Restless Heart

Chapter 7

Pinagpahinga na muna namin si Yula sa clinic at natawagan na rin ang guardian niya. Kaya naisipan ko munang bumaba at pumuntang canteen. Nagugutom din kasi ako.

I was silently eating when the students roared. When I say roar, it wasn't an exaggeration. Because this usually happens.

Gusot ang mukha akong napatingin sa mga bagong dating na second year. And guess what? The most ugly specie in the world was boasting his women.

Girls immediately surrounded him. Even his friends and some students from other sections and year levels.

That's how famous he is.

I sighed when I got distracted of their noise and ended up losing my dear appetite. In the end, I quickly finished my meal and stood up.

"T, we're going to watch live band tonight. Sumama ka sa'min, masaya 'yon!" Sabi ng isang lalaki na kung tama ako ay mula sa crim department.

Ganiyan siya ka-famous na kahit mga magpo-police kaibigan niya. Nakaharang sila sa pintuan kaya eksaherado akong napabuntong-hininga.

"Excuse sana sa inyo, bakit hindi kayo pumasok at ng madaanan naman ang pinto? Mukha bang tanggapan 'tong pintuan, bruhh?"

I really thought no one will hear me since the noise's dominating the peace and I was just kidding! But I was attacked by nervousness when Atticus, of all people, heard me.

Siya pa mismo. Ang galing, parang sinadya!

I saw him arched his brow and arrogantly tossed me a glance. A glance that showed harsh judgement and arrogance. A glance that could make anyone gulped.

His lips stretched for a wicked smirk as he raised his left arm to silence everyone. And like a king giving out his order, everyone obeyed.

Agad akong kinabahan nang tignan ako ng lahat. Nasa pinaka-frame ng pinto si Atticus at kaharap ako.

Biglang humawi ang lahat ng nasa gitna namin na parang tubig lang. Wow, Moises ka?

"She wanted an attention, too. Let's give her a moment," sabi niya.

His voice was coated with a thick sarcasm that pissed me off immediately. My eyes turned sharp but he only smirked more.

Everyone laughed and joked along with him, while I stood there, frozen. Not in fear but in embarrassment.

"Miss, what's your name? Are you a transferee? This is the first time I'd saw your face," he added.

Napapikit ako. First time? Seriously? May amnesia ba siya? Oh, ulyanin lang talaga.

"Ano ka ba, T. She's the waiter in the restaurant, remember? You even flirted with her," maarteng saad ng isang babae na pamilyar ang mukha.

While Atticus' face held confusion. Seryuso ba 'to? Galing umakting ng gago, alam kong kilala na niya ako. Gago lang.

"I don't remember, I don't flirt to just anyone, Athena. And…" he trailed off, eyeing me from head to toe.

Everyone was watching me, too with their smug yet curious eyes. I felt a little humiliated by that.

My face heated up a little and I was entirely embarrassed. There's nothing that I should be embarrassed of but this scene was never in my list.

None would want to be a laughing stock, right?

"…she is not my type. Way too far from my standard," he added.

Sobrang yabang ng tuno at walang interest na umiwas. Sarap bigwasan. Agad akong nagngitngit sa inis pero nanaig na ang hiya sa'kin dahil sa mga nanunuod.

Ayuko rin gumawa ng gulo dahil iniingatan ko ang image ko. I'm a scholar for Pete's sake!

"You're so mean, T. She's just a fan, can't you see?" Singit ng isa.

Napatingin ako sa babaeng may lahing British at kulang na lang sumabat ako at itama siya.

Like duuh?! Go to hell, miss! I was never his fan girl! I'm not like you guys, I have eyes that can see devil in him!

"Don't be too hard on her, Monte Grande. She just wanted to pass by. Padaanin mo kasi," sabi pa ng lalaki na, oh wait.

Bigla akong napatingin sa nagsalita at halos magsalubong ang kilay ko nang makita si Trist.

When our eyes met, he winked. Muntik na tuloy akong masuka. Mukha siyang palaka r'on, nyeta.

