MOONLESS NIGHT

It was a long and tiring night and she couldn't sleep at all. Lalo na`t paulit-ulit na umaalingawngaw na parang sirang plaka ang mga katagang binitiwan niya kay Tessa at pakiramdam niya mababaliw na siya. She's getting crazier as days passes by and it's all because of Alessandro. Since when did she stopped being a bystander and started getting attached with nothing but trouble? And it's undeniable that Alessandro is nothing but trouble. Marami na siyang ibang problemang kailangang solusyunan hindi niya inaakalang willing pa siyang magdagdag ng isa pa sa listahan niya.

It's official. She finally lost her mind!

Paano niya ba mapipigilan si Tessa sa balak nitong gawin? Noong sinabi niya dito kanina na pipigilan niya ito—walang kaide-ideya si Charlie kung paano niya gagawin iyon!

"Jeez! Charlie! Ang galawgaw mo" biglang reklamo ni Kath sa may gilid niya. Hinila nito ang kumot palapit dito.

"Sorry. Hindi ako makatulog" Muli siyang tumihaya at tinignan na lang ang kisame. Nakakailang palit na siya ng pwesto pero hindi pa rin siya makatulog. Humihikab na tumagilid si Kath paharap sa kanya. Halos madaling araw na ng matapos nila ang kanilang gawain at ngayon nga ay roommate sila ni kaibigan. Hindi niya gustong matulog ng mag-isa kaya pinilit niya ito na tabi silang matulog.

"Hindi pa rin ako makatulog. Namamahay yata ako"

Natawa ito sa sinabi niya. "Tama ka nga naman. Kahit ako nahihirapang matulog sa kamang ito. It's too extravagant for my taste and worse para akong nakahiga sa bulak. Nahihilo ako"

"Masarap kayang matulog sa malambot" kontra naman ni Charlie. Pinanlakihan siya nito ng mata.

"Kung ganun bakit hindi ka pa natutulog?! Kailangan ko ng energy dahil siguradong marami tayong gagawin bukas. Kaya pwede ba matulog din pag may time?"

"I can't" nagmamaktol na niyang sagot. Napahugot si Kath ng isang malalim na buntong hininga.

"Get out" maikling utos nito. Manghang napatitig siya dito. "Anong sabi mo?"

"I said get out. Take a breather. Mas lalo ka talagang hindi makakatulog niyan kung marami kang iniisip. Siguradong masarap ang simoy ng hangin ngayon sa labas" anito. Saglit na natigilan si

Charlie sa narinig. It's her turn to sigh.

"You always know this "things" without me telling you. It's bothering me" hindi na napigilang amin ni Charlie dito. Biglang pinisat ni Kath ang ilong niya.

"Hindi ba dapat linya ko yan sayo? You're bothering me"

Tinabig niya ang kamay nito. "Ikaw kaya iyon! There's really something weird about you!"

"Ganyan ka ba mag-thank you sa taong tumulong sayo? Daganan kita ng unan e!" inagaw ni Charlie ang unan na tanday nito bago pa ito gamitin ng kaibigan.

"Totoo naman e. You're really weird. You laid out an effective plan on the spot to help me out. You manipulated the situation in an instant. You even figured out that Tessa is a neat freak and used that to our advantage. Tell me that's not whack!"

Hindi pa kasama sa listahan na iyon kung paano nito nalaman ang totoong pakay niya kay Tessa. Of course, knowing her she must have effortlessly figured it out just by using her observation skills and great sense of awareness with her environment. Muli nitong inagaw ang unan sa kanya.

"Heh! Now, were talking. As expected of you Charlaina Santiago. You figured it out that easily" amused na saad nito. Tumikwas ang kilay ni Charlie.

"Insulto ba yan? You're always one step ahead of me" naka-pout ng sagot niya. Biglang ginulo ni Kath ang buhok niya.

