#CTG03 Chapter 03

I was dreading going home... Kaka-announce lang ng results ng lahat ng midterm exams and as expected, si Yago at Jax lang ang halos nag-uunahan sa pinaka-mataas na grades. And I was happy for them... They worked for it. Lahat naman kami dito sa school, nagpapaka-hirap para makakuha ng mataas na grades.

If only my dad understood that... then I wouldn't study like my life depends on it. I wouldn't tremble in fear whenever I feel like I didn't say the exact correct answer during recitation.

I wouldn't hate school and learning all together.

School... wouldn't sound like a torture chamber.

"Sa lib ka?" Rory asked after our prof dismissed us.

I simply nodded, not wanting to expound. The last time I told her my plan, I got dragged in a resto and witnessed a frustrated murder.

"Okay. See you bukas," she said after I picked up my things. Nagmamadali akong lumabas para mag-aral sa library. Hanggang 10pm lang ang library. Kung bukas siguro 'to ng 24 hours, malamang doon na ako naka-tira. Mas gugustuhin ko pa nga yata na sa kalsada na lang matulog kaysa umuwi ngayon.

"Hi."

Agad akong napa-pikit nang makita ko si Iñigo na naka-upo sa pwesto ko.

"That's my spot," I said. I knew it was stupid... but I go everyday to this library. It's kind of an unwritten rule that I stay there! Kahit nga iyong mga librarian alam iyon, e!

"Says who?" Iñigo shot back.

"Says me," I said through seethed teeth. Kinuha ko iyong iniwanan ko na notebook para sana magsilbing 'reservation' ko sa upuan na iyon. I looked around and saw that there were no good spots in the library. It's the middle of the semester kaya maraming gumagamit ng library. Nawawalan lang naman ng tao dito kapag kakatapos lang ng exam... but tonight, it's back to normal business.

"May space pa dito," sabi niya habang tinatapik iyong space sa tabi niya.

"Ano bang gusto mong mangyari?" I asked him because frankly, I had no time for whatever game he was trying to play. I needed to study and I needed to devote my entire time and focus on that. I couldn't be distracted trying to figure out what Iñigo wanted to happen.

"Wala naman," sagot niya. "Nag-aaral din kaya ako."

Huminga ako nang malalim. If I go outside, I wasn't sure if may coffee shop ba na pwede akong pag-aralan... Kung maghahanap naman ako ng bakanteng classroom, mauubos lang ang oras ko.

"Fine," I said as I took the vacant seat beside him. Mabilis na inilabas ko iyong earphone ko. Hindi pa man ako nakakapagpatugtog ay inilagay ko na agad iyon sa mga tenga ko. At dahil doon, tinawanan ako ni Iñigo.

He didn't seem stupid... maiintindihan niya naman na ayokong makipag-usap.

Inilabas ko iyong libro na kailangan kong basahin. Inilabas ko na rin iyong pen capsule ko at kinuha iyong highlighters ko at pencil para sa pangsulat ng notes.

But when I saw Iñigo's hand in front of me, I just had to draw a deep breath.

"Food?" he said, smiling while offering me a pack of biscuit.

"I'm good," I replied.

"Sige na? Para makapag-aral na rin ako."

"Bakit ba ang kulit mo?"

"Bakit ba ang sungit mo?"

"Required ba ako maging mabait sa 'yo?"

He laughed. "Grabe naman, Charisse Faith Viste."

I internally groaned. Why did he have to say my full name every time?! He's overcompensating dahil ang tagal na naming nagkikita sa school pero ngayon niya lang natandaan ang pangalan ko! And it's so annoying!

"You know what? I wish I just left you to bleed on the pavement."

Tumawa siyang muli. "Grabe naman, Charisse Faith—" napa-tigil siya dahil tinanggal ko na iyong cap ng ballpen ko dahil ready na ako na iturok 'to sa braso niya. He's so talkative! Why was I surrounded by talkative people?! All I ever asked for was peace and silence!

"Fine..." he said in a much lower tone. "Tanggapin mo na 'to tapos promise tatahimik na ako."

Huminga ako nang malalim bago ko tinanggap iyong biscuit na bigay niya sa akin. He smiled again before he turned his attention to his own reading materials.

So annoying.

* * *

It was quarter to ten when the librarian rang the bell na signal na magsasara na iyong library. Isa talaga sa mga hiling ko ang magkaroon ng 24/7 na bukas na library.

