Boy For Rent

18th Chapter

After a long time, I finally saw Ryker smiling at me from a distance. I slowly walked towards him like I'm scared that I might stumble in front of him. 

Sa mga oras na 'to, hindi ko magawang suklian ang kanyang mga ngiti dahil hindi ko pa rin tuluyang naa-absorb ang mga sinabi ni Lynx kanina sa 'kin.

What's really happening to me? I should be happy because he's on my side now and he's not a hindrance anymore to my plans for Ryker. And the worst part is...I don't seem to be happy that Ryker is the one with me now.

Date pala namin 'to at hindi ni Lynx...

"Hi," bati niya pagkalapit ko. I did my best to smile back at him when he handed me the boquet of flowers. 

Picnic theme ang aura namin ngayon na saktong-sakto pa sa outfit naming dalawa. He's wearing a white shirt with a famous brand name printed on it and a maong short partnered with his all time favorite black sneakers.

I roamed my eyes around the breathtaking place as I comfortably squat down the picnic mat on the grass. 

"You did this?" I asked him. Ang ganda kase ng set-up. It looks so aesthetic that makes me want to stare at the place and took some photos.

But sad to say, I'm not in the mood right now.

"Si Lynx talaga ang may idea neto." 

Yeah right...who else would do it right? It's impossible that Ryker will be doing this and exert efforts which he never done before. Sa tuwing monthsary o anniversary namin ay kailangan ko pa siyang pilitin no'n para mag-celebrate.

Ang pinagtataka ko lang ngayon ay kung paano niya napapayag si Ryker na makipag-date sa 'kin? And to my surprise, he's acting nice to me now!

"Aren't you happy, Alice?" Diretso itong nakatingin sa 'kin kaya agad akong umiwas.

Natatakot akong mabasa niya ang totoo kong nararamdaman...

"Well, no need to answer me anyway but can I ask you something?" 

I tried to focus myself to him. After all, eto naman ang gusto kong mangyari 'di ba? Baka napagdesisyunan na niyang makipagbalikan ulit sa 'kin dahil mahal pa niya ako. Nagiging mabait na rin siya ulit sa 'kin at hindi ako pinagtabuyan. Pero bakit parang...may kulang pa rin?

"What?"

"Can we pretend that we're still together? Even just for now." I don't feel any sarcasm in his voice so I bet, he's serious this time.

Nagulat ako sa hiningi niya at bahagyang nagtaka. Bakit siya biglang naging ganito? Aaminin kong nakaramdam ako ng saya dahil sa trato niya sa 'kin ngunit hindi ko maiwasang magtaka.

"I know you're thinking now that it's too fast but please, I'll explain everything to you after this day ends. Just go with the flow with me, can you?"

I slowly nodded at him.

Sinimulan naming kainin ang mga nasa loob ng basket na nakalatag dito. May burger, pizza, carbonara, cake at matcha tea. I smiled because he still remember my favorite snacks. 

And just like what we normally do before, he began talking nonstop and I am just laughing at him when he's telling jokes. It feels like we time travelled from the past where everything is still real. 

Naninibago man ako pero pinilit kong iwaksi lahat ng negatibong naiisip ko at nakisabay nalang sa agos ng kwentuhan namin. This is my chance to be as his girlfriend again and I would really cherish this moment now if this is really the sign that I can no longer bring back the past and we need to move on already or I am the only who need to move forward?