Tsk. What is he doing here?

"Hindi ko hawak ang pintuan, she can pass by me anytime. Look, she just want my attention," si Atticus at muntik na akong atakihin sa puso.

You are so full of yourself, young man.

Maghunos-dili ka oy!

Natawa si Trist pati ang iba, samantalang napabuntong-hininga ang ibang babae. Mukhang sanay na sila sa ugali niyang 'yon.

"Let me fix your sentence," hindi ko napigilan.

As I've said, ayuko na patulan 'to pero ayuko ma-misinterpret ng mga tao.

I breathed out deeply when everyone looked at me. Some were curious, some were astonished but some were just uninterested.

"I never wanted your attention, ever. Hindi ako mahilig sa mayabang at hambog!"

"Bummer! Iba kasi ang gusto, awit!"

Si Trist agad ang sumagot kaya naiinis ko siyang pinukol ng tingin. Halos murahin ko siya pero tatawa-tawa lang ang langya.

"Sino ba ang gusto, Trist? First time 'tong hindi si Atticus ah," sabat ng isang hindi ko kilala.

"Sasabihin ko ba, miss electron?" Si Trist.

Asar na asar ko ulit siyang binalingan at talaga? Miss electron? Sapakin ko siya, e.

"Subukan mo malilintikan ka," gigil kong sagot.

Mas tumawa siya pero agad ding natahimik at napatingin sa harapan ko.

Tinignan ko rin kung bakit at napasinghap ako nang makitang palapit si Atticus habang nakangisi pero may kakaibang kislap ang mata.

Within my reach na sana, sarap kalmutin pero baka ma-expel ako bigla.

"Tignan natin kung hindi pa rin 'to mababaliw sa'kin." He smirked.

His sleepy orbs directed at me. And it held foreign emotions.

Suddenly, his stare became deep, heavy, depleting and weary yet wile. Seductive and tempting. He turned serious and desperation glowed upon his orbs.

It was like, he's been in pain for years and he needed someone to lean on. And everything seemed to doesn't matter all of the sudden.

Luuh.

I gulped all of the sudden and shot him a doubtful glare. My eyes turned slits as I watched him closely.

Well, we don't know. What if this is his modus-operandi to attract women?

Iyong para bang nasa bingit na siya ng pagpapakamatay dahil sa depression at maaawa ka na lang.

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

Napa-english ako bigla at natulak siya. Pero mas lalo lang siyang lumapit sa'kin kaya naguguluhang napaatras ako.

Sobrang tahimik ng lahat at dudang-duda ako rito. Putspa, 'pag 'to may kabulastugang gagawin babanatan ko 'to sa bunbunan.

Sige!

"Darling," he muttered in his deep and husky voice. "I don't understand why…I am feeling like this. Like I've been missing someone who's been a part of my life but, I don't know who it is."

"W-What? Ano bang pinagsasabi mo?"

Napa-atras ako nang mas lumapit siya at hinawakan ako sa braso. Sobrang lambot at init ng kamay niya. gad ko 'yong natabig nang nawe-werduhan na talaga ako sa kaniya.

Eh? 'Pag ito talaga ginagago ako, bibigwasan ko 'to.

"What if we're lovers in our past lives and we're meant to meet? You just made me nervous and hell, I can not take my eyes off you."

Eksaherado siyang umiling, kaawa-awa ang mukha na parang iiyak.

Bwesit 'to. Muntik na akong matawa.

I heard sighs and gasps but I couldn't take my eyes off him, too. But I wasn't bewitched, duuh.

Malalaki na mata ko habang nakatitig sa kaniya. Hindi ako maka-iwas dahil baka bigla niya akong sunggaban.

He licked his lower lip and dropped his eyes on mine. His drowsy eyes were suddenly attractive and hellishly enigmatic.

Ilang minuto akong nakamasid lang sa kaniya.

Hanggang sa bigla siyang napanganga at malagkit na umakyat ang mapupungay na mata na parang pipikit sa mata ko.

Everyone fell silent once more. And the words that escaped his lips made me gasped.

