Unromantic Romance

Chapter 20

"I can't believe Prezia!" Hindi makapaniwalang sabi ni Yvon habang pabalik-balik ang lakad sa tapat ng aking kama. 

Umupo si Millie sa kama ko. "Napapansin ko na talaga noon pa man na may itinatagong kulo iyang si Prezy eh."

"Akalain mong sobrang agresibo eh sa pagkakakilala ng lahat ay mahinhin at hindi makabasag-pinggan ang babae na iyon?" 

"Mabuti na lamang at napigilan ni Regis kung hindi isinugod ka na sa ospital, Le'!"

Nakikinig lamang ako sa mga komento nila habang nakahilig ako sa headboard ng kama ko. Wala naman akong masabi kaya hinahayaan ko na lamang silang magsalita tungkol sa nangyari. 

"Sana naman hindi malalim ang sugat ni papa Regis!" Sabi ni Yvon sa nag-aalalang tono. Kaagad ko naman siyang pinagkunutan ng noo. Alam ko naman na may pakialam din siya kay Regis pero sobra naman yata ang pag-aalala ng babaeng ito. 

Nang bumaling ako kay Jay ay nakatingin na siya sa akin habang nakangisi. Tumikhim ako at inilipat na lamang ang tingin kay Ayii na nasa kabila ko. 

"Sana naman hindi at tsaka huwag ka ng mag-aalala at gagamutin naman siya ni Lily-anne," Ayii said habang inaayos ang medyo nagusot kong kumot. 

Tumaas naman ang kilay ni Millie nang narinig niya ang pangalan ng pinsan niya. "Duh! Naniniwala talaga kayong mag-on sila?" Millie said in her usual pitch tone. 

"Hindi ba? Iyon ang pagkakaalam ko," sabi ni Jay sa aking tabi bago ako binalingan ng tingin sa mukhang nang-aasar. 

"Psh, feelingera lang talaga ang pinsan ko." 

Napahagikhik ako ng tawa dahil sa sinabi ni Millie tungkol kay Lily-anne dahilan ng pagbaling nilang apat sa akin. Tumaas naman ang kilay ni Jay kaya iniwas ko kaagad ang tingin sa kanya. 

"Anong hindi eh siya nga ang dahilan bakit pumayag si Regis na tumakbo bilang Presidente sa Student Council?" 

My eyes immediately flew to Ayii on my right side because of what she said.  I remember that Regis didn't have any plans to run for the SSG Election last year. Our adviser back then even asked and encouraged him to run but he was firm with his decision to the point that our adviser gave up but all of a sudden, he approached our teacher and decided that he will go for it. 

Sa pagkakakilala ko kay Regis, one thing that amazes me even if I hated him was because he decides things seriously and once he makes up his mind, he will hold onto it firmly. 

Kaya ang biglaang pagbabago ng kaniyang desisyon ay palaisipan sa nakakarami pati na sa akin. The students didn't wonder much about The King's sudden change of heart but instead, they were overjoyed. Who wouldn't love Regis to lead the Student Council, right?

If my feelings and my heart are still mine, I would have raised my hand immediately but things have changed now. My feelings are now invincible. 

"She's my cousin but I don't believe that. Besides, it was just a rumor then and it will stay that way. I hope Regis will clear that up. Baka ang tsismis na iyan ang dahilan kung bakit single pa siya eh," Millie said. 

"Naku, baka magjowa nga sila! I heard a rumor about them kissing!" Kaagad akong napaupo ng maayos dahil sa sinabi ni Yvon. 

My mouth gaped. "That's... that's absurd!" My voice thundered which made Ayii jump out of surprise. 

"Leche ka, Le' Pauline! Bakit ka ba bigla-biglang sumisigaw ha!?" She then pulled my hair lightly. 

I didn't mean to shout nor voice anything out.  It just came out of my mouth upon hearing Yvon. 

"Nabigla lang ako," I said in a small voice. "I'll sleep now, I'm tired." Sabi ko at dahan-dahang humiga sa kama at nagtalukbong ng kumot.

"Baka nahawa kay Prezy. Sige, matulog na tayo." Narinig ko ang boses ni Ayii. I then heard footsteps walking away from my bed. 