"Don't worry you're keeping up. Kinakailangan ko palang mas maging maingat sa susunod dahil kung hindi baka matalo mo ako. I love to play games and I hate losing more than anything else" saglit itong natigilan at ngumiti ng nakakaloko sa direksiyon niya.

"Well, it's not like I've ever losed before" Kath stated matter of fact.

Tumaas ang kilay ni Charlie. "You're sounding more like Tessa right now" iritableng sagot niya. Humalakhak lamang ito bilang sagot. Inirapan niya si Kath pagkatapos ay muling binalik ang tingin sa may kisame.

"Anyway, don't you think that you're overdoing it? I mean that story earlier. Muntikan mo na akong mapaniwala doon! Kung hindi ko pa naintindihan kung ano ang totoong iniisip mo muntikan na akong mag-sorry sa mga pang-aasar ko sayo! I mean—don't lie about something that sensitive!" paghuhuramentado ni Charlie sa kaibigan. Hindi ito sumagot. Nagpatuloy lang naman siya sa pagsasalita.

"Alam kong gusto mo akong tulungan but you didn't have to go that far. Ano na lang ang sasabihin mo pag nalaman nila ang totoo?!" Wala pa din na reaksiyon ang kaibigan. Sinilip niya si Kath.

Jeez! She's sleeping already? Tinapik niya ito. "Kath?! Wag kang matulog hindi pa tayo tapos mag-usap! Hoy!" Niyugyog naman niya ito.

"Huh?!" mayamaya lang ay inaantok na sagot nito.

"Yung tungkol sa pagsisinungaling mo sa allergies mo!" muli niyang paalala dito. Humikab muna ito bago sumagot. "

Ahh iyon ba? Ta—ma ka that's a lie" pikit matang kumpirma nito sa hinala niya.

"Kaya nga sinasabi ko sayo na—" Bigla itong tumagilid ng pwesto pagkatapos ay siniksik ang sarili sa tanday nitong malaking unan.

"Sinabi ng wag ka munang matulog e"

"But it's no—t a com—plete lie either" mayamaya ay biglang bulong nito.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

"Poi—soned…many times" humihikab na sagot ng kaibigan.

"Anong poisoned?" naguguluhang tanong niya dito. Wala na siyang nakuhang response mula dito.

Tuluyan ng nakatulog si Kath at kahit anong gawin niyang yugyog dito hindi na ito gumigising dahil sa himbing ng tulog nito samantalang siya mas lalong hindi nakatulog dahil nadagdagan ang isipin niya. Why the heck is she talking about poison? Is she sleep talking? Ipagpapatuloy nalang nila bukas ang usapan na iyon. Bumangon si Charlie at lumabas ng kwarto dahil katulad ng suhestisyon ng kaibigan ay kinakailangan niyang lumanghap ng sariwang hangin. Kasalukuyang naglalakad na si Charlie sa may pasilyo ng biglang may sumulpot sa gilid niya.

"Can't sleep?" biglang tanong ni Alessandro. Muntikan na siyang tumili mabuti na lang natakpan niya agad ang kanyang bibig. Sumabay si Alessandro ng lakad sa kanya. Pinandilatan niya ito bilang depensa. "Are you trying to kill me? Kanina mo pa ako ginugulat!" singhal ni Charlie dito.

Bigla na namang lumakas ang tibok ng puso niya pakiramdam niya mabibingi na siya. "Kanina pa kita tinatawag. Hindi mo ako narinig?" pabalewalang sagot naman nito. Tinignan niya ito ng masama. "Saan ka ba pupunta?" nagtatakang tanong niya sa binata.

"Kung saan ka man pupunta" seryosong sagot naman nito habang nakatitig ng diretso sa kanyang mga mata. Charlie tripped and almost kiss the floor but Alessandro manage to caught her waist. Suddenly, thousand of tiny tingles shoot up all over her body electrifying her in an instant. Nagmamadali siyang kumawala dito kahit nagkandasala-salabit ang mga paa niya. Bigla namang tumawa si Alessandro.