"Baby, can I…kiss you?" His seductive voice and pitiful yet enigmatic face made me gasped.

My mouth hanged open and my eyes slowly widened. This jerk!

Then, his face jerked to the side. The sound of my slap stunned all of them.

Maraming napasinghap, maging ako. Unti-unti na ulit lumabas ang nakakaasar na tawa ni Trist at ng ibang lalaki.

Habang nakita ko ang pag-igting ng panga ni Atticus at namumula siyang napabaling sa'kin.

His eyes were real sharp and dark, his face was void and his jaw clenched tightly.

He was very livid.

"Yari ka ngayon, Eve. Takbo na!"

Hiyaw ni Trist at ginulat ako. Lintik na lalaki 'to! Napalunok din ako nang makita ang galit sa mukha ni Atticus. Bigla akong nakaramdam ng takot at kaba na baka saktan niya ako bilang ganti.

"How dare you to f*****g slap me, you'll pay for th——"

"Takbo sabi! Langya, Evergreen!"

Tinulak ako ni Trist na tawang-tawa habang ang iba ay napabuntong-hininga.

Napalakad ako palabas ng wala sa oras habang nililingon si Atticus na napa-iling at ngingisi-ngisi na.

Tinapunan niya ako ng nang-uuyam na tingin bago nagtaas ng kilay at naiiling na tumalikod kasama ang mga kaibigan.

Then that was when I realized something. Yula's so fond of him and she talked about him a lot.

I remembered when she told me how Atticus played girls he doesn't wanted. He's a big scumbag.

Napangitngit ako sa inis at asar nang maalala ang mukha niya kanina habang pinalalaruan ako.

Desperately frustrated and depressed. Seductive, lost in sadness and loneliness. Like it was all true. Like he's a broken hearted guy.

Buong hapon yata akong asar at wala sa mood dahil dun. Sirang-sira ang araw ko.

Kahit pauwi na kami hindi pa rin mawala-wala ang kaasiman sa mukha ko.

"Hoy, ba't ka ba nakasimangot? Para kang kriminal sa itsura mo, ungas!"

Banat sa'kin ni Ed habang nagda-drive. Hinampas ko ang braso niya sa gigil. Hindi ko lang mapigilan.

"Sarap talaga basagin ng mukha niya, Edcharl. Makaka-tyempo rin ako, talagang uundayan ko ng sapak 'yong mukha niya!"

Sabi ko sa sobrang asar. Hindi mawala-wala sa isip ko ang mukha niya kanina at ang hiya.

Almost majority knew how he play. He'll play like a love sick fool until you forgot everything around you.

He'll show his most frustrated face, unlike other men who show their best faces to seduce you, his ways were different.

He prefers women going crazy over him because of his depressive facade.

Kabaliktaran ang ipapakita niya at sa huli, kapag nadala ka na sa walang kwenta niyang acting, pagtatawanan ka niya at ng lahat.

Good thing I am not one of his unwanted fans. Good thing I slapped him! That means, I wasn't fooled but the embarrassment lingered.

Hikhok, ang sakit mapaglaruan.

"Evergreen! Nagda-drive ako, tumigil ka kung hindi mababangga tayo!" Bulyaw ni Edcharl.

Saka ko lang naalala na nasa sasakyan pa pala kami. Bagal naman nito mag-drive.

"Pakibilisan kasi!"

"Kita ng traffic, oh. Bulag ka? Bulag? Ano tayo lilipad?" Pambara niya.

Napanguso ako at umirap. Tumingin na lang ako sa labas ng bintana at saktong natuon ang mata ko sa katabi naming kotse.

"What the heck!"

Malutong pa sa chicharon ang mura ko nang bumungad sa'kin ang nakakaasar at nakangisi na mukha ni Atticus.

He chuckled when he heard me cussed, he pushed his aviator up and darted me his deceitful, seductive yet disgusting eyes.

Like what the f**k! Hanggang dito ba naman? Aasarin pa rin ako nito?