I shut my eyes tightly and pursed my lips, feeling the embarrassment. Damn!

So what if they kissed?! A guy his age should experience kissing at the very least. Why did I shout out of a sudden? Sure, I cannot believe what Yvon said but what right do I have that I acted that way? I am not his girlfriend nor a friend, I'm just... uh... of course, not a stranger! We knew each other, it's just that... we have bad blood between us. 

I'm just his hater turned into a damn lover. 

Pinayagan na kaming maligo sa beach so all of my classmates enjoyed themselves. I am wearing a mustard yellow halter one-piece swimsuit pero wala pa naman ako sa mood maligo at maki-enjoy sa mga kaklase ko kaya hindi ko hinubad ang nakapatong na maong shorts. 

"How could you not swim? The beach is amazing!" Sabi ni Ayii na kagagaling lamang maligo at kumuha ng mansanas sa lamesa malapit sa akin. 

"The beach is great but my mood isn't," matabang na sagot ko. 

She rolled her eyes at me. "Oh siya, prinsesa! Enjoy sitting, bwiset. Maliligo ulit ako!" She said before running back towards the sea. 

I shook my head and held my knees altogether and placed my chin on top while watching how they enjoy the morning view. 

Puyat at maraming bumabagabag sa isip ko kagabi pero hindi ko pa rin maintindihan kung bakit hindi pa rin ako nilulubayan ng magugulong ideya ko hanggang ngayon. 

Nakita kong inangat si Migs ng mga lalaki kong kaklase at malakas na ibinagsak sa tubig dahilan ng tawanan. I even saw how Sofia pushed the shy Andrei towards Ayii who's busy talking to Yvon. 

I frowned at the sight of them. They are enjoying, sana ako din! But I just cannot help it! My mood is not great today. 

When I turned to my right side, I saw Regis walking towards somewhere followed by Lily-anne who's almost running to catch up to his boyfriend's pace. 

Narinig kong tinawag ni Lily-anne ang pangalan ni Regis dahilan ng pagtigil nito sa paglalakad at bumaling sa kanya. Nang nakalapit si Lily-anne ay kaagad niyang hinawakan ang braso ni Regis at nag-usap sila na hindi ko marinig dahil medyo kalayuan ako sa kung nasaan sila. 

Nakita kong tinanggal ni Regis ang kamay ni Lily-anne na nakakapit sa braso niya at may sinabi dito bago umalis. Hindi ko narinig ang sinabi ni Regis pero hindi naman na sumunod si Lily-anne at lumihis na ng landas. 

What's that? Love quarrel?

Tumayo ako at tinahak ang daan kung saan papunta si Regis. I want to apologize and to tell him that I am grateful for what he did yesterday night.

Nang nasa pwesto na ako kung saan ko nakitang nag-usap si Regis at Lily-anne kanina ay nakita kong dalawang pathway ang susunod ng daan na ito. 

Which path did he take?

Nakita ko ang waitress na may dalang tray na tinahak ang kanang daan kaya sumunod ako sa kanya. This path is leading to the restaurant. Walang tao dito dahil malapit nang irenovate ang resort maliban sa aming mga estudyante na paniguradong nasa beach ang lahat. Aalis na sana ako nang may lumapit sa aking Ginang. 

"Close po ang restaurant namin, Ma'am. Mamaya pa po ide-deliver ang lunch niyo pero kung gusto mong kumain ay pwede ka pong mag-order at ihahatid po namin sa room niyo." Nakangiting sabi ng Ginang. 

"Ah! No, it's okay. M-may hinahanap lang. Akala ko kasi..." I trailed off. Sinuyod ko ang buong lugar pero wala akong ibang nakita kung hindi mga taong nagtatrabaho sa resort. "...nandito, wala pala. Salamat po!" Pagpapatuloy ko. 

Kumunot naman ang noo ng Ginang na nasa harap ko. "Wala pong nagpunta dito na kasamahan niyo, Ma'am. Baka sa kabilang pathway?"

I nodded and bowed a bit before walking back. Tinahak ko ang isang pathway and I figured out that its end is leading to the beach. I can feel the sea breeze. 

