HE Who Saw the Deep

Chapter 6

"Your eyes are swollen." Napasinghap ako nang magsalita si Eron sa likuran ko.

I immediately cleared my thoughts and chuckled. Nagulat ako sa biglaang pagsulpot niya pero mas nangingibabaw ang kahihiyan ko kapag nakita niyang malalim ang iniisip ko.

"Did something happen?" He asked now. Hindi siya umupo sa tabi ko.

He stayed standing beside me but I could feel his stare. Nakayuko ako habang umiiling.

I bit my lower lip. Come to think of it. Ni isa walang nagtanong sa akin kung okay lang ba ako o kung may nangyari ba dahilan ng pag-iyak ko.

This is the second time he asked me if something has happened. Siya rin ang unang nagtanong sa akin kung okay lang ba ako.

We weren't close those times pero he has the time to check on me. Iyong ibang kaklase ko nga hindi nagtatanong kung bakit ako absent pero noong siya ay umabot pa sa messages ko.

I smiled as I looked up to him. Seryoso siyang tumingin sa akin, naninimbang ang mga mata. He sighed and looked ahead. Malayo ang tingin at nilanghap ang sariwang hangin.

"Walang nangyari. I finished a tragic novel last night. " Pagsisinungaling ko na tinanguan niya naman.

Nakapamulsa siyang nakatayo. Naka unbutton ang polo at kita ang sandong puti sa loob. Kuminang naman ang suot niyang hikaw. His side profile is not that bad, mas gwapo nga lang siya kapag nakaharap.

How did I miss this features all this time? His eyes are of that color of a honeycomb, lashes longer than mine. Tamang kapal ng kilay na umaayon naman sa maganda niyang mata. Matangos rin ang ilong at  mapula ang labi. His jaw is defined kahit na teens palang kami. He has good features and it gives them all harmony that makes him look more than average.

He looked good. Handsome like those men you see in dramas. Malayo ang tingin niya at seryosong tumikhim para kunin ang atensiyon ko.

Napabalik ako sa realidad sa ginawa niya. Nagtaas ako ng kilay at hinintay ang kasunod niyang sasabihin.

He extended his arm and aimed to give me something. Napatingin ako roon.

"Saka mo na basahin after finals. That's yours now, huwag ka nang magtangkang ibalik iyan sa akin."

Hindi ko nakitang may hawak pala siyang libro kanina. Napatingin ako roon at unti-unting similay ang ngiti sa aking labi.

"Nag annotate ka na naman dito for sure." I spat and accepted the book. Paniguradong nabasa niya na 'to.

"Of course, you have to read my thoughts about those circumstances. Of what I will do if I'm in that situation." Bulong-bulong niyang hindi ko naman marinig sa sobrang hina.

He licked his lips and sat down beside me. Nakiusyoso sa ginagawa ko ngayon.

"Well, I like it when you write something. Pasalamat ka maganda sulat kamay mo at natitiis ko pa." Tawa ko kasabay ng mabilisang pagbasa ng prologue. This is the second book of that series I was reading last time.

"Thank you." I said out of the blue, miski ako ay nagulat sa nasabi, that came out so natural and easy!

"You are welcome." He smiled and patted my head agad ko namang tinampal ang kamay niya at sinamaan siya ng tingin.

"Stop patting me, I'm not your dog!" I said that made him laugh.

"That's my... " He paused and looked away.

"Nevermind." He chuckled as he shook his head.

The days became so hard to bear. Hinahabol ko ang due date ng commissions na naisantabi ko dahil abala ako sa pag-aaral noong nakaraan.