Larawan

10

"Dan!" Our boss called me. Agad akong humarap sa kaniya. "Dan, right?" I nodded as an answer saka hinintay kong muli kung ano bang sasabihin niya. He often called me on my first name and it's weird that he used my second name this time.

"Anong oras ang out mo?" Seriously? Bakit parang lahat ng tao sa paligid ko ang weird. Kanina kasi ang tahimik ni hapon tapos ngayon sobrang clingy ni Sir Benj. Kanina niya pa kasi ako tinatanong ng kung ano-ano.

"Usually ten po ako nag-a-out pero baka po mag-overtime, Sir, dami po kasing costumer ngayon." I talked to him formal as I can. Awkward pa rin talaga ako sa kaniya pero mukhang mabait naman. Kanina pa kasi siya tanong nang tanong, kung hindi anong oras ang duty ko ngayon naman ay kung anong oras ang out ko.

"Mag-close na tayo ng ten." He said dahilan kung bakit napatingin kaming tatlo sa kaniya. "And what?"

"Sir, sayang po yung kikitain natin." Si Lia na ang sumagot.

"Mababawi naman 'yon e." He simply said not thinking of the money he'll lost. Parang ang dali-dali lang mabawi ng pera sa kaniya. Sana gano'n lang kadali mabawi.

"Sure ka, Sir?" Nagtatakang tanong pa rin ni Sandro habang pasimpleng umaakbay kay Lia pero inis na hinawi ni Lia ang braso niya.

"Mag-dinner nalang tayo sa labas." Aya pa ni Sir Benj.

"Sorry, Sir, pass muna ako. Ide-date ko pa 'to. Si Dan nalang yayain niyo." Agad na nanlaki ang mata ko habang pilit na umiiwas.

"M-may gagawin pa po ako e." I said at agad na inasikaso ang bagong costumer.

"Okay, next time. Next time maging free kayo para sa 'kin ah." Sir Benj said and it make me stop for a moment. I looked at him and I caught him smiling with his eyes habang patuloy na nakikipagkwentuhan kina Sandro.

Gaya nga ng sinabi ni Sir Benj ay ten pm na kami nagsara kahit pa may ilan pang costumers ang gustong pumasok. And again, I was waiting for a jeepney when I saw Sir Benj eating in a fastfood restaurant, alone.

Hindi naman dapat ako nagui-guilty dahil wala naman akong ginawa. Pero mukhang nagui-guilty nga ako. Why is he eating alone? Bakit hindi niya tawagan si Irene? His parents probably busy at the moment.

Tumawid ako at pumasok sa fastfood na pinapagkainan niya. I stood beside him at napahinto siya sa pagkain dahil do'n. Wala akong masabi, bakit ba ako pumunta rito. I sat infront of him at binuka ang bibig ko pero walang lumalabas na salita.

"What do you want to eat?" He asked while smiling. How can he smile like that?

"No. Wala talaga akong gagawin." I gulped after telling him the truth.

"Hmm, you don't have to do this."

"Nakita kita rito kaya ano, sasamahan nalang kita."

"Sasamahan mo ba talaga ako?" He asked and I looked at him. Ano ba 'tong pinasok ko? I nodded.

We were inside his car habang ako naman ay nakatingin lang sa labas ng bintana. Hindi ko alam kung saan kami papunta basta ang sabi niya safe naman daw do'n. He stopped the car and I roamed my sight at the place. It's cold up here pero hindi ko na pinahalata. I was enjoying the wind while it's embracing me. Nasa mataas na lugar kami at natatanaw namin ang city lights.

"Are you feel safe?" He asked while leaning onto his car with hands in his pockets.

"Are you okay?" I asked him back making him shrugged his shoulders.

"I just want to have time with myself."

"So, I shouldn't be here."

"It's better that you're here. May karamay ako." He said and let out a soft laugh.

"Are you feel safe with me?"

"Hmm." He hummed as an answer.

"Well, I'm not safe for you."

"How can you say? I can feel that I can trust you. Hindi ko alam pero, I'm at ease. Grabe."

We remained silent for a seconds. And then he broke the good silence between us by giving me his jacket.

"Malamig, baka ka sipunin." He said kaya tinanggap ko na rin.

Twelve midnight when we leave that place. It's weird but I wanted to go there again. I wanted to feel that wind again. I wanted to see that city lights again. I wanted to meditate there again.

"What's your address?" He asked while driving.

"Sa St. Anne village nalang."

"Malaki mga bahay do'n ah. Mayaman siguro kayo. Bakit ka nga pala nagpa-part time pa?" I know it was only a joke but it didn't make me laugh.

"I need money." I directly said making him cleared his throat.

"Sa'n street niyo ro'n? Do'n din villa namin." Oh, we're on the same village and the fact na may villa sila, mayaman talaga.

"Avocado street."

"Malapit lang, hatid na kita." Niliko niya yung kotse papasok at binati pa siya nung guard. I bid my goodbye at tinanaw ang kotse niya na makaalis.

Nasa gate palang ako nang mapansin ko ang kotse ni dad sa garage. Is he here? I walked to the house and open the door but to my surprise, my dad was kissing another woman on the couch. Agad na napatigil silang dalawa at inayos ang mga sarili habang ang tingin ko ay nando'n lang sa babae.

"Hi, Euri." Oh, she knows me, my bad I didn't know her.

"Kumain ka na?" My gazed went to dad. Hindi ko sila pinansin at umakyat na sa kwarto ko. Is he cheating? What's with them? Stupid, Euri! You already caught them kissing, now you're asking yourself what's with them? Stupid! How dare him? How can he do that thing? He's so selfish. Dito pa talaga sa bahay. He's so shameless.