Chapter 15

I let out a sarcastic laugh as the ridiculous memory from yesterday popped into my head.

'He can't be serious!' I shook my head, trying to let go of the thought. Hindi dapat ako magpadala sa mga mabubulaklak niyang salita. He's just . . . too good to be true.

Baka kapag tuluyan na akong mahulog sa kan'ya . . . mahihirapan na naman akong makaahon. Ni hindi pa nga ako tuluyang nakakaahon mula sa pagkakalunod ko kay Xander. And I won't myself drown again.

"Oh my, my! What's bothering you my beautiful, bestie?" sumalampak sa couch si Alliah at mataman akong tinignan habang sumisipsip ng milktea.

Bakit ngayon lang ito umuwi? Pinasadahan ko siya ng tingin, wala namang nagbago. Mukha pa rin naman siyang aning simula ng magkahiwalay kami sa school.

"Nothing." iling ko.

"We?" aniya na parang hindi naniniwala. I rolled my eyes at her. Hindi ko talaga magawang maglihim sa kan'ya. She knows me very well.

I sighed. "E kasi, sinabihan ako ni Zach ng mga nakakatawang salita."

Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "Nakakatawang salita? You mean, sinabihan ka niya nang 'ang ganda mo, Nausicaa' gano'n?" she asked and stirred her milktea.

I glared at her. Bastos na bunganga.

"Tatawa na ba ako?" pabalang kong tanong.

"Joke lang naman, Renae. Ang madam mo naman!" aniya.

"Madam?" kunot noo kong tanong.

"Madam, madamdamin," she replied and laughed like an idiot. I shook my head at her, pero hindi ko maiwasang mapangiti. I'm very lucky to have her. Lucky to have a crazy bestfriend.

"Pero, balik tayo sa topic. Anong sinabi niya sa'yo?" untag niya sa seryosong tono. This is what I don't like about her. 'Yong pagiging seryoso niya, it just don't fit her personality. She has this bubbly vibes kasi. So she, being serious, is very unusual for me.

"Ano . . . sabi niya, dapat daw mapanatag ako na ako lang ng gusto niya at wala nang iba pa. O, diba? Ang funny!"

Nanlaki ang mata ni Alliah at mukhang nabulunan pa gawa ng pearl sa milktea.

"Anong nakakatawa ro'n?! Baka sabihin mo kinilig ka! Kunyari ka pa! O, ikalma mo pempem mo, Bestie!"

Binato ko siya ng throw pillow. Ang bastos talaga ng bunganga nito. "Excuse me, hindi ako kinilig, 'no."

Umilag siya sa ibinato ko, "Sus! In denial. Mamumula ka nga!" aniya at tumayo na, "Makapasok na nga sa kwatro, baka 'yong vase na maibato mo sa akin, e."

Napahawak ako kaagad sa pisngi ko, hindi naman mainit! Sakto lang! Hindi ko na lang siya kinibo at pinanood ko na lamang siyang maglakad patungo sa kwarto niya. Pero bago siya tuluyang pumasok, humirit pa ito ng pang-aasar sa akin.

"Wag mo nang masyadong isipin, Renae. Baka hindi ka makatulog sa sobrang kilig niyan, ayie!" kantsyaw niya.

Hinablot ko ang vase na nasa table ng salas namin at akmang ibabato sa kan'ya kaso mabilis niyang isinara nang padabog ang pinto.

"Walang'ya ka, Alliah!" I yelled.

Maingat kong ibinalik sa pwesto ang vase, hindi ito ganoon kalaki, tama lang. May laman itong isang yellow tulip. Of course, it was from Zachary. Pero ang ipinagtataka ko talaga, why yellow tulip?

Kinuha ko ito mula sa vase at matamang tinignan. It's so beautiful yet, I felt sad for I don't know reason.

I heard the door creak open slowly. I looked up to find the source of the sound, and my eyes met Alliah's cheerful grin.

"Uy, kinikilig kay Zach!" pang-aasar niya sa matinis na tono.

"Shut up, Alliah!" bulyaw ko at madali pero may pag-iingat kong ibinalik ang tulip sa vase. Bumungisngis naman si Alliah at muling isinara ang pinto.

Hindi naman kasi ako kinikilig kay Zach! He's not attracti--who am I kidding? Of course, he's freaking attractive! But it doesn't mean that I have feelings for him (I guess so). Masyado pang maaga para mahulog sa kanya--para kiligin sa mga banat niya. I said to my myself, more like convincing.

My phone vibrated. Kinuha ko iyon sa mula sa aking bulsa, I wondered who texted me. Wala naman akong masyadong friends, and I don't have their contacts number aside from Alliah. Actually, I only have six persons on my contacts. Si tita, Alliah, Xander and three emergency hotlines. I think, it must be tita.

My eyebrows creased when an unregistered number flashed on my phone's screen. Baka sina Jo or Pat? May emegency ba sa Deans's office? I opened the message and read it. Mas lalong tumaas ang kilay ko sa nabasa ko.

Hi.

