Dusk Kisses

02

".. in jesus name, amen" doon na natapos ang maikling after meal prayer namin sunod na ang sharing. Kent came back with a different set of new clothes. hindi na siya mukhang menudo-han.

"Amen!" Daustine hyped up.

"Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!" Sumunod si Mark, loko-loko.

I can't help but feel nervous. My hands were subtly trembling.

Ano namang ise-share ko?

Okay, nagsisisi na ako, i should've planned this a week ago. Mahirap pala pag on the spot na. parang mas pipiliin ko na lang magpakain sa lupa.

"Okay, now for our next activity may I call on Ms. Salvador for our life experience sharing?"

Kahit expected ko naman na ako ang unang tatawagin kinabahan pa rin ako at nagulat dahil halos lahat sila ay nakatingin na sa akin. the horror of what happened earlier flashed in my mind. tangina.

This is clearly not what i imagined it to be! Akala ko, napaka dali lang magsalita sa harap ng mga Tao!

"Uh, Hi--good afternoon, I'm Lauri Selene. My pronouns--- just she/her haha" damn, i sounded so awkward! I'm so nervous kasi wala talaga akong maisip. here goes nothing...

the sharing went beyond my expectation, it was... rather smooth.

"So our first game is the boat sinking! Yah i know medyo pambata, but still, we don't allow kj's here!"

"grabe ang unique, ha?" Sarcasm came along with my voice. Binulong ko lang iyon kay, Syrus sa pinakamahina kong boses.

"sa sobrang unique, tayo na lang sa school na 'to ang gumagawa" she replied, riding on whatever s**t i am up to.

Lahat kami ay kasali sa laro maliban kay miss at 'yung game master, si John.

Bali twenty-nine kaming nariritong nakaform ng circle at nagaabang kung ilan ba dapat ang mag g-group.

"The boat is sinking... Group yourselves into... Three!"

Mabilis kaming kumilos nila Syrus at Mae!

I was wrong, it's kinda masaya pala. it brings back the old days. the serotonin rush.

My eyes looked for Xera. i smiled when i saw her smiling, too. nasa kabilang grupo siya. si Michael and Daus 'yung mga kasama niya

"Oops Jamie, Alex, you're out!" Sabi ng mc na may sabay na sound effect na parang nadidisappoint.

"Ang popogi pero napaka bagal!" John chuckled, siya 'yung mc.

"Manahimik ka bakla!" Jamie poked fun, my gosh.

"'ra ulo, makabakla naman 'to!" Syrus commented, ako lang siguro ang nakarinig dahil ako lang ang lumingon sa kaniya.

"Hoy foul yan!" He softly glared.

"Okay, okay! The boat is sinking.... Group yourselves... Into... Five!"

Halos tumakbo na kami para lang maghanap ng makakasama nila Mae at Syrus.

Sa kabilang grupo ay meron pang nag aagawan ng makakasama dahil hindi pa naman tapos ang timer.

Bigla na lang naming naramdaman na may yumakap sa amin para makigrupo.

Lumingon ako nang bahagya para makita kung sino ang nasa likod ko, i wasn't shock to see Mark. may ngiti na abot tenga habang nakatingin sa timer kasama niyang pumanig sa grupo namin si Josh, may sinasabi pa siya pero... Hindi ko maintindihan? Bakit hindi ko maintindihan?

"Times up!" Napalingon na lang ako sa nagsasalitang si John, thanks to him i was snapped back to reality "okay! Xera at Daustine you're both out!"

"Tandaan mo 'yung araw na 'to, Mark! Trayduran pala, ah?" Daustine blurted out, obviously joking.

Twenty-five nalang kami ngayon.

"Good job sa mga natirang grupo!" John cheered us.

"Sino kaya ang matatanggal at sino rin kaya ang magwawagi?" He acted like he was in a reality show. He really sounds like a real host! Ang havey! Asteria once mentioned it to me, it means something's being funny.