Napamata si Charlie sa nakita. "Anong nangyayari sayo?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya dito. Ngumiti lamang si Alessandro.

"Saan ka ba pupunta?" mayamaya ay balik tanong ni Alessandro.

"Sa...sa may labas. Magpapahangin lang sana ako saglit"

"Samahan na kita. Pumunta tayo sa may balcony. It's overlooking the garden" Nagsimula na itong maglakad at sumunod si Charlie sa may likod nito.

"Bakit mo ako sasamahan?" suspicious na tanong niya.

" I have free time. Anyway why are you walking behind me?" nagtatakang tanong naman nito.

"Just to be safe" hindi na napigilang amin ni Charlie sa binata. Alessandro snickered.

"You really are a brat"

"What did you say you punk?!"

Napailing si Alessandro sa narinig. "And here I'am being nice and all. Can't we talk like

normal people?"

"You're not normal though" Charlie muttered with gritted teeth.

"That's not a nice thing to say—biglang tumigil si Alessandro sa paglalakad nito, nahuli

naman ng preno si Charlie at tumama ang mukha niya sa likod ng binata.

"Ouch! Mag-ing—" natigilan si Charlie sa balak niyang muling pagsinghal dito ng masilayan niya ang mukha ni Alessandro. Lalong lumawak ang ngiti ng binata. Tuluyan ng natameme si Charlie sa nakita. The ever so cold and emotionless Alessandro Roman Gatchalian is smiling like a kid.

"We're here! This feels great!" biglang bulalas nito habang ninanamnam ang malamig na simoy ng hangin.

"You—you're definitely not acting normal right now" hindi makapaniwalang saad ni Charlie. Nagkibit balikat lamang si Alessandro. "Now, now. Stop being such a brat"

"Stop calling me that! One more word and I'll crush you" halos umuusok ang ilong na banta niya dito. For some reason she couldn't figure out why she really hates it when Alessandro calls her a brat. Lumapit sa balcony si Alessandro at nakapangalumbabang tinuon nito ang atensyon sa garden na nasa harapan nila. Sumunod naman si Charlie dito. Sinigurado niyang may sapat na distansiya sa pagitan nilang dalawa ng binata.

"Anyway, nakuha mo na ba?" biglang pag-iiba nito ng usapan. Tinuon ni Charlie ang atensyon sa madilim na kalangitan. Walang bituin ng mga oras na iyon.

Tumango si Charlie. "That's great now you don't have to stick your nose into other people's business" ani Alessandro. Marahas siyang napatingin sa direksyon nito. Hindi pa rin napapalis ang ngiti nito sa mga labi ngunit alam niyang kabaligtaran ang ibig nitong ipahiwatig sa naging tono ng boses nito. He's back to being simply aloof without overdoing it while using his usual poker face and his uppity voice.

Charlie can`t help but smile. "I take it back. You're definitely acting normal right now. You're still a jerk"

" I guess that's more like it. Anyway, you don't need to help me. I can take care of it"

"Paano?" curious ng tanong ni Charlie dito. Biglang natigilan si Alessandro. Animo'y nahulog sa malalim na pag-iisip. Nang pakiramdam ni Charlie matutuyuan na siya sa kakahintay ng sagot nito biglang tumikhim ito bago magsalita.

"I guess I just have to convince her. Maybe she`ll listen. I`m still her brother"

"Sigurado ka? I think she hates you though"

Natawa naman ito sa narinig. "My little sister—I mean Tessa she might not look like it but she's a nice kid. When she started living with us I was the one who took care of her so were really close back then"

Nagulat si Charlie sa sinabi ni Alessandro. Ikukwento ba nito sa kanya ang istoryang nilang magkapatid? She'll be a hypocrite if she said she's not interested might as well listen to what he has to say.

