《Zeno's Sapphire》Chapter 4

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Mangha akong napatingin sa paligid ng bahay. This isn't huge as our house but it is still indeed big and beautiful.

"Come in," aya niya.

Napatigil ako sa pagmamasid at bumalinh sa kanya na deretso lang ang tingin sa harap, papasok ng bahay. The house is white and surrounded with plants around, the style of the structure is different too-I mean kumpara sa amin pero kung iisipin ganito nga ang mga bahay rito mula kung ikokonsidera kanina ang mga nadaanan sa biyahe.

Marahan akong humigit sa kanyang coat, napaharap ito dala na ang pagtaas ng isang kilay. I bit my lips, "Uh.. N-nandito ba... pamilya.. mo?"

Tamad lang itong umiling at saka tumalikod muli, "Philippines."

Nagpatuloy kami sa paglalakas hanggang sa makarating sa isang malaking pinto.

We headed inside the room, or an art room to be exact....

"Ang ganda!" Hindi napigilang komento ko pagkapasok namin, palagay ko ay opisina niya ito.There are different frames of art hanging on the wall, samantalang sa dulo ay may mga canvass at tela. At the right side of the room ay ang office table at book shelves.

This room still looks organize kahit ang daming nakalagay. Hahawakan ko sana ang isang canvas na nakalagay sa stand nang bigla siyang magsalita, "Don't touch that,"

Binawi ko agad ang kamay ko, "S-sorry.." I quickly said when I realized what I'm doing.

Muli akong lumapit sa pwesto niya na nakaupo na sa kanyang lamesa, saglit niyang nilingon ang kanina, "That's still wet, sit down."

Umupo ako sa harapan ng lamesa niya. He's already arranging his stuffs when he handed me the stuffs he bought for me.

Tinaggap ko ito, "Thank you," I said and smiled.

Inangat niya ang tingin niya sa akin, "Do whatever you want, just don't touch those." He said while his elbow is leaning on the table with his hand laziliy pointing at the corner where the arts are.

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Nahihiyang tumango ako, "O-okay.."

I settled at my seat while he started reading, wala akong biniling ballpen kaya hindi ko masimulan sulatan ang binili kong notebook.

Humiram kaya ako sa kanya? But I'm scared he'll be fully irritated with me.. Nag-aalangan akong tumingin muli sa kanya. Nakakunot na ang noo niya habang mayroong notebook at ballpen sa gilid niya na sa palagay ko ay pagsusulatan niya tungkol sa binabasa, art history.

"Ask," He suddenly said while his eyes are still at the book. Ang gwapo niya pa rin kahit matagal mo siyang tignan.

Kinakabahan akong napayuko. I know staring is rude, I didn't mean it...

"Ask. You can do that," pagsusungit niya.

I bite my lips because of the shyness I felt, "Can.. I borrow a pen?" I hesistantly asked.

Saglit niyang binuksan ang cabinet ng table niya at inilapag ang sign pen sa harap ko and continued reading.

Napangiti ako, "Thank you." I said at tinanguan na lamang ako.

Nagsimula ako magsulat ng pangalan ko sa harap sa unang pahina ng notebook. I used calligraphy and draw some cute doodles. Matapos ko rito ay wala na akong maisip sa isusulat ko. I still haven't think of the notebook's purpose.

Tumayo ako at nagpatingin-tingin na lang muli sa mga painting at ibang uri ng mga art. I wonder if he did this? Ang galing naman niya, my skills can't compare. Hindi ko pa kaya ang mga ganito kaya nga naglakas loob ako sumali sa art club para mag-improve pa ako.

Narinig ko naman ang pagkatok sa pinto kaya mabilis na lumapit ako kay Zeno, I don't want to wander around when someone who didn't know me will enter.

"Come in," sagot nito.

Pumasok ang matandang babae na nakasuot pa ng apron na may bitbit na pagkain. "Bon appètit, monsieur."

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"Je vous remercie," He responded fluently.

Napalabi ako sa paraan ng pagsasalita niya, it sounds too natural and attractive.

Lumabas na ang matandang babae kaya naagaw ng atensyon ko ang pagkaing nasa harapan, the only familiar to me is the croissant bread. Mukhang soup ang nasa mangkok and there are some veggies around.

"Let's eat first before you go home," He declared after closing his book and setting aside his stuff.

He glanced at me that made me shift my eyes to him, "Pwede.. dito kumain?" nag-aalangang tanong ko.

He suddenly face me with an amused expression kaya napatikom ako ng bibig. Ano bang meron sa itinanong ko?

"It's actually a first time," aniya. He swayed his head quickly to keep his front hair from his view. "I don't eat here too...just this time," dagdag niya sa istriktong boses.

Napatango ako. Kuya doesn't want the thought of eating in our library/study room too. Kaya naman agad kong itinanong iyon, with his strict demeanor he has, it's.... expected.

Nagsimula na kami kumain ng maalala ang kanina. If that's not his relative...sino kaya ang kasama niya rito? I don't think he would be alone, this house is big.

I glance at him from time to time because of my thoughts. Siguro ay nasa trabaho ang mga kasama niya rito, if his parents are in the Philippines-

"Asking is better than questioning your own mind and best than giving answers to your own questions," biglaan niyang sabi nang iangat niya ang ulo at magtama ang paningin namin.

My heart beats faster again. I shyly smiled at him and eagerly shake my head and continued eating. Tama naman ang sinabi niya pero hindi naman ata siya matutuwa roon, it's too personal, I don't want him to get irritated at me because of too much asking.

I continued eating but I can't help but to be curious. I really wanted to know kaya naman naglakas na ako ng loob na bumaling muli sa kanya. I bite my lip first to ease what I'm feeling before getting his attention, "Z-zeno.."

Kunot-noo siyang tumingin sa akin, he irritatingly rolled his eyes on me. "Sounds so manly," ismid niya.

Napaiwas ako kaagad ng tingin. "Sorry. Hindi kasi ako sanay na magkapangalan ang kilala ko..." sagot ko.

Totoo naman iyon dahil ang presidente namin sa club ay Zen din ang palayaw. I just don't want to feel mixing up people I know soon.

His one eyebrow lifted, "Kapangalan?"

I nodded. "Our... art club's president is named Jarozen. We all call him Pres.. Zen,"

Napatitig siya sa akin saglit. His gray eyes are really something, hindi ko alam kung bakit parang biglang nag-init ang pisngi ko.

"Lalaki?" tanong niya hindi inaalis ang tingin sa akin.

Alam ko ang ibig niyang sabihin kaya tumango ako kahit naiilang na ako sa mga mata niya.Our president just get used to the name Zen than the whole name Jarozen itself.

"A boyfriend, then?"

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