Just The Strings (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 56

#JustTheStrings

Kabanata 56

If he didn't want anyone's help, e 'di 'wag. I was just trying to be nice. I was just trying to do the right thing. Hindi naman ako iyong magugutom dahil sa pride... Ugh! Nakakainis! I moved to this place to forget Saint, but he followed me here. Anywhere I go, his presence kept on following me. Kahit sa school, palagi kong naririnig ang pangalan niya courtesy of my seat mate Ria. I had no rest.

Grabbing my art stash, I headed towards the elevator. I was in the mood to paint and the weather outside was nice. Kung makasalubong ko si Saint, then so be it. Nung lumabas ako, wala naman siya. It was probably a good thing... The last time we talked, it wasn't pleasant. At all. Alam ko naman na ex ko siya. May history kami... pero hindi ko pa rin maiwasan na malungkot dahil sa nangyayari sa amin. Para kaming magkaaway... Couldn't we at least be civil with one another? Imposible ba talaga sa mag-ex na maging maayos? Were we required to be at the other person's throat whenever we see each other?

It was a Monday kaya wala halos mga tao sa baba. I arranged my things on the side. It was a good day to paint. And besides, I was already way ahead of my papers dahil kay Parker. Medyo nakaka-pressure na mag-aral kasama siya. Kapag kasi nakikita ko kung gaano karami iyong binabasa niya, nagi-guilty ako dahil bakit hindi ko magawang basahin e kakaunti lang naman iyong akin?

I was busy mixing colors when my eyes widened upon realization. Oh, God! Wala na po ba talaga akong pahinga?!

Pilit kong iniwas iyong tingin ko. I shouldn't be looking at him. Okay, Imo, focus. You went down to pain, not to ogle at your ex! E ano naman kung nagsu-swimming siya? Ano naman kung topless siya? Ano naman kung ang galing niyang tignan habang lumalangoy siya?

"Relax," I uttered to myself. You'd seen him topless before. No big deal.

I picked up my brush and dipped it in the paint. Huminga ako nang malalim. I closed my eyes and tried to imagine beautiful sceneries, but I ended up picturing Saint while swimming. I imagined him dripping—no. Nope. Not a chance, Imogen.

Sunsets. I had always enjoyed painting sunsets kaya naman iyon ang naisip kong gawin. But halfway through the painting, I kept on messing up dahil kay Saint. I didn't know if he saw that I was here o talaga lang na dito sa malapit sa akin niya gustong magswimming. Either way, he was succeeding on being a distraction. I was thoroughly distracted.

My eyes were fixated on the canvass. Sayang naman iyong minix ko na paint kung hindi magagamit. I just had to focus on what I was doing and not think about Saint at all... pero holy cow.

He rose from the water and I freaking forced myself not to look. But he was just wearing board shorts! And I could clearly see drops of water cascading down his body. Pinilit ko iyong sarili ko na mag-iwas ng tingin pero hindi ko magawa. It was the first time I had seen him topless... That toned stomach and the cuts in his biceps. Nakita ko na dati pero sa picture lang. I... I didn't know it would feel different to see it in person.

'No. No. No,' I kept on chanting this inside my mind, but my eyes refused to cooperate. They were staging a coup.

Sinundan ng mga mata ko si Saint hanggang sa manlaki ang mga mata ko dahil gamit niya pala iyong nasa lounge chair. It didn't seem like he saw me dahil diretso lang siya sa paglalakad. He picked up his vibrating phone and answered it.

"Good morning, Sir," he answered while drying his hair with a towel. Even his back looked good. "Is it still the same deal we discussed before? Now? Yes, sure. Get me on the line."

My throat felt dry. I should leave. Pronto.

"Bonjour, Monsieur."

Oh, my God. He's speaking French.