by your side

01

My head was on the table kasi nakatulog ako kanina when our science teacher was teaching, nainip ako because I didn't understand a single thing she was saying, kaya nakatulog ako.

Gising na ako pero nasa mesa pa rin ang ulo ko, nakatungo. There aren't many people in the classroom because it's now recess, kaya siguro lumabas sila to go to the canteen, or went to meet their friends sa ibang classrooms.

I closed my eyes again. Nagugutom ako pero I don't want to go out or pumunta ng canteen because it's hot.

Then all of a sudden I felt something cold na dumampi sa pisngi ko so I immediately opened my eyes. Nakita ko si Irish, holding a canned soda and a cold bar of snickers.

Umupo siya sa tapat ko at nilagay ang mga iyon sa table ko.

"Baka magutom ka," aniya, nakapalumbaba na nakatingin sa akin.

I laughed softly, "Thanks."

Ngumiti siya at ginulo ang buhok ko, "Hindi 'yan libre."

"Hm?" kumakagat na ako sa bar eh. I immediately took my wallet out of my bag para bayaran siya.

"Ayoko ng pera." He shook his head.

"What do you want? Gcash? Paypal? PayMaya?" I was confused.

"Hindi, it's your time. I want your time."

Hindi na ako nakapag-react pa because the bell rang, hudyat na tapos na ang recess. It's over right away, even before I've eaten.

"Sure, I'll give you my time. Sa Saturday, kung free ka lang."

I saw the movement of his adam's apple at ang bahagyang pamumula ng kanyang mga tenga. Cute.

"S-sige. Sabi mo, ah! Walang bawian!" he said before lumabas ng classroom namin because my classmates were already heading back.

"Oh my gosh! What does that mean, Froszuenny? You're going on a date this Saturday?!" exclaimed Sky, kaklase ko, and she even covered her mouth.

"Yes?" It's true, so why should I deny it?

"Sana all!"

I just arrived sa mall, our driver drove me here. Dito kami magde-date ni Rish, and I also told him that na-miss ko na mag-skate sa ice, so later we will go sa skating rink.

I saw him waiting, "Irish!" tawag ko, coming closer to him, "Hello. How long have you been waiting?" nakita ko na he was sweating, and it was mainit sa labas ng mall.

"Ahh, kadarating ko lang din kani-kanina," he said, and wiped the sweat that was dripping off of him.

Kinuha ko ang tissue from my sling bag, at inalok sa kanya. He gladly accepted it.

"Tara na."

I let my medium length hair down. And today, I'm just wearing a fitted blue shirt, maong pants, white sandals, and white sling bag. And I'm also wearing a blue headband pala.

Nakasuot naman siya ng green button up half sleeve polo shirt na nakabukas ang mga butones, may white shirt siya sa loob na may nakasulat na Supreme, pinaresan niya iyon ng black jeans at converse shoes, at naka-low ponytail ang medyo mahaba niyang buhok.

"Magwindow shopping muna tayo? If it's okay with you..."

"Oo naman, sige."

We went around the mall. Huminto kami sa isang cosmetic shop because I wanted to try something.

"Be Mine.. or Make Me Blush? What do you think?" hiningi ko ang opinyon niya as I showed him the lipsticks na hawak ko in both hands.

"Be mine... Parang mas bagay tayo—I mean, sa'yo yung color ng Be Mine," he said, making me laugh.

"I think so, too. But now that I have tried it on my lips... Maybe I can try Make Me Blush on yours..? Please..? Gusto ko lang malaman if it looks pretty rin ba," I pleaded.

"H-ha..?" I saw his adam's apple moved again, "Okay lang naman..."

"Thank you!" I made him sit in front ng mirror as I tried to put lipstick on his lips. Napansin kong medyo nanginginig siya at panay ang sulyap sa akin ng mga mata niya.

I squished his cheeks before saying "Tapos na! Ta-da!"

He looked at himself in the mirror, gasped, at pabirong sinabi na "Ang ganda ko!" We both laughed out loud.

I ended up buying both lipsticks. He removed the lipstick from his lips, at ngayon ay papunta na kami sa food chains.

"Jollibee or McDo?"

"Greenwich or Shakey's?"

We asked each other at the same time. I was craving pizza though!

"Shakey's!"

"McDo!"

We answered naman at the same time.

"Rock, paper, scissors!" I initiated, nahuli siya kaya hindi siya nakapagbaba agad.

"Wait, teka lang! Bato, bato, pick!"

Gunting ako, papel siya, kaya talo siya.

"Pizza it is!" I said, arrogantly.

"Mayabang."

"Pepperoni?" I asked him but he shook his head, "What do you want?"

"Hawaiian Delight."

Hawaiian..? The pineapples though...

"Okay, one Hawaiian Delight please. For the starters, I'd like to order Wings N' Rings. And... two Milo Dinosaurs," I ordered.

"That's all, ma'am?"

"Yes, thank you."

Irish and I sat down on the seat next to the wall.

"Hati tayo sa bayad, Szue. Hindi pwedeng hindi. Magkano lahat 'yon?" he asked and began to open his wallet.

"Di ko alam," I shrugged, "I didn't check." Should I have?

Biglang may tumawag sa kanya on the phone. Agad naman siyang tumingin sa akin, as if asking for permission. I just nodded, even though he doesn't have to do that.

Sinagot niya ang tawag sa harap ko, "Hello, bakit?"

I just watched him talk on the phone.

"Di ko na problema yun, bye." agad niyang ibinaba ang tawag.

"Si Dahlio," he informed me kung sino yung tumawag even though I didn't ask for it. Dumating na ang aming Hawaiian pizza order.

"I don't eat pinya on pizzas," I told him, at kumuha ng isang piraso ng pizza.

"Hindi mo pa nata-try?"

"I've tried it before, pero hindi ko gusto yung taste niya," I bit on the pizza, at sinigurado na I didn't eat any pineapple.

"Ibigay mo na lang sa akin, sayang," kinuha niya ang mga pinya na nilagay ko sa gilid ng plato at kinain. So instead of putting them away, I just gave him all the pinya sa pizza ko.

"The last piece.. will be yours. Just try eating it again without removing the pineapples, and see if you'll like it this time."

"I don't want to, I don't like it." I shook my head, firmly.

"Ayaw mo ba talaga, o ayaw mo lang subukan? Paano mo malalaman, kung hindi mo susubukan?" May gusto ba siyang ipahiwatig? Bakit parang kakaiba ang dating nito sa akin?

"Fine, I'll try—pero what if I still don't like it after? Anong gagawin mo? May magagawa ka ba?"

—————
this one will be a
bit of a red ride 😔