13: DOOMED
#AHBL

FAITH

Nagising ako dahil sa pakiramdam na may nakatitig sa akin. Unti-unti kong idinilat ang mga mata ko, only to meet Orion's dark yet sparkly eyes. Napabalikwas ako ng bangon at bahagyang lumayo. I got carried away in my slumber without thinking who I was with!

"Good morning Angel," bati niya sa akin at tiningnan ang maliit na orasan na nasa bedside table. It's almost seven and you--"

"Seven?!" bulalas ko.

"Calm down woman, what's there to panic? Anyway, was it that good to sleep beside me?" ngisi niya sa akin. "You're supposed to pet me all night pero anong ginawa mo? Inunahan mo pa akong matulog. You're such a bad pet!"

I prevented myself to correct him dahil tiyak kong mas hahaba pa ang usapan and I have no time to spare. I have a class by nine and there's so much things I've got to do. But just to correct him, I am not his pet. And I will never be!

And how could I sleep soundly? Minsan ay gusto ko ring batukan ang sarili ko. Honestly, it was one of the most comfortable slumbers I ever had in my entire life at hindi ko halos na matanggap na siya pa ang kasama ko.

"I have a realization," biglang sabi niya sabay buntong-hininga. "You actually look good when you sleep peacefully. I think I prefer you like that instead of the awake you who always glare. Kaya lang, ang tanging paraan para palagi kang tulog ay one, I should constantly drug you to sleep or two, kill you so you will sleep forever."

Napasimangot ako at kinusot ang mga mata. Can he just be good even for once and avoid talking about insults, deaths and anything sexual?

"Look Orion, I appreciate what you did--"

He crossed his arms. "The what? What did I do?"

"Saving me from... Jack."

His annoying smile slowly faded. I think he hate the term I used.

"I didn't save you, duh," he said, running his fingers through his dark hair, a thing he usually does when he's annoyed.

Sa dalas ba naman niya rito sa boarding house ko ay halos alam ko na ang mga reaksyon niya. He would look at you with disgust if there's something he didn't like about you like your sense of fashion. He would look away and held his ear if he say things he couldn't believe that comes from him like...actual compliments. Just like what he was doing when he said I look good when I sleep peacefully.

"Thank you," mahinang usal ko.

Bigla na lamang akong napangiwi nang hinagis niya sa mukha ko ang isang unan. "I told you I didn't save you. I was just delaying your death."

Ilang beses akong napakurap. "And why would you do that?"

His mouth gaped open and he looked as if he panicked as he tried to find an answer. "Because... you're useful. You can pet me when I wanted to, you can make me breakfasts. Speaking of breakfasts, what's today's food?"

Sumimangot ako at bumangon sa kama. Dumiretso ako sa banyo at naghilamos. Paglabas ko ng banyo ay nakaabang pa rin siya na para bang makulit na bata. Nilagpasan ko na lamang siya at nagsimulang maghanda ng kakainin ko sa umaga. I got the box of cereals and I found him sat on the dining table with a grin on his face.

Bumaba ang tingin niya sa hawak ko. "Ah, no I don't want that. I want eggs, bacon and--"

"Orion I am a student who needs to save dahil limitado ang isang linggong allowance ko. How am I suppose to survive kung ganyang nakikikain ka?" tanong ko. Hindi ako ang tipong nanunumbat but he seriously needs to leave at bumalik kung saan man siya galing.

His smile slowly fell. "Is that how you're supposed to treat the devil?"

Napasabunot ako sa sariling buhok dahil hindi alam kong ano ang isasagot sa kanya. How's the devil a freeloader?! Kinalma ko na lamang ang sarili at kumuha ng dalawang bowl at tasa. I grabbed the box of milk from the bedroom fridge at nagsalin niyon. He watched my every move, frowning at how I started chewing on my cereal.

"Is that dog food?" he asked at napatigil ko sa pagsubo. Tiningnan ko siya nang masama at inilapit sa kanya ang bowl, cereal at gatas.