"Ang arte mo ghorl! " Pang asar na ani Xera.

Inirapan na lamang ni John si Xera At tumawa naman ang apat na nakaupo at ang mga naka-grupong kalaban namin.

"Cut the fuss out! The boat is sinking... Group yourselves into... Seven!"

Kasama si Mark, Syrus, Mae, at Josh dumagdag pa sa amin sina Mikee at Iza.

There were four people na natanggal at hindi ko na sila kilala, siguro dahil nagtransfer sila rito the year i left.

The game lasted for more than thirty minutes until we're down to seven.

"OKAY, MALAPIT NA TAYO MAG-SEMIFINALS! SINO KAYA ANG MATITIRA AT SINO ANG MALALAGAS? HMM" pang aaliw ni john sa amin.

"HMM?" nang aasar na tugon ni Daustine at Mark. Naka linya kami ng pa horizontal katabi ko si Michael at si Mark.

Lahat kami ay nag iintay nalang sa sasabihing numero ni John.

"THE BOAT IS SINKING..... GROUP YOURSELVES INTO..... FOUR!"

napangunahan ako ng kaba! Nag ba-buff pa 'yung utak ko kung kanino ako kakampi!

Pupunta na sana ako kila Syrus nang may humila sa palapulsuhan ko.

I was shocked! It's Michael, akala ko naman kung sino, my eyes widened when he lingered his arms around my waist. I didn't freak out dahil parte naman ng laro iyon.

"Dito ka apat na sila do'n" bulong niya sa tenga ko.

Nilingon ko sila Syrus, oo nga 'di ko napansing apat na sila.

Lalong humigpit ang yakap naming apat nila Michael at kasama 'yung dalawang babae na hindi ko pa nakikita dahil inagaw ng timer ang paningin ko. Ten seconds pa naman ang natitira at sinusubukan ng tatlong kalaban na buwagin kami para sila ang makisali.

I looked at my team, 'yung dalawa mukhang kinakabahan while Michael looked neither bored nor excited. ang hirap niyang basahin.

just by looking at him, i can tell he's got everything all the crazy girls would line up for. if only i was one with those girls walang duda, pipila rin ako. he's Tall, smart and super matured! Gosh, minsan nga lang masungit tapos wala yatang balak mag jowa. pero hindi ako kagaya nila.

"5,4,3,2,1" pagbibilang nila.

"JUSTIN, ANNA AND CHRIS SORRY BUT YOU HAVE TO SAY BYE BYE HAHAHAHA"

bagsak ang balikat ni Anna habang naglalakad pabalik sa upuan.

Milktea kasi yung prize kakadating lang kanina.

Sakto nag-crave ako e, 'di lalo akong ginanahan maglaro.

Napangiti ako habang naiisip ang sinasabi sa isip. Nagpatuloy pa ang game hanggang sa lima nalang kami.

Syrus, Mark, Maerenica, Kent at ako.

"ETO NA MGA SIS! DALAWA LANG ANG PWEDENG MANALO SA GAME NA ITO KAYA PAGBUTIHAN NIYO HA"

Tila bata kaming tumatango tango na inintindi talaga 'yung mga sinasabi ni John.

"THE BOAT IS SINKING GROUP YOURSELVES INTO..... TWO!"

Si Syrus sana ang yayakapin ko ngunit naunahan na ako Mae!

Kaasar! I softly glared at them as they teasingly laughed at me. Ngayon naiintindihan ko na ang pakiramdam ng hindi mapili.

my eyes widened when someone pulled me and draped his arm around my waist! Oh gosh, that was very... Abrupt!

It was from behind so I really had to turn around to see who that guy was. Please Lord, don't put me into such an embarrassing situation!

I found myself with a curse escaping from my mouth when I saw how Mark was pleading to the guy who wrapped his arms around me..

If he's in front of me...

Does that mean... the guy who's behind me is... Is Kent?!

