#LGS2Eyes #LGS2chapter9 #LaGrilla2

***

TUESDAY. Curtis was seated in the school canteen. He was about to give his hotdog sandwich this one huge bite when he heard a cheerful voice.

"Best!"

His mouth froze wide open as his eyes only took one blink before Mosa's image appeared in front of him. Pagkaupo ng dalaga sa upuan sa tapat niya ay hindi siya nakagalaw agad. Napatitig siya rito at naglakbay ang kaniyang mga mata mula sa mukha nito hanggang sa mga braso nitong pumatong sa mesa. Her straight black hair in her usual two half-up ponytail hairstyle. Her face had light makeup that complimented the soft peachness of her skin, and her uniform was clean and neat. Mosa smiled at him serenely as she cocked her head to the side to avoid the hotdog sandwich from blocking her view of his shocked face. Tila nagpipigil itong matawa sa kaniyang hitsura kaya napagtanto ni Curtis na kanina pa siya nakanganga.

Curtis shut his mouth quickly, sat straight, and cleared his throat before putting down his hands that still held his hotdog sandwich wrapped on its bottom with a few layers of wax paper. "What brings you here?"

'May problema na naman ba? Kaya sa wakas, naalala mong magpakita sa 'kin?'

"I just want to remind you about our photoshoot. Valentine's Ball will be in two weeks and I'll be more busy starting this week. Kaya kung may time ka mamayang gabi, available din ako. Kitakits tayo mamaya, ha?"

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Gabi tayo magpo-photoshoot?"

"Oo. Sa tailor shop ni Mama. Mas magiging madali ang photoshoot natin do'n kasi maganda ang lighting, at saka may fitting area doon. Kung kailangan ng backdrop, puwede nating gamitin 'yong rolyo-rolyong ang mga tela ro'n."

Natulala siya saglit sa dalaga. Mukhang planadong-planado na nga nito kung paano gagawin ang photoshoot. Naramdaman na naman niyang nalaglag ang kaniyang puso sa sobrang paghanga rito.

So pretty, so smart, so organized, and so caring for others . . . if she kept on being like that, how could he stop falling deeper for her?

"Ano? Go tayo mamaya?" usig nito sa kaniya.

Curtis shook away his admiring thoughts and put on a more serious demeanor. "Sige. Ipagpapabukas ko na lang ang night photography ko rito sa school. Sabay na ba tayong pupunta sa tailor shop mamaya?"

"Oo. Hindi naman ako masusundo ni Claude ngayon, e."

Nagsalubong ang kaniyang mga kilay. "At bakit naman?"

Mosa shrugged nonchalantly. Ipinatong nito sa katabing upuan ang kandong na shoulder bag. "Nagsimula na kahapon pa ang practice nila para sa basketball tournament this summer. So, mga alas-otso na ng gabi ang uwi niya. Alas-singko naman ang ­call time nila sa practice sa umaga bago magklase."

Naalala ni Curtis ang kaniyang mga nasaksihan noong sinundan niya si Claude nitong Sabado. He went to Freya's condo and he saw the two of them interacting. For him, there was nothing that suspicious with their body language yet he found it odd for those two to meet up in that place and with just the two of them.

Hanggang sa mga oras na ito ay hindi pa niya sinasabi ni Mosa ang kaniyang nakita. Mahirap na at baka magkonklusiyon ang dalaga para lang sa wala dahil wala pa naman siyang nakikitang matibay na dahilan para magduda ito kay Claude. Sa mga oras na ito rin ay hindi pa niya naiisip kung paano maisasagawa ang plano niya para malaman kung bakit nagtagpo sina Claude at Freya noong Sabado. May mga plano kasi na madaling isipin ngunit mahirap i-execute. Magandang tiyempo lang talaga ang hinihintay niya para maisagawa iyon. . . .

"Curtis," pukaw sa kaniya ni Mosa.

