Behind the Barriers

08

08

"We're gonna eat here?" nakasimangot kong tanong nang pumasok kami sa isang shabu-shabu.

Hindi niya ako sinagot at pumasok na sa loob. Humalukipkip ako at sinundan siya.

I'm not really into places like these. Mostly, sa mga restaurant ako kumakain. College pa ako noong huli kong punta sa mga ganito. It is also scary to think about the sanitation. I mean, I'm not maarte naman, pero basta.

Hindi na lang din ako nag-reklamo kasi baka ito lang ang afford ni CJ. Hindi rin naman ako matapobre. But still, it's evident that he's got a lot of money.

"Choose anything you like," aniya nang maupo na kami.

I frowned ang looked at the laminated menu. Binasa ko ito pero wala akong nagustuhan kaya ibinigay ko sa kanya.

"I'll have what you have."

He looked at me. Nagtaas ako ng kilay lalo na at napangiti siya, pero umiling lamang si CJ. He called the waiter and ordered.

"Hindi ka yata mahilig sa mga ganito," aniya nang iwan kami ng waiter.

"Hindi nga. I just don't find it amusing," sabi ko. "Kung gusto mo lang naman palang kumain ng hotpot, sana nagpunta na lang tayo sa malapit na Korean restaurant. They have a lot of more delicious meal."

"Pare-pareho lang naman sila, Euresah."

"Pero hindi naman kita masisisi kung hindi mo afford. Since libre mo naman, I'm fine here."

Mahina siyang natawa. Mukha siyang pagod at inaantok. Or maybe that's just how his eyes really looked like. Kung hindi siya nakangiti, aakalain mong galit sa mundo, eh.

"Ano nga pala ang ginagawa mo dun?" I asked. "That is a lady's boutique."

Hindi na muna siya nakasagot nang dumating ang waiter at inalalayan kami para sa hotpot.

"O baka sinusundan mo ako?" I added which made him and the waiter looked at me.

My cheeks blushed. Pero nagkunwari akong hindi affected. I flipped my hair and crossed my arms as I stared at CJ who's smiling.

"Hindi kita sinusundan, Euresah," aniya. "May bibilhin lang sana ako dun."

I gasped and put a hand on my mouth. "Are you gay? Do you cross-dress?"

Ngayon ay sumimangot na talaga siya, lalo na at nagulat ang waiter at bumaling sa kanya. When the hotpot is all set, we wore our aprons. I just let him takeover and watched him pulled his sleeves unto his elbows.

Mas nakita ko lang tuloy ang muscles niya. Imposible na bakla siya kasi he's too manly. But who knows...

"Are you gay?" I asked again.

He frowned and stared at me. "I'm not gay, Euresah."

"Eh, bakit ka nga nandoon? Unless you want to buy a dress for someone."

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin. Sinabi niya naman na wala siyang girlfriend. Still, I can't seem to think of anything else. Baka may nililigawan siya or crush.

"Yeah," aniya. "I'm buying a dress for someone."

I felt something in my chest. Frustrated? Disappointed? Hindi ko alam.

"Para kanino?" My gosh, I am sounding curious!

He looked at me. "For my sister."

Kumurap-kurap ako. I looked away. "You have a sister pala?"

He nodded and continued to concentrate on the hotpot.

I was... glad. He looked serious naman when he said that. Hinayaan ko na lang siyang magluto. I would be looking at my phone and checking my long bangs.