That thought sent shivers down to my spine! for heaven's sake! Why do these embarrassing things keep happening to me?!

prinoseso ko pa iyon sa utak ko, i need to gather all the courage i have left in me.

Nahihiya ako! naiinis! funny how the tables have turned. Last week lang asar na asar ako sa kaniya because he questioned me if he knew me. Now I'm the one who has trouble with him.

Tila nabingi ako dahil wala akong naiintindihan sa mga sinasabi ng mga tao sa paligid..

"Dude, sige na please ako nalang!" Turo ni Mark sa lamesa habang nagmamakaawa kay Kent, umaarte.

Tinipon ko ang lakas ng loob ko at dahang-dahang kinompirma kung si Kent nga talaga 'yun.

Tila ako nananaginip!

Pakshet, Si Kent nga!

Bakit si Kent pa?!

Is this what you want, Lord? 'yung nagwawala sa kaba 'tong dibdib ko?! kung e, 'to lang 'yung catch, sainyo na 'yang milktea na 'yan. i pouted.

Lupa kainin mo na 'ko, sure na 'ko.

Ito namang si Kent inaasar pa si Mark, para namang tanga!

He mocked what Mark said then He stick his tongue out para lalong mang-asar, shuta ang tagal naman ng timer!

Akmang luluhod na si Mark at ako naman ang kinausap

"Laura! Ako nalang, ako nalang ulit" pang gagaya niya kay Basha sa one more chance! He looks cute, yes, that's given, but unfortunately I'm in no mood to appreciate one's goddamn appearance.

"Akala ko, ikaw si Basha" Kent laughed at him. napatingin na lang rin ako kay Kent. nakuha niya pang magbiro sa ganitong sitwasyon?!

Natapos ang pag ka-count down nila John then they confirmed Mark's defeat.

Ngunit nawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ko nang maalalang nakayakap pa rin sa 'kin si Kent. Hindi naman ako galit or gustong umapila sa ginawa niya dahil alam kong it's all part of the game but, s**t, he's giving me too much chills!

Tumingin ako sa kaniya at saka siya itinulak palayo ng dahan-dahan, i also stepped back to make sure na may distansya talaga kami.

"I wish i were Lauri" John sang in the middle of the game.

Nakisali ako sa tawanan to lessen the awkwardness. I saw him through my peripheral vision, he was looking at me like it's gonna leave a borehole in my face. it has became uncomfortable given what happened earlier. ginantihan ko siya ng tingin causing his to trail away. He smiled habang nakatingin sa kinatatayuan nila Ms. Antonio. napangisi na lang rin ako.

"OH SIGE NA NGA LET'S PROCEED!" John hyped up.

naging seryoso na ulit 'yung Atmosphere walang gusto mag patalo.

"THE BOAT IS SINKING... GROUP YOURSELVES INTO.....THREE!"

Since katabi ko naman si Kent hinila ko nalang si Syrus palapit sa 'min at nagyakap yakap kami para di kami mapaghiwalay ni Mae.

"Happy family kami dito! Wag ka na umepal, afford mo naman bumili ng isang Milktea shop, 'wag kang feeling broke!" Syrus discouraged Mae as she hugged us tighter.

Halos idabog niya na ang mga paa sa paglalakad dahil di siya makapaniwalang si Syrus ang hinigit ko imbis na siya kahit katabi ko lang siya kanina.

"I hate you!" She exclaimed before shifting to her seat.

Alam kong di niya sineseryoso ang sinabi niya pero nag peace sign pa rin ako sa kaniya.

"AY TARAY NI BAKLA OH!" sa 'kin nakatingin si John "TRANSFEREE PERO PALAVARN!!" He shouted.

Ramdam 'kong lumingon nanaman sa 'kin si Kent. Ano ba? Bakit ka ba tingin ng tingin, ha?! Gustong-gusto ko 'yon sabihin sa kaniya ngunit umurong na lang ang dila ko.

