Above The Lines

Chapter 4

FOR THE PAST few days, halos laging si Kia ang kasama ko dahil back to work na ang parents ko at si Manang Belen lang ang nasa bahay. It's either ako ang nasa bahay nila or sya ang nasa bahay.

We sometimes would watch movies or just talk about whatever topic that pops out but I don't see much of my other cousins, kahit na ilang metro lang ang layo ng bahay nila sa amin.

Actually, I'm quite relieved dahil I still get secondhand embarassment sa nangyari sa shop ni Tito. After ko kasing bumalik sa loob, tumambay lang ako sa sala at nang halos mag gabi na, nagpaalam si Lukas na uuwi na and that's the last time I saw him.

"Anong oras ulit tayo bukas?" tanong ko.

Nandito kami sa balcony ng bahay nila at kasalukuyan kong pinapanood kung paano nya gawin ang pini- paint nya na portrait ko. She asked me to give her a copy of my most decent picture and that's when I was in a Freshmen Ball last school year for her to paint habang hindi sya busy.

Kia loved art eversince and that's what I admire about her. She really looks happy lalo na kapag nag pi- paint sya. Kia tried painting with me once pero walang wala ang gawa ko sa gawa nya. She even got recognized by the Mayor's office that they hung her paintings on the office's lobby back when when she was in high school. Now, she accepts commissions for her artwork.

"8 in the morning sabi ni Kuya para hindi pa siksikan sa pila," sagot nya. "Yung requirements mo ready na ba?"

"Yep, all set na for tomorrow."

Bukas kasi ang third day ng enrollment week sa SPU. Bukas talaga namin pinlano dahil pag first and second day kami pumunta, the line and the waiting time would be longer to which I don't mind while my cousins do kahit ako lang naman ang pipila ng matagal dahil sa accounting lang naman talaga sila because they've already registered through the uni's portal dahil returning student sila.

***

Bumaba kami ng tricycle ni Kia at agad naman nyang inabot sa driver ang pamasahe. Naglakad kami papunta sa isang shop na puro Art supplies dahil naubusan sya ng pintura and she needs to buy some and I decided to tag along so here we are.

The bell chimed hudyat ng pag pasok namin at agad kong naramdaman ang lamig ng air con sa loob. Kia seems to know her way here kaya agad syang lumiko sa isang aisle where we saw many colors of acrylic paint that she uses. Agad syang nag squat at namili ng colors that she needed.

Nag ikot ako sa loob ng store na hindi naman ganoon ka lakihan. Mayroon lang dalawang aisle sa gitna ang store and then medyo sakto lang ang space to move around so you can immediately see what you're looking for.

The bell chimed again, probably another customer. Hindi na ako nag abala na lingunin yun dahil nakita ko ang isang set ng brush na I know Kia would love to have. Ipinadaan ko ang kamay ko sa brush and I immidiately liked how fine it is. I mentally noted to get this on her birthday.

Naglakad ako ulit papunta sa kinaro- roonan ni Kia but I stopped midway when I saw Lukas in front of her. Bumaba ang paningin ko sa hamay nyang may hawak na mechanical pencil and a flexible curve ruler in his right hand while a box of donuts is on his left.

Umangat ang tingin nya sa akin and his lips automatically formed a smile. A war of flashback flashed into my mind.

Hay.

"Heto pala si Haya eh," sabi ni Kia saka lumingon sa banda ko.

I walked closer to them at tumabi kay Kia na may bitbit nang basket na puro pintura in different colors ang laman.

Kia faced me and said, "Saan ka galing?"

I pointed my fingers back to when I was earlier. "D'yan lang," tipid na sabi ko.

I looked at Lukas, who are looking directly at me, and smiled at him to acknowledge his presence.

"For school?" Kia asked Lukas saka dumiretso ang mata nya sa hawak nito.

Itinaas nya ang kanang kamay nya. "Ah, ito? Plano ko kasing mag draft habang hindi pa ako busy."

Oh, I remembered he is an Arki student. His course must be too tough na ngayon pa lang nag d-draft na sya. Actually when I held his hand, it was kind of rough and that's probably because he had to constantly make use of his hands.

"Ang sipag naman!" biro ni Kia na ikina ngiti naming lahat.

"Hindi ah. Ikaw nga oh," sabi nya saka itinuro ang basket ni Kia."Hakot ng comissions habang bakasyon."

