He Was My Umbrella

37

I approached Adrian with a smile and with a wave. Mag-isa lang kasi siya doon sa isang gilid. Alam ko namang gusto niyang maging mapag-isa, pero my ano can't help it. Basta my ano. Hindi niya yata alam na tatabihan ko s'ya kaya nagulat siya nang umupo ako.

"Kararating niyo lang?" tanong niya. Hindi talaga siya 'yung palabati muna bago magtanong.

"Yep, ngayon lang. Kayo ba?" tanong ko.

"Mga 10 minutes ago, nagmamadali kasi si Icah kaya kay Aaron na kami sumabay," nag kibit-balikat siya.

"Sige na, doon muna ako kay Kuya." Napansin ko kasing ilang pa rin siya sa akin, ayaw ko naman siyang ma-uncomfy.

Tumango lang siya at ipinagpatuloy ang ginagawa niya. Ang cold, ah. Walang imik lagi 'yan. Nakakapagod maging extrovert! Char! Lagi na lang ako ang nag fi-first move!

Pero, uy! Ako rin kaya nag first kausap kay Kuya! Nga lang, 'di ko alam na siya pala 'yon.

Naalala ko pa,

Uminom lang din ako ng kalahating basong juice. Magsasalin sana ulit ako nang may bumanggang parang sadya sa likod ko kaya natapon ang juice ko.

Huminga ako ng malalim at pinikit ang mga mata ko ng mariin dahil sa inis. "Couldn't you be more carefu-". Nakapikit ako habang umikot para harapin ang kung sino man. Pero natigilan ako sa nakita ng mga mata ko pagdilat nito.

It was Cabrera.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to. Tinulak lang din kasi ako," he held my arm when I slightly stumbled. My eyes widened by the sudden contact. I stepped backwards for him to let go of me. I just bowed slightly before walking away quickly. I didn't like that interaction, it was embarrassing.

'Yan! That was the first time we ever talked! Pero, technically siya 'yung nag first move, kasi siya 'yung bumangga sa akin. Oh, move tawag do'n!

"You okay?"

I came back to my senses nang magsalita si Kuya sa gilid ko. Napalingon ako sa kaniya at tiningnan siya ng matagal. I observed every inch of his face.

His eyes, they glimmered. His nose was so cute I could pinch it right now. His cheeks were reddish, like he was slapped for 3 times. His eyelashes were long for a guy. His eyebrows were kind of thick, it was damn attractive. His skin looked so soft. His lips were plump, kissable. His hair was fluffy. His teeth are beautiful, the alignment.

"Adi, hey." pumalakpak siya sa harap ko.

I shook my head dahil nawawala na naman ako sa sarili ko. Nanatili siyang nakatingin sa'kin, tanging nakatingin lang. We held our eye contact for about 7 seconds. It was surreal. Hindi ko na alam ang nararamdaman ko. He leaned closer and stopped halfway.

"France is on her way, Adi," he huskily said. I gulped because of the way he said it.

"Okay, are we ready?"

"Yep." he pursed his lips. "You okay?"

"Oo naman," sabi ko.

Umalis ako sa harap niya at pumunta kay Icah. Magkasama atang dadating si Cheska at France. Kasi ang sabi ko kay Ches ay yayain niya si France na umalis pero 'wag niya sabihin kung saan pupunta.

Sana talaga successful 'tong surprise na 'to. Gusto ko kasi laging bumawi sa mga friends ko 'pag birthday nila. Kasi nakikita ko 'yung effort nila 'pag birthday ko.

May balloons lang kami, tas parang ¼ lang ng gym 'yung na o-occuppy namin. May kaunting pagkain, pero more on gifts 'yung nasa table.

Maya-maya, dumating na si France.