One Kiss and a Lie

Kabanata 8

Kabanata 8

I was in my overalls and my sun hat fixing the garden while Dad was sitting on the patio chair sipping his coffee as he reads today's news on his iPad. Ryder was busy in Law school and it has been two days since he last visited. Though I think it's a better this way because I always find myself admiring the small things about him whenever he's around. Grabe na yata 'yung pagka-crush ko sa kanya. I sighed.

"Anak, I'm worried that you'll run out of breath for sighing that much. Kanina pa 'yan. Bakit di mo na lang kasi tawagan ang boyfriend mo?" sabi sa akin ni Dad habang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa iPad sa harap niya. Hindi rin nakaligtas sa akin ang pagpigil niya ng ngiti.

"I don't miss him that much, Dad." He shrugged. Ugh, bored lang ako. I don't miss him. Though I wonder what he's doing....

Halos mabitawan ko ang phone ko nang bigla itong tumunog at mag-flash sa screen ang pangalan ni Ryder. I cleared my throat before answering.

"Hel—"

"Miss mo na daw ako sabi ni Dad," he said as I hear the humor in his voice. My brows shot up as my eyes immediately went towards my father na kunwari ay seryoso sa pagbasa ng news sa iPad niya.

"Dad!" I immediately shouted. Bigla siyang tumawa at tumayo upang maglakad papasok ng bahay. Tinakasan pa ako! I can also hear Ryder laughing from the other line. "Hey, stop laughing! Hindi kita miss." But his laughter just became louder at lahat ng inis ko nawala dahil sa tunog ng tawa na iyon.

My gosh... did I really miss him?

"Okay lang naman kung ayaw mo pang aminin na miss mo ako. Kunwari na lang hindi ko alam." I roll my eyes kahit na hindi niya naman ako nakikita. I pout my lips to one side to prevent myself from smiling.

I heard on the other line that someone called his name to try and talk to him. He answered it casually before I heard him excusing his self from the people he's with, followed by a sound of a moving chair. Tumayo yata siya upang lumayo sa kanila.

"Are you busy?"

"Hindi naman. Na sa group study lang."

"With your blockmates?" With that Miley?

"Oo... bakit?" Hindi ako nakasagot agad. I don't want our conversation to finish yet, kaso hindi ko naman alam kung anong sasabihin ko. I don't know much about him. "May problema ba?" He suddenly sounded worried.

"Wala naman. Hanggang kailan ka busy?" I asked not wanting to disturb him but really wanting to hear his voice more.

Oh no, unrequited love is waving.

Again.

"Parang gusto ko ngang isipin na miss mo nga talaga ako." I can sense a teasing smile behind those lines. Did I sound so obvious that I miss him? My gosh talaga.

"Asa ka, baka lang kasi makahalata si Dad na hindi talaga tayo dahil hindi na tayo lumalabas." I bit my lower lip.

"Mmm, oo nga. We should meet today." Agad na nanalaki ang mata ko at napaupo ng maayos.

"Today? I thought na sa group study ka?"

"Ah, patapos na kami. I'll be there in twenty minutes." Tumayo ako bigla dahil sa sinabi niya. Twenty minutes! Kulang 'yon! Three hours kaya ako mag-prepare!

"Pwede ka naman pumunta dito after two hours!" I even raised two fingers like he can see me. I was that shocked. I heard him chuckle.

"Nope. Hintayin na lang kitang matapos mag-ayos diyan sa bahay niyo. Bye!" He ended the call para hindi na ako makareklamo.