Rainy Season in Manila

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

"Do you want some drink, madam?" Napatingin ako sa lalaking nagsalita. Bahagya naman akong natawa na si Archie pala 'yon. He's giving me a glass of apple juice. Alam niya kasing hindi naman ako umiinom.

"Thank you, sir. I appreciate this kind gesture," tugon ko at saka ko kinuha sa kamay niya 'yong baso. Hindi naman maalis sa labi ni Archie ang ngito. Ang sarap lang kurutin ng pisngi niya sa tuwing ganyan ang mga ngitian niya sa akin. Natatandaan ko naman 'yong sinabi sa akin ni Ate Mallory and I don't think I'll ever cross that line.

Nasa isang tabi lamang kami, nakapuwesto kung nasaan ang isang stool table. Pinatong naman niya ang siko niya sa stool table habang ang isang kamay niya ay may hawak rin ng wine glass. Pinanood ko siyang inumin ang laman no'n.

"Alak ba 'yan?" pagtatanong ko pa.

He chuckled. "I wished pero hindi pa nila nilalabas ang mga alcohol. Though sa tingin ko limited lang din dahil ayaw ni tita na malasing ang mga guest niya at the end of the day."

"Ah, I see... mabuti naman. I really don't drink kasi, e."

"Pero madalas kayong nagpupunta ng mga kaibigan mo sa bar? What are you doing there?"

I scoffed. "Wala. Sinasamahan ko lang sila. Tambay gano'n. Inom-inom ng juice kasi 'di ko talaga keri uminom ng alak. Magagalit din si papa so nope. Anyway, okay ka na ba after that day natin sa hepa lane?"

He grunted. "It was so bad, but I love the food there, though I wouldn't eat there again. Maybe you would cook some for me, marunong ka ba?"

"Duh? I work in a fast-food chain before, ako pa bang hindi marunong?"

"Then let's do it sometime! Sa condo ko if may time ka."

"We'll see... but I told you na makasasama sa iyo 'yong pagkain ng marami and you still insist."

"E, sabi mo rin kasi I should try and so I tried! It was so worth kahit na-dehydate ako whole day yesterday. Now I feel better, mabuti na lang talaga. I was about to tell Bennett na hindi ako makapupunta ngayon, but I think I made the right decision to come and now you're here as well. Do you think it's tadhana?"

I chuckled. Sinapo ko ng palad ang mukha niya kasi namumuo na naman 'yong kakaibang ngiti sa labi niya.

"You know that I've been wanting to come at you kanina pa?" kwento nito sa akin. "It seems like Mallory wouldn't want to leave you alone and I just couldn't get to you. Inilalayo ka ba niya sa akin?"

Agad naman akong umiling. "No, she's not. May mga pinag-uusapan lang din talaga kaming for girls only. And she's being nice to me. Did you know that she gave me this dress?" Pumaikot pa ako para ipakita sa kanya ang suot kong damit.

Pansin ko naman ang mata ni Archie sa akin at tila sinuri niya rin ako sa suot ko ngayon. "Oh, wow. I don't think the word perfect's enough for you. Geez, Isel. How can you be like this?"

I shrugged off. "I guess, I can be natural as I am."

He nodded, agreeing to me. "I must concede to that. I have no words to say. Would you like to take a picture with me? Pang remembrance lang?"

"Sure, bet na bet ko 'yan."

He took his phone out saka niya inabot sa akin. He requested I should be the one taking the picture. Ginawa ko naman at pumwesto sa likod ko si Archie. We took a different shots and poses, until he wrapped his arms just around me and then we smiled in front of the camera. Parang wala lang naman iyon. It was fun and I enjoyed it. Saktong pagkababa ko ng phone, I noticed that someone was watching us across the pool area.