Malay Natin: Siguro Tayo

XLVII

Part 47

She waited for them to finish talking. Lily stopped by at their table for a while to chat. Nika immediately recognized their closeness.

But there's something more in there, isn't it?

Kanina niya pa 'yon nahahalata. Lily's been glancing their way sometimes. Hindi nga lang mahinuha ni Nika kung sino ba 'yong tinitingnan ni Lily sa gawi nila ni Kenzo.

Was it him? Her? Both of them? Someone behind them?

She couldn't figure it out.

But she caught him, too. The stolen glances and the way his eyes linger on her . . .

She knows what those looks meant.

Especially when Lily left their table. She watched how Kenzo followed her with his eyes, walking away.

Tumikhim siya. "So, magkukwento ka ba, Sir?"

"Kuwento? About what?" he asked.

"Hmm . . . " Medyo naningkit ang mata niya. She momentarily looked around. Wala namang ibang tao sa table nila kung 'di silang dalawa lang. Sakto lang din naman ang distansya ng kabilang table.

"Bakit tayo nagpapanggap?" she asked, making sure nobody was near to hear her question.

"I told you no questions asked," he reiterated.

"Grabe ka naman, Sir. Tayo-tayo lang naman dito. Saka kanino ko naman ipagsasabi? Kayo lang ni Andy kilala ko dito pati si Ate Cheryll. Hindi ko naman na kayo makikita pagkatapos nito, 'di ba? Kaya wala ka dapat ipag-alala. Kung machika ko man sa mga kaibigan ko, 'di rin kayo magkakilala."

Nika crossed her arms, resting her back on the chair to sit comfortably. She was waiting for his response pero naiiling lang din naman si Kenzo sa puwesto niya. Nika noticed how his shoulder rose and fell when he took a deep breath as he laid his back on his chair, too.

"Okay, ano bang kailangan mo, Ser? Kailangan mo ba munang tumoma para makapagsabi ka? Saka strangers naman talaga tayo 'di ba? So kung i-judge man kita dahil sa kuwento mo, wala 'yon gaanong bearing sa 'yo. Kaya ano bang gusto mo? Kahit ako na kumuha ng alak para sa 'yo do'n sa open bar."

"Double whiskey, neat."

"Taray, 'yong usual pala ang bet. Ako gusto ko ng ginbulag kaso wala naman," Nika said before standing up.

Medyo nagulat din siya nang tumayo si Kenzo. "D'yan ka na. Ako na lang kukuha."

"I want to go with you. Let's drink at the boardwalk," sabi niya.

They both got his usual drink. Nika was curious what's so good about it so she asked for a glass of his drink, too.

She winced when it burned in her throat. "Anong swabe dito? Grabe ang tapang."

He chuckled. "You'll get used to it," he said before sipping on his glass.

Nika watched him swallow his drink. Medyo nangunot din ang noo niya dahil wala lang talaga para kay Kenzo 'yong alak.

"Ang galing, walang effect sa 'yo," she remarked while they were walking to the boardwalk not far from the gazebo where the reception was being held.

The salty breeze blew some strands of her hair away.

Kenzo caught the smile lingering on her lips before looking up at the cloudless sky.

"Sige na, Sir. Bakit nga tayo nagpapanggap? I think I did a good job naman, baka puwede kong malaman kung bakit pretend girlfriend mo ako ngayon?" tanong ni Nika.