My eyes wandered a bit. May mga malalaking halaman kaya hindi ito kita mula sa parte ng beach kung saan naroroon ang mga kaklase namin. 

My eyes stopped at the guy sitting on the bent coconut tree habang nakatalikod sa pwesto ko at nakatanaw sa dagat. 

"Nandito ka lang pala," I said to notify him of my presence but he didn't even flinch nor glance my way.

Habang papalapit sa kanya ay nakita ko ang bandage na merong bakas ng dugo na nakalukot sa tabi niya katabi ng isang bote ng betadine at isang pack ng nakabukas na cotton.

"Bakit mo tinanggal?" Tanong ko pero hindi man lang niya ako sinagot. Kumunot ang noo ko at umupo na rin habang pinapagitnaan namin ang mga dala niya. 

I looked at his wounded hand. Mukhang kagagaling lamang sa pagdudugo. 

"What? You won't patch it up?" Sarkastikong sabi ko sa kanya pero tahimik pa rin siya habang hindi inaalis ang paningin sa dagat. 

I rolled my eyes in the air at inabot ang betadine at kumuha ng cotton. Nilagyan ko ng betadine ang cotton na nirolyo ko at inabot ang kamay ko sa kanya.

Bumaling siya sa kamay ko bago tumingin sa aking mukha habang magsalubong ang kanyang kilay, probably weirded by my stretched hand. 

I sighed at inabot ang sugatan niyang kamay. Sinuri ko ang palad niya bago dinampian ang sugat niya sa cotton na hawak ko na may betadine. I seriously observed his wound, my whole attention is on it. 

"Mabuti naman at hindi malalim," I said beneath my breath. When I lifted my head, our eyes meet. Nakatingin lamang siya sa akin habang ginagamot ko ang sugat niya. When I felt how his eyes pierced through mine, I cleared my throat at yumuko ulit at inabala na ang mga mata sa sugatan niyang kamay. 

"Thank you," I said in a small voice. Nang hindi siya kumibo, I took that as a cue to continue. "Thank you for stopping Prezy who's about to stab me from behind." 

I still cannot believe that Prezy almost stab me. I'll surely end up in the hospital if Regis didn't stop her from doing so. Kahit hindi ko man gustuhin ay kakalat ang nangyari kagabi sa buong bayan. Lolo will even hear it. He will surely scold me lalo na kapag malaman niya ang rason ng lahat ng ito. 

Her granddaughter na sakit sa ulo lamang ang hatid! Si Le' Pauline na naman. I'll surely stress Lolo out.

Prezy is my friend and we've been nothing but good to each other not until Marlon started to have feelings for me. I am guilty because I let someone hope for me. Even if I didn't give him an assurance, he still hoped for me. What made me guilty more is that when he said that he started to assume for us to happen just because I talked to her one lazy night! I didn't even remember talking to him at the party he he mentioned. I tend to forget things. 

Knowing Prezy is in love with someone who confessed his feelings for me must have hurt her lalo na't magkaibigan kami at alam niya ang record ko pagdating sa mga lalaki. Of course, she thinks that I'll only hurt Marlon which I know that it will eventually happen. I understand her pero ang balak akong saksakin ang hindi ko yata maiintindihan ng lubusan. Is that how much he loves Marlon to have the courage to stab her friend? Or should I say ex-friend? She doesn't consider me as one months ago. 

She got some crazy love for that guy, huh?

There was a long silence between us so I took that as an opportunity to talk. 

"I'm sorry that you have to get wounded in my stead," I said. 

I saw how his mouth gaped, trying to say something. Kumuha ako ng bagong bulak at nilagyan ito ng betadine at sinalubong ang kanyang mga mata. 

"But despite all my thank you's and sorry's, I wished that you shouldn't have done that. Kung hindi mo sana pinigilan si Prezy, hindi ka sana nasugatan ngayon. Mabuti na lang talaga at hindi malalim!" I glared at him. 

I sighed at ibinalik ulit ang atensyon sa paggamot sa sugat niya. 

"Even if you don't want to, I'll still do it, Le' Pauline." He said in a cold voice. Natigilan ako sa pagdampi ng bulak sa sugat niya dahil sa kanyang sinabi. I can feel the attempt of my heart's abnormal pacing. 

