Story Deleted

Chapter 7

/7/ SHE'S THAT WOMAN

Who can find a virtuous

woman? Her price is far

above rubies

- Proverbs 31:10

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KHEL'S POV

.

I remembered her. She was the woman I saw at the plaza last day. The vocalist on stage who sings worship songs... It was her.

What a coincidence.

Meera Guizon, as what she introduced herself, stood before me. "Sinabi sa'kin ni Ms. Blanche na maaari na tayong mag-start sa project. She already handed me the budget from English Department. At nandito ako para i-inform sa'yo na kailangan na nating magsimula. The earlier, the better."

We're still inside the library, standing face to face, between tall bookshelves.

I licked my lower lip and folded my arms. "So? Should we discuss the plan? The magazine layout?"

"Hm... Sa susunod na lang ang layout," aniya. "Why don't we talk about the places inside the region that we should promote? We're living in CALABARZON, therefore we should feature those five: Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon, in our magazine."

"Uh-huh?" I nod my head. "And your suggestion is?"

"Um... Wait!"

Instead of answering my question, tumalikod si Meera at may hinanap siya sa bookshelf. Then she tiptoed and grabbed a book. Muli n'ya akong hinarap, hawak ang librong may pamagat na: "A Traveller's Tale".

"See this?" She showed me the book's cover with beautiful ocean and a sunset.

Napataas ang kilay ko. What is she thinking? Why can't I read her like other girls? This girl hooks my curiosity.

"What's with that?" I asked, frowning.

"My idea is, gagawin nating travel themed ang magazine natin! Hindi ba't sikat ang mga travel blogs ngayon? We will apply it in our content habang pini-feature ang iba't ibang spots sa region ng CALABARZON. Isn't that catchy?"

Her eyes are sparkling while she talks. Staring at her feels like holding my breath, so I diverted my eyes somewhere and fixed my eyeglasses. D*mn it.

"Yeah. That seems... Nice, " I can't search a proper word to say.

"Talaga?" Her face lit up like a sunshine. "So, it's official? Travel themed ang magazine natin? Payag ka?"

She looks so happy and her smile... It's like a rainbow to my eyes. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at tumango na lamang.

"Madali ka naman palang kausap eh," aniya. "I really shouldn't believe rumors. Sabi kasi ng mga classmates ko snob ka raw at cold sa mga babae. Masungit at suplado."

Nagpintig ang tenga ko no'ng marinig iyon. I shouldn't feel bad because it's true, I'm cold and snob to others. Pero bakit parang gusto kong sapakin 'yung mga nagsabi sa kaniya no'n? Why am I bothered?

"Pero mukhang hindi naman," dugtong niya at ngumisi. "You seem a nice person. And you look so humble."

Humble... Me?

I can counter her statement by saying that she's all wrong. I can frankly tell her that I really am a cold and snob person. But... Something is holding me back.

For the nth time, I looked away from her eyes and fixed my eyeglasses' bridge. I was about to say something, pero naunahan n'ya ako.

"Oh! I know that book!" sabay turo niya sa librong nasa kamay ko.

The book about DNA. Kamuntikan ko nang makalimutan, hawak ko pa rin pala 'to hanggang ngayon.

"Do you know that DNA is metaphored as book?" she said.

Napakunot ang noo ko. That's the same thing that our teacher told us earlier.

Nagtataka kong tinitigan ang cover ng librong hawak ko. Nagsalita ulit si Meera, kaya't napaangat ang tingin ko sa kaniya.

"Because DNA contains instructions, like a blueprint, for making other cells. Like a book, DNA also contains letters. Those letters were arranged into words that makes a DNA meaningful to instruct how a certain cell will form."

I was surprised. Hindi ko in-expect na siya ang sasagot sa tanong ko. She explains it very clear, and I can't help but to awe in silence.

"Ay! Hahaha! Sorry, napakadaldal ko talaga."

Natatawa siyang tumalikod, saka binalik ang librong hawak niya sa loob ng bookshelf. Then, again, she faced me.

"Meron ka bang f*******: account? Para doon na lang kita icha-chat about sa project." She glanced on her wristwatch. "Matatapos na kasi ang break. Sa chat na lang natin pag-usapan ang iba pang details sa paggawa ng magazine."