"Tulungan na kita," Iñigo said when he saw me arranging my books. I had three huge books with me. Kailangan kong mag-aral nang mabuti dahil finals na. Every recitation matters. I couldn't slack off. Not now.

"No, thanks," I replied. He shrugged, but I knew he was following me hanggang sa maka-labas ako ng library. I ignored him. Mapapagod din siya sa kaka-sunod sa akin kapag nalaman niya na wala naman siyang mapapala sa akin. Hindi ko alam kung ano ba ang gusto niya. Obviously, he didn't need more friends because he's too friendly... Hindi din siya nauubusan ng babae... I didn't know what the hell he wanted from me. Samplex? Materials? Sana sabihin niya na para tantanan niya na ako.

"May susundo ba sa 'yo?" he asked nang tumigil ako sa malapit sa exit gate.

"Yeah," I replied although magbu-book pa lang ako ng sasakyan. I really just wanted him to leave me alone.

"Ah... Malapit na ba?"

"Oo."

"Okay."

Pero hindi pa rin siya umalis.

Ang kulit.

"May hinihintay ka ba?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Yung sundo mo."

"Bakit? Makiki-sakay ka?"

He laughed. "Grabe..." sabi niya habang tumatawa. Sumingkit iyong mata niya dahil sa pagtawa. He looked so carefree... but I knew better. Iñigo's anything but carefree. He's a member of the biggest frat in SCA.

"Gusto ko lang masigurado na makaka-uwi ka nang maayos."

"Mukha ba akong bata sa paningin mo?" I asked, but instead of replying quickly, I felt him sizing me up with his stares. Napa-yakap ako sa mga libro na hawak ko dahil ramdam na ramdam ko ang pagtingin niya sa akin.

"Nah... You look grownup."

Huminga ako nang malalim dahil bigla kong gustong ihampas sa kanya iyong makakapal na librong hawak ko.

"Ano ba kasing gusto mo? Pwede bang sabihin mo na sa akin para alam ko? I seriously don't appreciate you bothering me."

Instead of answering, he just stared at me. His hands were inside his pockets. A small smile appeared on his face.

"Bakit ba ang sungit mo?"

"Do I owe you any explanation as to how I behave?"

"Nagka-boyfriend ka na?"

My lips parted.

A teasing smile appeared on his face.

"Hindi pa? Gusto mong masubukan?"

I balled my hands. Mabilis kong ipinikit ang mga mata ko at humugot ng malalim na hininga. God! Why did you create such annoying creatures?!

"What the hell do you want? When you asked me to keep that little incident a secret, I obliged. Bakit ba hindi mo pa ako tigilan?" tanong ko. My restraint was thin... I just really hope he wouldn't push me dahil ihahampas ko talaga iyong mga libro sa kanya.

"Naiinis ka ba talaga sa akin?"

"Hindi ba halata?"

He laughed. "Bakit?"

"Pwede bang iwan mo na lang ako?"

"Nagbayad din naman ako ng tuition... Pwede naman akong tumayo dito sa loob ng school," he annoying replied.

"Sabihin mo na kasi kung ano iyong gusto mo para tantanan mo na ako."

"Inis na inis ka talaga sa 'kin, no?" he asked. I only arched my brow. "Dahil pa rin ba sa hindi ko agad natandaan iyong pangalan mo?"

I arched my brow even higher. "Ganyan kataas ang tingin mo sa sarili mo?"

He shrugged. "Not really... but I can't really think of what I did to make you that... hostile towards me."

"You're just annoying. Period."

"How come? Tatlong beses pa lang yata tayo nakakapag-usap."

"I just know."

"Come on now... You're a future lawyer. You know that that won't hold up in court. You need concrete evidence and not just circumstancial ones."

Lord...

First, Yago. Now, Iñigo.

"Look—"

Pero hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko nang mabilis niya akong hatakin. I was about to shout at him for doing that, but he quickly covered my mouth with his hand! This insolent charlatan!

Akala ko ay tapos na siya sa ginagawa niya pero nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang ilapit niya ang mukha niya sa akin! It seemed like he was trying to hide from someone, but I couldn't see from whom dahil sobrang dikit na siya sa akin! This asshole! Gusto ko nang umuwi!

"Quiet," he whispered.

"Let me—"

"Don't shout," he said, cutting me off.

"I'm gonna shout if I want to—"

"Don't."

"I will."

"I'll kiss you if that's what it takes to shut you up."

