บท 21: Mutual Understanding
AFTER the hilarious tour of the school, they decided to go back to the rest house. They don't have any more plans aside from eating pizza for the snack. Gusto sanang magluto ni Zedrick ng pesto pero nakita niya ang skateboard sa ilalim ng hagdan.
"You play this?"
"Brandon did. But I know some of his tricks. He taught me though."
Naghahamon niyang nginisihan ito. "Really?"
They end up waiting on the road for the pizza delivery while Zedrick showed to her his reckless tricks. Hindi maalis ang ngiti sa kanyang labi habang kinukuhaan ito ng video. If we are in Australia. I could say he isn't lived in a secluded place like this. He is like those kid raised in a liberated place with a liberated body. She sighed and put down the phone. Natulala siya rito.
Sa pagod ay patamad na nilaro ni Zedrick ang skateboard. Ang mga kamay ay nakatago sa mga bulsa habang ang sinag ng araw ay tumatama sa bronseng kulay ng katawan nito.
"I can live here, just... always give me this beautiful view," she murmured, awing those delectable naked upper body back view. Looking arrogant while spinning his cap on his pointing finger, oblivious with a pair of worried eyes on his jeans that was lazily hung on his small waist. "Was that normal?" Tumikhim siya nang bigla itong lumingon.
"Pizza is coming."
Huminga siya nang malalim. Dahil nangako itong hindi siya magpapagabi, alas kuwatro ay lumakad na sila. Sa daan na nila kinain ang pizza habang pinag-uusapan ang susunod na punta roon.
"Stuffed crust is really delicious," she moaned.
"Do you like pizza? I can cook one for you." Hinuli nito ang kanyang kamay upang haplusin.
An overwhelming foreign feeling filled her system again. Since the intimate brunch, he was like that with her. She never thought of doing this thing to him because she is certain that it was just an infatuation.
But right now, feeling his rough hand against her soft skin wrecked everything that she believed. Hindi niya na iyon pinag-ukulan pa ng pansin. Bagkus ay inayos niya ang magkahawak nilang kamay. She smiled and looked away when he gazed at her.
Sa 'di kalayuan ay naaninaw niya ang kanilang gate. Gusto niyang magmura dahil doon. Matagal ang kanilang biyahe pero puwede bang mas pahabain pa?
"Tawagan mo ako kapag nakauwi ka na, ha," paalala niya rito nang makababa.
Hindi nito binitawan ang kamay niya noong tumango.
"Lakad na." Kailangan na nitong umalis dahil baka sapian siya ni Violet at makagawa na naman ng kalokohan.
"Answer my call, okay?"
"Oo naman. Nanginginig pa!"
How funny that Zedrick can tolerate her craziness and naughty action. And sometimes he would level her or more than what she can do so she would be ashamed. Today she discovered a lot about him. Behind those cold gaze is a romantic and soft man. She almost forgot the existence of the world. He made her believe that he is the only person that matters with her. That is how his power works at her. Crazy but undeniably true.
For college, this month is the midterm exam. Hindi sila nagkita ni Zedrick dahil kailangan nitong mag-review. His world doesn't revolve only around her, he needed to study. He can never attend starting today her training. She can do it alone on the farm with Caesar's assistant. She understands he is a third-year college, this year 'til next is critical so he needed to focus and be more serious. But he promised to call her and see each other every Saturday. Okay lang sa kanya ang ganoong set-up nila. Ayaw niyang masakal si Zedrick. Hindi siya ang klase ng babae na clingy. Ayaw niyang maging dahilan ng pagbagsak nito. Nalaman pa naman niya kay Paige na mula elementary ay top one ito sa klase.
Inabala niya ang sarili sa pag-eensayo, pagsusunog ng kilay at bonding sa kanyang kapatid. Like the usual without knowing that it was now the middle of the month. Two more weeks before the audition day.
"Sa ganoong bilis? Hindi ba nakakatakot?"
Ngumiti siya ng maramdaman ang pananabik sa tinig ng kapatid. Alam niyang uhaw ito sa kalayaan kaya hanggat hindi pa toxic sa school ay gusto niya itong isama.
"Well, it is risky and dangerous," she taunted her gazed run through Simon who is leaning on the frame of the door. "Kung hindi bibilisan ni Zedrick ang andar hindi na stroll ang tawag doon. After the audition, I want us to stroll the border of Casa De Rios," pangako niya rito.
