SHACKLED

SHACKLED 8

"Bolero ka no?" I said to break the silence. Wala na kasing nag-salita mula nang makaalis kami sa bahay.

"Ako? Hahaha. Tunog bolero ba 'ko?" tanong niya. "Ewan," sabi ko nalang dahil hindi naman siya tunog nambobola kanina kinilig pa nga ako e. Kulang nalang mag-lupasay ako.

"Nagiging honest kasi ako kapag may kaharap na maganda," he then said. "And that's kinda rare, because I'm only honest to my mom." he added.

Parang tumigil ng two seconds 'yung pag-tibok puso ko, hindi ko kasi naiintindihan. Char.

Kidding aside, what's with him today? He's making me nervous, but in a delightful way. Hindi ko siya matantsa, dahil na rin siguro hindi pa naman gano'n katagal nung nagkakilala kami.

"You should stop, talking like that. Marupok ako, sige ka baka ma-fall ako." I warned him. He just looked at me and smiled.

"I won't catch you though," he said. Ouch, aray, pain, pighati. Lord take me now. Char.

I laughed and said, "Joke lang naman yon hoy."

"I won't catch you because I can't," he suddenly said. "Because I'll be falling too. I'll fall with you," he added.

Ano bang nakain nito? Glucose? Isang kilong asukal? Ba't ang sweet? Nagraramble na mga butterflies ko sa stomach. Nagiging dinosaur na.

"Hoy, tama kana. Hindi na nakakatuwa," I said. Kas nakakakilig na. Of course hindi ko sasabihin yo'n. Isa akong modernong babae, pakipot na marupok na medyo pokpok.

"Sorry. Hahaha. Does it made you uncomfortable?" tanong niya.

"Hindi naman. Nagulat lang ako na you have a side like that," I answered.

"I told you, I'm too honest around beautiful people, " he said.

Hindi ko nalang pinansin 'yung sinabi niya dahil baka himatayin ako sa sobrang kilig at sa hospital kami dumiretso.

Hindi na 'to normal. Sa sobrang tagal na mula noong huli akong humarot parang lumalala karupukan ko. Parang any moment, mapapa-yes I do ako sakaniya.

"Saan pala tayo pupunta?" tanong ko, to change our topic.

"Hulaan mo," sabi niya habang nakangisi.

"Amusement park!" agad ko namang sabi. Do'n ko kasi madalas nakikitang nag-didate 'yung sa mga napapanood kong palabas pati na rin sa mga nababasa ko.

"Gusto mo ba do'n?" tanong niya naman bigla.

"Huh? Bakit do'n ba? Okay lang naman sa 'kin kahit saan," tuloy-tuloy kong sabi.

"Do you like dogs?" he asked.

"Oo naman. Why?" I happily said. I'm really an animal lover and who can resist dogs?

"We're here," sabi niya as he maneuver the car in a parking space infront of a Dog cafe.

It looks brand new, maybe it just recently opened. It has the combination of pink for the walls and facade, purple and yellow for its pillars and a glass door. Paw prints are painted in the wall and a large signage was hanging saying it's open.

Sa sobrang pagkamangha ko sa cafe ay hindi ko namalayang pinag-buksan niya pala ako ng pinto.

"Thanks," I said as I hop out from the car.

As we enter, a middle-aged woman greeted us and guided us to our table. Eventually, Travis already booked a table for us.

"George told me you like pets, specially dogs," he said while smiling at me.

George did that? May libre sa 'kin si bakla sa lunes.

"Actually, yes. Hindi lang ako pwedeng mag-alaga sa bahay dahil sa kondisyon ni papa," sagot ko naman.