"Kung ganun anong nangyari? From what I've seen earlier it doesn't look like you get along well"

"Hindi ko alam" diretso at maikling sagot naman nito. Biglang nahulog ang balikat ni Charlie sa narinig. She should have expected this much. He's messing with her again. "It must be because she's growing up, rebellious phase or something like that" mayamaya ay dagdag pa nito.

"That's totally an understatement" nagngingitngit na singhal niya. Gulat na napatitig si Alessandro dahil sa naging reaksyon ni Charlie. Tumikhim siya. Kailangan niyang kumalma.

"Anyway, something must have happened to make her hate you that much"

"Hate huh? Maybe you're right but I don't plan on giving up on her"

Of course, he won`t but Charlie intends to make it up to him in the first place that`s why she doesn't intend to budge from this issue either. "If I said no, what are you going to do?"

Seryosong tinitgan siya ni Alessandro and it took all of Charlie's will power not to avoid his eyes.

"I think I should be the one asking a question here. I've been nothing but a jerk to you and yet you still want to help. Why?"

Like hell I'll tell you the reason! I won't tell you that I've officially lost my mind!

Nagkibit balikat si Charlie. Trying to look nonchalant. "Is there suppose to be a reason? Hindi ba pwedeng gusto kitang tulungan dahil gusto ko lang?"

Biglang nagsalubong ang makakapal na kilay ni Alessandro. He looks like he's getting irritated by the second. "That's not possible. There must be a reason for you to be doing this" he insisted hotly.

Charlie smiled again. It seems that she actually likes seeing him being riled up like this.

"Bakit ba masyado kang interesado sa rason ko if ever na meron nga?"

"Why are you smiling like that?!" biglang namumula ang buong mukhang sigaw nito sa kanya. Hindi na napigilan ni Charlie ang sarili. Natatawang tinignan niya si Alessandro.

"Stop laughing!"

"I'm so—so—rry. Can't. Too fu—nny"

"Walang nakakatawa! Anyway!—biglang tumikhim si Alessandro pagkatapos ay animo'y nahihiyang muling iniwas ang tingin sa kanya at napatingin sa madilim na kalangitan… because it concerns me" mayamaya ay biglang bulong nito.

Natigilan si Charlie sa narinig. "Anong sabi mo?"

"With you being like this. It concerns me" he added solemnly. Tuluyan ng nalipat ang buong atensyon ni Charlie sa sinabi nito . Nagtatakang napatitig siya dito. "Bakit?"

Napabuntong hininga ito. "That's because you're being way too interesting more than I expected"

Charlie scowled. This man really gets in her nerves all the time yet he can make her smile and laugh at the same time. "I don't know if I should take that as a compliment or an insult"

Bahagyang tumaas ang sulok ng labi nito. "I'm serious. That's why I want to know why. Last time you were hurt because of me. Lagi kang nagagalit at naiinis ng dahil sa akin. Yet, you're still here'

"You were actually thinking that deep huh?" Nagkibit balikat ito. Alessandro suddenly has that look while gazing at the dark sky that became Charlie`s undoing and she wanted more than anything to tell him what she's thinking. He looks really troubled and confuse. It seems like she doesn't want to see him looking like that either.

Don't TELL him! Don't TELL him! Charlie anong ginagawa mo sa sarili mo?!

She's really a helpless idiot! She just can't keep her mouth shut—even if that meant saving her remaining pride. And she said she'll stay away from him after all of this. Staying away will be hard huh?! Napabuntong hininga si Charlie. Bago pa man niya mapigilan ang sarili namalayan na lamang niya ang sariling sinasagot ang tanong ni Alessandro.

"Alright. Since you're acting like that I will only tell you once so listen. I promise myself that I'll make up it to you for all trouble that I caused last time that's why I want to help…saglit na natigilan si Charlie. Mariin siyang napapikit bago muling nagpatuloy…but I guess it's not just all about that either. It's because you concerns me. To be honest I don't know—or more like I don't understand it myself. I'm suppose to have hundreds of reasons to hate you and yet I can't seem to stop worrying about you. I know it's weird."

