CHAPTER III INNA

The moment I finished writing the draft on my pad, may naramdaman akong malamig na  kamay na pumatong sa balikad ko, I can feel the tingling sensation lalo na ang pagtayo ng balahibo ko. Stuck between sisigaw ba o tatakbo o matatakot- “I love the story, but I think you should give justice to Orpheus. Come on he’s the man, he deserves better than that!”

Ahhhhh blue eyes? Si blue eyes ba to? Pinapakiramdaman ko, kilala ko kasi ang boses but it sounded like blue eyes’ sweeter and humbler version.

Nilingon ko ang  boses ng nagsalita at tumingala ako sa mukha niya, di ko masyadong maaninag but I take a deep breath thinking he wasn’t the Blue-eyed. I smiled as I shone my phone’s light in front of his face to make sure who the voice is coming from- “Remember me? You shouldn’t be here at this hour lady. Time to go library is closing now” He's wearing a cap so I cannot see the upper half of his face but he quickly moves away from the light like it's blinding him. Oh the guy na umabot ng libro sakin kanina after my commotion with that blue-eyed, he's the brother- That’s when I realized it..oh no I can’t expose myself.

I hurriedly stack the pile of books and my drafts that are scattered on the table. I just hope he didn’t get to read the other stories I wrote except for that Untold story of Orpheus.

“Yeah. Right I’m gonna go”

Arghh I really tend to forget the time when I’m reading something or I’m in the middle of writing a book. Especially when I’m full of ideas and I suddenly grabbed a scratch of paper and a pen…after that only hunger can cease me from writing. I’m just hard to stop when my brain is overflowing with plots and twists and tales and yes I’m an anonymous writer, I have my own social media page where I post blogs, footnotes, my realizations, my feelings that can only express through writing stories, poems, and letters.

Hinatid niya ako sa sa pintuan ng library at nakita kong sinara nya iyon. Di ko rin alam paano siyang nagkaroon ng susi.

Mas pinagtuunan ko pa talaga ng pansin yung fact na naisasara niya ang library like it’s his. Kaya siguro ang angas nung blue eyes na yun dahil may kapatid siyang assistant dito sa library, he's probably the new student assistant ugh I feel so jealous than the fact that I’m all alone and it feels like I'm gonna be stuck with a dude. A stranger. Nakita kong ni lock niya na ang main door at umalis narin ako pero hindi pa ako nakakarating sa hallway ay napansin kong sinusundan niya ako kaya mas lalo ko pang binilisan ang paglakad pero mabilis din nya akong naabutan and to make matter worse raindrops started falling.

“Wait. I’ll walk you out” he said nung maabutan niya ako.

“Sige..thank you” tipid kong sabat.

Malamig na sa labas and I’m silently cussing myself for not setting an alarm and not bringing a jacket. I mean I get tempted to stay in the library for hours till night but I don’t learn a lesson and still proceed to spend hours there despite me wearing a thin satin off-shoulder top.

 Mom and Dad must be worried and I’m pretty sure a preach is waiting for me in the house. “We told you to always be mindful about the time, haven’t we?” “Anything can happen to you out there and may God never permit it”

Yes. Obviously, this isn’t my first time. You can see from my actions that coming home late from the library is just a very usual thing for me. I just can’t help it.

"I’m Kyran’’ he suddenly said out of nowhere

“Inna’’ I answered him, mentioning my name

He repeated my name and utter the word “Beautiful”

He uttered those two words with such a fine voice that the way the words slip away from his tongue makes my heart flutter.

Ew why am I so extra with the way his gestures struck me.

I still haven’t recovered from the shock of him complimenting my name and describing it as ‘beautiful’ damn simile and comparison- when his hand landed on my left shoulder, covering me from the cold and before I’m able to react he overlaps his jacket on my back and slips his hand on my waist in one swift motion. I’m about to speak out but I like the feeling of his jacket in my body, it keeps me away from the cold, and as awkward as it is but his arm eases the cold and keeps me warm. I’m not going to complain anymore as I don’t know why but I’m the type of person who feels cold in a short amount of time. “Don’t say anything, I already gave you my name so let me help you” he said before I can say something so I just ducked my head down.

“I didn’t bring my car” he uttered making me look up and straight to his face.

“It’s alright” as I gave him a small smile “Walking distance lang, nasa pang tatlong liko na bahay namin. I giggled habang dinudugtong “I don’t wanna wet your car, do you?”

And I saw him smile.

Not long after five minutes of walking I noticed he’s kinda shivering kaya hinati ko yung jacket saming dalawa, nasa akin yung right arm ng jacket habang napunta sakanya ang left side na naging dahilan para magkadikit pa kami. He looks confused and astonishment can be seen in his eyes but he chose to stay silent. I smiled as I look at him habang tinaas ko kamay ko para masiguradong abot ng jacket ang ulo niya. He didn’t say it but I know he mouthed thanks.