He shrugged and raised his hotdog sandwich close to his mouth. "See you later at the parking lot then, Mosa. Sa loob ng kotse na ako maghihintay kasama ni Manong." Then, he took a bite of his hotdog sandwich.

"Sige. Nakapag-lunch na ako, so I'll be taking my leave now. Pag-usapan natin 'yong iba pang details para sa photoshoot mamaya, on our way to the tailor shop." Tumayo na si Mosa mula sa upuan nito at sinukbit sa isang balikat ang bag.

When she left, Curtis took a hopeless internal sigh with puppy eyes while chewing his food and watching her leave. 'Does she really have to sell her pictures?'

***

AFTER LUNCH, Curtis decided to drop by the university's basketball court just to make sure that Claude was not really making an excuse about not driving Mosa home. Mosa wasn't stupid, Curtis knew that. Most probably, she already checked if his brother was lying about his schedule or not, but he just had to make sure.

Pagpasok sa air-conditioned basketball court, nakita ni Curtis na walang naglalaro dito. Gumusot tuloy ang kaniyang mukha. Saglit na nag-init ang dugo niya dahil parang nagsinungaling si Claude na hanggang gabi ang basketball practice nito dahil mukhang papetiks-petiks na lang ang mga manlalaro at ilang estudyante na nakatambay rito.

Binaybay ni Curtis ang ibaba ng bleachers habang nakatutok ang nagtatakang mga mata sa sentro ng court kung saan tila may pinaiikutan ang mga estudyante. There was a mix of cheers and hollers, loud banters and giddy shrieks. The combination of different emotions plus the attention-grabbing three-tier pyramid made by the cheerleaders piqued his curiosity. The cheerleaders held a banner that said, 'Please, be mine again, Bridgette Santillan.'

Curtis' expression became bored. 'Great. Another victim of the notorious playgirl, Bridgette Santillan. I can't blame them though. If I'm not in love with Mosa, I might drop on my knees for her as well.'

Para makita nang mabuti kung ano ang nangyayari, inakyat na ni Curtis ang bleachers. Sa pang-apat na mataas na row siya nakahanap ng mas malinaw na view sa pinagkukumpulan ng mga estudyante sa ibaba.

Nakita niyang nakaluhod sa isang tuhod nito ang isa sa mga naka-jersey na basketball player ng kanilang campus. Aside from the noises of the students that surrounded them, they were too far from where he stood for him to hear.

Nakita niyang namaywang ang dalagang niluluhuran ng binata—si Bridgette Santillan. She was popular in school, thanks to her pretty girl and rich girl privilege, maybe, because those were the only things that people compliment her about. She was badmouthed for being promiscous and mean, but he took that as a grain of salt, knowing that some people could spread rumors out of envy.

Nag-uusap ang sina Bridgette at ang lalaki nang abutin ng huli ang kamay ng dalaga. Nag-angat naman ng tingin ang dalaga sa mga basketball player na nakahanay sa likuran ng nakaluhod na binata. They were all holding bouquets of red roses while the pyramid of cheerleaders were behind them.

Bridgette obviously rejected the guy. It must have shooked him so hard it made him stop kneeling and drop sitting on the floor. Bridgette laughed cruelly as she catwalked to the cheerleaders and pulled down the banner. Nagtilian ang mga ito dahil nahulog ang ilan sa mga nasa ibabaw ng pyramid. Mabuti na lang at sinalo ang mga ito ng foam mattress na kinatatayuan nila. Then, she took the flowers that one of the basketball players were holding. Hinampas nito ang bulaklak sa mukha ng lalaki.

Nang mapailing si Curtis ay saka lang niya napansin si Claude na nakatayo sa entrada ng pasilyo patungo sa locker rooms. Nakaekis ang mga braso ng kaniyang nakabusangot na kapatid habang nakasandal nang patagilid doon. Mukhang hindi nito nagugustohan ang munting interupsyon mula sa kanilang basketball practice.

