4 Gustavian Air

Four

Gustavian Air

He bored his eyes on her, "That's a very ineffective way of studying," he commented on her preference of memorizing information.

She rolled her eyes and looked away. Vico is in his white uniform. Uniform ng mga med students. Unlike theirs na may halong blue. Honestly, he still make her feel some type of way. Although she already set her mind on forgetting him after months of confessions, there she is alone together with this guy on a rooftop. It could've been a romantic set-up. If things were different. Kung hindi lang nag-iinarte ang lalaking 'to.

"Huwag kang magmarunong, Vico. Mamaya mo na ako landiin pagkatapos ng long quiz namin," she said sarcastically. As much as she wants to bicker with him and stare with his handsome face, mauuna muna ngayon ang acads niya. Tinuon niya muli ang pansin sa binabasa. She started mouthing the sentences.

"I can still hear you," reklamo nito.

She blew the hair in front of her face dahil sa inis. Ito 'yong paraan niya ng pag-study. If she won't read aloud then walang mare-retain sa mala-gold fish niyang utak.

"Nagpapatawa ka ba? We're literally kilometers apart!" Winasiwas niya pa ang kamay.

"Just shut your mouth," he muttured. Tinabunan nito ang mukha ng magazine para bumalik sa pagtulog. Tumayo siya saka lumapit sa harap nito. Tinanggal niya ang magazine na nakaharang sa mukha ng lalaki. Nakita niya ang nakakunot nitong noo.

"Ang sabihin mo, nadi-distract ka sa ganda ko. Madali lang naman akong kausap, Vico. You just have to beg for my name." She wants to annoy him.

"Nakakatawa ang confidence mo. Do you really think I'm gonna beg for you? Keep on dreaming, Caroline. You're still that..." he trailed off. Tumaas ang kilay niya habang hinihintay ang susunod nitong sasabihin. She's about to pounced dahil sa nagbabadyang galit sa loob niya. He put down the magazine and saka tumayo. She closed their gap with a smirked on her face.

Now they're face to face. "I'm still what? A slut? Well, just accept the fact that a slut like me can make your groin itch," she mocked him while flashing her sweetest smile.

Umiling lang ang lalaki saka tumayo. His lip slightly twitching from the side. He's annoyed with her. She knows that expression too well. Vico stood taller than before. Now that their inches apart, she can see his adam's apple from this view. The man smells so good.

"Vacate this place and don't come back," anito saka nilagpasan siya.

She scoffed in disbelief, "Pagmamay-ari mo 'tong hospital? Huh?" singhal niya ngunit nagpatuloy lang ito sa paglalakad but then he stopped midway, still not facing her.

"Flashcards," he said.

"What?" nalilito niyang tanong.

"Flashcards are more effective. Try making one," dagdag nito bago tuluyang lumabas at iwan siya sa rooftop nang mag-isa.

Inis siyang bumalik sa upuan. Hindi na siya makapag-concentrate nang tuluyan sa binabasa. Puro mukha na lang ni Vico ang nasa isip niya. She didn't even notice that she's scribbling his name on her notebook. Agad niyang binaklas ang buong page and crumpled it in a ball. There was a bitter taste in her mouth. Vico, you cunning wolf. How dare you intrude my mind after the time I spent to forget you? She thought. It's like she's back to her glory days and it doesn't feel good nor bad.

Carol checked herself on the mirror and reapplied her lippy for the third time. She sprayed some perfume all over her body. Inayos niya pati ang style ng buhok. She let down her hair dahil wala naman sila sa lab. Pinisil-pisil niya ang pisngi nang ilang beses nang magkakulay ito. There's someone she wants to see.

Gusto niyang sapakin ang sarili. Why does she always have to try so hard when it comes to that guy? Ayaw niyang aminin pero ang lakas parin ng epekto ni Vico sa kanya. She always say that she's over him. Pero heto siya, trying to impress a man. Si Vico lang ang nakakagawa sa kanya nang ganito.

