Qrx Tatiana Yashita

#3 He, Who's From The Book

"Come on, Blaire! You're stressing yourself too much. Give yourself a break," untag ni Adeline. "Maraming boys do'n. Do something new naman. Wala na bang ibo-boring pa ang buhay mo?"

I looked at her as I rolled my eyes in such annoyance. Her above-the-shoulder curly hair waved on her face as the wind from the opened fan of the air conditioner blew at her face. She didn't mind it and remained waiting for my answer. Kanina niya pa ako pinipilit na sumama sa isang party 'daw' nila ng iba pa naming kaibigan. Kaso, wala ako sa mood at alam ko namang bukod sa party, may iba pa silang ginagawa do'n.

"Adi, I'm busy. Besides, I've never been interested in parties like that. And boys?" I scoffed and faked a laugh. "Are you even serious? Isa lang ang lalaking gugustuhin ko at hindi siya mapapantayan nang kahit na sino. You know that."

She winced while staring at me. Her chinky eyes are like a dagger that will surely cause bruises on my skin if I don't come with her.

"Larkin? Arkin? What's his name again? Oh, I forgot," she said sarcastically. "Blaire, that guy is not even existing! He's just a work of fiction made by imagination. How can someone like you become so obsessed with a novel character? I wonder how you can see or imagine his face. Maanakan ka ba niyan? Blaire, loosen up! It's better to live in reality."

Bumuntong hininga ako at napahinto sa ginagawa. Then, different thoughts occupied my mind as I started realizing what she had said. Perhaps she has a point.

I'm a bookworm. I love reading stories from either a book, social media sites, or any reading apps. Pero sa dinami-dami ng stories na nabasa ko, iisa lang ang pinakatumatak sa akin. I don't know why or how, but after reading a novel from a not-so-famous writer, I started to feel strange things.

The novel is about a girl who becomes the lead girl in her own story. Then she fell in love with the guy character that she created. I know it sounds weird, but it's true. I've never been interested in any stories again after that. Tanging ang nobela lang na iyon ang siyang paulit-ulit kong binabasa.

Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit ayaw maalis sa isip ko nang lalaki sa kwento.

"Maybe, destiny chose me to fall in love with a novel character instead, rather than the real one. Mas okay na 'yon, at least, hindi ako masasaktan, 'di ba?" I smiled weakly at her.

"Pero pinapaasa mo lang ang sarili mo sa lalaking wala naman sa reyalidad. Whatever! It's your choice." She rolled her eyes, then shrugged. She looks defeated for the first time. "Well, I guess, ako na lang ang pupunta doon sa party. I have to go, gal. Call me if something bad happens, okay?"

I nodded at her. "Takecare, Adi."

Nagbeso pa siya sakin bago lumabas ng café kung nasaan kami ngayon. Sinundan ko siya ng tingin hanggang sa makalayo. Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa laptop at nagumpisang mag-type ulit.

I tried to sip on my cup of tea, pero wala na palang laman. Hindi ko napansin.

Tumayo ako para pumunta sa cashier at umorder nang panibago. Kaunti lang ang tao dito sa café, kaya mas pinipili ko palaging dito magpalipas ng oras. Bukod sa tahimik at maaliwalas ang paligid ay masarap din ang mga food services.

"Another Crème Frappé, please," I said as I went to stand in line to order another coffee.

The cashier smiled. "Okay, Ma'am. It will take a few minutes to serve your coffee."

I nodded at her. Nag crossed arms, ako habang naghihintay.

Napatingin ako sa pinto ng café nang may biglang pumasok mula roon. Lumapit ang isang lalaki sa akin—I mean, sa cashier. I think o-order din sya kaya umatras ako nang kaunti para mabigyan siya ng space. I looked at him from head to toe. He's wearing a black hoodie paired with black jeans and a black robber shoes. Hindi ko gaanong kita ang mukha niya dahil sa hood.

"Good afternoon, sir. What's your order, po?"

"One Crème Frappé," he says in a husky voice.

I don't know why I felt a sudden burst of emotions because of that. Parang isang harmonya ang boses nyang inaakit ako. I closed my eyes as I smelled his perfume. Napakapamilyar ng pakiramdam na para bang nangyari na ito noon.

"Ma'am?"

I opened my eyes and immediately regained my senses.

"P-pasensya na," napapahiyang bawi ko.

Ngumiti lang ito atsaka inabot ang kape ko. "Here's your order, Ma'am Blaire. And Sir?" tawag niya sa lalaking katabi ko. "What's your name, po? Ilalagay ko rito sa cup ng coffee niyo."

"Larkin. Arkin na lang," he replied.

My brows furrowed when I caught him stealing a glance at me every minute. Hindi ko na iyon tinuuan. Kinuha ko na lang ang wallet sa bulsa para kumuha ng pambayad, pero agad ding napahinto nang makitang kulang na ang pambayad ko.

"Ahm, Miss?" Nahihiyang tawag ko. "Pwede bang mag balanced muna ako? Kinulang na kasi tong dala kong pera—"

"I'll pay for it. I-charged mo na lang sa 'kin," putol ng lalaking katabi ko sa sasabihin ko.

Nagpalipat-lipat sa aming dalawa ang tingin ng babae bago naiiling na tumango. Napahinto ako. Muli akong napatingin sa kanya.

Thousands of volts, butterflies in my stomach, the racing beat of my heart, and so on. I don't know what to feel. I can feel my body shaking.

Kahit nanginginig ang labi ay pinilit ko siyang pasalamatan.

"T-thank you," I said hesitantly as my lips quivered. He just nodded at me in response.

Akmang maglalakad na sana ako pabalik sa table nang magkabanggan kami. Nahulog tuloy ang hawak niyang sukli. Lumuhod ako para tulungan siyang mamulot, pero napahinto nang makita ang kabuuan ng kanyang mukha dahil sa pagkakaalis ng suot niyang hood.

Tears began to surround my eyes as I stared at his face. His thick knitted brows and his hooded, gray-like eye show a little frustration because of what happened. His pointed nose and his prominent jaw began to clench as he looked at me. I watched him lick the lower part of his lip, and I felt so dry while watching him!

The way I imagine it, it was perfectly matched. Now I know why I suddenly felt a familiar sensation when I saw him earlier.

Is this even real?

My tears flow, and my knees become so weak, like jelly floating in the air. "Are you... for real?"

He smiled at me as he nodded. "Blaire."