Chapter 39

That night, I couldn't sleep. I can't stop myself from thinking about Coltrane, yung mata nyang kumikislap kapag ngumingiti, yung init ng palad nya, yung halik nya, yung boses nya.

Hindi mapakali ang mga alaga ko sa tyan kapag naaalala ko kung paano nya sabihin sa akin na mahal nya ako.

Damn, Amerie was right. Maybe I'm too indenial kaya hindi ko iyon pinansin, totoo na pala.

Its already one in the morning, hindi ako makatulog. I opened my phone and got ten texts from Eros.

Hindi ko na binasa, dinelete ko na agad. Muntik nang mahulog ang phone ko sa mukha ko dahil sa pagba-vibrate.

"Hoy! Muntik na mahulog yung cellphone ko sa tawa—

"Out of all the girls

You my one and only girl

Ain't nobody in the world tonight"

Naputol ang paglilitanya ko nang marinig ang pag strum nya ng gitara, it was one of the sweetest song I've ever heard.

You and I by John Legend

"All of the stars, you make them shine like they were ours

Ain't nobody in the world but you and I

You and I

Ain't nobody in the world but you"

He cleared his throat, nag beep ang tawag dahil nag iinvite sya for video call.

"Can't sleep? Its one in the morning already" aniya, ngumuso ako.

"Ikaw din naman ah, alam mo naman pala yung oras pero hindi ka pa tulog. T-teka, anong nangyari sa labi mo? Nakipag away ka?" Umiling sya.

"Nope, nakagat mo lang kanina" nag init ang pisngi ko sa sinabi nya.

"Kapal mo ha! Ano nga yan?" Humalakhak sya at umiling, the sound of his laugh were like a good music playing in my ears.

"Its nothing, natamaan lang ng bola kaninang naglalaro ako. I'll fetch you tomorrow, don't worry no morning classes for tomorrow, may faculty meeting"

"Hmm-mm" tanging sagot ko.

"Damn, you still look beautiful even when you're sleepy." He chuckled, I felt my cheeks turn red.

"Let's sleep now. Good night, my beautiful baby."

Nag late breakfast na ako dahil alas diyes na ako nakagising. Nataranta ako nang marinig ang pamilyar na busina sa labas ng bahay, andito na sya agad?

Oh gosh, how do I look? Mukha ba akong maganda? O mukhang panda dahil sa kakapuyat? Oh my gosh.

"Good morning tita" rinig kong bati nya kay mommy, mabilisan kong nilinis ang pinagkainan ko at kinuha ang brush ko.

Bakit ba ako nagpa-panic? Its just Coltrane. Oh shit, its Coltrane!

"Hi, good morning" nakakahiya! Nakita nya akong nagtotooth brush! But its not the first time naman! Bakit ako nahihiya?

He chuckled, tinalikuran ko sya at tinuloy ang pagbrush ko, naririnig ko ang kalansing ng susi nya na batid kong pinaglalaruan nya.

"You're too early" sabi ko habang pinupunasan ang bibig ko gamit ang tissue.

"Its better than to keep you waiting, ang babae hinihintay, hindi pinaghihintay"

"WOW, words of wisdom" natatawa kong sabi, he held my hand and he kissed it. My heart pitter-pattered.

"Let's go" aya nya. Pinagsalikop nya ang mga kamay namin habang papalabas.

"Alis na kami tita" hinila ko ang kamay ko pero hindi nya binitawan, mommy looked at our entwined hands. Lagot.

"Coltrane, ang anak ko okay?"

"Opo tita, papakasala— aray. Ihahatid ko din po mamaya" he grinned. Ang daldal!

"You're so annoying" sabi ko pagkasakay nya sa kotse.

"I know, I'm the best kupal ever" he winked, proud pa!

May kinuha sya sa backseat at inabot sa akin, three pieces of tulips!

"Para saan 'to?" I asked while sniffing the flowers.

"I just want to make you smile." It made me smile indeed. They look so fresh and beautiful.

"Wala ako mabibigay" he shook his head.

"Ngumiti ka lang, bayad ka na" why is he so sweet? Hindi ako sanay! I tried to suppress my smile but I failed miserably, he bit his lip while smiling. Damn this guy!

"Any plans for lunch?" He asked, I'm taking pictures of the flowers. Ang ganda!

"Nothing, probably with you because you're my lunch buddy" I rolled my eyes.

"And I'll be your buddy forever" napaubo ako sa sinabi nya, forever? Agad?

