Irene's Pov

 

"So, ready to go at it again?" Seulgi ask me. Kasalukuyan kasi naming nililibot ang forest para makita lang ang walangyang puzzle pieces na yan. It's our fourth puzzle piece and sadly there are 10 of them.

 

Tumango nalang ako kay Seulgi at tumayo na sa inuupuan kong malaking bato.

 

Mabuti na ngalang at patient tong 'partner' ko sakin. Kanina pa kasi ako. Pahinga ng pahinga.

 

"You know, I notice that you're an indoor type of person. Am I right?" pagbabasag niya ng katahimikan.

 

"Yeah. I prefer staying indoor and do indoor activities instead rather that to do this kind of stuff" I admitted. I'm a lazy bum. I know. Di ko naman kinakahiya yun.

 

" Who would have thought haha. Same here. It's tiring for me too." she answered. Yes! We have something in common now.

 

"So Miss Bae-" I cut her off

 

"Irene" sabi ko. Kumunot naman ang noo niya. I realized what I have said too.

 

Clears throat

 

"I mean, wala tayo sa office ngayon. So treat me as one of your friends" o di kaya girlfriend pwedeng-pwede. Haha

 

 

Nakatingin lang ito sa akin

 

 

"Besides. We're partners here. Let loose. Kanina ka pa tense eh. Haha" patuloy ko.

 

After that namani naman ang katahimikan.

 

Nagulat naman ako ng tumawa siya bigla. Her laugh is really contagious.

 

"Yeah. Sure. Irene" after she said that I can feel my face getting hot. There is something about the way she said my name. I can feel goosebumps on my neck and I love it. God! I love it very much.

 

"Hey Irene watch out!" sigaw nito. Huh?

 

Natapilok lang naman ako.

 

sumagid pa yata ang knee ko sa bato. Nakapang hiking shorts lang kasi ako. Mukhang mag-kakasugat pa ako. Ang hapdi.

 

Nakita ko naman itong dali-daling pumunta sakin. She helped me get up at ini-upo sa malaking bato.

 

"Hey are you alright" I dont know if I just misheard it or what but I can sense the worriedness in her voice when she said that. I mean it's normal when you're collegue is worried right pero iba talaga narinig ko. Kita ko rin ang alalang-alala niyang mukha.

 

(Chosera ka lang teh- maharang isip)

 

"Yeah. It's just a minor cut" pag-aasure ko

 

Lumuhod naman ito sa harapan ko. I can feel my face getting hot again. She look me in the eyes.

 

"Be careful okey. Mabuti nalang at ganyan lang ang nangyari sa'yo" Nagulat naman ako sa sinabi niya. Straight ang dila niya bes. I mean sa pagsabi ng tagalog. And it so damn y pala.

 

"Yeah. I tend to speak straight and not baliko tagalog if I'm scared, worried or nervous" mukhang napansin naman niya ang reaksiyon ko. Namumula narin ito

 

Tumawa naman ako.

 

"Don't laugh okey." sabi nito at namula pa lalo.

 

"Okey. Okey. Sorry. So kailangan lang pala takutin o di kaya nerbyosin ka para makapagsalita ka ng straight tagalog. Haha" napakamot naman ito ng batok niya. Namumula narin pati keeg at tenga nito. And honestly she look like a bear like now. One hell of a very cute Bear.

 

 

"Oh shushh. Let me have a look nga. Tsk." pagsusungit nito haha. Tapos ininspeksyon nito ang sugat ko.

 

"It doesn't look that bad. But we need to clean it up ok. It might sting a little so hold on to my shoulders if ever" sabi nito at binuksan ang kanyang bag at hinanap ang kanyang first aid kit pack.

 

"Seul. Girl scout kaba?" tanong ko

 

Tumingin naman ito sakin ng may pagtataka.

 

"Yes, when I was a kid. Why?"

 

"Kasi lagi kang handa" sagot ko.

 

Silence

 

"Hahahahahaha. O gosh Irene. Eres tan lindo." sabi nito na ikinakunot naman ng noo ko. Did she just speak spanish. Wow. Never thought that a language can sound so effin y.

 

Umiling-iling lang ito at kinuha na ang mga gagamitin panglinis ng sugat ko.

 

Nakatingin lang ako sakanya habang nililinisan niya ang sugat ko. It doesn't sting anymore honestly. Haha

 

I focused on her face instead. How those doe eyes were focused on my wounds. How those long eyelashes even get to be so long. How her eyebrows were perfectly arched. How does lips became red and pouty.

 

"Rene, are you a camera?" natauhan naman ako sa tanong niya.

 

"No why?"

 

"Because....Why dont you just snap a picture of my face instead. Trust me it'll last long" naka-smirk pa nitong sabi at nag wink pa. Nag-init naman ang mukha ko. Marunong rin pala ang isang to. Well, two can play at that game.

 

"Hmm that's a good idea" sabi ko naman saka inilapit ang mukha ko sakanya. Siya naman ngayon yung namumula.

 

Tumawa naman ako. Ang sarap niyang tignan na ganyan.

 

"May dumi ka kasi sa mukha. Kaya I cant stop looking at you. You look funny" I lied. Well.

 

"Really!? Where" sabi nito saka pinag-pupunasan ang kanyang mukha.

 

 

"Here let me" kinuha ko naman ang panyo ko at pinunasan kunyari ang kanyang mukha. And it's too late before I realized that I step in my own torture.

 

 

Sobrang lapit ng mga mukha namin. I can see her brown eyes clearly.

 

 

Nahigit ko naman ang hininga ko.

 

 

Clears throat "there wala na" sabi ko.

 

 

"Ah y-yeah. Thank you" sabi rin nito. Napangiti naman ako ng lihim ng makitang namumula na rin ito. Hmm do you feel the same too Seul? How I wish

 

 

Silence took over us again

 

 

"We should probably go. We need to find those pieces yeah?" pagbabasag nito.

 

Tumango naman ako at tumayo na rin. Mahirap palang maglakad ng ganito. Nabe-bend kasi ang sugat ko. Saktong sa knee kasi.

 

"Hop on my back. Please" lumuhod ito ng patalikod.

 

"What? No! No! I'm fine really" pagtatanggi ko

 

"Please Irene. I can see that it'