"Ay unfair may pa special compliment, welcome back lang 'yan dito!" Sigaw ni Mark. I don't think I'll be ever over from how his voice drastically changed. He's one of my classmates nung 3rd grade.

"Ay alam ko ba teh?" He bent his knees nang kaunti para mapantayan yung mukha ni Mark sa pagkakaupo.

"FOR THE FINAL ROUND!!! THE BOAT IS SINKING GROUP YOURSELVES INTO... MALAMANG TWO, MGA BAKLANG 'TO!" Ganoon lang ang expression ni John.

expected na namin na sa dalawa kami igu-group kaya si Syrus sana ang uunahin kong hatakin kaso si Kent ang pinuntahan niya at hinarangan ako kaya nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang... tila nagpapatintero sila at nalusutan ni Kent si Syrus!

I was stiff. I can't even breathe. The next second, Kent was already carrying my whole earth body to protect it from being taken by Sy.

I just now found my arms around his neck as he tries to take me away from my friend.

Tangina...

hindi naman racer puso ko... 'di ba?

when he saw how much time we still got, he put me aside as he continued to annoy Sy.

Naghabol habulan pa ang dalawa hanggang sa mag-count down na si John at sumalubong nanaman sa 'kin si Kent with his arms wide open.

Kaya pala nakikipaghabulan si Syrus sa kaniya! Para kaming dalawa ni Syrus ang magkampi! and kaya rin pala ako hinaharangan ni Syrus para di ako malapitan ni Kent at kuhanin. well, it looks like luck isn't by her side.

Hanggang ngayon ay buhat niya pa rin ako dahil may three seconds pang natitira

"2! 1!"

"We won!" he looked up to me as he smiled. ngiting wagi.

what happened earlier seemed to just sink in to me.

Ibinigay sa amin ang prize at bumalik kami sa kaniya kaniyang upuan.

"you didn't have to take me, sana si Sy na lang kinuha mo. hindi ka pa sana napagod kakabuhat" i told him.

"i didn't mean to take you. i just wanted to annoy her" inabot niya sa akin 'yung milktea "uh" he licked his lower lip before biting it, it made me arch both of my brows. "Can you give this to her? Parang batang iiyak na, yun." nilingon ko si Sy, tama siya naka pout si Sy at kaunti nalang ay iiyak na talaga, nagrereklamo kay Mae. "oh," instead of the drink, parang mas malamig pa siya.

"Well, at least, you got what you wanted" he looked at me, his face devoid of any emotion.

"'yan! Karma is me, karma is b***h!" Sabi ni Mae habang gina-gather 'yung buhok ni Syrus sa isang side.

"Dun pala sa pag--"

I cut him off by covering his mouth using my own hand, which made him quirk his brows up.

Gosh, ano bang ginagawa ko? Ako ba talaga gumawa no'n? My eyes were wide as i parted my hand from his lips. Nakakahiya pero mas ayokong maalala kung gaano ako kamukhang tanga kanina.

i started walking away but i thought i should at least thank him so I raised the cup of milktea i was holding for Sy. i mouthed thanks.

"Are you going home na, sis?" Mae asked, inaayos ko na lang 'yung bag ko before i leave. Kakatapos lang ng closing prayer, pwede na raw kami umuwi. Naglaro pa kami ng iba pang games after ng the boat is sinking earlier.

I shook my head gently while hanging the strap of my bag onto my shoulder. "I need to run some errands pa about sa pag transfer ko" I said bitterly before pouting.

Pupunta kasi sila sa Sm North. E, totoo naman na meron pa kong gagawin at siguradong mabagal ang process no'n. Gusto ko man sumama pero hindi talaga pwede.

"Tine! Sasama ka pa ba? Ay, sorry! wag na pala! pabigat ka, e" they laughed sa joke ni Syrus

Some thoughts ran through my mind.

