By the Riverside

08: Turning Over a New Leaf

I STOPPED KICKING rocks at the parking area when I saw John walking towards me. Hindi niya na suot ang uniporme niya kanina kaya medyo nalungkot ako. Though he still looks good whatever it is that he is wearing. He was now wearing some casual clothes: a white T-shirt and a pair of khaki shorts. Ibang-iba na ang disposisyon niya habang pinaglalaruan ang key fob ng sasakyan. He ran his fingers through his hair while it was being messed up by the eight PM breeze. There was a sly smirk in his lips as he approached me.

“Sorry for making you wait.”

I looked away momentarily. “Ten minutes isn’t that long.” I shrugged. “Besides, ako ang nag-aya kaya ethical na ako ang maghihintay.”

Bahagya siyang tumawa dahil sa sinabi ko. Pinanliitan ko siya ng mga mata dahil mukhang may komento na naman siya sa akin. Although, after a few seconds, the expected teasing never went out his mouth. Instead, he just stared at my face. Bumaba ang tingin niya mula sa mukha ko hanggang sa dibdib ko. Nailang naman ako sa malaswa niyang tingin kaya tinakpan ko ang parteng tinititigan niya.

“Are you sure you wanna go with me somewhere?”

Naiilang man ay inagaw ko ang hawak niyang key fob at in-unlock ang sasakyan niya. Agad iyong tumunog. “Yeah. Unless you have somewhere else to go to?”

“Nah,” mabilis niyang sagot at inagaw rin ang key fob. “I literally cut my work for you. Sa’n pa ba ˋko pupunta?”

Binuksan niya ang pinto ng passenger’s seat para sa akin. Inilahad niya ang loob at matagal ko naman siyang tinitigan bago pumasok. Umikot siya para makasakay na rin sa kotse.

“And where would we go, huh?”

I hated how his voice sounded so malicious. Bahagya ko siyang tinampal sa balikat at humalakhak naman siya.

“Hotel? Motel? My condo? Your house?”

“Stop making fun of me, De Silva.”

Humalakhak siya nang sobrang lakas. Kahit nakakairita ang mga sinabi niya ay hindi ko napigilan ang sariling mangiti na rin habang sinusulyapan siya.

“Whoa!” bigla niyang sigaw kasabay ng pag-andar ng makina ng sasakyan. “So you can also do that!” mangha niyang dagdag.

Kumunot ang noo ko. “Do what?”

“That.” Itinuro na ang mga labi ko kaya napahawak ako roon. Dahil sa malawak na ngiti ni John ay doon ko lang din napagtanto na hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili kong mapangiti.

I immediately forced my lips to rest in a thin, straight line. John sighed.

“Maka-react ka parang ngayon ka lang nakakita ng taong nakangiti,” nakasimangot ko nang sambit.

“Don’t misunderstand me. Hindi ikaw ang unang taong nakitang kong nakangiti; it’s just that this was the first time I saw you smile around me. It’s fascinating. You look even more beautiful.”

I suddenly felt hot. I even had to clench my fist. John finally started maneuvering the car out of the parking space while I was left speechless.

“Is it really that fascinating . . .” bulong ko. Agad ko namang pinagsisihan dahil mukhang narinig iyon ni John.

“It is, Victoria,” he said in the most sincere way I’ve heard of him. “Lagi kang nakasimangot or poker faced kapag kasama mo ˋko. I even thought you maybe hated me so much.”

Gusto kong sabihin sa kanya na nagkakamali siya pero hindi ko ginawa. Paano ko naman siya kamumuhian? He was the one on my side while I was having my intrusive thoughts. Had it not been for him—who knows? Maybe the alcohol in my system that night made me really jump off that run-down bridge.