Umiling si Kia. "Hindi rin. Pini- paint ko kasi portrait nito ni Haya."

Lukas's face lit up. "I- paint mo nga rin ako. Sayang naman ka cute- an ko kung hindi mapapakinabangan."

Kia's laugh echoed at the store. "The confidence! Iba!"

Lukas's smile got wider that his gummys are showing again and his cheeckbones are more prominent. Napansin ko na tuwing tumatawa sya, he'd close his eyes and he'd lean backwards amd slightly srunch his nose.

"Patingin ako pag natapos ha," he said.

I noticed Kia's being carefree around Lukas. Walang hint of ilang or what na para bang matagal na din silang nagkaka- sama. She doesn't treat him like someone older (not much) than us. Probably because tropa nga pala nila Ate at Kuya kaya siguro kilala na din talaga ni Kia. Baka nga hindi 'yon ang unang beses na nakarating sya sa amin nung nagpa ayos sya ng motor if they're this close.

"Teka, naka punta na kayo ng SPU?" tanong nya habang palit palit nilingon kami ni Kia for a while.

"Hindi. Bukas pa kami," sagot ni Kia na ikina- tango ni Lukas.

"Sa SPU ka din ba, Haya?" His eyes stayed at me like he's asking for an answer.

"Oo. Sa St. Pio din ako kasama nila," I said referring to my cousins.

"Ah... Bukas rin sana ako pupunta. Si Roan nag enroll as transferee daw kanina, hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin daw tapos."

Hindi pala ka Uni ni Ate Yuli si Ate Roan? I thought they're classmates.

I checked my wrist watch and it says 2:23 na ng hapon. I saw on their page kagabi na nag labas sila ng notice and there would be like stages bago ma enroll and tama sila, sa open field nga ang place kaya kasagsagan ng init talaga.

"Maam, excuse me po," sabi ng clerk na lumapit sa amin. "Ito na po yung paint." Inabot nya ang isang medium tube ng paint na parang ocean blue ang kulay na agad inabot maman ni Kia.

"Thank you po." Lumingon si Kia kay Lukas. "Bayaran ko lang 'to," paalam nya saka nag- umpisang humakbang.

"May pupuntahan pa ba kayo after? Hatid ko na kayo." Kia stopped from walking at muling hinarap ang gawi namin ni Lukas.

"Wala naman," sagot nya. "Ikaw Haya? May gusto ka bang daanan?"

Umiling ako. "Wala rin." Sumama lang talaga ako kay Kia dahil wala rin naman akong gagawin.

"Yun naman pala. Hatid ko na kayo," Lukas offered again.

May kabang gumapang sa dibdib ko. Hindi ba delikado kapag tatlo sa motor? Tapos walang helmet? Baka naman mamaya mapa-aga pala ang pagkikita namin ni San Pedro sa langit.

As if reading my mind, Lukas said, "Dala ko yung Montero."

Awtomatikong lumingon ako sa glass door at nakitang may naka paradang white na Montero Sport sa parking space saka lumingon pabalik sa kanya.

"So?" Lukas asked once again.

"Wala ka bang ibang pupuntahan?" I asked then I glanced at the box of donuts na nasa kaliwang kamay nya.

Baka naman kasi sya ang may pupuntahan tapos maka abala pa kami sa supposedly lakad nya.

"Wala rin. Itong donuts ng kapatid ko saka itong materials lang talaga sinadya ko." Napansin nya yata na tumingin ako sa donut.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Kia and then she slowly nodded. "Okay."

"Nice. Sige na, bayaran ko lang din 'to." Sabi ni Lukas saka humakbang papalapit kay Kia saka mahinang tinapik. They walked towards the cashier at inilapag sa counter ang mga bibilhin.

Sumunod ako sa kanila at maya- maya lang nasa lumabas na kami ng store nang makapag bayad sila. Nasa tapat na kami ng kotse ni Lukas and I offered to hold the box of donuts at isang paper bag ng binili nya kanina so he can get the car keys on his pockets.

Nang makuha nya, he opened the back seat door at nilagay doon. My hands brushed with his hands nang abutin nya sa akin ang bitbit ko. A rush of electricity crawled in my skin when at saglit no'n nayanig ang buong sistema ko. I automatically looked at him pero naka tingin na pala sya sa akin. Not knowing what to do, biglaan kong binawi ang kamay ko.

