Every Flight Counts

Chapter 11

Anticipation

Nakalabas na ang mga audience.

Nakapagligpit na ang mga staff.

Natapos na ang lahat.

Pero pakiramdam ko ay nakalutang pa rin ako.

Maging ang makahulugang ngiti ng mga nasa backstage nang magpaalam na kaming lahat sa isa't isa ay hindi ko na nabigyang pansin.

Nakapako ang tingin ko sa sahig na nilalakaran.

Tulala sa daan habang naglalakad sa hagdan pababa ng entablado.

Kahit nang marating na ang lapag at magsisimula nang baybayin ang bakanteng amphitheater ay bagsak lang ang tingin ko.

Natigilan ako nang may marinig.

Palakpak.

Kumunot ang noo ko. 

Unti-unting umangat ang tingin ko para mahanap kung saan nanggaling iyon.

Mas lalo lang kumunot ang noo ko sa nakita.

Si Zaid.

Prenteng naka-upo sa front row at naka-dekwatro. He was eyeing me amusingly as he continued to clap his hands slowly but loudly.

Umirap ako para maiwasan ang tingin niya.

He chuckled. The hair on my nape almost stood up by the sound of it. 

My gaze automatically returned back to him. His muscular arms are now crossed in front of his chest as his gaze remained darted to me. 

I can sense the humor in his stare.

"Damn.. You never fail to amaze me, Ellie." he said with a grin.

For an unknown reason, my heart unconsciously raced as he started to stand up on his feet.

His eyes never left me. An amused grin remained plastered on his face.

"Really, though? A public confession from a girl like you?" he asked while smirking.

I clenched my fist.

"Bakit? Lalaki lang ba ang pwedeng umamin? Porket babae bawal nang gawin yon?"

His brows raised in amusement.

"I didn't say that.."

He put his hands inside the pocket of his black slacks as he started taking steps near me.

I suddenly felt my throat getting dry.

"So.. what's next? Liligawan mo na siya?" 

Ngumisi siya nang nakakaloko habang sarkastikong nakataas ang kilay.

My brows furrowed.

"Ano naman kung ganoon nga? Wala namang masama kung gagawin ko nga iyon," matapang na sabi ko.

He teasingly nodded his head.

"Well then," he shrugged his shoulders. "I'm sorry to break it to you, Ellie, but I'm sure ngayon pa lang, basted ka na."

Napaawang ang labi ko. I can feel the heat instantly arising from my insides.

"Ang kapal naman ng mukha mo para sabihin yan?" I said while trying to recover my dignity. "Sino ka ba sa tingin mo?" hamon ko bago pinag-krus ang braso sa dibdib.

He smiled meaningfully at me.

"Me? I'm someone who've known him for years, Ellie. And just by looking at you.."

He arrogantly lingered his gaze from my head to toe. I suddenly want to hide somewhere! I've never felt this conscious my whole life, for pete's sake!

His eyes met mine as it went back upwards and it almost made me shudder.

"I can tell," he dramatically shook his head. "You're totally not his type."

Tuluyan nang nalaglag ang panga ko. Ramdam na ramdam ko rin ang pag-init ng pisngi ko.

"Gago ka rin talaga eh no? So anong point nito? Talagang gusto mo lang akong insultuhin?!" 

Hindi ko na naitago ang galit ko. 

"Chill, Ellie.." I hate how he still finds the situation amusing. "I didn't come here for that.."

Ngumisi siya nang makahulugan.

"Actually.. I have a proposition," 

Agad akong napairap. "Hindi ako interesado."

"Really?" naghahamong tanong niya.

Pasimpleng lumipad pabalik ang tingin ko sa kanya.

"What happened to 'I will do whatever it takes just to win your heart', then?" he chuckled.

My cheeks immediately heated as he copied what I said earlier.

My reaction amused him even more.

He grinned. "You know what? Just think of this as my way of giving back to you since you always make my days extra interesting here,"

He shrugged. "And well... pwedeng pambawi na rin sa mga-"

"Pantatarantado mo sakin." tuloy ko sa sinasabi niya.

He smirked. "If that's how you want to think of it," he raised a brow at me. "So?"

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Ano ba yun? Hindi ko pa nga alam ang mangyayari eh." pabalang na sabi ko.

He chuckled. "Simple lang naman," he eyed me intently. "I'll help you get Spencer." pumungay ang mga mata niya. "Like what you wanted.."

Napakurap-kurap ako. "P-pano mo naman gagawin yun?"

"I'll be your guide, Ellie. I'll help you do things that will leave Spencer with no other choice but to fall." 

I swallowed when he leaned his face forward.

"Hard," he whispered. "So hard that he'll totally get whipped. So hard that it would be impossible to stop himself from falling even deeper."

I almost got lost because of how close we were.

I mentally shook my head before clearing my throat.

"A-ano namang makukuha mo sa pagtulong sakin?" nag-aalangang tanong ko. 

Parang hindi ko kasi lubusang maisip na gagawin niya lang iyon nang walang kapalit.

Nilayo niya ang mukha sa akin at umayos ng tayo. Saka lang ako nakahinga nang maluwag. 

He shrugged. "I just really thought of doing this because your strong guts amaze the hell out of me, Ellie. I thought it would be pretty fun and entertaining to help you," he grinned. 

"But it's up to you, though. What can you offer to me in exchange?" he raised his brow with interest as he wait for my response.

Natigilan ako. Una sa lahat ay sigurado na ba akong papatulan ko ang alok niya? Pero wala namang mawawala diba? I agree that he probably knows Spencer more than anybody else in here. He'll surely be a huge help to me. Mabuti na rin sigurong gawin ko na lang siyang kakampi para tigilan niya na ang pagiging bwisit at kontrabida sa buhay ko. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, ika nga nila.

"I c-can help you with your acads.." 

Yun lang ang tanging nasabi ko. Bukod sa dun lang ako may maibubuga ay pansin ko rin kasi ang struggle niya roon base sa ilang buwan ng pagiging magkaklase namin.

He slowly nodded as he stared at me intently. A small smile was plastered on his face.

"Okay, then. That will do for now." his lips curved.

He offered his hand for a handshake.

"So.. it's a deal?" he raised his brow.

Tinitigan ko ang nakalahad niyang kamay.

Lumunok ako bago tumango.

"Deal." I firmly said as I accept his hand.

An amused grin immediately crossed on his face.

I can even see something gleaming in his eyes.

His face screams trouble. This guy is a walking danger. But I don't know why I can't feel any hesitation. My heart is just filled with pure anticipation.