Four Seasons of Love

CHAPTER 15

Kithin

We won the 1st place. The juniors bagged the Champion. Okay lang, not bad for us.

My mind is flying now when I saw Andrew in the corner of this place. Matapos ang announcing of winners, nagmamadali ang mga kilos ko. Natataranta tuloy pati si Mona.

"Aalis ka na?" Austin asked in confusion.

There's an urgency in my movements. Gusto kong habulin si Andrew! I want to talk to him, to see him! He didn't texted me since then and I admit that...I longed for his presence.

"Oo, Austin. I have an emergency." I said while I help Mona with our things.

Sinulyapan niya ang kasama ko. "Emergency?"

Mona glanced at me like she’s looking for an explanation. Hindi ko pa nasasabi sa kanya ang totoong rason ko. Basta nagmadali na lang akong mag-ayos ng mga gamit para mahabol si Andrew!

“Yes. Austin.” Ako na ang nagdala ng isang nag dahil bitbit na ni Mona ang costume ng ginamit ko kanina. “Congratulations to us!” I smiled and left him.

Lakad-takbo na ang ginawa ko papunta sa parking area. I’ll leave my things with Kuya Rene! Oh wait, I should call Andrew, too! Baka hindi pa siya nakakaalis.

“Kith, sandali lang!” Pigil ni Mona but my I didn’t make my pace slower.

“Hurry up, Mona!” I said as I wander my eyes when we reached the parking area.

Kabisado ko ang itsura ng mga sasakyan niya. I was able to familiarize it when he used to fetch me here in school before. Medyo nafu-frustrate na ako dahil kahit saan ako tumingin, hindi ko iyon mahanap. There’s a black SUV near the gate but I don’t think it’s his.

Sinalubong ako ni Manong Rene at kinuha ang mga bitbit ko. Ganoon din ang ginawa niya kay Mona. I unzip my backpack, took out my phone and desperately called his number.

“May pupuntahan ka ba? Ba’t nagmamadali ka?” Tanong niya sa akin.

I know that Kuya Apollo asked her to look after me. She reports all my whereabouts. Kaya hindi na ako magtataka kung may mga bagay na nalalaman si Kuya kahit hindi ko naman sinasabi sa kanya.

“Mona, can you cover me up this time?” I asked her.

I placed my phone on my ear and in just two rings, he answered my call.

“Hello!” Sabi ko.

I heard him sigh. Nagsalita si Mona pero hindi ko siya pinapakinggan.

“I think, I saw you. Are you here? In school?” I added.

Of course, he is! Kung nasa ibang bansa siya ngayon, hindi ko siya matatawagan.

He didn’t answer any of my questions. I just hear all his deep breathings. It added more on my frustrations at naiinis na talaga ako sa kanya!

“Can we talk?” I asked again.

This is my last card. If he will not answer me, then I think I’ll just let it pass.

“Black Lexus. Near the gates.” That’s all he said before he ended the call.

I bit my lip. Nahimigan ko ang kagustuhan niyang makipagkita sa akin ng walang ibang nakakaalam. I know it. Sa ilang beses niyang pagpunta-punta rito noon, nagpapakita siya agad.

Pero iba ngayon.

Hinarap ko si Mona na naghihintay pa rin sa akin. I looked at her in my most pityful stares. Please be convinced, Mona. Just give me a moment with him to talk to him.

“Saan ka ba kasi pupunta?” Tanong niya.

“Mona, please. Huwag mo akong isusumbong kay Kuya Apollo.”

“Saan ka nga pupunta para alam ko naman.”

Ngumuso ako, balak ko ng lingunin ang direksyon ng sasakyan niya pero nagpigil ako.

“Kay Andrew.” Sagot ko.

Nangunot ang noo niya. “Sino’ng Andrew?” Saglit siyang nag-isip. “Si Sir Andrew? ‘Yong kaibigan ng kuya mo?”

“Shhh!” Saway ko. Baka marinig siya ni Manong Rene!

“Gaga ka!” Mariin niyang sabi pero mahina na ang boses. “Ba’t makikipagkita ka sa kanya?”

“May sasabihin lang ako!”

Umiling siya. “Hihintayin kita.”

“Huwag na! Magpapahatid na lang ako sa kanya. I just don’t want you to tell Kuya Apollo about this, Monaliza.”

“Pero…”

“Sige na, Mona. I’ll call you if anything goes wrong. I promise, I won’t do something stupid!” I said with a hint of desparation on my voice.

Unti-unti siyang tumango. “Oh sige. Kakausapin ko si Manong Rene. Ako na ang bahala.” Aniya.

I smiled in relief. Finally! I can talk to Andrew in peace now.