'I promised to be Mosa's eyes and ears so that I won't see her eyes shed those tears . . . but maybe, I should stop spying. Siguro, baka . . . wala naman talagang masamang ginagawa si Claude. Baka umaasa lang ako na sana may ginagawa siyang kalokohan dahil gusto kong iwanan na siya ni Mosa.' He got this sinking feeling, this guilt pooling at the pit of his stomach. 'Kaya lang . . . kapag nasaktan naman si Mosa, kapag lumayo lalo ang loob ni Kuya sa akin at kay Mama, ako rin ang masasaktan. . . .' Napaiwas siya ng pagkakatingin mula sa kapatid. 'Kahit ano talaga ang gawin ko, sa huli, ako pa rin ang talo. . . . Ako.'

Nagmamadali niyang tinalon ang bleachers pababa hanggang sa makatakbo siya patungo sa double doors ng basketball court.

'Iyong pagkikita nila ni Freya . . . baka nga may pinagpaplanuhan lang silang sorpresa para kay Mosa. It can be anything that will make her really happy. . . A wedding proposal might kill me, but I hope it happens . . . if will really make her happy.'

Malungkot niyang nilisan ang lugar.

***

MOSA did an akimbo and proudly looked at the decorations they just put up on the right wing of the school gymnasium. She got her back turned on the left wing which was still bare. Ngumiti siya at tumango-tango. Sumulpot sa kaniyang tabi si Shayne na naka-casual attire na rin katulad niya imbes na nakauniporme dahil tapos na naman ang kanilang mga klase. Ginaya nito ang pagkakapamaywang niya.

"What do you think?" she asked him while still looking at the decorations. "You're an engineering student. You have an eye for proportions and design."

Shayne grinned while staring at the decorations, His eyeglasses shone for a moment when the lights reflected on one of its lenses. "And you're a designer—"

"Fashion designer," she specified.

"Still. You've got an eye for proportions and design," ngisi nito sa kaniya.

They shared a side glance at each other before smiling wider.

"It looks great," Shayne snickered in a controlled voice.

At the same time, Mosa released a suppressed shriek while waving her closed fisted hands excitedly. "I love it!"

May sasabihin pa sana siya kaya lang ay napatingin siya sa kaniyang wristwatch. Napatigil siya sa pagkaway ng nakakuyom na mga kamao at tiningnan nang malapitan ang mukha ng relo. Namilog ang kaniyang mga mata nang makitang alas-siyete na pala ng gabi!

"Oh, no! Late na naman ako sa usapan!" bulalas niya. Then, she briefly looked at Shayne in the eye. "Kayo na ni VP ang bahala rito, ha? Mag-pack up na kayo. Bukas na ako babawi. Tutulong ako bukas sa pag-pack up, promise! Kailangan ko lang talagang umalis. Sorry."

Hindi na nahintay ni Mosa ang isasagot nito. Nagmamadaling kinolekta niya ang mga gamit na nakapatong sa bleachers ng gymnasium at umalis. Tinakbo niya ang daan patungo sa parking lot.

'My gosh! Sorry, Curtis, I made you wait! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!'

She was immediately blanketed by guilt when she saw the lone car waiting for her at the parking lot. When she looked at the motorcycle parking, she was baffled at how empty it was. Hindi ba dapat ay naroon ang motorsiklo ni Claude dahil alas-otso pa matatapos ang practice nito?

'Dumaan kaya ako saglit sa basketball court? I'll just check on Claude . . .'

"Mosa," a voice called.

Napalingon siya sa direksiyong pinagmulan nito, sa lalaking nakatayo sa tabi ng nag-iisang kotse na nakaparada. Ulo lang nito ang kaniyang nakikita dahil nakatayo ito sa likuran ng bukas na pinto ng sasakyan.

'Nakakahiya naman kung paghihintayin ko pa nang mas matagal si Curtis,' nakokonsensiya niyang isip. 'Ite-text ko na lang si Claude.'

