Astonishing Us

XVIII

I SURPASS A SMILE as I walk towards Ridge with the paper I got from UST's administration behind my back. He is leaning on the hood of his silver BMW z4, two days ago I went here to take an entrance exam and today, I just got the results.

"How is it going?" Tanong n'ya ng makalapit ako sa kaniya.

Bumuga ako ng hangin saka nagkibit balikat, "Mamaya na lang natin pag-usapan." Pinalungkot ko ang boses ko.

Gusto ko s'yang supresahin mamaya, saka pang isang linggo na din mula ng magpasya akong mag-take risk para sa 'ming dalawa.

"Can we go eat outside later?" Tanong ko sa kaniya. Agad naman s'yang tumango saka kinabig ang ulo ko para patakan ng halik ang tuktok ng ulo ko.

He always does this every time he saw a chance to do so. I bite my bottom lip with his sweetness, pakiramdam ko kahit siguro mapait ang ampalaya ay lalanggamin dahil sa kaniya.

"Okay, I actually reserved a table for two in Sa'kong Irog restaurant, it's my cousin's wife's restaurant. I reserved a table at their branch in Tagaytay," he replied, napanguso ako sa hangin, gusto ko kasi ako sana ang pipili ng kakainan namin.

Syempre diba susupresahin ko nga s'ya sa resulta ng entrance exam ko kasi alam ko kung gaano n'ya kagusto na lumipat ako sa school na 'to, para daw malayo ako sa ex kong si Mojo Jojo.

"Okay, dropped me off the UP Town Mall, you got work today, right?" Sabi ko na lang.

I'll buy him something for our weeksary.

Wala kong pakealam ang lame pakinggan, basta gusto ko iyon i-celebrate. Because it had been the best week of my life ever since I chose to take risk for us.

"I can cancel my appointments today; don't you want me to accompany you to the mall?" Tanong n'ya na lihim kong kinabuga ng hangin.

Sabi ko na nga ba.

Ganito s'ya lagi, para bang lagi akong mawawala.

"Andon si Nicole at Myckel, inaantay nila ako, it's our last bond before this school year ends, magiging malayo na din kasi ako sa kanila sa susunod, and for sure magiging busy din," sagot ko sa kaniya, totoo naman, isasabay ko nga lang ang pagbili ng regalo ko sa kaniya.

Kita ko ang alinlangan sa mga mata n'ya habang nagmamaneho s'ya at ang pagkunot ng noo n'ya tanda ng pag-iisip n'ya. Then he blows out a soft yet deep breath,"Okay, Bubbles. Just take care do not—"

"—talk to strangers unless it's a fan, do not entertain men, do not go with strangers, do not accept food from anyone and lastly call the great Ridge Haden Montegara if something bad happened, I know I know," kabisado kong sabi na kinatawa n'ya ng mahina.

"Okay, then Bubbles. We got a deal. I won't be able to pick you up I got to finish some papers before our dinner tonight, is that ok?"

I nodded my head at him. In one week, I realize something and that is he is really a busy person like what he claimed to be the first time we met, he is just willing to make time for me.

I hide my smile by looking outside the window. It's really true the words people said.

That if he wants to, he would.

I HUGGED NICOLE when I got near to her, while Myckel walks towards Ridge's car, on the driver's side to do a handshake and fist bump with Ridge, they met Ridge after Ridge fetch me up to school last Tuesday, he offered the two that we could drive them home and the two happily agreed, they been wanting to know who was supplying us a Starbucks drinks every morning so, yeah.

"Kain na tayo, gutom na ako, Mima. Myckel! Kain na tayo ano ba pinag-uusapan n'yo?" Himas ni Nicole sa tiyan n'yang sabi. Myckel looks at us and shook his head before jogging towards us.