What the heck are you talking about Charlaina! Why did you have to tell him that?! To sum it all up: You just admitted that you finally lost your mind!! Damn it!

All of a sudden, Alessandro looked at him with triumphant eyes. Charlie stiffened. This is bad.

"You can't stop worrying about me?" nangingiting tanong nito.

"Ye—s" nauutal na sagot naman ni Charlie.

Anong iniisip ng lalaking ito? "And you want to make it up to me?"

"Stop repeating what I just said!" nahihiyang singhal niya kay Alessandro.

"You really are an interesting. I guess you're not a brat anymore. You just got promoted"

"What the hell are you saying?!" hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya dito. Ngumiti lamang ito.

"You know you should stop being so interesting or else I won't be able to stop myself. I finally might give in" mayamaya ay biglang saad nito sa kanya.

Pinandilatan niya ito. "What are you talking about?"

"Earlier you said that you don't understand it yourself—why you're so worried about me. Should I make you understand then?" biglang suhestisyon ni Alessandro sa kanya. Biglang kinabahan si Charlie sa sinabi nito ngunit hindi maipagkakailang na-curious siya sa kung anuman anf suhestisyon ng binata.

"Wha—how?" Tuluyan na itong humarap sa kanya at binagtas ang distansiya na inilagay niya sa pagitan nilang dalawa hanggang sa gahibla na lang ang layo nila sa isa`t-isa. Gustong umatras ni Charlie pero ayaw namang sumunod ng mga paa niya. Napakalapit ng mukha ni Alessandro at nararamdaman na niya ang init ng hininga nito. He`s warm and she likes the feeling. She likes it when he's near her. Hindi! Hindi pwede! Wake up Charlie!

Bumulong ito sa may gilid ng kanyang tainga niya at naghatid iyon ng kakaibang kiliti sa sistema ng dalaga. "Well with your type I guess the most effective route is to show it you. Will you give me permission then?"

Permission?! What permission?!! Charlie screams inside her head

Nang biglang hinawakan ni Alessandro ang magkabilang balikat niya at bahagyang pinisil iyon tuluyan na siyang naliyo sa kakaibang sensasyong hatid ng haplos nito. She`s really…really…officially going to lost her mind right now! She`s going to faint!

"Wai—t! Anong ginaga—wa mo?!"

"Your permission?" animo`y mapangakit ang boses na muling hiling ng binata habang palapit ng palapit ang mukha nito sa kanya. Kinakapusan na siya ng hininga. Everything feels like in slow motion. She can hear his intoxicating warmth embracing her in a warm cocoon. She can see his face too clearly even the mole in the upper part of his lips that looks too attractive. She can smell his unique scent that made her belly flutters. It`s too much, she can`t take it all in. Nagsilabasan na ang warning bells sa utak niya. Napapikit si Charlie. She needed to close her eyes to collect herself.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

You can do it Charlie!

"RE—RE—JECTED!" nauutal na saad niya kay Alessandro.

"Eh?"

"REJECTED!!!" makapatid hiningang tili niya. Umalingawngaw ang boses ni Charlie sa buong paligid.

Agad naman siyang binitiwan ng binata para takpan ang tainga nito.

"You don't have to shout!" nabinging awat naman ni Alessandro. Nagmamadaling tumakbo si Charlie palayo kay Alessandro.

That was a close call! Huh? Close call to what? Marahas na napailing si Charle at nag-concentrate sa pagpapakalma ng puso niya na muntikan na yatang lumundag palabas ng ribcage niya.

Charlie glared at him. "Like hell I'll give you my permission! I know you're toying with me again!"

Alessandro sighed. "What a bore" he muttered lowly but Charlie managed to hear it.