Iyon lang ang nakalagay sa message. Baka wrong send? Assuming the sender had made a mistake, I shrugged and about to put my phone back, thinking it was a misdirected message. Pero bago ko pa tuluyang maibulsa 'yon, muli na naman itong nag-vibrate.

Even without gravity, I would still fall for you, Nausicaa. ;)

I stood up in shock while my eyes were stuck on my phone's screen. Paano niya nalaman ang pangalan ko? Napatingin ako sa kwarto ni Alliah. Pina-prank niya ba ako? Dahan-dahan akong naglakad papalapit sa kwarto niya. Idinikit ko ang tainga ko sa pinto, pilit na pinapakinggan kung ano ang nangyayari sa loob, pero wala naman akong narinig na kahit ano. She must be sleeping by now. Napagod ata sa panonood kila Steven.

Napabalik ang tingin ko sa phone. "Who could this be?" I wondered out.

My phone rang, someone's calling and the same unregistered number popped out. I just stared at it, debating whether to answer it or not.

"Hello, sino po sila?" I politely asked.

A soft chuckle welcomed my ear. That's when I knew who was it. Mahinang pagtawa lang iyon but I know it's him. Funny how I recognized his voice quickly.

"Z-Zach."

"Nausicaa," he said in a hoarse voice. Parehas kaming napatahimik matapos niyang magsalita. Masyadong tahimik sa kabilang linya, I could only hear his deep breaths. It's not awkward. The silence between us . . . didn't made me feel awkward, instead, I feel comfortable.

"Paano mo nalaman ang number ko?" I uttered after a couple of minutes, finally breaking the silence between us.

"I have my ways, Nausicaa," he chuckled.

I rolled my eyes kahit hindi niya iyon makikita, "Anong trip mo?"

"Hmm . . . Nothing. I just . . . missed you," he said in a gentle way.

I was stunned. My heart fluttered and I could feel my face burned because of his words.

"B-Baliw!" I stuttered and ended the call. Malalim ang paghinga ko matapos ibaba ang tawag. Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko, mabilis parin ang kabog nito.

Nakatayo lang ako habang pinapakalma ang sarili--pinapaypayan ang mukha gamit ang mga kamay kasi parang biglang uminit! Hanggang sa makaramdam ako na parang may nakamasid sa akin. Hindi nga ako nagkakamali nang makita ko ang naniningkit na mga mata ni Alliah sa akin habang nakadungaw mula sa likod ng pinto niya. Nanlaki ang mata ko sa gulat. Hindi ko namalayan na nasa tapat parin pala ako ng kwarto niya! Kanina pa ba siya r'yan?

"Ang lalandi," masungit na usal niya at muli na namang sinara ang pinto.

"Hindi naman kami naglalandian!"

Wala akong nakuhang sagot mula sa kan'ya galing sa loob. I glanced at my wristwatch. Ala singko palang ng hapon. Since Alliah's about to sleep and I've got nothing to do, I've decided to take a walk. As far as I remembered, my malapit na park dito.

Pumunta ako sa kwarto ko at kumuha ng jacket at pepper spray, just in case. I left a note on the fridge, para hindi maghisterikal si Alliah kung maalimpungatan siya at mapansing wala ako sa unit.

Naglakad lang ako nang naglakad hanggang sa makarating ako sa park. I think it was a ten-minute walk. Hindi naman pala ganoon kalayo ito mula sa condominium. It was my first time to go here at ako na lang ang tao na naririto. Hindi naman ako nagsisi na pumunta rito nang makita ko ang kabuuan ng parke.

This tiny park was a surprising gem. A beautifully designed fountain at its center put on a captivating show that can drew everyone in. The lush Eco garden surrounding it added to the peaceful atmosphere, making it a truly refreshing spot. But what puzzled me was how did this enchanting spot remain hidden among the city's giants? With free admission, it's a shame more people didn't stumble upon its beauty.

The cold breeze swept across my face, sending shivers down my spine. Meanwhile, my hair and the palm trees' leaves danced together in the wind. I settled onto a nearby bench, captivated by the breathtaking view. The sun's descent below the horizon was truly mesmerizing--a peaceful, natural scene.

Naalala ko tuloy bigla ang buhay sa probinsya. Kung gaano kasimple ang pamumuhay roon. No skyscrapers. No car engine's emitting black smoke. No pollution, traffic and stress life because of the busy enviroment. I sighed. I missed my simple life.

"The sunset is beautiful, isn't it?" a familiar baritone voice broke my reminiscing.

I straightened up, turning to confirm the familiar voice. And it was indeed Zachary, leaning casually against a palm tree. A gentle smile spread across his lips as he gazed at me across the distance between us. The warm, golden sunset rays danced across his tan skin, highlighting his striking features. I couldn't help but notice how heart-stoppingly handsome he looked, his beauty almost painful to behold. I remained silent, not answering his question, but unable to look away.

He approached me slowly, his eyes never leaving mine. As he drew closer, the air thickened with anticipation. Finally, he closed the gap between us, his gaze still locked on mine. Then, in a low, gentle tone, he spoke words that sent my heart racing.

"But your beauty is more breathtaking."

Oh Zach, ano ba itong ginagawa mo sa akin?