Sinulyapan ko ang phone bago bumaling kay Drei na panay ang lantak sa hilaw na mangga.
Leo and I talked about meeting here and having a date.
The day we parted ways from the elevator was the exact day he added me on facebook. It's been two weeks since we started contacting each other and so far, so good.
I felt like we are made for each other. We compliment each other so well na hindi ako nakakaramdam ng kahit anong pangamba kapag kasama ko siya.
We don't have any label. He's not courting me but he feels like a boyfriend also. I don't want to push it. Masaya ako sa sitwasyon namin ngayon at inienjoy ko. Sa ngayon, ayos sa'kin ang ganitong set up.
Pero siyempre, I'm hoping we will level up in time. I'm ready. Hindi ko lang alam if were on the same page...
"Are you sure, he's coming?" My friend asked me suspiciously.
Tumango ako. "Usually ay sa park kami nagkikita pero nagpaalam siya na malalate siya kaya dito niya ako pinaghintay so I won't get bored."
"Tss. Sure ka ba sa lalake na 'yan?"
"His name is Leo, Drei. Call him by his name."
"Oh, edi sure ka ba sa Leo na 'yan? Pang babaero galawan ha?"
Tumawa ako. "He's not like any guy, Drei. He's different."
"How different? Instead of 3 girls, he got 2?" Tumawa siya.
I rolled my eyes and checked my phone once again. "Oh, shut up."
My phone rang and I immediately smiled when I saw his name. Pinakita ko 'yon kay Drei nang nakangisi.
"See?" I teased her.
Nagkibit balikat siya at pinagpatuloy ang pagkain ng mangga. Sinagot ko naman ang tawag.
"Hello?"
"Yel, I'm outside the condo."
"Yeah. I'll go now."
Pinatay ko ang tawag at sinulyapan si Drei na nakatingin sa'kin.
"Aalis na'ko."
"Mag ingat ka."
"Lagi akong nagiingat, bff."
"I'm pertaining to the Leo guy, bff. Mag ingat ka sa mga lalakeng binibigyan mo ng espasyo sa buhay mo."
"Yes po. Opo, mama."
Tumawa ako bago tuluyang lumabas ng pinto. Sinalubong agad ako ni Leo ng isang yakap na mahigpit.
Ngumiti ako at hinaplos ang kanyang likod. I felt him breathing so hard. Tila pagod.
"What's wrong? Tumakbo ka?" I asked worriedly.
Umiling siya. "I just miss you so much."
"I miss you too..."
Humiwalay ako sa kanya at hinawakan ang kanyang kamay.
"Let's go?"
I smiled at him and he nodded.
Tumuloy kami sa elevator and while we're on our way to the hotel restaurant reserved for us, he's so unexplainably clingy and sweet.
Kumakain kami ay nilipat niya ang upuan niya sa tabi ko at nagpasubo.
Tahimik ko siyang pinagmamasdan nang nasa last stop na kami ng aming pamamasyal. Sa rooftop ng hotel restaurant na kinainan namin.
"Why?" He suddenly asked nang mapansin ang seryosong tingin ko.
"May problema ka ba?"
Hindi ko alam kung ilang beses ko na siyang natanong sa araw na 'to but I just can't stop. Something is off. I know.
"Wala akong problema..."
"I know there is. But I won't push you to say it to me."
Lumapit ako sa kanya at hinilig ang ulo ko sa kanyang balikat. I clung my arms to him.
"Being with you is enough for me."
"Should we live together?"
Nagulat ako sa kanyang tanong. Hindi ako sumagot at tumayo ng diretso habang tinitingnan siya. Unti unti kong inalis ang kamay ko sa kanyang braso.
Sabi ko na e, may mali.
"Bakit?"
"Should we live together and travel far away? 'Yong tayo lang na dalawa?"
"Leo, that's so fast. 2 weeks pa lang-"
"Sigurado ako sa'yo. Ikaw ba?"
Natahimik ako at hindi na siya nasagot. Nag iwas ako ng tingin at hinarap ang maliwanag na gabi.
"Hindi ka sigurado sa'kin." He concluded.
"It's not that hindi ako sigurado. I just think it's way too fast." Paliwanag ko.
We don't even have any label. Gusto kong sabihin pero may pumipigil sa'kin. I don't want to do the first move.
But he's asking me to live with him. Isn't that a first move? Not until he ask you to be his girlfriend. I blinked.
"It's not fast to me."
"But it is to me."
He didn't answer so I looked at him. He's looking at the beautiful night sky too. Umihip ang hangin at nakita ko kung paano dumaan ang kirot sa kanyang mata.
I sighed hard and slowly hugged him. "Give me some time to think..."
I'll give you some time to choose the right words, Leo. Then I'll decide.