"'Di bale nang ako ang masugatan basta hindi lang ikaw," he added. Namutawi ang katahimikan sa pagitan namin and we can only hear the whistle of the wind. 

After a long while, he chuckled. "But thinking that the reason I got wounded in your stead is all because someone confessed his feelings for you makes me feel pathetic." 

Kaagad akong nag-angat ng tingin sa kanya dahil sa sinabi. "Tsh. Hindi naman kita inutusan ah! Sana hinayaan mo na lang ako kung gano'n." 

In a swift moment, the atmosphere between us changed and I'm annoyed again.

He chuckled deeply. Diniinan ko ng bulak ang sugat niya which made him winced in pain. 

Wala naman na siyang sinabi pa kaya nagpatuloy ako sa paggamot sa sugat niya. 

Did he think that the reason for the commotion last night was because Marlon confessed to me? That is one reason but there's another one that maybe pushed Prezy's limit to have the courage to stab me. 

Nang matapos ay binaba ko ang bulak sa inuupuan namin at binitawan na ang kamay niya. Kagad naman niyang sinuri ang sugatang palad niya bago nirolyohan ang kamay ng bandage.

I cleared my throat while adjusting my seat. "That wasn't the reason."

 Naagaw ko naman kaagad ang atensyon niya. Tumaas ang isang kilay niya.  

"I mean, that wasn't the only reason," gagkaklaro ko. 

I saw how his forehead creased, tila naguguluhan sa sinabi ko. 

I sighed and bit my lower lip, calming my nerves down. "I kissed Marlon and Prezy saw us." 

I witnessed how his raised eyebrow lowered and meet with the other and how his lips formed into a grim line. His eyes are dark but it got even darker, looking at me intently. 

I nervously chuckled. "I didn't know Prezy has feelings for the guy and it was a mistake-"

"You kissed who!?" His voice roared. 

I shifted on my seat uncomfortably. "It was a mistake-"

He massaged his temple while his head's down a bit. Seconds after, he looked back to me with darker eyes. "Why... did you kiss him?" He seems struggling a bit while asking that question. "Why did you kiss that asshole!?"

He just cursed but why is it so good to hear?! The f, Le' Pauline!

"It was sudden. I didn't know either! I was driven by my chaotic mind-"

"Did he kiss you back?" Mahinang tanong niya pero nararamdaman ko pa rin ang bigat sa tono niya. 

"What? Why do you have to ask that?" Naguguluhang tanong ko. 

"Just answer the damn question, Le' Pauline," Regis said with gritted teeth. 

Kumunot ang noo ko pero sinagot pa rin ang tanong niya. "Yes, he did. He kissed me back," I answered. "But I immediately pushed him away-"

In a swift moment, he closed the distance between us. He placed his thumb on my lips and wiped something off. 

Nagulat ako sa ginawa niya but the brute is just seriously wiping something off my lips with brows furrowed.

"Is there... dirt on my lips?" I immediately got ridiculed. It's ludicrous! That's nearly impossible. I wiped off food particles earlier after eating an apple!

He cupped my cheek and caressed it softly. 

I cannot hear my heart beating but I can feel its loud and fast pounding that I'm afraid it'll rip my rib cage. 

He stared at me like he's reading through me, invading my privacy. 

"It's okay to kiss and to be kissed back but..." He shakes his head off a bit before continuing. "But it should only be me. You'll kiss me and I'll kiss you back. That's how it should be."

My lips parted, nangangapa ng sasabihin. My mind is whirling with confusing thoughts until it became blank. My feet are firmly glued into the ground, forbidding me to move. 

Damn, this guy has this huge effect on me!

Binaba niya ang kamay niya at dumistansya ng kaunti sa akin na hindi man lang makagalaw. 

"You..." 

Finally, I managed to say something. My heart is pounding loud and clear. It's beating this guy's name very loud and clear. He didn't even kiss me, yet my heart is already this wild. 

Tumikhim ako at sinabayan ang tambol ng puso ko. 

The wind blew hard, blowing a few strands of my long hair.

"You... Are you flirting with me?"

_______________________________________________________________