 

I can't understand myself. I didn't answer at all. The moment we first met kind of holds a special place in my heart because he was the first friend I had back then. "you know what they say?" he glanced at me before looking down to his plate, slicing the steak. "the things that we already forgot are usually the things that have never been special." pagdadrama niya pa. Akala mo naman kina-gwapo niya. "maybe it wasn't really special since hindi mo na maala---" staring at his face straightly made me notice how close he was to sulking. I’ve already reached my goal. He already seemed annoyed. I guess it’s my time to shine now. 

"3rd grade" I began as he abruptly threw a look at me, looking a little bit shocked but not enough to be recognized as surprised. I was just admiring his eyes. they're so deep. so deep that I once felt like I was drowning. "I was walking down the hallway and was completely lost. iniwan ako ni manang helen because i told her that i'm hungry and the only thing that I had in my bag was a chocolate drink" i smiled, remembering how i thought i was like a lost princess back then. "I didn't know where my homeroom was because hindi pa nag start ang class no'n. I had literally… nowhere to go"

"then, i was shocked kasi biglang tumunog yung bell, yung sign na start na yung class?" I asked Kent to back me up. I don’t know if I already have made his doubts fade kaya kanina ko pa inieksamina ang mukha niya.he's just... so hard to read. 

"My classmates were rushing to go to their homeroom, nagpapaunahang makahanap ng seat," he continued to tell the story."i was sulking to my Mom that time, kinukulit niya akong makipag halubilo sa mga kaklase ko pero sabi ko ayoko---Markian was absent and he was the only friend i had back then. i told her na magbabasa na lang ako ng book sa corridor but as her usual manner, she was so insistent" 

"Then remember? para akong pusang gala nun grabe! the kids were bumping into me but they never tried to care! grabe talaga! so the chocolate drink i was drinking spilled all over my clothes!" I sounded like a kid reporting to manong.

"eh, ano namang ginawa ng alaga ko?" manong asked. he really paid attention to every detail. my heart pounded so loud! i love it when someone tries to really listen to me. minsan kasi magulo ako magkwento...

"he ran away," my face judged Kent. my eyes were going up and down on him na para bang nagtataray. I pouted. remembering how annoyed i was when he just dashed off!

"I didn't just run! I helped you get back on your feet!" pakikipagtalo pa niya!

"hoy, do not revise history! si Tita yung tumulong sa 'kin!" I swear to whoever God that’s listening, I am so close to lean over the table and pick his nose!

"whatever!" he tried to roll his eyes, i almost laughed when he couldn't! "I ran away to get my spare t-shirt sa locker ko, okay?" he defended himself sa nagtatakang itsura ni manong. I chuckled. They do look like father and son. 

"yun na yun?" manong was smiling endlessly.

"yeah, the rest is history..."

"ay alam mo ba manong, when his friend told me he found me cute, siniraan niya 'ko do'n!" 

"oh, anong sabi?"

"nangangain daw kami ng human liver! like he literally told his friend na we're family of vampires! ang sama ng ugali 'di ba?"

Then laughter after laughs came around our booth.

"salamat manong! i enjoyed a lot"

"Ako rin ma'am! Salamat din! Ingat ka!" He raised his hand, leveling his forehead at tsaka kumaway para magpaalam. I held the sling of my bag dahil nag bobounce kapag naglalakad ako but i suddenly stopped.

I heard another door closing. I tried my best not to look back because a part of me was saying it's not Kent. But I was surprised.

Ang lalaki ng hakbang niya kaya nahabol niya ko kahit naglalakad lang. Gosh! Bakit ba ang ikli ng binti ko?! 

I saw the elevator full of people. May gumagamit ng phone, may kausap, may nakapikit na para bang nagiisip ng malalim, meron din may dalang cake. Omg, i suddenly craved. Mayro'n pa kaya sa fridge?

Nakisiksik na lang kami ni Kent kaya sobrang lapit namin sa isa't isa. I could even guess his perfume. It's Clive Christian, mayro'n si daddy sa collection niya, e.

"Omg, he's hot" I heard someone say it in a flirty voice.

"Tsh" I mumbled, I saw from my peripheral vision na napalingon si Kent sa'kin.

"Dun ka tumitig sa kanila, masyado ka yatang nakakatunaw, hot daw, e" i muttered, like literally walang boses. I'm afraid that Kent might hear it kaya di ko na nilagyan ng boses.

"Oh no, he's with a girl. Baka mahear ka, girlfriend yata" conyo amputa. Okay, I admit it, conyo rin naman ako at times but, i wasn't like that! Ang over!