"Pabigat?" I can't help but to ask her about what she have said. Di naman kasi mataba si Daustine, actually he's fit nga, e. I don't really get it kung bakit niya tinawag na pabigat.

"spoiled, madaming pwedeng gastusin, kada may makikita parang gustong bilhin, daig ko pa may batang kasama!" She uttered. "sabi ko naman sa kaniya ba't di niya na lang bilhin 'yung buong mall,"

Daustine mocked at her. Tila mga batang nag-aasaran at tinitignan kung sino ang unang mapikon. para silang magkuyang nagpipikunan.

"ugh! cut it off! You're so annoying!" Sy rolled her eyes.

"Ugh, so annoying" Daustine's mimicking Sy's voice.

We just continued to laugh at them until sy turned her back against him para maiwasan na lang mapikon. They look so childish.

"Dude, what the f**k?!" napalingon kaming lahat nang sumigaw si Michael and it looks like he was shouting at Kent.

I trailed my sight to Kent as my core... started to race... again. Lalo na nang makita siyang nahihirapang huminga. anong nangyayari sa kaniya?

He was breathing heavily at halos nagmamakaawa para sa hangin. he's holding his chest as he reached for the desk and held it to support his weight.

In not so long, his knees went weak until he fell onto the ground, Michael was beside him thinking what to do. He massaged his hair and gripped on it for a while.

Aligagang tumakbo si Daustine papunta sa mga kaibigan niya, sumama na rin si Mark as they gained more attention, i was about to step closer to him, but may nakaagaw ng atensiyon ko... i evaluated her look. Siya 'yung nabangga ko nung nakaraan, papunta sa cafeteria.

the way was just too crowded, hindi siya makadaan. nang hindi talaga siya pinapansin ng mga nasa harapan niya narinig ko na lang siyang biglang sumigaw. it was effective though.

"Get the hell out of my way! " She exclaimed once again.

"Ck! Ck, can you hear me? hey!" She sounds frantic as her face turned red-ish, she tapped his face gently, para niyang ginigising si Kent.

"Ano?! manonood na lang kayo?! walang tatawag ng nurse?!" Halata sa mga kilos niya na hindi ito ang unang beses na nangyari ang ganito kay Kent. may isang sumunod sa sinabi niya, halos matapilok sa bilis tumakbo.

"Hand me his bag!" sigaw niya nanaman kay Michael, hindi mawala ang pagkataranta sa tinig niya.

"Hanna.."

Michael was too shocked. He looks so stiff so Daustine reaches for Kent's bag as he bends his knees down to level with the girl's face then he gives the bag to the girl...

Kahit naghihingalo na si Kent ay hindi ko maiwasang tignan ang kaniyan bag, it was louis vuitton avenue sling bag..

"hey, you hear me?" he barely nodded "don't sleep, stay up, okay?"

i wanted to ask to kung sino ba siya but i don't think this is the right moment for that. baka girlfriend ni Kent. Nang iabot ni Daustine ang bag sa babae, dahan-dahan ng babae binaba ang ulo ni Kent sa hita niya at binuksan ang unang bulsa ng bag ni Kent. My curiosity got in the hook, i wanted to know kung anong meron sa bag.

Inhaler? He has asthma?

Kent put it inside his mouth.

bat di pa niya kanina ginawa? kabobohan ang pinapairal. kailangan pa talagang dumating 'yang babaeng 'yan para lang kumuha ng inhaler niya? My God! Ang over!

I rolled my eyes and stepped aside when someone from the infirmary came to check up on Kent kasama si Ms. Antonio.

days had passed, bumibilis ang mga araw. Exam na namin ngayon. Napansin ko rin kay Kent na ayos na siya at parang walang nangyari noong nakaraan.

I'm currently studying para ready ako sa mga questions. I can't afford to fail an exam kahit pa summative test lang.

It took me almost 3 hours para matapos ko 'yung tatlong exam ko na naka hard copy at isang online test.