When we got home, I immediately freshened up. I was stressed because of my encounter with the known woman magnet.

Woman magnet my ass! Why does he even had that title?

He's not that handsome for me, he's more like a f**k boy because of his mischievous grins and brown hair. He doesn't look that charismatic yet women still dig him.

"Tsk! Ang pangit kaya ni Atticus! Dinaan lang sa landi, e."

Habang nagsusuklay, panay ang maktol ko. Kesyo malandi si Atticus Crusade. Pero malandi naman talaga!

"And he dared say that I'm not his type, he's not my type, too!" I even added.

Asar na asar kasi ako.

Napansin kong mahaba na ang buhok ko kaya naisipan kong kumuha ng gunting.

Tapos ay gumupit ako ng yarn para itali sa buhok ko kasi sa kahirapan, hindi ko na kayang bumili ng pantali.

"Eve, hugas ka muna ng pinggan. May bisita akong darating, sasalubungin ko lang."

Naibagsak ko ang gunting at masamang binalingan si Edcharl na biglang pumasok sa kwarto ko.

Sobrang bigat bigla ng dibdib ko. Ako na naman?

"Akala ko ba ikaw maghuhugas?"

Nanalamin muna siya bago ako tinaasan ng kilay. Napatingin siya sa hawak kong gunting.

"Maggugupit ka? Magba-bangs ka 'no? Dora-dora na naman, Evergreen?"

"Mukha bang gusto ko pagtawanan? Syempre hindi! Ano, ba't ako na naman pagod ako, e!"

Sumamingot ako at pumadyak sa inis.

"Diba dalawang buwan ang usapan? O, hindi pa nga natatapos ang buwan."

Namewang siya sa harapan ko kaya mas nagmukha siyang titan dahil sa tangkad niya.

Truth be admitted, my uncle's a hottie and he has the face to be boasted. Though I don't find him really interesting but why do women still dig him?

Nakapagbihis na siya agad at handang-handa na naman gumala.

"Edcharl naman, pagod kasi ako. Matutulog nga sana ako, e," ungot ko at kunwareng humikab.

Nakaramdam ako ng antok at kulang na lang maglupasay ako para ipakitang pagod nga.

Para naman siyang kalabaw na nagbuntong-hininga, hindi siya sumagot pero naglapag siya ng isang daan sa vanity table ko.

My eyes darted there with questions, dying for answers.

"What's that?"

"Pera malamang," pamimilosopo niya. "Wash the dishes and I'll give you more. Ano, deal?"

He sounded like a business tycoon when he said that. Ngiwi akong tumingin sa kaniya at nagtaas ng kilay.

"Dagdagan mo muna. Gawin mo ng limang daan."

He scowled. "Abusado ka, maghuhugas lang ng pinggan five hundred agad?"

"Kuripot mo naman, tito."

"Wala na akong pera, Eve. Yan lang muna, okay?" Sumimangot ako. "I'll be back in an hour, make sure you'd clean what's needed to be cleaned."

I waved my hand dismissively in the air, pinapaalis siya ng hindi tinatapunan ng tingin.

Tinangay ko na lang ang pera at nagtungo sa kusina. Malaki naman ang bahay at kumpleto kami sa gamit.

Kaya madalas siyang may bisita kasi malawak ang veranda at maganda ang view. Madalas doon sila gumagawa ng assignment or kapag nagkakasiyahan.

Tapos na akong maghugas nang makarinig ako ng ingay mula sa labas. Must be them?

Ilang sandali pa lumakas ang ingay sa may veranda kaya sigurado ng sila nga 'yon.

'Pag ganitong may bisita si tito madalas nasa kwarto ako dahil nahihiya akong makisalamuha sa mga kaklase at kaibigan niya lalo pa't ako lang mag-isa ang babae rito.

Maya-maya pa ay sumulpot na si Edcharl sa kusina at kumuha ng gagamitin nila.

Pinanuod ko lang siyang ilagay sa tray lahat ng kailangang gamit at kumain ng merienda.

"Where's my chocolate cake here?"