Parating sinisira ng lalaki ang kanyang principles when it comes to dating and to men in general. Isa lang naman ang rule niya sa mga lalaki, never beg for their attention because they'll do it for you. However, Vico is different. Never once did he paid real attention to her. He always shuts her down. And it hurts her ego more and more.

Ang masama pa ay mas lalo lang siyang nahahatak nito papalapit. It's like they're the poles. Instead of attracting each other, he deflects and she repels him instead. Whatever he has, Carol has to get it. She's extremely attracted to him whether it's physical or not, it doesn't really matter. Vico always makes her daze.

Nang makarating siya sa rooftop, she immediately saw him. Ngunit hindi niya ito pinansin. She sat on the side. Kita niya ito sa kanyang peripheral vision. Alam niyang pinagmamasdan siya nito. This is a school property kaya walang karapatan si Vico na paalisin siya. Magsawa ito sa maganda niyang mukha.

"Nandito ka na naman? Diba sabi ko sa'yo this is my lair?" Nagsusungit na naman ito. Kakarating niya nga lang sa rooftop. Nakasalubong niya pa ang janitor kanina, tinanong kung magkaibigan ba sila ni Vico. Mukhang kilala na yata ito. This place must really be his 'lair'. Ano bang tingin nito sa sarili, dragon?

"Shh. I know you're expecting me, luv," she teased him. Hinila niya mula sa malayo ang upuan at pumwesto katabi ang lalaki. If he's going to be a condescending twat then she's going to annoy him more. Para patas silang dalawa.

"Please shut up," daing nito. Hawak na naman ang magazine. He's probably not reading it dahil nakalaylay lang ito sa kamay nito.

"Shut me with your mouth," biro niya. Vico glared at her. Ang sarap talaga nitong pagkatuwaan. Ang pikon lagi.

She snorted. "I'm kidding. I'm just gonna stay quiet and focus on my book and the flashcards you suggested," aniya saka nilabas ang mga gamit.

Pareho silang walang magagawa if they're going to be in each other's neck. Pero di hamak na mas lugi siya dahil mas kailangan niya mag-aral. While the guy doesn't really need to.

She stayed up all night making these flashcards. Ang pangit pa ng handwriting niya. Ito lang yata ang talent niya, pang-doctor na sulat. Ang importante nao-organized niya na ang mga information.

Tama nga si Vico. Effective nga. Mas navi-visualized niya na ngayon ang kanyang notes. Mas madali na lang i-memorized. Kailangan niya na lang alalahanin kung saan nakapwesto ang information na hinihingi.

After almost half an hour, she took a break. Hindi nga siya makapaniwala na nakaya niya 'yon. But what surprised her more is Vico still here and is sleeping beside her. She got her plastic ware out na may lamang salad at prutas. She started eating healthy yesterday nang mapansin na mukhang kulang na siya sa nutrisyon ng gulay or Vico's attention, it doesn't really matter dahil parehong wala.

"Gusto mo?" Niyugyog niya ang balikat nito. He looked up at her and to her salad.

"No, thanks," he declined. She rolled her eyes. Ang arte talaga ng lalaking 'to.

Pinarada niya sa mukha ng lalaki ang salad. "C'mon taste my cherry. Matamis-tamis 'tong cherry ko saka medyo maalat pero masarap," sambit niya na may halong lambing saka ngumiti nang pagkatamis-tamis.

Vico only stared at her. Still no expression on his face. "You're making my head hurt. Ang sakit mo sa mata," he finally snapped and stood up. He walked passed her as if she's as invisible as air like he usually does.

"What? Hoy!" singhal niya sa pagtalikod nito.

He turned to her. "Before you go. Clean up your mess," mariing saad nito. She got the magazine that he was using to cover his face. It was on the floor. Naiwan nito. Nakalimutan yatang dalhin. She frowned when she saw what it is all about.

"Magazine mo- ano ba 'to? FHM? May issue pa ba nito?"