"Kumain ka na lang din, okay?"

He crossed his arms and shook his head. "Are you going somewhere?"

"I have a class," sagot ko at nagpatuloy sa pagkain.

"A class!" bulalas niya, grabbing the box of cereal. He started humming as he poured some and started eating. He is up for something!

"Kung anuman ang iniisip mo Orion, huwag mo nang ituloy. Just leave and never come back."

"Mean," he frowned. "Pero napag-isip isip ko lang, a class is actually a good idea."

"Orion!" God, what am I supposed to do with him?

"What?" tanong niya habang ngumunguya. "It's not like there's an entertainment here in your room. You do not even allow me to browse porn in your computer. Walang kahit anong makakapawala sa pagkabagot ko rito so I'd better go to your class! Wait, is your professor hot, the kind I can bang--"

"Just eat," putol ko sa sasabihin niya. How do I get rid of him.

"Or classmates who can--"

"No, hindi ka sasama sa akin. Why would you even tag along?" frustrated na tanong ko. "You cannot get to class unless you're enrolled!"

And he has the nerve to smirk. "Says who? Nah, I can go whenever I want."

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako. Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang gagawin ko. "You need to be officially enrolled. You need certificate of registration. Hindi ka basta-basta makakapasok sa school unless may COR ka or ID. Please lang, bigyan mo ako nang maayos na buhay. Go back to wherever you came from."

And he have the nerve to scoff before digging into his bowl of cereals. Ang paraan ng ngisi niya ay nagsasabi sa akin na hindi niya isinaulo ang mga sinabi ko sa kanya. How could I keep my life smooth if he keep doing this?

"Orion?" untag ko sa kanya.

"Yes?" nakangisi pa rin niyang sabi.

Honestly he looked adorable right now. May bakas pa ng gatas sa gilid ng kanyang labi. His inky black hair was a mess but actually looked so good. He looked like he came out straight off a magazine. But should I remind myself? He's someone dangerous, and someone dangerous is far from adorable.

"Naiintindihan mo ba ang sinabi ko sayo?"

He grinned. "Which one?"

See?

What am I gonna do with him just to make him leave?

Leave for real at nang bumalik na ang matiwasay na buhay ko!

He has the nerve to chuckle! "Relax angel, I'm not going to put you in trouble," he assured me. Pero dahil galing iyon sa kanya, wala akong nadaramang assurance.

How do I get rid of him?

Siguro kailangan kong bumili ng isang litrong holy water. How about getting a new rosary? Ah, mababaliw na ako sa kaiisip anong gagawin. Ipinilig ko ang ulo at nagmadaling matapos ang pagkain. He was just enjoying his food and watched me brought my bowl to the sink.

"Maliligo na ako pagkatapos ko rito," pagbibigay-alam ko sa kanya habang naghuhugas.

"Is that an invitation for me to join you?" tanong niya.

Mabitawan ko ang hawak na kutsara. What?! this guy!

"I refuse," pagpapatuloy niya. "Your bathroom is so cramped and I can barely move tapos nandiyan ka pa? No thanks."

Argh, mababaliw ako sa kanya!

"Hindi iyana ng ibig kong sabihin! I'm informing so that you won't do anything stupid while I bathe!" nanggigigil na sabi ko.

His smile just grew more irritating than before. "What do you mean by stupid?"

"Orion!"

Tumawa siya at pinagpatuloy ang pagkain. "Sure go ahead, maligo ka. Don't forget to replace the towels with new one and oh, pick up the strands of your hair on the floor and wall. Seriously that's annoying and sort of gross. My balls deserve the softest most comfy towels--"

Hindi ko na narinig ang iba pa niyang sinabi dahil mabilis na pumasok ako ng banyo at pabagsak na isinarado ang pinto. I really need to get rid of him as soon as possible.