Nang buksan ang fridge ay tanong niya at kunot-nuo akong binalingan. Sa nambibintang niya pa lang na tingin, alam ko na agad.

"Wala ba riyan?"

"Obviously, magtatanong ba 'ko kung nandito?" Pamimilosopo niya.

"Ewan ko."

"Nandito lang yun kanina bago ako umalis, ikaw lang naman naiwan——"

Nagkatinginan kami kaya nakita ko ang asar niyang mukha. Nag-peace sign na ako agad bago pa siya maka-react.

"Sorry?"

Napasapo siya sa ulo niya at suplado akong inirapan. Wala na siyang nagawa kundi umiling habang nagdadabog.

"Para yun kay Euscitte. Sabi ko na nga ba, sana binigay ko na agad," bulong-bulong niya.

Rinig ko naman siya pero hindi ako sumagot. Nagtaas lang ako ng kilay at nag-krus ng braso habang nakangisi siyang pinapanuod.

"Euscitte, huh."

"Shut up, Evergreen."

"Iyong kapit-bahay natin na nagtatrabaho na? Mas matanda yun sa'yo, e."

"Pero mas maganda kaysa sa'yo."

"She's older than you, she might be taken already, Ed."

"Pake mo ba?" Bwelta niya at binugahan ako.

"Eww!"

Agad ko siyang pinaghahampas nang nagsiliparan sa mukha ko ang nakakadiri niyang laway.

Potaena niya!

Napatawa siya at ako naman ang asar na asar. Bibigwasan ko sana kaso agad nakaalis. Hayst, sayang.

Nakanguso akong naghakot ng pagkain mula sa fridge na dadalhin ko sa kwarto. Palabas na ako ng kusina nang may sumulpot din biglang pamilyar na mukha.

"Excuse me, kukuha lang sana ako ng——"

Muntik na kaming magkauntugan, sa gulat napamura ako at agad nag-init ang mukha.

"s**t!"

What the—the glass fell but he swiftly caught it without tearing our contact. Manghang-mangha ako ro'n.

"Sorry, you okay?"

Natataranta akong napaatras, hindi malaman ang gagawin at malakas ang kabog ng dibdib.

Mas sumeryuso naman ang mukha niya at agad akong sinuri. Langya! Lalong nag-init ang mukha ko nang pasadahan niya ako ng tingin.

"Ikaw? Paanong nandito ka?"

Muntik na akong mautal, ramdam ko bigla ang panlalamig nang matitigan ang mukha niya. Pero agad namuo ang matamis na ngaiti sa labi ko.

I stared intently at his handsome face and hadn't held the admiration. He's like an angel full of positivity. No one has ever gotten my full attention but him.

I suddenly became conscious of my looks and my height!

Hindi ba pwedeng tumangkad ako bigla kahit ngayon lang? Naman, e!

"Inaya ako ni Edcharl, we're friends though I'm older than him. Didn't expect you're related to each other even you have the same surnames," nakangiting sabi niya at napalabi.

Hindi na yata nawala ang ngiti ko habang kaharap siya. Tutok din ako sa malawak niyang ngiti at magaang mga tingin.

I had totally forgotten about the food. Magda-diet na pala ako.

"Tito ko siya," ngiti kong sagot.

He nodded and hummed sexily. My eyes almost dropped when I heard his soothing voice.

He sounded like an angel. Damn!

"Uncle, father side?"

"O-Oo!"

"How old are you, then? I think you're years younger than him."

Oo, Aliston. Batang-bata pa ako at fresh.

"I'm already 18," legal na para maging girlfriend mo.

Chos! Just a joke but…

"Oh, right you look like seventeen though," sabi niya kaya halos maglupasay ako sa kilig.

Pinigilan ko lang sa pamamagitan ng pagkagat din sa labi ko. Putspa! Paano kumalma?

"H-Hindi naman," mahina kong sagot at ngumiti lalo.

He smiled more and slightly raised his right brow.

"No, it's for real. And I like your baby face," he added and I found myself smiling widely.