All I Ever Wanted

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Pinanood ko ang cashier habang kumukuha ito ng bills and coins sa cash register. Binilang niya ito pagkatapos ay inabot sa akin. "Here's your change, Ma'am."

I smiled as I got it from her. "Thank you."  

Pagkatapos kong ilagay ang sukli sa pouch ko ay isa-isa ko nang binitbit ang mga plastic bags na may lamang grocery at naglakad na palabas. There were four plastic bags in all, two on each of my hand. Malapit na akong makarating sa parking lot nang biglang masira ang isang plastic bag at nahulog ang mga lamang tissue paper. Nagsimula na ang mga itong gumulong sa iba't-ibang direksyon. Ibinaba ko muna sa tabi ang ibang plastic bags at sinimulan itong pulutin. One, two, three, four, five... I've got six.

Teka, seven ang binili ko ah. Nasaan na yung isa? I looked around and saw it just behind a motorcycle. Kukunin ko na sana ito nang may isang lalaking lumapit at pinulot ito. I was facing his back that I wasn't able to see his face. But the guy was tall. Maybe a foot higher than me, more or less.

Nang mapulot na niya ito ay lumingon na siya at nagsimulang maglakad papunta sa direksyon ko. And I must admit that he looked good. Too good that he could pass being a model. In no time, he reached me.

"This must be yours," he said as he handed me the tissue paper.  

Kinuha ko ito mula sa kanya, "Yeah. Thank you."

"You should put them in a plastic bag para di mahulog," sabi niya habang tinuturo ang dala-dala kong mga tissue.

"Nasira yung plastic eh."

"You should get another one then," sabi niya.

I frowned then moved my eyes to the other plastic bags. I don't think I could go back inside and leave them unless there was someone who could look out for them.

He seemed to notice my problem. Kaya naman nagulat na lang ako nang sabihin niyang, "I'll go get it. Hintayin mo ako dito."

It took a minute before he came out of the store with a plastic bag on his hand. Nang makalapit na siya sa akin, inilagay ko na agad sa plastic bag ang mga tissue paper.

"Thank you ulit," sabi ko sa kanya.

He smiled briefly. Hinahawakan pa rin nya ang plastic bag at nang kukunin ko na ito ay tama namang paglapit nya sa iba ko pang pinamili at binitbit ito. Lumingon siya sa akin.

"Saan dadalhin ang mga ito?" tanong niya.

I led him to the parking lot and to my car. Binuksan ko ang back door at hinayaan siyang ilagay dito ang grocery.

"Nice car," he commented pagkatapos kong maisara ang pintuan ng kotse.

It was a pink honda jazz, my parent's gift to me last high school's graduation. It was too expensive for a gift, I know, pero sabi nila I deserved it since I graduated with honors.

"Regalo ng parents ko," sagot ko. "By the way, thank you really..." I trailed off. I realized di ko pa pala alam ang pangalan niya.  

"Kale, Kale Perez," sagot niya.

I smiled, nice name. "Thank you Kale, I'm Maika Saludez," sabi ko.

I extended my hand to him for a handshake. He took it and shook it with his.

"Nice meeting you, Maika."

"You too, Kale."

After that, we pulled our hands away.

"Sige mauna na ako," sabi niya pagkatapos ay nagsimula ng maglakad papaalis.

And for some reason, parang ayaw ko pa syang umalis. Perhaps, because he had helped me and I've done nothing in return. Feeling ko, may utang ako sa kanya na dapat kong bayaran.