"Ma-hear" I mocked without an ounce of voice.

I tilted my head a little bit on the side where the girls are. Sinadya kong side profile ko lang ang makita nila. Just to let them think na naririnig ko sila.

may mga future sila! Gossip girls sa kanto.

Someone came in sa elevator kaya umusog kami to give him a space. Medyo natulak nga lang ako patalikod nang umatras pa siya...

"oh, Go--" i almost shouted it when i felt someone's hands around my waist! it was supporting my weight para hindi matumba dahil nga sa pag atras ng lalaking nasa harap ko. Gosh! It was Kent pala. Few of them were looking at me, their faces are most concerned pero yung mga babaeng nagchichismisan ay muntik nang lumuwa yung mata kakatitig sa kamay ni Kent. 

Well, sorry, hanggang titig na lang kayo.

Muntik na naman akong mapamura when he pulled me closer, my eyes abruptly widened! I think this is the widest it could get. di parin inaalis yung kamay niya sa bewang ko. Di naman patungan yung waist ko 'no.

Shit, may lalabas pala kasi. Ano ba yan, nalulutang na naman ako! Is it because of my tiredness? Bakit di ko narinig yung alarm ng elevator? Yung sign na bubukas? Gosh. He was too close to me to the point that i looked up to his side to see his face clearly. I bit my lips as i trailed my sight back to where it was before. I don't know what i was thinking but my eyes suddenly shutted as i crunched my nose. Habang nakapikit pa ang mga mata ko, bahagya ko pang dinikit ako ulo ko sa gawi ni Kent. It wasn't that obvious because we're already close to each other, and... He's still not taking off his hand from my waist.

oh, dear lord.

I sniffed and sniffed and sniffed until i got satisfied, sinasamantala ko na ang pagkakataon hangga't ganito kami kalapit. Gosh, i must've looked pathetic--- but surprise! I don't give a damn because nakatingin naman siya sa floor indicator.

I'm starting to like his scent.

Bibili nga rin ako. Mas matagal pa yung perfume ng pang lalaki, e. I checked my wrist watch, it's almost 10:30 na pala. I don't know why but i feel cold inside the elevator, nung nakaraan mainit dito, ah? Don't tell me may sariling climate change dito?

I snapped back into the reality when i heard the sound coming from the elevator. Lumabas na ako ka agad at hindi man lang tinapunan ng tingin si Kent. But, my peripheral vision Didn't want to cooperate.

His right hand was inside his side pocket, i realized his look nung pilit nagfa-flashback 'yung itsura niya sa isip ko.

I just noticed that kung hindi white ang damit niya ay puro dark shade ng colors ang suot niya. puro neutral colors lang. I concluded that he doesn't want any light colored clothes, nor flashy clothes, huh?

Try ko mag neon sometimes.

Nakarating na kami sa unit and nakuha ko na yung keycard ko pero hindi pa rin niya ako kinakausap. the awkwardness almost started to eat me up. hindi ko pa rin talaga alam kung anong sasabihin ko. bihira lang kasi talagang maging consistent yung conversation namin!

minsan one liner lang isasagot niya tapos mahihirapan na naman ako ng bagong topic na pag-uusapan!

Okay, last chance. I closed my eyes for a couple of seconds bago pihitin yung door knob. I sighed nang mapansin pinagmamasdan niya lang kung paano ako mag-mukhang tanga kahihintay.

"why'd you stop? may nakalimutan ka ba? did you leave something in the car?" he asked question after question which made me widen my eyes! grabe sunod-sunod! teka mahina kalaban!

"nothing..." I just replied.

I opened the door then stepped inside the unit. 

should i say goodnight? ang rude naman kung sasaraduhan ko na lang siya di ba? f*****g awkwardness.

I was about to say it but then he held the door to stop me from closing it. and that was enough to shock me! i didn't expect him to do that, “I thought you totally forgot about it.”

“Muntik ka pang magtampo,” puna ko.

“I was just… you know, kind of,” he’s trying to verbalize his thoughts but words have seemed to fail him. “Upset?” uncertainty was the first thing i sensed when he threw the word. 

“That’s okay, I understand.” naiintindihan ko naman kung pinagdudahan niya ako as a friend, yun naman kasi yung goal ko kanina kaya nagkunwari akong hindi ko naaalala. He slowly nodded, looking away from my eyes.

"I had fun, a lot, and goodnight... thank you." he left me staring at nowhere. I was... rendered by his mere presence.

even when he's not here anymore, "Adieu, Kent," I whispered.