"12:30 pm, rooftop. I'll text you, see you, Azrielle" he winked, may kuryenteng hatid yung pagsabi nya ng pangalan ko, ahhh!

Napapitlag ako nang makita si Amerie na nakapamewang.

"Ano yon? Sabi ko na nga ba bet ka ng crushie ko!"

"Anong bet na pinagsasabi mo?" I asked, trying to deny her speculations.

"Girl you can deny all you want, si Coltrane nalang ang tatanungin ko. We're friends naman na, kinda." Umirap lamang ako. "Oh there's your boyfriend" turo nya kay Eros na may dalang bulaklak.

Mali, ex boyfriend.

Para kay Angeline siguro. Mabubulok rin yan. Tumabang ang mood ko, napairap nalang ako.

Tinapunan ko ng pansin ang tatlong tulips na galing kay Coltrane kanina, they are beautiful. Pero sana hindi na nya pinitas, kung saan man nya 'to pinitas. I prefer looking at flowers in the garden, kasi kapag pinitas paniguradong malalanta.

"Azrielle" someone called, pag lingon ko andun si Eros sa may pinto ng classroom namin. Ako ba yung tinawag nya? Kaylan pa naging Azrielle ang Angeline?

"Let's talk" he said, nagkatinginan ang mga kaklase ko sa amin, particularly sa akin. I sighed bago ako lumabas para kausapin sya.

"Let me explain first okay? For you" tinitigan ko lang ang mga bulaklak na inaabot nya.

"I don't need that" dumistansya ako at hindi tinanggap ang mga bulaklak.

"Tell me more lies, Eros." I sarcastically said. I crossed my arms and purse my lips.

"We've been secretly dating for two years and mommy found out about us, ayaw ni mommy si Angeline. Angeline broke up with me hoping she could please mom that way." Panimula nya, I scoffed and laugh at him.

"Ano kasalanan ko dun? Does that gave you the license to play with my feelings? Para ano? Para panakip butas sa kung anong meron kayo? Eros, simula pagkabata magkaibigan na tayo, oh wait, baka ako lang may kaibigan sa'yo kasi hindi kaibigan ang turing mo sa akin" he gulped and looked away.

"Kasi kung kaibigan mo ako you wouldn't do this, yung porke alam mong gusto kita paglalaruan mo ang nararamdaman ko."

"I did that to make mommy happy, ikaw ang gusto nya para sa akin Azrielle. I'm sorry" natigilan ako at napakunot ang noo. Akala ko matalino syang tao, akala ko lang pala yun.

"You used me to please your mom? Ano pa? Nagpapaalam ka sa kanyang makipag date sa akin pero kay Angeline ka makikipag date ganun ba?" He nodded his head.

"Sana sinabi mo nalang kay Tita yung totoo, na may mahal ka ng iba at hindi ako. Ang daming ibang paraan, Eros. Pero ako talaga ang naging sakripisyo nyo? Ano bang kasalanan ko sa inyo?"

"Look I'm really sorr—

"One touch and I'll fucking rip your ribcage" napalingon ako kay Coltrane na may hawak na bola.

"Stay out of this, Coltrane. Problema namin 'to"

"Problema nyo? O problema mo? Breaking with Azrielle is the downfall of your relationship with Angeline. Wala ka ng excuse pa sa mommy mo"

"If you're just a man enough to fight for your love, wala kang problema" hinigit ni Coltrane ang kamay ko pero hinila rin ni Eros ang isa, the ball landed on Eros' cheek. Napabitaw sya sa akin at pinunasan ang dumudugo nyang labi.

"I warned you, Larrazabal." Ang hirap naman pumagitna! Baka mamaya ako na masapak nila!

"If you're just a man enough to tell her your feelings Trane" Coltrane smirked and held my cheeks. I hitched my breath and gulped. His eyes, I love his eyes. Nawala ako sa wisyo dahil sa mga mata niya. Snap, Azrielle! Nag aaway sila tapos ikaw nalulunod ka?

"I love you, and I'll fight for you" he kissed my forehead.

"Happy now!" He smiled sardonically. "Sorry, Larrazabal. Matagal na kitang pinagbigyan kay Azrielle, and that's my mistake. Binasura mo yung babaeng pinaka pinapangarap ko, but its not her loss, its yours. And unlike you, I'll fight for my girl, the way you can't. Just a friendly advice, Have some balls, Eros."