Pinag-usapan namin ni Mona ang gagawin. Ipapakita ko kay Manong Rene na babalik ako sa school. Ngayon ko lang napagtanto na hindi lang pala si Mona ang nagbabantay sa akin, pati ang driver namin. I wonder what is it for? Bakit ganoon na lang kahigpit ang pagbabantay sa akin? I’m not some kid that needs to be babysit!

Sandali akong nagtago sa isang pasilyo at hinintay ang sasakyan namin na makaalis na. I sighed as the vehicle was nowhere to be seen now.

I hurriedly went to Andrew’s spot. Hinanap ko ang itim na Lexus. I knew it! It’s the black SUV I saw earlier!

Papalapit pa lang ako ay bumukas na ang pintuan sa passenger’s seat. Hindi ako agad nag-aksaya ng oras, sumakay ako roon at mabilis na isinara ang pintuan.

I saw him sitting lazily in the driver’s seat. Hinihintay niya ako. Titig na titig siya sa akin. I looked at him with so much longing. Ang tagal niyang hindi nagparamdam. Ang huling pagkikita namin ay ‘yong iniwasan niya ako. Until that night, he never texted me again.

“Andrew…” tawag ko sa kanya.

Nilingon niya ako. His eyes bore on me!intensely. I don’t want to assume but all I can see in his eyes are sadness and longingness, too.

I know it because I can feel his emotion just like mine.

“How are you?”

I smiled painfully. Can’t you see, Andrew? I missed you so much.

I almost uttered my true feelings but I reprimanded myself. I wanna hold myself first. Baka mamaya, ako lang pala ang nakakaramdam nito.

“I-I’m fine. Ikaw? I thought you are with my brothers?”

Umiling siya. “I’m done with my business abroad.”

Tumango ako. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko dudugtungan ang pag-uusap namin. Silence consumed us. Tanging ang paghinga ko ng malalim at ang t***k ng puso ko ang naghari sa pandinig ko.

Maybe I should really tell what I feel? Para matahimik na rin ang isip ko? I maybe young and he’s way older than I but…does attraction really sees the number?

“Andrew—“

“I miss you.”

Natigilan ako sa narinig. I still have to recall what he said dahil baka nagkamali lang ako ng dinig. But it is! He misses me!

“H-Hah?”

I have to be certain. I have to make sure that I heard it right!

“I said, I miss you, Kith.” He said in the most gentle and sweet as possible.

My breath hitched as I literally stop fmyself from breathing for a few seconds. Nagkakarera ng ang puso ko dahil sa bilis ng pagtibok nito.

My mind went blank. I suddenly don’t know what to say!

Mahina siyang nagmura. Humigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa manibela. His veins on his arms corded while his jaw clenched hard.

“f**k. I shouldn’t let you know it.” Mahinang usal niya.

Wala sa loob kong hinawakan ang kanyang kamay. I felt him stiffened by my sudden touch. Ang init niya. I wonder how hot his embrace is.

“I miss you too.” Lakas loob kong amin sa kanya.

Bahala na. So what if I’m still young! It’s not I’m going to marry him yet! I’m just…attracted?

He looked away. “Please don’t say that…” he shook his head gently.

I gulped. Umamin na rin naman ako, lulubus-lubusin ko na.

“Andrew, I think I like you.” I said in my most gentle tone I could ever say.

Naninimbang ang boses ko. Tinitignan ko kung ano’ng magiging reaction niya. I can feel that it’s mutual but I can also hint the hesitation on him.

“You’re too young. You’re just infatuated.”

“Well, let’s see in the long run if I’m just infatuated. If I’ll reach 18 and I still like you, saka mo ulit sabihin sa akin ‘yan.”

“Damn.” Muli niyang anas.

I chuckled a bit. “Do you like me, too?”

Tumango siya, kalaunan ay umiling din. “I don’t think this is right.”

“I’m asking you if you like me.”

Nilingon niya ako. “I am. I like you, Kith. Damn it! I’m so f*****g smitten.”

Para siyang nahihirapan sa pag-amin niyang iyon. Namumula ang mukha at leeg niya. His Adam’s apple moved sexily as he gulped hard. Nilingon niya ulit ang harapan ng sasakyan bago siya tumungo at umiling ng minsan.

“I’ve never been attracted like this before. This is crazy but…” he lifted his eyes on me and licked his lower lip. “I always think about you, Kith.”

Huminga ako ng malalim para ikalma ang sarili. I smiled and bit my lower lip.

Wala na akong pakialam. If this is wrong, I don’t think it’s more right not to acknowledge what I really feel for him.

“I feel the same, too.” Bulong ko.