Tumango ako at nilabas ang aking phone. She also fetched out her phone. We exchanged f*******: accounts.

"Ayan! Friend na kita!" she exclaimed while staring at her phone's screen.

Then I looked at my phone. It says that my friend request was accepted. And yes, we're now friends... in f*******:.

Binalik niya ang kaniyang phone sa kaniyang bulsa, saka bahagyang kumaway sa akin.

"Sige, mauna na 'ko! Chat-chat na lang, Khelly!"

Then she turned around. Her hair's bouncing as she walks away from me, until she exited the library's door.

Did she just call me "Khelly"?

Naiwan akong nakatayo sa gitna ng mga bookshelves. Alone. And finally, I was abled to breathe normally.

I brushed my fingers through my messy hair, exhaling gently. When I composed myself back, humarap ako sa bookshelf at binalik do'n itong librong hawak ko.

That woman, Meera. She has this 'something' that makes her different from other women. I don't know what it is, but it pokes my curiosity.

It makes me want to know her more.

***

"Ows! Talaga ba, bro?!" pasigaw na wika ni Brint.

Geez. He's too loud!

We're back in my aunt's house. It's already evening in seven o'clock. Narito si Brint sa kwarto ko dahil, wala lang, gusto niya lang kunong tumambay sa bahay namin. Tss. His moron-mode is still active.

Kasalukuyan akong naka-indian sit sa ibabaw ng aking kama. I am facing my laptop, typing on the keyboard to complete my essay homework.

Meanwhile, nakaupo si Brint sa isang swivel-chair. Pinaikot-ikot niya ang swivel-chair na 'yon na parang bata, saka tumigil at humarap sa direksyon ko.

Mun'tanga ang loko.

"E'di kung gano'n, time out ka muna sa pagiging boy genius? Ka-career-in mo muna ang pagpo-photographer?" at tumawa siya nang malakas. "Hanep ka talaga, Khel! Wala ka yatang bagay na 'di kayang gawin. Si Superman ka ba?"

Habang busy sa aking laptop, sinagot ko siya, "Superman is a fiction, moron. At wala namang masama kung ita-try ko, hindi ba? Ms. Blanche told me that I have the potential."

"Kaya ka sumali sa contest bilang photographer ay dahil sinabihan kang may potensyal? Oh c'mon! I know you, Khel. You have better reason than that," aniya at muling inikot ang inuupuan niyang swivel-chair.

"It's also an experience," dugtong ko habang nagta-type sa keyboard ng laptop. "Photography isn't that bad. It also entertains me. So, why not?"

Huminto sa pag-ikot ng upuan si Brint, saka muling humarap sa direksyon ko. Then I saw a wide grin on his face.

"Hmm... Iyon nga lang ba ang rason?" he looked at me with suspicion.

Tumingin ako sa kaniya nang pokerface. "Do you have a better reason, then?"

"Nah." Umiling siya, nakangisi pa rin. "Sinisiguro ko lang naman."

"Tss." Umismid ako.

Balak ko na sanang mag-type ulit sa laptop. Pero, sa 'di inaasahan, natigilan ako sa sunod na sinabi ni Brint.

"Khel, blooming ka 'ata ngayon? Hindi ka naman siguro in love, ano?"

Out of nowhere, I felt tingle in my chest. Meera's smile suddenly flashed inside my head.

"F*ck..." I hissed underneath my breath.

Kumuha ako ng unan mula sa gilid ng kama, saka marahas ko itong binato sa mukha ni Brint.

"AH! GAGI! A-Anong problema mo, bro?! Nagbibiro lang naman ako!" natatawang wika niya. "Teka, h'wag mong sabihing..."

"Shut up!"

Before the night ends, kinaladkad ko palabas ng bahay itong si Brint at sinipa ko siya palabas ng gate. Nabadtrip ako kaya, ayun, pinauwi ko na siya bago ko pa mapatay.

"Get lost, moron!"

"Wahahaha! Walang'ya ka talaga, Khel! 'Ge, una na 'ko!" aniya at pabirong sumaludo. "Kitakits, lover boy!"

Umalis sakay ng tricycle si Brint. Pinanood ko ang pag-andar no'ng trike hanggang sa ito'y maglaho sa kahabaan ng kalsada.

I was left standing on the gate's front, smirking like a fool.

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