"Thanks," sabi ni Lukas na halatang nagulat. The awkwardness in his voice was very evident.

"Ayos lang." Then I shrugged and looked away.

Kumalabog and dibdib ko sa kaba. Naramdaman din ba nya 'yun o ako lang? Kainis. Napaka awkward ng reaksyon ko kanina. I should've kept my cool. Sana lang hindi nakita ni Kia.

I shook my head to forget about it. Nasa Driver's seat na si Lukas at pumasok na rin si Kia sa back seat. Nang papasok na rin sana ako pero pinigilan ako ni Lukas.

"Dito ka sa 'kin." Napatigil ako saka lumingon sa kanya. "I mean, dito ka sa harap para naman hindi nyo ako mukhang driver," sabi nya saka humalakhak.

Kainis. Iba tuloy ang interpretation ko sa sinabi nya. Like, Haya, seriously self? Yun talaga unang naisip mo?

I opened the front seat door at naupo. Gumapang lalo sa pang amoy ko ang amoy ng perfume nya. The same familiar perfume he was wearing noong magka- sayaw kami. It smelled really clean and nice.

"May Milktea shop ba sa malapit? Daan tayo. Libre ko kayo,"sabi ni Kia. Napa lingon kami ni Lukas sa kanya.

Kumunot ang noo ni Lukas na para bang nag- isip. "Milktea? May madadaanan yata tayo pag liko natin."

"Daan tayo, please. Nag crave ako bigla eh," sabi ni Kia.

Nang makapag seatbelt kami, Lukas started the engine and slowly got the car out of the parking space then drove away from the shop. Ang smooth nya mag drive, unlike Kuya Jule. Medyo mabilis kasi magpatakbo 'yun si Kuya akala mo laging nagha- habol pero si Lukas very calm and chill lang so far.

Maya- maya pa, Lukas slowed down and stopped the car in front of a Milktea shop.

"Kia dito na," sabi nya't nilingon si Kia na nasa likod.

Kia held her wallet. "Ako na lang bababa. Anong flavor sa inyo?" tanong nya.

"Taro, " agad na sagot ko. That's my go-to milktea flavor na I'll never get sick of drinking.

"Hindi kasi ako familiar sa mga flavors. Kung ano sa inyo, ganon na lang din sa'kin, " sabi ni Lukas.

Tumango si Kia. "Okay. Hintayin nyo na lang ako dito." Binuksan nya ang pinto saka bumaba. I watched her hanggang sa maka pasok sya sa shop.

A moment of silence engulfed us sa loob ng sasakyan. But, it wasn't a silence na ang awkward at ma o-obliga kang magsalita just to break it. It's not like that. It's like a kind of peaceful and calm silence. Actually, he never made me feel like something is awkward between us kahit hindi pa man kami ganoon magkakilala and now that I think of it? I appreciate it.

"Haya," tawag nya saka ko sya nilingon. "Buksan ko yung radyo ha."

Tumango ako agad. "Oo naman."

Nang mabuksan nya, a familiar song was playing on the radio.

D*mn, I like me better when I'm with you

I like me better when I'm with you

I knew from the first time, I'd stay for a long time 'cause

I like me better when

I like me better when I'm with you.

Lukas lightly tapped the steering wheel with his fingers while I mentally bopped my head to the rhythm. The vibe inside the car lightened even more. Then he sang with a very tiny voice but we are in a secluded place kaya naririnig ko pa rin.

Hindi ko namalayan, napa titig na naman ako sa kanya for a while na agad ko namang nabawi.

"You have such a nice voice," compliment ko sa kanya. Lumingon sya sa akin at nagtama ang paningin namin.

"Talaga? Hindi lang voice ko ang nice. Ako din," biro nya.

"Yeah, you're nice." I don't think that him being nice is just a joke. It's true so I give him that.

Mukha syang nagulat. "Talaga? Thanks! That's my life goal. To be a better person," sabi nya nang hindi pinuputol ang tingin sa akin.

He looked at me softly. It's like a warm embrace from him na puno ng pasasalamat.

I nodded. "You're doing great, Lukas." I returned the smile na ibinigay nya.

Nang sabihin ko iyon, saktong bumalik si Kia dala ang milktea na binili nya at inihatid na kami ni Lukas pauwi.