I don't care

Chapter 8 : Exteriorly unchaotic but Internally chaotic Shenanigans

Erin's POV

"So...do you mind telling me where do you get all those coupons?"

Becca only smiled then gently bit her lower lip to stop it from going wide.

Actually, kanina ko pa tinatanong 'yan sa kanya pero hindi niya ako sinasagot ng seryoso.

"Sa tabi-tabi nga. Pang-ilang tanong mo na 'yan?" Natatawa niyang saad.

I mentally rolled my eyes. Hindi pa kami masyadong close kaya huwag na muna. Pakabait muna tayo ng slight.

"Eh sa puro ganyan ang sagot mo! Anong tabi-tabi? Wala nang libre ngayon, Gurl!"

She showed me a couple of coupons, "Eh anong tawag mo dito?" She said then waved them in front of me.

"I meant the pamimigay! Gosh, baka mamaya sugurin tayo ng staff dito dahil ninakaw mo pala 'yan." Nakasimangot kong saad.

Dahil sa sinabi ko, Becca didn't hesitate to laugh. Hinampas niya sa akin ang hawak niyang mga coupon, hindi naman masakit, so okay lang. Okay lang 'yong paghampas pero hindi okay na pagkatapos niya akong hampasin ay kumapit siya sa braso ko papunta sa Fiction section ng bookstore.

Putangina.

"Nakakatawa talaga dito," saad niya.

Napatawa na lang ako nang ma-gets ko ang sinabi niya. Katabi lang kasi ng shelf ng mga Bible at ng mga librong may mga nakahubad na lalaki ang cover.

"Do you read books?" She asked.

"Dati..." Halos pabulong kong sabi habang binabasa ang mga salitang nasa likod ng hawak kong libro.

In my peripheral vision, I saw how she immediately looked at me after I answered her.

"Why?.... I mean---well, if it's okay for you to--"

I chuckled because of her stuttering, then gently tapped the book on her head before returning it to the shelf.

"Tinamad na akong magbasa. Though, novels are a great source of wisdom and morals pero I lost it." Sabi ko sa kanya habang nakatingin sa mga mata niya. It felt awkward kaya I turned my attention to the books, again.

"You lost what?" She whispered as if she is afraid of something.

This is what I like about her. Even though we just met, marunong siyang makiramdam and she's sensitive. I'm looking into keeping her as my friend.

Memories started lingering in my head. It did not hurt remembering it, but it did hurt that I can't bring it back anymore. Both the memory and the person.

"The passion..." I weakly said then smiled lightly at her bago ipinagpatuloy ang pagbabasa ng mga librong nahahawakan ko.

I was a book collector. From adult novels to children's book, mayroon ako. I love the smell of books kasi and someone just inspired me to be a collector. After things turned to worse, losing that someone also meant losing the passion we shared. I can't bring a story home without remembering the person.

"Nakapasok ka na ba sa Tom's World?"

I snapped into reality after hearing Becca. Muntikan ko pa ngang mabitawan ang hawak ko dahil pabigla-bigla siya.

"You meant the arcade na pambata?"

Gusto kong itikom na lang ang bibig ko nang sinamaan niya ako ng tingin. Shit, this is the first time she looked at me like that!

"Hoy, anong pambata?! Ang dami kayang mga may edad na na naglalaro doon. Ibig mong sabihin, isip bata pa ako?"

Hala ka.