Hindi ko din alam kung paano nya nalaman kung saan ang bahay namin. Stupid. Of course, he’s with you, walking with you is basically the map to your house. I just mentally face palmed myself.  I did not try to cut the short awkward silence in the air that feels so long as there is literally nothing to say. The whole walk till the front of our gate is pure raindrops, cold swifts of air, and our breathing sounds. Luckily the rain stopped before we reached our house so as quickly as I can, I sprinted my way to our gate and for a moment there I thought I catch him smiling. I think he’s chuckling and it sounded good with the rain

“Thank you” I smiled, a full smile that I think I look like a goof and that it made me look funny definitely not hot. Hot?! Where did I got that….and since when I tried looking hot for a boy-I mean a guy.

Gabi na kaya naka lock na ang gate namin so I quickly unlocked it hoping I won’t look rude dahil bawal talaga ang ibang lalaki pumasok sa bahay namin at isa pa gabi na. Strictly.

kahit pa tumutulo na ang ulan sa t-shirt nya. I feel bad.

Good thing may shed yung gate namin kaya kahit di ko na sya papasukin di sya mababasa dito. The light is dim in our shed’s gate, a shame for me because I’m still controlling myself not to turn on the flashlight of my phone and shine it directly in his eyes so bad. Gosh, I’m beginning to fantasize about another real-life teen wolf-inspired episode.

“Are you sure hindi ka papasok?” I literally almost face palmed myself. Good thing I was able to stop myself or else I will look like a complete freak. Aisshhhh Wag kang pahalatang wala ka pang ibang lalaki na napa-pasok sa bahay nyo dito ghorrl.

I thought it was a "No’’ because he stayed silent and maybe he doesn’t want to be rude by declining my offer and I saw him back out by taking a few steps backward and for a moment I thought he’s scared. You could imagine my ‘almost heart attack’ when he answered “Are you sure you wanna let me in?” He smirks but because a little light shone, his full face isn’t visible but those tantalizing eyes.  I know he has amber eyes because I have this obsession with eye colors. I’m actually thinking of taking ophthalmology if ever I’m not that lazy to take another course. And since when did I start using my writing skills to be very creative in words to describe him and his features. No, I wasn’t.

He’s teasing me, I know. He’s just kidding around. An alarm and worry creep in my chest, at the back of my mind I still think that he’s not thinking what I’m thinking.

Next time Kyran. I will make sure to play your game. Just not now. 

“So why do you have a library key?” I tried asking him but he just looked away. A sign he doesn’t want to answer the question. Of course, I was completely rude to his brother and I lashed out. Gosh so embarrassing, my patience completely flies out the window.

“Uhmm, paki sabi sa kapatid mo ‘sorry’ sa nangyari samin sa library..… I can’t tell him that coz I might never apologize to him when we started talking again” I giggled.

The light in our gate is dim but I think I saw his jaw slightly clenched and his amber eyes turned darker than its shade.

“I completely understand. He will receive your message” woah classic. REALLY Inna? Are you this kind of…nahh you’re such a green person. Stop assuming I have a crush on him- the other part of my mind answered.

“Good night” I greeted him before opening the gate but I suddenly turned back to him as I realize na nasa akin pa pala jacket nya. Hinubad ko yung jacket niya to hand it back but I think it wasn’t a good idea coz he suddenly lose eye contact and make coughing sounds “I think it’s better not to undress” kasabay nun ay napatingin ako sa dibdib ko.

Right. eww where’s your brain Inna Maria!

“Oh my God. I didn’t mean to!” habang tinakpan ko yung dibdib ko ng jacket nya.

“HAHAHHAHHAH Kalma. You can have my jacket. Keep it”

“Paano ka…di ka lalamigin nun. You stay here, I go get you something. I’ll try if I can find an umbrella” Buti pala merong andito lang sa likod ng gate, it’s the transparent umbrella that I ask my aunt in Japan to send me.  It is simple and clean looking, specifically asked for this coz it makes me feels like I’m in an anime movie. I can’t give Kyran the umbrella I’m using in school so..never mind this is an emergency and he needs it.

“Thank you,” he said

“iiotoko” I said while laughing

“huh?” he asked looking confused

“I mean, it looks good on you. You look like a guy straight out of anime. Sige na baka magkasakit ka pa” I waved him away. “At ako pa sisihin mo” habang pilit ko syang tinatarayan.

“Bye,” he said.

As he walks away, he muttered “Anata mo niaimasu”  ( You look good too).