A Designer's Creation

14. Gentleman's Dignity

Kapag may special occassions lang ako nagagawang ihatid ni Tyrone. Pero hindi sa condo ko. Palaging sa bahay ng family ko. Mga pagkakataong kailangan ng appearance niya para masabing we're fine as couples—kahit na never magiging fine ang lahat sa amin.

"Nagkokotse ka kahit ang lapit lang ng bahay mo?" tanong pa ni Jericho habang nagda-drive paikot sa Madrigal Avenue para makatawid sa Avila Towers.

"Bihira lang akong mag-drive papasok sa office sa Lion. Binabase ko sa damit ko. And kapag hindi maganda ang weather, ayokong mag-drive. Mabilis kasi akong mahilo sa wipers."

"Oooh. Pero hindi naman na maulan ngayon a?"

"Pero hindi pang-walking ang attire ko."

"At wala ka talagang date."

Ini-insist talaga nilang may date ako today e wala nga. Hindi ba nila kayang i-consider na fashion designer ako so baka lang like kong mag-dress today without any special occassion?

Rush hour so I've already expected the traffic. Still, fifteen minutes with Jericho inside my car was faster than expected. Hindi pa kami nakakadalawang topic, we were already in Avila.

I started to enjoy Jericho's company these past few days. Probably because he really showed he's a good man with good intentions. And I was comfortable with him during my not-so-comfortable moments.

I ordered for our dinner habang nasa biyahe pa lang. Rice, sweet and sour chicken, and pasta lang for us sa isang Italian restaurant na may delivery option kasi ayoko ng masyadong mamantikang pagkain from fast food. May juice naman sa bahay and he didn't look like he was going to choose for expensive drinks so okay na ako sa kung anong maio-offer ng ref ko.

After he parked my car sa underground parking lot, dumeretso agad kami sa elevator na may ilang mga tao sa loob.

The lower floor buttons were lit so I needed to push button 23 for my condo's floor. Sa 12th floor pa lang, nawalan na ng tao sa elevator at doon lang kami nakapag-usap.

"Saan pala nagtatrabaho boyfriend mo?" tanong niya kaya natitigan ko siya mula sa metal panel ng elevator.

"Executive manager siya sa Lion."

"Wow, big time pala syota mo. Kaya siguro babaero. Babae sekretarya n'on, 'no?"

"Yeah."

"Maganda ba?"

I shrugged. "I guess. Pinatulan niya e."

"Kapag ba babae tapos pinag-uusapan ang karibal, required bang maging bitter?"

Tiningnan ko na siya nang direkta dahil sa sinabi niya. I just noticed that he really likes to insult me occasionally.

"Sama naman ng tingin mo, nagtatanong lang ako." He chuckled and stared at the floor indicator above the elevator door.

"Ikaw, ilan na naging girlfriend mo?"

Tiningnan niya 'ko sa dulo ng mata bago siya ngumisi nang hindi katiwa-tiwala.

"Mahirap bilangin."

Really? "Masyado bang marami?" I crossed my arms and challenged him.

"Hindi naman sa marami. Hindi ko lang sigurado kung sino yung naging girlfriend talaga sa naka-fling lang."

"Talaga ba?"

Now, I was starting to feel like he's like any other guy na nakilala ko before. But he's nice for a single man. And he's single naman. I was thinking about his reason before na kaya ayaw niyang magka-girlfriend, kasi nga magastos. And based on his house, matu-turn off din ako. Para kasi talaga siyang nakatira sa basurahan, my gosh. Although, marunong naman siyang maglinis. But still, his house is still a rathole. Not to degrade him, but may mga apartment namang malilinis at hindi gaya ng bahay niya.