"I'll break your neck, I promise."

"You wouldn't—"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang maramdaman ko ang labi niya sa labi ko. No... No, he didn't! This fucking asshole! Bakit niya ako hinahalikan?!

I wanted to push him and punch him and wring his neck until he's gasping for air, but I couldn't move! I was stuck in between his arms and I couldn't move! He was holding me still and his lips were on mine! Seriously! I just wanted to study! That's all I ever wanted!

It felt like forever nang matanggal ang labi niya sa labi ko. He was looking behind my shoulders, but I couldn't peel my eyes from him.

He... just kissed me!

"I'm sorry—"

He said, but I quickly kneed him in between his legs. I was supposed to slap him, but I realize that this would hurt more! Ang kapal ng mukha niyang halikan ako! Sino ba siya sa tingin niya?!

"Charisse Faith!" he shouted when I started to walk away from him. Sa labas na lang ako ng school maghihintay ng pwedeng sakyan. I swear to God, one more second with this guy and I would start to pre-meditate his murder!

Thankfully, he was still limping from what I did with him kaya naman naka-layo ako sa kanya... but not for so long because I was waiting for the car that I booked kaya naman naka-tayo lang ako sa isang lugar para hintayin iyon.

"I'm sorry," he repeated.

"Just scram."

"Galit ka?"

"Mukha ba akong masaya?"

He remained quiet after that. I prayed that the car would arrive soon because if there's one thing I knew about Iñigo was that like Yago, he couldn't remain silent even if his life depended on it.

"I'm sorry again," he repeated. "Was that your first kiss?"

"Sa tingin mo ba close tayo para tanungin mo ako ng ganyan?"

He pursed his lips and put his hands inside his pockets. "Sorry na, Miss Viste..." sabi niya sa malambing na paraan. Bigla akong kinilabutan. "Nagpanic lang ako kanina. Hindi na mauulit."

"Talagang hindi na!"

"Dumikit lang naman 'yung labi ko—wala namang nangyaring iba."

"Ugh. Stop talking about it. Kalimutan na lang natin."

"Bakit? May iba kang gustong maging first kiss? 'Yung maputla at saka sobrang seryoso ba 'yung gusto mo?"

I drew a deep breath. God... so many annoying people around me. I just wanted to study and have good grades. Iyon lang naman ang gusto ko pero bakit parang ang hirap?

"I don't like Jax, okay?"

"Wala namang akong sinabing pangalan..." naka-ngisi na sabi niya. "Ganon talaga kapag guilty, no? Nahuhuli sa sariling bibig."

Another deep breath.

I needed to practice restraint. Siguro pagsubok lang ito sa akin. Dahil sa future, sigurado ako na mas malalang kriminal pa ang mga magiging ka-trabaho ko... Sigurado ako na dinala lang ng tadhana si Iñigo sa buhay ko para patatagin ako.

"Sure," I said, just wanting this conversation to be over.

"Wala ka ng masabi?"

I shrugged. "Whatever, Mr. Borromeo."

"Aww. Formalities. Wala ba talagang chance na maging friends tayo, Miss Viste?"

"I don't think you need more friends, Mr. Borromeo. I know you're doing just fine."

His brow arched. "Are you insinuating that I'm a playboy, Miss Viste?"

"I'm not insinuating anything; you have a reputation. You are a playboy, Mr. Borromeo. That is supported by hard facts and there is no evidence to the contrary."

I was waiting for him to respond, but when I turned to look at him, I saw his lips parted... and it was as if his eyes were twinkling with admiration. Weird.

"What?" I snapped when he still wouldn't stop staring at me!

"Nothing..."

"Then stop staring!"

"Can't," he said. "You... sound so sexy when you went all lawyer on me."

Biglang namula ang mukha ko. Hindi ako makapagsalita. Gusto kong magsalita para barahin siya, pero hindi ko magawa! What did he just say?!

"Nandito na 'yung sundo mo," he said when a car pulled over in front of us. He opened the door and confirmed with the driver na ako nga iyong sinusundo. Iñigo opened the door on the backseat, and looked at me. "Good night, Ms. Viste," he said, smiling like the fucking idiot that he was.

I willed myself to respond. Who knew what he'd do if he learned that he rendered me flustered with his response?

"Good night," I merely responded as I got inside the car. I stared at him. He didn't move. It was like he was watching the car... and I saw him reading the plate number and typing it down.