Tumingin-tingin ako sa paligid before i check my wrist watch, s**t 6:50 pm na, rush hour na ba? 'di ko alam! the heck.

tinuruan ako ni Aia magcommute because she doesn't want my face in front of their building na. para daw akong puppy na nag aantay sa amo. late kasing natatapos 'yung class nila. college, e.

Di pa ako nakakalabas sa main building, naririnig ko na 'yung malakas na patak ng ulan. partida i was wearing earphones pa.

Can't this day be any better? ugh, i'm so tired na. Tag-ulan na ba talaga?

I checked my bag kung dala ko ba 'yung umbrella ko. I sighed out of relief nung nakita kong dala ko nga.

I clicked the button, so the umbrella unfolded. Lord, patigilin niyo na po 'yung ulan please!

I was already wearing my hoodie. i just wore my bag in my chest so it won't get wet, para rin 'di mabasa yung Laptop ko. I strongly don't like the idea of losing files. That'd be my greatest fear.

ayoko na makipag agawan ng masasakyan na fx or jeep, i just booked a grab. I'm on my way out of my school para hintayin 'yung grab driver. I was looking around para aware ako kung malapit na sa akin yung car.

I stomped my feet on the floor nung biglang nag cancel 'yung driver! 

Go to hell! Nakakabadtrip! 

I combed my hair using my right hand.

Ang lapit lapit na tsaka pa nag cancel! "ah! i love my life!" I exclaimed out of annoyance.

I can't understand kung bakit may mga gano'ng klase ng driver. Aware naman ako na may kanya-kanya tayong emergency pero, paano naman 'yung mga taong gusto na rin umuwi? I inhaled a large amount of air to keep myself sane.

Babalik na sana ako sa building para i dial ang number ng ate ko to come and fetch me here.

My eyes automatically widened "oh, my f*****g God!" para akong nanginig sa sobrang gulat!

out of nowhere, I just felt Kent's arm draped around my waist. I blinked twice when I noticed the world began to move at a very very slow pace. He's too close, I can even feel the warmth of his breath on my cheek. His body was so warm. Everything about him is just freakin' warm.

The cold wind blew his bangs subtly, making me see his face very well. my lips parted for a second.

i took my time to stare at him like I'm gonna make a borehole in his face. I snapped back to reality when both of our eyes met. Nakita 'kong mayroong lumagpas sa amin na sasakyan. Nilingon ko pa ito bago ibalik kay Kent ang atensyon.

he's looking... rather worried. nagsasalita pa siya habang tumuturo sa kung saan-saan.

I held my chest to check how fast my heart was beating. kung wala lang akong hawak na payong baka na instant kill ko na siya!

I really can't hear what he was talking about, because I'm wearing earphones. I just... stared at him with a crease on my forehead.

i tapped his arm twice, he let go of me. hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit niya ginawa 'yon! I drastically pulled the wire of my earphones. My brows was furrowed.

"What the hell was that about?!" I was shocked to see an amused look on his face.

"I just saved your life! thanks to me" he sarcastically shot back!

"H-huh?" I can't help but to stutter, I'm freaking out! I feel so overwhelmed!

"Muntik ka nang masagasaan!" He trailed his eyes off of me at tinuro yung sinasabi niyang kotseng muntik nang makasagasa sa akin.

napatingin ako sa kalsada, i saw nothing but a car that went past by us.

"Asshole." He glanced at the hallway behind me.

"excuse m---asshole? did you call me an asshole?" my lips parted for a second, hinila ko 'yung balikat niya para humarap siya sa 'kin.

"what? no! why would why?!" he looked at me with pure confusion.

I shook my head slowly "hindi ko na...Hindi na" my mind wasn't functioning right, it was buffering with my furrowed brows, trying to absorb what Happened earlier. grabe naubos yata ang mga braincells ko sa Exam namin kanina.