She did one hop and walked toward Curtis with a soft smile. "Sorry, I lost track of the time!"

Nang makalapit siya rito ay nginitian lang siya ng kaibigan. "I understand. Nagde-decor na kayo sa gym para sa Valentine's Ball, 'di ba?" Umusod ito para paunahin siya sa pagsakay sa kotse. Kung siya ay nakapagpalit ng jeans at fitting striped ringer shirt na mustard yellow, ang binata naman ay naka-school uniform pa rin.

She answered him when she got seated beside the car window. "Yes. Tapos na kami sa right wing ng gym, and I'm telling you, Curtis—" she excitedly shrieked while tapping his arm, "—maganda ang kalalabasan nito!"

Curtis smiled and pulled the car door close before turning to her. "With you leading the event? I know it will."

Pabirong siniko niya ito sa gilid ng dibdib. Natatawang napaawang sa gulat naman ang mga labi ito.

"Yeah, I know, right?" malapad niyang ngisi.

Nang umandar na ang sasakyan, inilabas ni Mosa mula sa kaniyang bag ang kaniyang scrapbook para sa project na ipapasa kay Sir Belmonte. She gave Curtis another briefing about the photoshoot that they would be doing tonight. Komportableng sumandal siya sa balikat ng lalaki habang ipinapakita rito ang pahina ng scrapbook na nakalaan para sa Valentine's Ball outfit niya.

The words just kept spilling out of her mouth. She felt zero hesitations when it comes to sharing everything to Curtis, even if it was her top secret design where a part of her grades and class standing depend. Wala rin siyang takot na nararamdaman kung nababagot ba niya ang binata sa mga pinagsasasabi niya o ano. Sa piling ng kaniyang matalik na kaibigan ay komportable ang kalayaang kaniyang nararamdaman.

"What do you think?" she asked once she was done explaining.

When she glanced up for his reaction, his eyes stayed on the page of her scrapbook. She saw a spark of interest and amusement in their brown orbs, darkened by the soft shadows in the dimly lit car.

Uulitin niya sana ang tanong nang matigilan sa pag-angat ng kamay ng best friend niya. Curtis touched the one of the fabric samples that she taped on one side of the page, close to design sketch of the dress.

"Velvet?" he asked. His voice was low it sounded throaty.

Napalunok siya. "Ah, yes. I forgot to mention. The material is made of velvet."

"You're going to dance a lot in this dress, right? Isn't it . . . too warm?" he asked.

"That's for texture only, right on the outer lining, Curtis." She pointed at the lighter shade of purple fabric below the purple velvet fabric sample. "The velvet outer lining is thin, and the thin inner lining is made of mesh. See?"

Curtis touched the sample. Its outer surface made of velvet was rubbing against his thumb while the inner surface was felt by his forefinger. His eyes squint for a moment but as he completely absorbed the feel of the fabric with his fingers, he slowly nodded in approval. 

"As you can see, manipis na klase rin ng velvet ang gagamitin ko para sa dress. Mamaya makikita mo rin." At ibinalik niya ang tingin sa mga mata nito. Lumabi siya. "Hey. Don't tell anyone about this! Make sure na mananatiling top secret itong designs ko, dahil gusto kong makakuha ng highest grade!"

Curtis chuckled lowly. "Oo naman. Your secrets have always been safe with me, Mosa."

"I know, pero mabuti na iyong malinaw," taray-tarayan niya rito bago siya malapad na ngumiti at isinara ang kaniyang scrapbook para yakapin ito. "Now, let me rest for a bit. Napagod ako pagde-decorate kanina, e!"

Habang nakasandal pa rin sa balikat ni Curtis ay nakangiting pumikit si Mosa para magpahinga saglit.

***

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IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HEAT
La Grilla Series #2
Copyright: 2024
R-18, General Fiction, Sexy Romance, Drama

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