#2: Strumming the Pain

Strumming 46

"Where are we going today, my Shian?"

"That's the fifth time you asked me today, Kirk." sagot ko naman sa kanya, hindi ko siya nilingon dahil nagda-drive ako.

"Did you count it?" he asked with furrowed brows.

"Hmm... four times at the house. And then now," sagot ko naman sa kanya at nagkibit-balikat pa.

"Hindi mo naman kasi sinasagot 'yung tanong ko." he answered, like a child.

I chuckled. "Since then, marami akong gustong puntahan. Is it okay to visit some or just one of them?"

I glanced at him, waiting for an answer. "Anything you want, baby." he answered.

This is our last day here in Pampanga dahil balak na rin naman naming bumalik ng Manila mamayang gabi. Nauna na si Maisie na bumalik, I told her na may gusto pa akong puntahan. Hinayaan naman niya ako at sinabing mag-ingat ako. Oh, well, we still need to hide our faces. I don't want to cause a mess. People seeing Kirk and I together might cause a mess. Ayoko naman no'n, 'no.

"But can we go to the Morning Brew cafè first?" I asked, glancing at him.

"Of course, baby. Do you want some coffee?" he asked in a soft voice.

"No, I just want to say goodbye to Juliana and Solana. It'll take awhile before I see them again. Baka hindi ko na sila mapuntahan mamaya, e." sagot ko naman sa kanya.

"Okay, baby. We'll go there first." sagot naman niya sa 'kin habang may malambot na ngiti sa labi.

I smiled at him before I fixed my eyes on the road. Hindi rin naman nagtagal ay nakarating na kami sa Morning Brew cafè. It wasn't busy as it's already noon, madalas na maraming customer tuwing umaga o magga-gabi na. Wala naman akong nakitang customer, so I didn't bother putting a cap. Gano'n din si Kirk, mukhang napansing niyang hindi na ako nag-cap kaya gumaya siya.

Nang makababa ako, kaagad na hinawakan ni Kirk ang kamay ko. Bahagya akong nagulat pero hinayaan ko na lang din. I like the feeling of him holding my hands. It was surprisingly feels good... and calming. I felt safe and secured. I intertwined our hands, making him looked at me.

I ignored his stares, magkahawak ang kamay na pumasok kami cafè. Kaagad na napatingin si Juliana sa may pinto nang marinig niyang tumunog ang bell na nakasabit sa may pintuan. Juliana, then, smiled widely upon seeing me. She excitedly run to me and hugged me tight. Nabitawan ko si Kirk dahil doon at niyakap pabalik si Juliana.

"Oh, gosh! Congratulations! I went to watch you last night... I was with Ridgen. Mukhang hindi mo ako nakita pero malapit lang kami sa harapan. Ang galing mo!" she excitedly said before pulling away.

She was about to say more when she noticed who I am with. She covered her mouth dramatically while pointing at Kirk. I glanced at Kirk who doesn't know what to do or what to say. He looks kinda scared that someone recognized him. Hindi niya alam kung kakaway ba siya o ano.