***

I'm on my last year in college but I still haven't figured out what to do with my life after I graduate. Masyado akong naging kampante. All my plans include Jack kaya nang mawala siya ay nawalan din ng saysay lahat ng mga plano ko. If there's something I realized out of it, it is to make plans for yourself. Just yourself alone. Do not include temporary people in your plans because the moment they left, your plans will crumble and you'll be picking up the tiny pieces of it and make plans all by yourself again.

Napatingin ako sa room na halos puno na ng mga estudyante. Hinihintay namin ang instructor namin ngayon. I left my boarding house earlier than usual dahil unang araw ng klase at tiyak kong siksikan ngayon. Iniwan ko si Orion, silently hoping he'll be gone when I come back. He was inside the bathroom when I left.

"Ah! Senior year pero hindi pa rin dumrating ang fairy tale ko!" narinig kong sabi ng kaklase kong si Annie habang nag-iinat. "Fairy tale?" tanong ko.

"Oo, the one who can make you break rules and go home by midnight," sagot niya. "The one who will lock you up in the a palace only to find out he's actually a handsome man, the one who can make you trade your tail for legs,--"

"Matanda ka na Annie, nagpapaniwala ka pa sa mga ganyan? Disney twisted those stories making us believe in lies. Si little mermaid? She actually died because the prince chose to marry someone other than her--"

"Oo na, oo na ang bitter mo teh!" bulalas ni Annie sabay ngiwi. "Bakit ba ang bitter mo eh real life fairy tale princess ka naman! Just look at your prince, Jack!" She dreamily looked at me. "Gwapo, responsable, stable and above all--"

"A liar, okay?"

Napatakip siya sa kanyang bibig. "OMG, did I hear it right?"

"Wala na kami."

Mabilis pa sa kidlat na umayos siya ng upo, leaning closer. "Paano nangyari?"

Hindi ko pa siya nasasagot nang bigla na lamang may humila ng upuan at ipinuwesto iyon sa pagitan namin.

"Excuse me fatty."

I felt the shivers down my spine nang marinig ang boses na iyon. It was no doubt! It's Orion!

Bahagyang umusog palayo si Annie so he could settle between us. He even snickered as he sat down, placing a his leg on the arm chair.

Bahagyang napatikhim si Annie. "Excuse me, hindi Fatty ang pangalan ko, it's Annie."

Napangiwi si Orion at hinarap si Annie. "Whatever, Fat Annie."

This guy! It's too mean to call anyone fat! At hindi mataba si Annie! She has thick legs but she's not fat!

I know she easily gets offended to such remarks at madalas ay pinapatulan niya ang lahat ng nagsasabi sa kanyang mataba. I know she's ready to throw a fit right now ngunit natigilan siya nang makita si Orion.

"Excuse me, I am-- oh, Hi!" halos magningning pa ang kanyang mga mata. "Are you... from the high school department?"

Natampal ko ang noo nang mapatingin ako kay Orion. No wonder Annie mistook him as high school! Nakasuot siya ng puting polo with loose tie and brown pants, a uniform similar to the high school department.

This seemed to offend him. "Bitch what?" napatingin siya sa akin at tila nagtatanong.

"Saan mo nakuha ang damit na 'yan?" mahinang tanong ko.

"I scrolled on the internet on what to wear at school," sagot niya.

Ah he must have seen models or actors mula sa mga drama na nagkalat sa internet. What am I gonna do with him?! but this doesn't seem to crash his confidence. Taas-noong hinarap niya ulit si Annie.

"Okay fat Annie, i understand you only dared to ask that because i look young, I mean look at my face? It seemed like I never aged at all but truth be told I am older than the earth itself-- aww!"

Mahinang sinipa ko ang kanyang paa at tiningnan siya nang masama. I knew he would only smirk or ignore me but then he has the nerve to smile! I knew it! Telling him about school was actually a bad idea!

"Uhmm, magkakilala kayo?" tanong ni Annie.

"No!" tanggi ko.

"Yup!" sagot naman ni Orion, the same time I said no.

I knew I was doomed.

#

ShinichiLaaaabs