Eury's face brightened, "Sige, Sky. Magpapaalam tayo kay Auntie Criselda."
Umalis siya matapos busugin ang kapatid sa iba pang kuwento ng kaganapan nila ni Zedrick ng sabadong iyon. Gusto rin masubukan ni Eury kung paano gumamit ng skateboard. Gusto rin nitong subukan na mangisda. Lahat ng iyon ay pinangako niyang matutupad.
Sunday, they wake up early to attend the early mass. Eury seemed fuzzy and still sleepy to forget about it. Siya na ang kumausap sa tiyahin nila. Pumayag ito ng malaman na si Zedrick ang kasama, basta huwag magpapagabi at mag-iingat.
Zedrick is truly a blessing in ruthless disguise in her life. Without him, she will never explore this secluded place. The epic hidden falls on the center of Ridges Mountain. The house that made of the big tree that was located on the Rio De Grande. It was very unique and naturally artistic. Casa De Rios is literally an amazing place that tourist should sniff. Pero nakakapagtakang hindi kilala ang lugar na ito. At kutob niyang hindi pa iyon napupuntahan ng kanyang nakatatandang kapatid. Ipapasyal niya ito sa ayaw o gusto ng ama nila.
Just like last week, her Monday to Thursday became blurred from excitement. Everyone at school talked about the audition day.
"Handa ka na ba para bukas?" Paige asked her when they saw the noisy seniors on the Hallway with Chesca. Kinakantiyawan ito na mananalo sa audition.
Mula ng hindi siya makatalon noon sa maliit na bakod ay naglaho ang balitang mahigpit siyang kalaban ng babae. Paano ba siya makakatalon noon? Nagkaroon siya ng hindi niya alam. Kaya pala pakiramdam niya ay malagkit. At kapag nakikita si Drake ay ginugulo siya ay umiinit ang ulo niya.
Muli siya ngumisi ng maalala kung paanong manamlay ang ilang seniors na marahil ay supporters niya. She accidentally made their expectation failed. Hindi niya na rin pinaalam kung bakit hindi niya kayang tumalon. Hinayaan niya silang mag-isip ng kung anu-ano.
"Alam mo bagay talaga sila ni Drake. Papansin," bulong ni Paige. Hinila siya nito sa kabilang daan para dumiretso sa Canteen.
Bago sila lumiko ay naaninaw niya sa 'di kalayuan si Eury. She is with a mysterious guy. Halatang hindi nila schoolmate dahil naka-civilian at matangkad pa sa mga seniors na kilala niyang lalaki. He wears cup and eyeglasses that made him unrecognizable.
Her forehead creased at the thought of her sister entertained strangers on School. Very strange, but Kailli and Swanda were with her. Maybe the guy is their senior or an outsider friend.
She tore off her sight of them as they walked through the stall to buy some food. Eury would never do some reckless action, which only implies with her. Tumango siya sa katotohanang iyon at mas binigyan pansin ang kuwento ni Paige. Sa dalawang Linggo na araw-araw na pag-eensayo ng HBR Club marami ang naipong balita na hindi niya alam.
"Sasali rin daw si Simon. Hindi ba't sa inyo nakatira 'yon?"
Tumango siya. Narinig nga niya minsang nagtatalo si Eury at Simon tungkol doon. Walang masama dahil wala namang rules na bawal sumali ang committee. Chesca is a committee too but maybe they disregard that idea because she is a woman, just like her. If they consider Simon as a male. He is not the only man who will join the audition. Grand Prix is open to anyone. Everyone is free to join. Any gender can be a representative.
"Dapat nagparaya nalang siya," Paige murmured uncontrollably.
"Simon is a dreamer too, Amorsolo. Everyone has given the chance to reach for their dream. He wants the Grand Prix as do I."
"Sabagay. Lahat ng sasali sa audition ay may ibubuga. Pero naniniwala ako sa kakayahan mo, Ulap. Kahit nga si Daddy nang malaman na sasali ka, sabi niya manonood siya." Lumingon ito sa kanya bago sa direksiyon patungo sa racing field. "Maraming sports ang naghahanda, pero mas kaabang-abang ang sa HBR Club."
She acted normal that day to anyone. Even if inside of her, her heart is almost breaking her ribcage from excitement. Nahaluan ng kaba sa mga kuwento ni Paige, lalo't higit kay Simon na alam niyang magaling din.
Hindi ako magpapatalo.
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