Been Hunting Home | Suarez III

Chapter 6

"Señor! ¿Estás bien?"

I asked him if he was okay but all he could do was cough his coffee out. Nilapitan ko ang lalaki at ikinuha ng tisyu sa dulo ng kaniyang lamesa.

"Here." I handed a bunch to him, but he didn't get one.

Siya mismo ang nagpakalma sa kaniyang sarili. Nang matigil sa pag-ubo ay naluluha siyang tumingin sa akin.

"You said you don't have a boyfriend. You even signed a contract. Should I make you pay?"

Umarko ang kilay. Kung maaaring pambayad and sama ng loob na naipon ko sa nagdaang limang taon ay sasagot ako ng oo. Ni wala pa nga akong trabaho. "Nang tanungin niyo ako noon ay totoo na wala pa akong kasintahan."

Higit siyang naguluhan sa sinabi ko. "Solen, I asked you just the other day. JUST THE OTHER DAY."

I sighed. "You asked me the other day, I met him today. And he's not my boyfriend yet, he might or might not become my boyfriend. We can date and see if we will--"

"Click?" He said the word.

"Is that the slang word you use here?"

Napapikit  nang mariin ang lalaki. Mukha siyang striktong ama na nahuli ang anak na may kasamang lalaki.

"I am assuming that you've known him longer than you've known me."

At paano kung hindi? 

"Miss Solen, you should've asked your man to bring you home instead of staying here. It's weird that you live with another man while entertaining someone."

"That's not it, señor. Listen to me first. I'll tell you what happened."

 If he really wants to know, then I'm willing to be a storyteller.

"Ano ang binili mo?" tanong ko sa katabing lalaki.

"Binilhan ko ng sapatos ang kapatid kong babae. Nakapasok kasi siya sa volleyball team ng school nila. Sabi ko sa kaniya, bibilhan ko siya ng sapatos kapag nangyari 'yon. Ang totoo niyan, bibilhan ko pa rin naman siya kahit hindi siya nakapasok. I only told her that to motivate her."

I don't know how to play volleyball but I always knew it was a hard sport. It sounds fun but tiring.

"You're a great brother, Ato. I am sure your sister will love it."

"Salamat." He smiled.

"I like your character and traits. You seem to be a very kind person."

Naningkit na naman ang mga mata niya. "Hindi ko alam kung guwapo talaga ako o mabait ka lang kaya kanina mo ako pinupuri."

"Everyone is beautiful."

"I'm everyone," he joked.

"Of course, you're one of them . . . I'm thinking if you're single or you got a girlfriend." Iyon dapat ang unang tinatanong sa lalaki bago ang lahat. I know it's a little late but better than never.

"Ako? Wala akong girlfriend ngayon."

"Do you want to go out with me?" agap kong tanong.

Nakangiti lang siya kanina. Pagkalipas ng tatlong segundo, naglaho 'yon.

"Don't worry, Ato. You're not required to say yes. Kung gusto mo naman ay pag-isipan mo muna. Pasensiya ka na kung nabigla kita."

There's nothing wrong with dating. Sa tingin ko ay iyon ang pinakaimportante sa lahat. Going out to know each other is better than regretting that you got into a relationship with a whole stranger.