QuaranDestined

TWENTY

I am outside of a two-storey café with some doodle and spray paint artworks in black, which decorates the plain white wall. Ganito pala 'yong hitsura ng IansaniTEA. All the while, I thought the shops are small kiosks.

Itong branch na pinuntahan ko ay 'yong pinakamalapit sa supposed to be ay pupuntahan kong event out of all the three branches of IansaniTEA.

Pumasok ako at wala pang customers sa loob, maybe, maaga pa kasi. Baka nga kabubukas lang nila. Pero may dalawang lalaki sa counter, they were talking to each other pero nakatalikod sila from the door, kaya 'di rin yata nila namalayan na pumasok ako.

The other guy is stout with fair complexion.

And the other guy is Christian. Alam ko na agad. Matangkad, hair in a pony tail, plus the tatts in his arm.

"Hindi pa puwede magbukas sa kabila. Ayaw pa ng Homeowner's Association." Narinig kong sabi ni Christian.

Napakunot-noo ako. He seems problematic. Wrong timing yata 'tong pagpunta ko.

"Wala tayong magagawa eh," sabi naman nu'ng isang guy. "Teka, may customer yata."

Sabay pa silang lumingon sa 'kin.

"Hi!" I smiled at them kahit naka-face mask ako.

Christian was stunned for a few moments until he spoke, "'Uy! Ba't ka napadpad dito?"

I chuckled when I saw the surprised look on his face. "Ayaw mo ba?"

"Pucha, sino bang ayaw?" Nakita kong napahawak siya sa batok niya, his usual mannerism. I suddenly missed our Batanes moments. "Pa'no ka nakapasok? Sarado pa kami, ah."

"The glass door's not locked so I came in." I shrugged my shoulders.

Lumabas siya from the counter to face me. "Pa'no mo nalamang nandito ako?" amazed na tanong niya.

"Gut feel. Ang dami mong questions. Tanungin mo kaya muna 'ko ba't ako nandito," sabi ko naman.

"Sabihin mo na," he said and walked away from the counter towards a couch. Sumunod naman ako. Pero 'di naman kami naupo kundi nakatayo lang sa tapat no'n.

"Samahan mo 'ko." I smiled sweetly at him behind my mask.

"Saan?"

"Kahit saan. Ano bang pinakamalapit dito? Tagaytay? Batangas?"

Natawa siya. "Ang labo niyan, ah."

"Sige na. Please," I pleaded.

"Ke'lan?" tanong niya.

"Ngayon na," sagot ko.

"Ano?!" He was shocked. "Bakit?"

Yumuko ako. "May pupuntahan talaga 'ko dapat. Kaso 'di ko talaga kayang tumuloy do'n."

"Sa'n ba 'yon?" tanong niya.

"W-wedding kasi ngayon ni Jake at Chloe. 'Yong kapatid ko saka 'yong ex ko," I said sadly. "They invited me over."

"Kaya naman pala bihis na bihis ka, eh." I saw him stare at my white bodycon off-shoulder dress. "Sige, arat."

"Talaga?" I felt my face lit up.

"Oo nga. Sakto, dala ko 'yong oto," sabi naman niya. "Nakakahiya naman sa 'yong i-motor ka na ganyan 'yang ayos mo."

Napangiti ako. "Okay lang naman sa 'kin."

"Hindi na." He turned to the guy in the counter na kausap niya kanina. "Bok, 'kaw muna bahala dito. Punta lang kaming Tagaytay."

"Agad-agad?" sabi no'ng guy na tinawag na "Bok". "'Ge, ingat!"