The Truth About Us (COMPLETED)

04

I thought it will only be a one-time thing but I found him again on the counter. Si Romano, na nalaman ko ang pangalan niya bago kami naghiwalay kahapon, ay nakatayo na naman sa harapan ko at nakangiti nang malawak.

Masaya ako na nakilala ko siya kahapon. Pagkabalik ko pa lang sa bahay namin ay agad na akong nagtungo sa kuwarto ko para mag-isip. I began thinking plots that started bursting in my mind. My motivation is still here with now, a proof that I'm really serious on starting to write again. Hindi pa ako nakakapag-isip ng exact plot pero baka isa sa mga nanatili sa utak ko ang pipiliin ko.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" Maingat at mahina kong sabi. Nararamdaman ko ang titig ng mga kasamahan ko sa loob kahit na may kanya-kanya silang ginagawa.

He raised his hand at me, "Hi. Magandang umaga." He gave me a cup of steaming coffee that I hesitantly accepted.

I cleared my throat and kept my professional tone in line. "What are you doing here, Romano? May bibilhin ka ba?"

I watched how his eyes glistened to an unknown reason. Kinuha niya ang pitaka niya sa bulsa at naglabas ng pera. "I like to take five stems of gladiolus flowers, please."

Kinuha ko ang pera at sinenyasan siyang maghintay ng ilang minuto habang inaayos ko ang binili niya. When I'm satisfied with the finished product, I handed it to him but he pushes it towards me. "You don't like it?" Nabahiran ng pagkadismaya ang boses ko na hindi ko naitago. I just really hate failing other people.

Napansin yata ni Romano iyon kaya ngayon ay parang natataranta siya. "No. I mean, no, I like it. That's yours."

Pinatitigan ko ang bigay niya na galing rin sa akin mismo. This is for me? I counted how long I received a flower until this. Nailing ako. Sa sobrang tagal ay limot ko na kung kailan.

"Thank you," I answered when I ran out of words.

Isang malawak na ngiti ang naisagot niya sa akin. "Now, I can I talk to you?"

Alam kong kailangan kong tumanggi ngunit natagpuan ko na lang ang sarili kong tumatanggo. Next thing I know, we are already walking to the coffeeshop we went yesterday.

Masyado pang maaga kaya napili muna naming sa labas maupo. It's good for my skin to be touch by the sunlight sometimes. Hindi pa naman mainit.

My eyes dropped to the coffee that has been spewing smoke. Naalala ko ang dala niyang kape na naiwan sa shop. I took a sip of it before I stumbled on the right words to use. Hindi ko alam kung bakit kasama ko na naman siya. It feels wrong and uncomfortable.

"Bakit mo pala ako gustong makausap?" I told him straight to the point. Ayaw kong magpaligoy-ligoy pa kami. Hindi ko rin alam kung dapat bang nakikipag-usap ako sa kanya. Sure, he is my avid reader but is it appropriate to be seen in the public with him? With man with the same age as mine, which probably has his own family?

My name has been reported to the public because of my divorce. Ayokong maulit na naman iyon ngunit sa ibang rason: scandal. That will totally ruin me.

He slid a piece of paper on the table. Puno naman ng interes na kinuha ko iyon para tignan ang laman. Inside are list of names that are... I don't know. Anong gagawin ko dito?

"What's this?"

"These are your readers that still supports you even now. Kung may balak ka mag-publish ng libro, asahan mong may bibili pa rin."

I smiled. I looked at saw that it contains more than a hundred names. "Saan mo pala nakuha ito?"

"From our Facebook group. From your die-hard readers."

I chuckled. Hindi ko alam na may Facebook group pala na nakadedicate para sa mga works ko. That was overwhelming. "I didn't know that there was a group for me. What's surprising is that it is still active even now."