First Glance

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

"Saan ka pupunta?"

"Basta kasi Tito!"

"Saan nga?"

I groaned.

Tiningnan niya ako ng masama. It's 8 in the morning at katatapos lang ng shooting dito sa Batangas for a summer collection ng isang sikat na clothing brand. Sandali lang ang shooting dahil may emergency na nangyari kaya ngayon ay nag-ayang kumain si Tito sa labas.

May dinner daw mamaya kasama ang iba't ibang influencer na maaring makatulong sa mga projects ko kaso magkikita kami ni Niko kaya sinabi ko sa kaniyang hindi ako makakapunta at ngayon nagagalit siya.

I sighed.

"Tito sige na… ngayon lang naman ako hindi pupunta e…"

"Gaano ba ka-importante iyan at kailangan mo pang hindi pumunta."

"Birthday kasi ng…" I stopped. I bite my lip. "ng… kaibigan ko."

"Kaibigan?" Pabiro niya akong pinalo. "Kaibigan mo mukha mo."

"Grabe ka naman, Tito!"

"Sino nga kasi 'yan? ha?"

I sighed. "Si Niko."

"Niko? Sinong Niko?"

Pinaliwanag ko sa kaniya kung sino si Niko. Mukhang hindi pa rin naman siya papayag dahil mukhang mas nagalit pa siya ng kinwento ko sa kaniya. Ewan ko na lang.

"Bahala ka sa buhay mo, Jamie! Sumasakit ulo ko sa'yo."

We separate ways after that. Dumaan muna ako sa Greenbelt para bumili ng regalo kay Niko. In the end, I bought a Gucci perfume for him… pati na rin sa akin. Napapa-buntong hininga na lang ako noong babayaran ko na.

I opened the door to see Lucy is on the couch, spacing out.

"Hoy, Lucy saan ka galing at hindi ka umuwi kagabi ha?!"

She just eyed me.

"Saan ka galing?! Tawag ako ng tawag tapos-"

She sighed so heavily.

Problema nito?

"May problema ba?"

Umiling siya at tumayo, malayo pa rin ang iniiisip. Kumunot ang noo ko dahil napangiwi siya sa pagkakatayo pero pilit pa rin siyang naglakad. Sinundan ko siya hanggang sa kusina at nakitang kumuha siya ng tubig at mabilis na ininom iyon.

"May nangyari sa amin." she whispered.

I looked at her. Disappointed sa balitang sinabi niya.

"Argh!" She stamped her feet pero napangiwi pa rin. "Tangina."

"Pucha, kaya hindi ka makalakad?"

"Bugok." she sighed. "Natisod ako sa hagdan sa kakamadaling umalis do'n."

"Ano ba kasi talagang nangyari sa'inyo?"

She sighed again and started telling the whole story.

Hindi nagtagal ay nagpaalam na rin siya na uuwi na.

I wore a classic fitted dress and an oversized coat and chunky high socks boots. I received a text from Niko that he will be waiting in front of my condo. Once I was done, I texted him and immediately came down.

I smiled when I saw him in his white button down shirt waiting for me.

"Can I have the keys?" I said with a british accent.

Kukuhanin ko na sana ng mabilis niya akong hinalikan. Tumingin ako sa paligid at medyo nahiya ng makitang may taong nakatingin sa amin.

Pinalobo ko ang aking pisngi at huminga ng malalim.

"Keys, please?"

He kissed me again.

He chuckled when he saw me blushed profusely.

"Just kidding." and then he gave me the keys.

"Tss…"

I bit my lower lip trying to stop my freaking smile!

I drove to Conrad. Hindi niya alam kung para saan ‘to dahil akala niya lang isang dinner date lang. I mean… dinner date nga pero babawi ako kasi hindi ko alam na kahapon pala ‘yung birthday niya.

He looked like a curious puppy when I parked the car. I chucked.

This man is so precious.

"Let’s go..."

We ate our dinner as we watched the golden sunset that brushes through his almond skin and hazel brown eyes. I bow down as I remember something.

What if…

What if this didn't last?

What would I do?

I don't think I would be able to move on from this…

Because this felt so real.

This thing felt different.

Something…

Something I can't even explain…

"Is there something wrong? hmm?"

I shook my head trying to convince him that there's nothing wrong. I set aside my worries for now, I just want to make this time worthwhile if ever he will leave me someday. I'm not really a futuristic type of person, but I always like to expect worse in everything, at least, I wouldn’t be too disappointed when that day comes.

I gave my gift to him.

"Happy birthday!"

He smiled.

"Thank you!" He looked at my gift. "Though you didn't have to do this..."

I smiled. "You should go, baka malate ka pa sa flight." I sighed. "I'm sorry, dapat nagpapahinga ka ngayon dahil flight mo mamaya," 

"It's fine, Jamie," he ruffled my hair. "I have fun,"

Ginagawa naman akong tuta nito e.

Okay lang cute naman sila.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it," 

"Of course!" He glanced at his watch. I encourage him to go now dahil baka malate pa siya. "I'll call once I get there, okay?"

"Okay…"

I waited all night waiting for his call but it didn't come. It's fine though, maybe he's tired, dapat talaga nagpahinga na lang siya. 

I woke up around six a.m. to go jogging around BGC, where I lived. I wore a Nike sports outfit and a jacket para mabilis akong pawisan. After that, I took a bath and prepared some yogurt and some blueberries for my breakfast.

I saw Jara was calling so I answered it while eating.

"Hi, Ate!"

I happily greet her back. Gosh, I miss her kahit lagi kaming nag-aaway.

"Makakauwi ka ba sa birthday ko, Ate?"

"Oo naman, gagawa ako ng paraan. If may sched ako ca-cancel ko na lang. Ano ba gusto mong gawin sa birthday mo?"

"Ililibre ko lang sana kayo ni Tito, minsan lang ako manlibre kaya umuwi ka ah!"

I chuckled. "Opo,"

"At isasabay ko na rin pala 'yung recognition ko sa birthday ko kasi halos magkasabay rin sila e, para isang gastos na lang!" She laughed.

"Hala, graduating ka na!"

Tinanong ko sa kaniya kung kailan iyon at masaya naman niyang kinwento kung paano ang mangyayari sa graduation ngayong bawal naman ang mga gatherings. We just talked all morning hanggang sa hindi ko na namalayan ang oras. Tito texted me that we have a meeting with a sponsor kaya nagpaalam na ako sa kaniya at mabilis na nag-ayos.

I have an idea!