"You punk. Kapag ginawa mo ulit iyon. Mananagot ka na talaga sa akin!"

"Ano bang ginawa ko?" inosenteng tanong naman nito.

Charlie bit her lip. Hindi rin siya sigurado kung anong eksaktong ginawa nito pero ang nasisiguro lang niya ng mga sandaling iyon ay aataakihin siya sa puso dahil dito. Naliliyong marahas na napakapit siya sa balustrade.

"Ouch!" biglang hiyaw ni Charlie ng tumama ang sugat niya. Medyo fresh pa rin kasi ang sugat na nakuha niya dahi sa nangyaring insidente with the swim team.

"What happened?" biglang saklolo naman ni Alessandro sa kanya.

"I`m fine. Nabangga ko lang ang kamay ko" Tinignan ni Charlie ang kamay niya. Bahagyang dumudugo iyon. Nagtatakang napalingon si Charlie kay Alessandro ng maramdam niya ang ibang paraan ng pagtitig nito sa kanya.

"Bakit?" "Your wound…" magkasabay na panimula nilang dalawa.

"There's really nothing to worry about. Nabunggo ko lang kaya dumugo ng kaunti" walang bahalang sagot niya. Umiling si Alessandro.

"Still you were hurt that's why I—I mean, I'—m…" animo`y wala sa sariling napakamot ito sa batok. What is he trying to say? This is also the first time Charlie heard him stutter like that.

"You`re what?" tanong niya kay Alessandro.

"I'm… sor—lea—ving. That's right, aalis na ako. It`s late. We should sleep"

It looked like he wanted to say something else though but he can't bring to say it. Don't tell me! Nag-aalala ba si Alessandro dahil sa sugat niya? Charlie thought he didn't care. Hindi na napigilan ni Charlie ang sarili. She ended up laughing again.

"Ano namang nakakatawa?!" naiinis na tanong nito.

"Hindi ano kundi sino" banat na sagot naman niya dito.

"What?!"

"You`re embarrassed to apologize. It`s fine really. You actually have an unusually cute side"

"I can apologize just fine!" mariing tanggi naman nito. Nanghahamong tinitigan niya ito at ngumiti.

"Really? Then, why not continue what you were saying earlier?" Lalong nagkulay kamatis ang buong mukha pati na rin ang leeg ng binata. Parang ngayon nga animo`y mahihimatay na ito and Charlie can`t help but to tease him some more.

"I—I`m—" halos hindi na ito makatingin sa mukha niya.

"See? You`re emba—" natigilan lang si Charlie ng muling biglang lumapit sa kanya si Alessandro at hinablot ang magkabilang braso niya. Nagsimula na namang maging eratiko ang tibok ng puso niya at muling bumalik ang kakaibang sensasyong bumalot sa kanya kanina na muntikan ng nakapagpawala ng katinuan niya.

"A—anong gina—gawa mo?!" nauutal na saad ni Charlie dito.

Napahugot ng isang malalim na buntong hininga si Alessandro. Animo'y humugot rin ito ng lakas ng loob pagkatapos ay diretsa siyang tinitigan habang unong puno ng sinseridad ang mga mata nito. Hindi makapagsalita si Charlie dahil sa sobrang gulat.

"I'm sorry" he said softly. It were just simple words but in that moment it means the world to her. It pierces inside her heart leaving a warm rays of sunshine. It's night time but everything glows in Charlie's eyes. He's too bright and she can't seem to take her eyes off him. Something inside her trembles slowly peeling away the hardened layers of her heart—leaving it fragile once again.

Alessandro gently let go of her shoulders and then out of the blue bolted away like he's running for his dear life. The next thing she knew her legs lost it's strength and she fell flat on her butt. Charlie thinks that she's supposed to be the one doing that, running away as fast as she can because she caan`t help but think that her growing feelings is a premonition of a storm.