SHACKLED

SHACKLED 12

"Saan kayo kakain?" tanong niya ulit. Medyo mas nilakasan niya pa ang boses niya. Akala niya siguro hindi ko narinig.

"Ibaba mo nalang kami sa may SM." sagot ko.

"Ate, akala ko ba mag-joJollibee tayo?" tanong ni Paulito.

"Oo, we'll still go there," sagot ko naman.

Malapit lang 'yung SM sa station kaya nakarating din kami. Buti nga walang traffic e.

"Diyan nalang kami sa may overpass," sabi ko sabay turo sa overpass.

Hindi niya ako pinansin. Instead of responding to what I've said he looked at Paulito and said, "Do you like Jollibee too?"

Tumango tango si Paulito with a smile in his face.

Nagulat ako nung lumiko si Travis papasok sa SM papuntang parking area.

"Kakain din ako sa Jollibee," sabi niya and he looked at me sideways.

"What?!" medyo pasigaw kong tanong.

"Bakit? Bawal?" sagot niya pabalik and it's obvious that he's mocking me.

"We can go there together and you can join us," masiglang sabi ni Paulito.

"Sure, that would be fun," he said with a smirk.

He maneuvered his car to park in a vacant space. At ang lolo niyo, nag-reverse parking.

Nauna akong bumaba para makausap ko siya sa labas ng sasakyan at hindi marinig ni Paulito ang usapan namin.

Lumabas na siya and he looked at me as if I owe him something.

"What was that? Anong ginagawa mo?" tanong ko.

"Ako? Nakatingin sa'yo?" namimilosopo niyang sagot.

Seriously?! He's getting in to my nerves and wait ansakit ng puson ko.

I looked at my phone to check the date and it's the day of the month. Shuta! Nakalimutan ko.

"What's wrong?" nagtatakang tanong ni Travis.

"Tara na," sabi ko nalang tapos pumunta sa back seat para kunin ang kapatid ko.

Kaya pala sinumpong nanaman ang pagiging moody ko. May dadalaw pala today. Hindi man lang ako prepared.

Good thing I'm wearing a pantyliner and I don't think it'll be that strong.

Nakatulog si Paulito nung nakita ko siya kaya nagulat ako. Kelan pa 'to tulog? Inobserbahan ko kung nag-kukunwari lang siya para buhatin ko siya.

I formed my fingers into peace sign and I acted like I'm about to poke his eyes.

Hindi siya gumalaw man lang o nagulat. Uulitin ko sana kaso biglang bumukas ang pumupungay niyang mga mata.

"Ate? What are you doing?" tanong niya.

I was caught off guard. I immediately think of an excuse.

"May muta ka. Aalisin ko sana," sabi ko and I avoided he's eyes.

"Really, ate?" tanong niya tapos chineck niya kung may muta nga siya.

"Wala naman ate," sagot niya habang kinakapa niya ang mata niya.

"Nahulog na siguro 'yon. Hayaan mo na," I said while awkwardly laughing.

Tumingin siya sa may sahig at hinahanap niya kung meron nga. Nakakunot pa ang noo niya at nakanguso ang kaniyang mga labi.

"Paulito," I called his name to grab his attention. Tumingin naman siya sa 'kin. He even tilted his head sideways. Awe, cute. He looks like a curious puppy.