12:
Kunot-noo ko lang tiningnan ang lalaking nasa harap ko ngayon, nakaupo, habang nakatingin sa akin. It's dark and I still can't see his face clearly, but not this time—I can see him clearly now that we're close.
"Who the fuck are you?" I asked with creased forehead.
He chuckled. "If you didn't block me, we might've been in a relationship by now."
I rolled my eyes at him. Sa dami ng taong ni-block ko, hindi ko na alam kung sino siya ro'n. At isa pa, ang kapal naman ng mukha niyang mag-assume na sasagutin ko siya? Tatlong taon na akong single. Hindi siya ang puputol no'n!
Mga lalaki talaga, makakapal ang mukha.
"Come on, I'll drive you home," he looked at the tricycle on his back. "Hindi sa akin 'yan. I borrowed it from someone I know."
I scoffed. "Mukha bang may pakialam ako?"
He laughed before he stood up. He stretched his arms up before sitting beside me. "You never changed. That's why I'm so confident."
I didn't know what he meant by that and I don't want to know anymore. I've decided not to entertain him anymore because he might be someone like Austin too. I don't know. I just lost my will to do that and I just want to spend my days normal... like the usual.
Gusto ko na lang magpaka-ate sa tatlo kong kaibigan. Ayaw ko nang makipaglandian. Nakakasawa.
"Did you finally recognize me?"
Napatingin ako sa kan'ya nang may kunot-noo nang dahil doon. "What the hell are you saying?" I looked away. "I don't care who you are," he laughed again which made me roll my eyes in annoyance. "Can you leave? You're annoying me."
Humalakhak ang lalaki sa tabi ko bago tumayo sa harap ko. "I will leave but, I'll take you to your home first? Hindi na kita kukulitin, promise. I just can't leave you here alone."
Umirap ako bago tumayo at naglakad papunta sa tricycle niya. Nararamdaman ko ang mga titig niya sa akin habang nakatayo pa rin doon. I gulped when I heard his familiar husky chuckle before he walked towards the vehicle. Gumalaw ang tricycle nang sinakyan niya ang motor tsaka tinadyakan ang starting engine. Nagsimula na siyang mag-drive papunta sa Kapitan Pepe Subdivision, kung saan ako nakatira.
I was so ready to give him the direction of where I'm living but why the hell he knows it already? Stalker ba siya?! Tinitigan ko nang masama ang lalaking nagdi-drive. Tumitingin siya paminsan-minsan sa side mirror kaya siguradong nakikita niya ang mga titig ko sa kan'ya. At ang lakas ng loob niyang magpigil ng ngiti ngayon, ha!
Nang makarating kami sa harap ng bahay namin, tumigil na siyang mag-drive. Kumuha ako ng 50 pesos sa wallet ko bago lumabas ng tricycle. Iniabot ko sa kan'ya ang bayad ko ng pamasahe nang may masamang tingin.
"Uhm, hindi mo na ako kailangang bayaran," naiilang siyang tumawa bago nag-iwas ng tingin sa akin. "Ano, free ride."
Kinuha ko ang kamay niyang nakahawak sa manibela bago inilapag do'n ang 50 pesos. "Mahiya ka nga sa hiniraman mo ng motor na 'yan, hindi naman sa 'yo 'yan, ah?"
Tumitig siya sa kamay niyang hawak ko na may 50 pesos nang nakalagay do'n. Tumikhim ako bago tinulak palapit sa kan'ya ang kamay niya tsaka ito binitiwan.
"Hindi ko na itatanong kung paano mo nalaman kung sino ako at kung saan ako nakatira pero sana tigilan niyo na ako. I will not entertain anyone anymore."
I was about to wait for his answer but then, I realized, he doesn't need to talk. I don't need any man's opinion on my life, so I turned my back at him and walked away. While I was opening the gate, he chuckled. I looked at him and his proud smile is there again on his face.
BINABASA MO ANG
Unforgotten [Baguio Series #5]
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