Unti-unti kong na-realize ang nangyari. Near death experience na ba iyon? Gosh. I held my forehead.

"may sundo ka?" he casually asked like we're some sort of besties.

I shake my head. Call me an OA or whatever but if only I could see my face right now? I can tell damn well that I am still taken aback by what just happened.

"Tara sa parking" he snatched the umbrella from me as he draped his arm around my arm to keep me under the umbrella. At first I was shocked! I never expected that. not now that we're not playing anything. but it seemed pretty normal for him so i just ignored it.

Ewan ko ba kung bakit ako pumayag na sumama sa kaniya papunta sa parking lot.

May sundo pala siya, sana all. I sighed before pursing my lips.

"ikaw, sa'n ka ba? Doon pa rin ba kayo nakatira sa dati niyong bahay?"

"huh?" frustration crawled up on me.

"3rd grade. been there. natandaan ko lang. Salvador residence. doon kayo 'di ba?" he sounded as though he's reciting! His sentences were short but it's very well clear! How is that possible?!

"n-no, i live with my sister sa... sa SD residences"

"That's---" he tilted his head to the side, he looked as if he's figuring something out. "n-need a lift?"

"no thanks, hihintayin ko na lang matapos 'yung class ni Aia"

"She's in college already, right?" I nodded, internally freaking out as to how'd he know. "7 pa lang, 8 dismissal nila"

"alam ko"

"and you said, you're gonna---"

"alam ko kung anong sinabi ko, hindi mo na kailangang ulit ulitin,"

"so you've made up your mind? hindi ko na ba mababago 'yan?"

my brows furrowed.

"make me" i brought up the challenge while smirking.

"punuan sa terminal, wala kang masasakyan in case na magbago 'yung isip mo..."

"Try harder," he gasps, narrowing his eyes as though he knows exactly how he'd handle this. Handle me.

"you're hungry"

"sakto lang" a spark bloomed in his eyes.

"Come on, we both know you're exhausted and drained. let m--us? take you home and get some rest. nakakabaliw 'yung mga tests 'di ba?" I pressed my lips together. I looked away rolling my eyes.

"tara na?" he smiled then after, held the umbrella for me t'saka 'ko pinapasok sa loob ng suv.

ayaw man ng loob ko pero wala na 'kong magagawa. he's right.

Nandito na kami sa tapat ng building ng condo, nakakahiya pero salamat na rin, Lord!

"manong, thank you po" bubuksan ko na sana yung umbrella ko nang hawakan ni Kent yung wrist ko.

"what again?!" impit na sigaw ko.

"no thanks to me?" He looks like an opportunist! Mukhang confident siya na papaakyatin ko siya ro'n. He looked up sa building, as pertaining sa unit ko.

"sus, e, 'di thank you!" i bluntly said

"sungit" he pouted. That's strange.

"para kang bata"

"how about coffee?"

i shook my head, "Next time,"

"bakit hindi pwedeng ngayon?" he asked with innocence.

"e, kasi hindi, wag ka nang makulit. after hell week, promise" i even swore with my pinky finger..

"so, who's more childish now?" he finally let out his Terribly annoying laugh.

I glared at him, his laugh slowly faded. wala siyang nagawa kundi i-intertwine 'yung pinky niya sa 'kin. it didn't feel like a pinky, masyadong malaki. I stared at it like it's a foreign object.

"asahan ko yan ma'm, ah?" Manong driver suddenly broke the silence. I glanced kay Manong sa rear-view mirror and smiled. I untangled our pinkies.

"sige po, di naman ako paasa" manong and i laughed but, i noticed how Kent smirked out of disbelief while scratching his brow

"you don't buy it, do you?" i asked him

He shook his head before pursing his lips. I saw how his Adam's apple moved when he swallowed hanggang sa umakyat na ang tingin ko sa labi niya. It has a very perfect shape as if it was sculpted and designed.

I couldn't help but stare...

"looks like you're missing out on something..."